"Same story I'm afraid. I was asked to call and reconfirm my info. I didn't want anything but the camera I ordered. Got an email shorlty there after - 6 weeks. I called a couple of weeks ago, they said 2 -3 weeks more. I started to ask a question and they hung up on me!

"

"I ordered a camera from them. I was told it was on stock and ships within 1-2 days. I paid a low price for the camera and was happy with my order. I called the next day to up my shipping and they attempted to upsell me on overpriced accessories. I told them that i didnt need any of them and i was advised that the camera had sold out and that they were putting mine on back order. I told him that was fine and hung up.I went to work 3 days later and told a fellow worker about this great price i got on a camera. I told her it was backordered. She said it was such a wonderful price that she was fine with it. I spoke with her today and she had been called and had indeed bought an extendend warranty through them at additional cost. I was amazed that she had already gotten a tracking number and was indeed getting her camera already. I called and asked about my order and asked if it was still back ordered. I was told yes, 3-5 weeks. I then asked why my coworker who ordered hers 3 days after me is already getting hers. The salesman then got very rude and asked me if i was calling him a lier. I told him yes and a scam artist. I have looked at the website http://www.resellerratings.com/seller17545-p3-s1-d1.html and found that i wasnt the only one with the problem. "

"I wish I would have found this site earlier, it would have saved me a lot of headache and time. Just like many of the other posters here, I was lured in by the low prices and well put together site (I would call it profesional, but there is nothing profesional about 86th Photo & Video (P&V) except their ability to steal).

Just before Christmas I was looking for a camera (Sony DSC-T200) which was an amazing $260 at the afore mentioned company which was $140 below the price at Best Buy where I had already purchased it, but was looking for a better deal.

I called the company and asked if the camera was in stock, but they said due to the great price and time of year, they were sold out, but were expecting a shipment in two to three weeks. My wife is very thrifty and I figured she would appreciate the deal. I wrapped the Best Buy camera and gave it to her for Christmas and after she opened it, I told her she had the option of keeoing that one, or waiting for the camera I had ordered. She decided to wait.

After two to three weeks, about mid January, I called 86th P&V to get an update on where the order stood. I gave the operator my order number and after looking up my order, I was told the shipment hadn't came in yet, but they were expecting it soon. About an hour later I received an email stating that the order was backordered five to six weeks from the date of the email. That puts me getting the camera sometime in March.

If this was a Nintendo Wii or Tickle Me Elmo just after release, I would understand and be forgiving of short supplies, but this camera is available everywhere and there doesn't seem to be a short supply in other, reputable, stores.

I checked the 86 P&V website a week later, out of curiosity, to see if the website showed the camera in stock and it did. So I called the company and told the operator I was interested in the camera and wanted to know if it was in stock. The operator (Robert, I had to ask for a name) stated that they indeed did have the camera in stock. I asked how many and he stated they had two. I then asked why my order was back-ordered another five to six weeks. He asked what color I ordered and I told him silver (should have asked him what colors were in stock or initially asked about colors) and he repLIED that they only had the red cameras in stock. I told him that red would be fine since it was for my wife.

Now here is where it gets fun. Robert next starts in with the, "You know the camera doesn't come with a battery or charger, right?" (I had prepped for this (after reading complaints about the company) by calling Sony prior to this call and verifying they do not offer a package without the charger and battery and in fact the camera comes with a bunch of accessories.) I then asked him if they were selling open box cameras. Robert repLIED that all of their cameras were brand new in the box straight from Sony. I then informed him of my conversation with Sony and after a few choice words from Robert, he hung up on me.

I have canceled my order and notified my credit card company. I didn't think it was legal to conduct business this way, but apparently this company is able to get away with it. I will never shop this site again and will warn all I can about their shoddy sales tactics and lies. I understand trying to make a buck and upsale accessories, but lying straight faced to the customer in order to defraud them is unconscionable."

