"My Experience With A ROYAL Scam...

Customer service is AWFULL!!! A nightmare to say the least. Sales reps are highly confusing, arrogant and pushy to no end. The word "Bully" makes these people seem kind. Ordering online is a breeze, until they call you to "CON"firm your order and try to sell you an overpriced item or package. The items on the website are falsely advertised. They will try and tell you how big a company they are, however the reality is there are only a few people in this hole-in-the-wall scam shop. Cancelling an order is impossible, they will talk you out of it by telling you that you can return the item if you are not happy with it. There is a 5% restocking fee, even if they send you non working items. No refund on the shipping either. Shipping is EXTREMELY high...an $11 package at UPS cost me $60 from Royal Camera.

I was screamed at, hung up on, belittled and most of all embarrassed that I fell for these "to good to be true" prices. Most of the other reviews on this company (on any web site you visit) are on target and follow very closely to my experience with Royal Camera, so I will not go to much further into detail. Royal camera also holds an "Unsatisfactory" report with the BBB. They have about 3 other surnames they do business as. The owners name is also listed on the BBB report if you need it. The only sales rep name I could get was Pete. (if that was even his real name).
I ordered a Canon 20D camera, body only, advertised at $889, and a Canon 100mm macro f2.8 lens for $449. My total bill when all said and done was $1900 and change. That was after they told me I had to pay an extra $200 or so on the battery and software bundle for the camera. Later I found out if I didn't upgrade to this I would have received a Japanese version of the camera. But my screaming fiance had to pry that information out of the sales rep. I did receive my items with in a week, I will admit the shipping was very fast. But the battery was bad, there was no canon rebate coupon, and they sent me a cheaper Sigma 100mm lens (retails about $100 less than the one I ordered). They tried to tell me it was an upgrade for all my previous troubles I experienced with the sales rep. When I said I just wanted a refund, they argued with me. Then he proceeded to tell me I would only get $1700 back (minus the 5% restocking and shipping fees) WOW...so I had no choice but to take their offer of resending me a working item with the correct lens. The rep also offered to throw in an extra battery. Fine. The salesman was finally giving up because my very displeased yelling fiance gave him a piece of his mind. They later said that they were out of stock on the batteries and that they would give me a UV filter instead. Im glad we called back because I have about 4 of those cheap things. So in the long run, they rushed the shippment, I received the correct items and they threw in an extra 128mb compact flash card. They also accidentally gave me an extra 1 GB card as well. Im not sure if that was unintentional or not. So all worked out with a whole lot of uneccessary stress that would have all been avoided if I did more research on the company I ordered from.

Thank you to all these helpfull forums. It has helped me learn more about this company throughout my order. NEVER AGAIN ROYAL CAMERA!!! "

"I live in Copenhagen Denmark/Europe and ordered some lenses from Royal Camera. They sent two wrong (not so expensive)lenses, admited the mistake - but refused to take them back and send me the right ones.

This shop is a disgrace.

Thomas Skjold
Copenhagen/Denmark
"

"I had one of the WORST phone conversation I have ever experienced with this store. I own a production company and was prepared to order two Canon XL2 cameras. The description on the royalcamera website does not mention if the item, listed as cnxl2, comes with everything pictured, specifically the 20X zoom lens, viewfinder, ect. I called the 800 number and the representative was curt and hung up on me before I could get all my questions resolved. I called back and was connected to the same guy who immediately started arguing, calling names, being belligerent & extremely rude and hung up on me again. Will not do buisness with these people!"

"watchout for rony SHy! these guys are scammers. they charge you outrageous prices for low-end nikon stuff. they tell you a shipping charge of 15$ then when you return the items they tell you its a 7% restocking fee and a higher fee for shipping. these people are rude and complete scammers. BEWARE!!!!"

