"Same scam as everyone else. Ordered a camera and they tried to sell me another battery for telling me the OEM lithium battery only lasts 15 minutes. Then I received email stating they were out of stock. Yeah right. STAY AWAY. WASTE OF TIME. "
"DO NOT ORDER FROM THIS COMPANY!!! AFTER PLACING AN ORDER WITH CONFIRMATION OF ITEM BEING IN STOCK I FOUND THIS WEBSITE AND READ REVIEWS. THEY ARE CORTRECT!! CALLED COMPANY AND LO AND BEHOLD THE ITEM IS OUT OF STOCK!!!!! I AM VERY UNEASY ABOUT GIVING THIS COMPANY ME CREDIT CARD INFO NOW!!! I WILL BE SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT THEIR DECEPTIVE PRACTICES!! BAH HUMBUG TO THIS COMPANY!!
"
"Had to call back to verify my order. They accualy wanted to get me to purchase things I didn't want.
Order was back ordered as soon as I didn't buy the extras. Called again as if I wanted to buy a camera. Then asked if it was in stock. They said yes. I then told them to ship my order that they said was on back order. All the excuses came out.
Needless to say they now have my credit card number and I assume the camera will be on back order untill it is obsolete.
SCAM"
"86th Street Photo & Video certainly seems to be skirting on the bounds of the legal limits of Fradulent advertising and price gouging. My experience was the exact one everyone else had. Heavy handed tactics to get me to buy rediculous stuff and once they realized it wouldn't work the "back ordered 5-6 weeks" e-mail came. I'm worried for those who don't do much on-line shopping and use this store during the Holidays. At the least they are taking advantage of honest hard working Americans. Anybody have any ideas on how to actually report them or put them out of business? I'm in the military so I'd rather do something other than just give them a bad review..."
"Ordered an SD870 on 12/2/07. Prompt confirmation thanking me for the order. Later that day an email saying 4-5 week back order. Called to point out their web site indicated the SD870 was in stock and was told he had no visibility on what was in the warehouse. Then he suggested I order a higher capacity battery since the one included was only a 850 mA battery; also "I needed a larger memory card. He also told me to reorder because it is the only way to find out what is in the warehouse. Since ordering the price has increased by $16 to $265. 12/3/07 on www.lowpricedigital.com clearly shows that 86th Street Photo & Video has the sd870 in stock. Sent email request an explanation. I intend to wait."
"Exactly the same story with everyone.
I had to call a sales person to confirm my order and I was recommended to buy a SD card. I refused to buy, then,as soon as I refused, I received a new email from the store (even before I hang up the phone with the sales person) saying that it's backordered. Looked like they want me to cancel the order.
I think this is a fraud."
"The same thing happened to me, ordered the camera was sent an email "for verification" waited 1/2 hour to speak to a #203Steve who tried to sell me batteries after taking my shipping address (phony) then I got an email that the camera is on backorder for 4-5 weeks. What a rip off but plan to wait it out. Wanted it for Christmas Day, but oh well, live and learn."
"
The same scenario happened to me as was reported by so many of the others before me. The e-mail, the phone call, the sales pitch for accessories, and finally... the camera is on back order. Their underhanded and deceitful way of doing business was confirmed. Thanks to your web site, I cancelled my order before going through further hassle. I may have to pay a little more, but at least we will have the item by Christmas."
"I ordered a digital camera on October 21, 2007 as a surprise gift for my wife, and specifically put in the order notes NOT TO CALL ME. They called, left a message on our voicemail saying they needed to verify some information before they could process the order for the camera. Needless to say, they ruined the surprise. When I returned their call, they said they wanted to verify my shipping address. I have bought hundreds of items online, and never once has any other seller needed to validate what I typed in for a shipping address (which matches my billing address) in their online form. Once confirmed, then came the sales pitch for the accessories. I told them I didn't need an extra battery nor did I need to purchase an SDHC memory card from them (which they just happen to price a little more than 10 times higher than what other online vendors charge).
