"I ordered a pair of canon 10x30 IS binoculars from Hotbuys on the recommendation of a colleague. The price was going to be about half of what I would have had to pay to order them in Australia. After I provided passport and credit card information, Hoybuys declined to accept my credit card (a foreign one) I made a bank transfer which was promptly acknowledged, and shortly afterwards a USPS tracking number which worried me because of a long delay on a mail item sent to me by USPS two or three years ago. However, the delivery arrived in excellent order on 18 August, in the Canon box, and the glasses appear to be in excellent order. At all stages I have had courteous messages from Hotbuys though I have not spoken to them by telephone.

I have read some of the very dissatisfied reviews on this site and if those experiences have been typical, then I have obviously been lucky. However, I prefer to believe that they are an unfortunate minority, and that my experience is more normal. "

"I’ve purchased GPS device from these criminals. Before placing my order I’ve got conformation from them, that the device is brand new, but it came used in bad condition. I’ve sent them back and was promised to get a new one. After week or so I’ve got the second shipment from them and guess what… the item is used again. I do not want to spend any more money for sending them their crap back. I’ll be calling tomorrow to my credit card company to reverse transaction, and will send them back the item only after I get shipping cost compensation. NEVER HAVE A DEAL WITH THIS SHOP."

"BEWARE OF THIS SELLER they are just stealing money.
I can’t believe I made the order and sent them money without checking reviews but I did.
I ordered canon 40d and Tamron lenses on April 28,. The payment was by bank transfer( I’m oversees and they didn’t let me to pay by credit card) and the shipment to Chicago. After FOUR weeks I felt anxious (the items didn’t arrive) and then I read reviews which was rather terrifying. We called them (stories like others – keep on hold, talking every time with sb else etc.) and finally they informed that they have the body but the lenses are out of stock. They proposed other lenses for extra 100$ . By then we knew that they are frauds and I would never pay them any extra money. We phoned and email that we want to cancel the order (they have no the kit we wanted) and get our money back. After few days the package arrived – open of course, without lenses (only canon body) but the invoice was for everything. How it’s possible to send the invoice for sth which is missing? The information the same as always – the lenses are out of stock and I can buy more expensive one. Now we are still fighting for the rest of the money but I’ve no hope I’ll get my money back.

I’m from so called developing country (Poland), we do a lot of internet transactions(here and in USA) and they were completely satisfying so far. I just can’t believe that such a company is still on American market (and for example being in price grabber site) – THEY ARE CRIMINALS for me. I hope there is a penalty for such a frauds?? If you advice me how to harm them (being oversees) I would be grateful. THEY SHOULDN’T GET AWAY WITH THIS for so long!!!
I don’t believe any positive reviews about the seller.
"

"I purchased a Portable Magellan GPS from these clowns and got the runaround. I was promised a brand new unit and everytime I called to get a status, they had an excuse for me. "It's shipped." or "Our system is down, we can't check until next week..." blah blah blah.

These guys are a typical New York company that does anything and everything to make your life a living hell. I asked numerous times for a tracking number and kept getting excuses like DHL's system is down, our shipping manager is not here today, etc. At one point, I finally got a tracking number from them (2 weeks after it was charged to my credit card) and it was fake.

I immediately called them to cancel my order and they said that it was already shipped and promptly hung up on me. I called back again and I said that I would reverse the charge on my credit card and their response was "Whatever..." and then hung up on me again.

The next day, I get a 2nd day DHL tracking number in my inbox and upon arrival, the unit was damaged (obviously not new since it had a melted spot on the bottom), was missing a critical part of the window mount making it useless in a car, and missing a key registration number to get the included free traffic updates. On top of all this, the box was a half-assed attempt at making it look like a real box. It had a photocopied graphic glued to it with the product name and model cut out and re-glued.

I now have a dispute going with the BBB and my credit card company and hopefully, i'll get my issue resolved and I'll be done with them for good.