"Same issues happened to me as others posted. Ordered Canon SD750 camera, received phone call for upsell of accessories at completely outrageous prices, and then later received email that product back ordered when I wouldn't bite on accessories. I cancelled order - I hope.

I filed a complaint with the website where I found that referenced 86th Street Photo and Video - LowPriceDigital.com showed them to as a 5 star merchant. Also filed a complaint with BBB of New York. How can this company stay in business."

"Th negitive reviews below are right on target. These guys will attempt to scam you into buying junk. If you refuse the deal you get an email saying that your item is backordered with an invitation to cancel. They have no intention of selling you the product at the price quoted. Don't waste you time or your money."

"Scam operation! I ordered a Canon G9 with a wide angle lens. In the 'confirmation' follow-up call salesman Jason persuaded me to also buy an extra battery ('because the one from Canon only lasts for 20 minutes'), a bag and lens cleaning kit. And I fell for it. Stupid of me.
The 'high capacity' battery actually only lasts half as long as the original one from Canon; the wide angle lens is unusable and the bag is a piece of crap. But worst of all: there is about a fifty dollar difference between the prices I was quoted and the total on the non-itemized invoice.
An email in which I asked for invoice itemization urged me to contact them by phone. And when I called, a guy named Vinnie promised to fax me the requested invoice.
That -of course- never happened.
I still cannot believe I fell for this scam and consider this a learning experience. Next time I will check out a merchant before I place an order.
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THESE CROOKS!"

"Double WOW... Please read post dated Jan 22nd. by valhask. The EXACT same dirty tactics were pulled on me by86th st. Photo. Only exception is I caught their scam before my order was shipped. Buyer Beware!!!!!!!! "

"WOW. And I thought I was smarter than this. Ordered the Garmin Nuvi 770 just before Christmas via internet. They sent a message saying there was something wrong with my Am Ex card and wanted me to call. When I did, they told me the GPS wouldn't work without a memory card (an additional $250 and lied - it comes with memory), tried to sell me a case, warantee (lied to me and told me the warantee only lasted 90 days - it's a year)and so on. The total overpriced upgrades (everything priced higher than the Garmin site) was an additional $600. I told the salesperson if he was lying I would cancel. He said no problem they had a 21 day return policy. When I got off the phone I checked the Garmin site and indeed they were lying. I emailed immediately to cancel. They didn't answer. I called, they put me on hold and never picked up. I called again and they said it would be a 20% restocking fee. I told them I wouldn't pay it but was sending everything back that same day. They actually tried to buy me off by offering to send me a cleaning kit!(if I kept everything else). I said no and shipped it back. They refused the shipment. Now Am Ex is tangling with them and they now say their return policy is 7 days. Funny how the story keeps changing. These guys are slime!"

"Hello,

I am writing on behalf of 86 Street Photo. We are a photo lab that have been in business since 1957. Located on Upper East Side of Manhattan. Last six months or so we have been receiving intensive phone calls regarding internet orders and complains about fraud.
I want to assure everyone that we are a totally different company that DO NOT sell Electronics , neither in our real store or on the internet. Our website address is similar "www.86streetphoto.com" it does NOT contain video in it. Please be very careful when you call or send packages back to the company you purchased it from.

Thank you."

"Of course, the same thing happened to me. Ordered a Canon SD750. When I got the call 4 days later to confirm my order he tried to sell me a really expensive memory card. When I told him I already had one, he asked how since "this camera was not compatible with any other brand of card". I told him I would still just take the camera and see what happens when i get it. Two weeks later, I call and hear that my camera is on backorder for 6 weeks. So I canceled my order. HOWEVER, now I am extremely worried about them having my bank account info. Has anyone had any problems with this?"

"When I called to cancel my order because it had been over a week with no email and no shipping, the operator hung up on me. I'm not even kidding. Then I called back and the operator/representative said "I TOLD you I'd cancel your order", and hung up on me again. Wow. Incredible. I can't believe they actually are in business. I've really never experienced anything like that. I'd be very careful!"