3 Weeks later, camera hasn't arrived. I got an "Important information about your order" email on November 1 after I sent an inquiry, informing me that the item is on a 2-3 week backorder. I inquired again, and received another "Important information about your order" email on November 19 that they were now temporarily sold out and it would be 5 - 6 weeks from the date of the email to process the order.
Yes, it could all be true, however the camera is readily in stock at best buy, sears, and circuit city among other stores. Also, their website still shows it as available with a "usually ships in 1-2 business days". If it wasn't a bait and switch, they would have corrected the website at some point during the past 6 weeks.
Stay away from this company, or you will be dissapointed."
"Well I'm beginning to feel like the fish that jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. I just went thru all this nonsense with Techon Digital and now I just did it again with 86th st. Photo & Video.
In a nutshell I ordered and then the next day confirmed. Then I waited 3 more days to find out the camera I wanted was suddenly "out of stock" and wouldn't be in for 5 or 6 weeks because I wouldn't order overpriced accessories. Meanwhile the web site still says available and the price keeps changing. Has anyone actually waited 5 - 6 weeks to see what happens?
Anyway I'm now thoroughly disgusted with online ordering after this experience. In all the things I've ordered online in the past, I've never run into all these problems.
86th St Photo & Video is a scam outfit running the modern day equivalent of a "bait & switch" without the switch.
Just to be clear, I WILL NEVER, NEVER, NEVER ORDER FROM AN UNKOWN ONLINE VENDOR WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING THE RATINGS ON RESELLER RAINTGS.COM, SO HELP ME GOD!
HEY NY ATTORNEY GENRAL , YOUR ONLINE VENDORS ARE OUT OF CONTROL.
P.S. This is a great site and the consumers first line of defense against fraud and unnecessary aggravation. I just wish I had found it a week sooner."
"Just got scammed! Same drill. Since I did not purchase any accessories (which I later saw were ridiculously priced) I got the email that it was back ordered 5-6wks. Even though the guy who I confirmed the order with said he was sending it to shipping that day. Watch out for a few other of these places, which are easily recognizable now!..."
"Ordered a Camcorder from this company due to the price. They sent me an email advising me that I had to confirm the order. They subsequently called me and told me that my order would be shipped that day. They then tried to sell me high cost accessories. When I declined they sent me an email within one hour advising me that the item was on back order. This in spite of the fact that I had talked to Steve in their Verification Department only an hour ago. I subsequently checked them out and determined that this is their regular practice. Beware of the lowest price seller. They are a rip off. Don't buy from them
Bill Schweikert"
"I placed an order for Canon SD 850 IS. I got a call yesterday asking me to call them back to verify my information. The salesperson told me it was a great camera but the battery was bad and that I should get an extra battery for it.
WHat a scam. Of course, I refused. I had researched the camera a lot before I bought it. An hour later I got an email saying it was back-ordered and that it will take 4 - 5 weeks. Another hour later, I get another email from Shlomi Albagdadi (****@****) saying that it is back-ordered for 5-6 weeks.
Very shady company. This company must be sued and closed immediately. They have my credit card information. I will be researching to see how I can protect myself against this merchant who has sensitive information about me (name, address and credit card)."
"Wat a scam! No wonder why their price was so low..All I have to say is STAY AWAY FROM THEM!"
"I ordered 2 canon sd950 cameras on the website. I had called the store previously to confirm availabilty and to make sure it was not grey market goods. After placing the order I received an email requesting that I call to verify the order, I called and was given the hard sell for accessories I did not need. One hour after the phone call I received an email informing me that the product was not in stock and would be back ordered for 4-5 weeks. I called several times and whenever I asked about the status of their canon sd950 inventory I was given the runaround about being unable to find out or I was hung up on.I find the company's misleading and aggressive sales procedures deplorable. This company should implement better customer service with less wait time on the phones, better inventory tracking to ensure accurate stock and not least of all better salesperson training to be courteous and helpful.
86th Street Photo and Video advertises deceptively low prices on cameras then tries to force customers to buy the accessories at highly inflated prices to make up for the loss leader. When a customer declines to purchase the exhorbitantly priced accessories, the order item becomes suddenly on backorder with no notice by email or phone. I sent an email through thier website to cancel my order. "