My 2c... dont' save the extra bucks... Spend a little more with a reputable company and tell your friends to avoid these guys like the plague.

Update: Magellan called me back and confirmed, they indeed sent me a REFURBISHED unit instead of a new one and they tried to cover up the fact by blatently altering the packaging it came in. Buyer beware! They are actively engaging in bait and switch, unfair practices, and fraud.

Update #2: 8/25/08 - Talked to "Howard" and he lies about the refund. It's been more than 30 days and I'm still waiting for my credit card reversal. CROOKS. If it were up to me, I'd get everyone on here and start a class action against them if not only to get these clowns out of business. Nobody deserves to be swindled like this."

"Well, I ordered from this place before I read any reviews on it. Bad mistake I am thinking. So far it has been a week, no item, no posted shipping info on the site and when I called for an ETA they said DHL says Delivery on 5/13. Never gave a tracking #. That is the business I am in. I do Imports. Well we will see if it comes when they say. Also note that under the comments section of their site, the last entry is in 2003. 5/14 Well guess what, it did not come. They still could not supply me with a tracking #. I was told to call Frank 5/15 for the shipping info. More to come. Perhaps it is time for the Attorney General to look into this scam."

"I never received an order number. These guys are crooks. I bought a Yamaha digital piano from them and have been getting the run around ever since. I have never received my keyboard, although they charged my chargecard immediately. Yesterday they gave me an airbill shipping number from DHL to then told me they never called DHL for pick up. Stay away from them. On Ebay they have lots of listings under OnlySales."

"NEVER EVER BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS SITE.
Worst site ever, I sent them emails,no response!! I called them at 5:00 PM, was on hold until 5:30 and then finally called back at 5:40 when some arrogant (all of the reps are actually brutal) customer rep said, there was nobody who could help me because the department was closed. After reading other person's review, it becomes more clear that this is a rip off site as it sounds when you talk to customer rep also. I am still on hold while I am writing this review. I regret that I order, I ordered Garmin c550 which was about the same price after coupons from BUY.com so even though my order didn't arrive I canceled it. Unfortunately we all come to know about this site after we all have already bought something. STILL ON HOLD!!!NEVER EVER ORDER FROM THIS SITE."

"Beware of this Seller. Called this seller a couple of times before I placed order just to make sure what I was ordering was new and in full us warantee. Was informed by frank and victor that everything was brand new. When I received the merchandise and inspected it, it was used/refurbished with only a 90 day warantee. Scratches on handset.
I called and finally was able to talk to supervisor (Ade), he tried to convince me it was a brand new unit. Finally received a rma Number and waiting to receive my refund. But how much of a refund do i get? i also had to spent around $10.00 to ship it back. Now it costs me more than some other site, I'm loosing money. Don't buy from this seller. He is a cheat and liar."

"I am VERY, VERY, VERY DISSATISFIED with the level of customer support that I have received from this vendor!!!!!

A couple of hours after purchasing a Panasonic DVD Recorder, I had discovered that it did not have the feature that I wanted. So, I called to cancel and was told that it was too late to cancel. They had told me to wait until the package arrives and send it back for return.

When the package did arrive a week and a half later, I tried to contact this vendor for information for return. They placed me on endless holds many times. When I did get someone on the phone, they were very unpleasant and did not want to help. They had promised to fax me some information to assist me with my return, but they never did. I called them back and still did not very the assistance that I needed. At one point, they even told me that their Returns department do not work on Fridays, so no one can help me. Is that possible for a department not to work on Friday!!! This is the worst company that I have ever bought anything from. I will NEVER buy anything from them again, and would highly discourage anyone from doing the same!!!!"

"I purchased a Garmin 350 from this company last week. I recieved the product yesterday, one week from purchase. It came in excellent condition with the correct and updated software installed. I have no complaints at this time and would recommend using this seller with one caution. I was unaware that the 2008 software was not included with the product and recieved a solicitation to upgrade for $20. I was able to get them down to $6 for the upgrade. That being said, it was and still is the best deal available for the product."