"Wish I'd seen this site BEFORE I ordered. My story is the same as all the others below.

I was stupid enough to get scammed during the "order confirmation" phone call. Steve convinced me that I needed a 1GB SD memory card ($169.99) with the Garmin Nuvi I'd order because "you need to have it to save user-defined navigation points". Researching the card after the call I found the market price was about $16 (1000% mark-up...impressive!).

Called back to cancel the SD card. Customer Service said "too late, your order has shipped". When the order arrived I was over charged $35.04 (they do not itemize prices of what you purchased on the invoice, just a generic "product total" and shipping cost...both of which were over the advertised prices).

Immediately called my credit card to dispute the $35.04 over charge, which they took off my card the next day.

E-mails, phone calls and certified letter to the vendor to return the SD card for a full refund and a refund of the over charge all met with negative results (other than more offers for "special deals").

Filed an online complaint on 1/2/08 with the NY Metro Area BBB (https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/GetStarted.aspx). You'll need to put "wisetronics" when you get to the company name field as you progress through their website. They e-mailed me back on 1/17/08 and are processing the claim.

Also mailed a complaint the same day to the NY Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection (http://www.oag.state.ny.us/complaints/pdfs/cns001web_consumer.pdf). Waiting to hear back. Also sent a copy of the complaint to the BBB and my credit card.

With any luck I'll get an RMA# to return the SD card and a full refund of my $169.99 but I'm not holding my breath.

Caveat Emptor!!

1/24 Update - NYAG Office replied on 1/22, forwarded my claim to their Internet Bureau (same address as the Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection...just a differnt office).

5/6/08 Update - So far all I've received is a refund on the $35.04 overcharge on shipping."

"I wish I saw these warnings before I made a purchase from this shady company! I placed an order for a Canon S5 IS for $259.00. I got an email saying I had to call them to verify my order. The guy I talked to asked me if I wanted a SD card and battery pack, which I told him I didn't need because I already had them, so I said no. That's when he told me "Oh, well the camera's not actually gonna be available to ship for another couple weeks." And interestingly, the site still says that the camera is available and "usually ships within 1-2 business days."

The camera was to be a gift for someone in Peru, and I'm leaving to go there on the 26th, so waiting another couple of weeks wasn't an option. I was furious and went on the Better Business Bureau website to file a complaint. I also found out on the BB&B site that this company has changed its name a few times, maybe because they've gotten in trouble before and think changing their name is a way to hide the truth from us?

So here's another vote to NOT BUY ANYTHING from these jerks."

"I too got the same run around from 86th Street. Shopped for the lowest price and ordered from them, only to get the high-priced accessory sales pitch, followed by the stream of e-mails stating that they were out of stock. After seeing all of the other reviews from people in my situation, I cancelled my order and filed my complaint. These idiots are wasting the time of way too many people.

And yet, everyday online they continually show up with the lowest advertised price, in ads dtaing that the camera can ship in 1-2 days. Incredible.

Check ALL dealers before ordering, because a lot of other companies with simialr offers run the same scam and have similar reviews."

"i also saw this review of the seller after i placed an order,as a result i called the firm right away and asked if they intended to honor our contract,they man stated that they did,on jan.4th. i also sent a note to them from their web site informing them that i was underway and would not have email or easy phone access.to which i ecieved no reply.then a week later ,jan.11th, i called the number on my email verification letter (which had been sent on jan.4th) and spoketo jason a salesman, i made it clear once again that i wanted the camera did not need accessories etc. now on jan16th i call jason agai n and he informs me the camera is on back order (about which i was not informed by phone or email) he was rude defensive arrogant and i canceled the order, i have since spoken to a woman in customer service and put in a request to speak to jasons supervisor....lets see i would never order from these people and have sent ina complaint"