"In nearly four weeks since the order, I have neither been sent the item ordered nor given a good explanation for the delay.

They do not provide any updates via email or phone. Item was represented as "in stock" at the time of order although clearly not true.

Subsequent calls have varied from "it just shipped" to we don't know what happened. The online tracking system provides no information, and requires you to call at your cost.

Despite the inability to deliver the item they continue to show item available for sale.

** UPDATE ** After one last call they offered to refund the charge but with no good excuse other than "they don't know when they will get them.""

"This is an email I sent Jan 20/2008:
I placed an order on Nov 23, 2007, Invoice #143988. The order was not mailed until Dec 10, 2007. That was 2 1/2 weeks later.

I received the order about Dec 17, 2007. Upon receiving my order, I connected by telephone and discovered it did not work properly. I phoned in and was told to return the phone, RMA #121920070H.

I mailed the telephone back to you on Dec 19, 2007. The tracking information says you received it On Dec 24, 2007.

I phoned to check on the return on about Jan 8, 2008. I was told another telephone had been sent the day before.

To date, I have not received the telephone. Tomorrow is Jan 21, 2008, almost 2 months since a placed my order.

It's hard to imagine that a company that plans to stay in business is this poor at handling an order. If I do not receive the telephone this coming week or if it arrives and is not working properly or is a rebuilt unit, I will be purchasing the telephone from another company. I've been very patient with this order. I need a telephone and it is most inconvenient to be waiting so long.

If I do not have satisfaction from you this coming week, I will be advising others of my experience.

Jan 25th: I did not receive the telephone today, nor have I received a reply to my email. I advise people not to purchase from this company. I feel they have been dishonest and
unreliable."

"Bottom line, company took money but I have received no item, nor the refund I asked for.

After ordering a TomTom from Hotbuyselectronics.com I realized I had not ordered the right model. I called their 800 to see if they had the correct model (within 5 minutes of ordering it) and they did not. I canceled the order. Gentleman assured me my order was canceled no problem. Two days later $184 was charged to my card. I contacted the company, they assured me they would reverse.
After talking with on the phone and emailing the company about 10 times (each time they promise to give me a refund that day or the next) I still have not seen a refund...going on 3 weeks. I now have to contest the charge with my credit card company.
This company appears to be a fly by night."

"I ordered a scanner from this company on January 26, and then did the search for reviews - so I expected to be ripped off. Instead, my package arrived sooner than promised, the product is complete and brand new. Although the box had been previously opened, none of the sealed plastic bags were opened. And, to date, my credit card has not been charged. I made one phone call which was promptly answered by a poorly trained person who promised me an email the next day with the tracking number. I did receive an email a couple days later but no tracking number. I sent a nasty email but the next day, the scanner was delevered. I probably would not buy anything else from them based on their sloppy business practices, but at least this one customer has had a good expereince."

"This is the worst so called company ever.

No where in their listings do they say that the item is refurbished or used, which means, under the law that the item is new, factory sealed in retail box. I noticed they appeared to have the best price on a canon fax machine, so I called them to make sure the item was NEW and they assured me it is/was. However, they would not confirm this in writing/on email when I asked them several times on email. However, I received a refurbished item, that even looked USED, and it was sold and advertised as NEW. No wonder the price appeared so reasonable/low on this item, because it was NOT new. It was shipped in a plain brown box with the words REFURBISHED taped over on the outside of the box!! This is totally illegal. I immediately sent the item back and it has been 45 days and I still have not received a refund back to my credit card. Luckily, I have disputed this item with my credit card company (within 30 days of purchase), so I am not worried. I absolutely hate his company. They fast talk you on the phone and they do NOT answer emails and they are located in BROOKLYN, NY of course! Total scammers. When I called to complain they begged me to keep the item and claimed they would give me a lower price, I said HECK NO. They do not keep their word on anything anyway! Get it in writing folks or it means nothing with this company (and legally)!! "