"The website has misleading prices which turn out to be prices for "overseas models" that probably never ship anyway. They scam you into buying the "USA model" and tell you that you need to buy things that really already come with the camera.
They quoted me a price to be charged to my card and when I received the invoice it was $100 more and included an outdated rebate form for $100. They had never mentioned a rebate and flat out lied about the anount charged to my card.
I need not go on since you can Google Royal Camera (AKA Camera City, Inc.; CCI Camera City; The Camera Source, Inc.; TCS Camera) and find literally hundreds of reports like this.
STAY AWAY FROM ROYAL CAMERAS!!!"

"They said it was a full factory package at a low price and then said but I had to purchase the batter, battery charger (which is included) for $400 each and then pay $350 shipping. They lied when answering each of my questions. I confirmed that I would get an "extra" battery and was told yes, but it never arrived and their customer service said I got what I ordered. I ended up with a decent deal but they lied through the whole process and were very misleading."

"Ok. As you might well read in all the other reviews, the guys at Royal Camera are arrogant bullies, based out of Brooklyn,New York and every bit a local thug as one can be. What surprises me is, how are these people still in business, allowed to transact online. They are fraudulent,plain and simple. They are illegal.

The price that I was quoted through froogle.com was a good one.Almost the cheapest I could find anywhere on the net. It was an alluring proposition and I thought I should go for it. A Nikon body with lens for under $700!

I ordered online and got a confirmation.Having given my phone number, a guy immediately calls( within 10 minutes) to 'confirm' my order for shipment. The guy then asks me if I need a memory card to which I replied that I dont. He replied back asking how I could use it without a memory card. I was taken aback a bit, given his rudeness. I said politely I dont need itas I already have one from another camera. He then asked me if I needed a camera bag. At this point I was beginning to get concerned,as I was not sure where we were headed, cos I had already placed my order online. I said no, and he said it is free. I said, in that case let me have it. 'I'm sorry, its too late' - that was his answer! Unbelievable. We argued a little over it and then he asks me if I needed a battery. I said I assumed the camera came with a battery. He said no, and gave me 2 models- $169 and $219. I was stunned! I mean how coudl this happen . Although I was not sure, if I could buyt the battery elsewhere, I replied that I do not need it. He started raising his voice and kept asking me how I can use a camera without tha battery and I refused to buy it,repeatedly,maybe 4-5 times.

He then said, its gonna take a month for me to get camera. He had this undiluted ferocity in his voice, that it was scary to listen. He definitely was trying to prove a power here. I asked why and I stated it was his business and thats all that I get.He then hung the phone on me!!

I hate to say it, but this kind of Brooklyn thrash talk was not what I expected.I was still in shock at the end of the conversation. From a business perspective, their plan is to get you in, with the lowest possible price bait and quickly ramp it up with accesories. Memory card is $400, 5 times the price at amazon! Battery, was close to $200, again 5 times that of market rate. If this is not fraud, then what is.

Another thing- they are are not going to go throug h the sale-if you do not buy the accesories. I am not sure if they loose on it, but the deal is dead ender if you expect to buy products at the price they have quoted.

What bullies. There should be something somebody can do. I mean I woudl like to report this, on the basis of fraud and coersion.Pl contact me if you know anything more."

"After waiting 6 weeks for shipping I was told that the Panasonic AG DVC30 camera I purchased was on indefinite back order. Of course the overpriced attachments had shipped and had been charged separately. I was told that for 600 dollars more I could have a US made camera in the box. It is the old bait and switch tactic. I was embarrassed that I fell for it...
If the price is too good to be true, it usually is..."

"I tried to order the camera body. I called to order knowing that it doesn't come with a battery. The guy tries to sell me a battery and charger, I said I don't need it, I just want the camera body as stated on the website. They guy calls me a liar that I don't have the battery and hangs up on me. What a horrible company, I don't mind buying a "grey" market camera."

"I ordered a Panasonic PV-GS250 from their website. They didn't send a confirmation email, but Larry called me a few hours later to confirm my address. He started trying to sell me a case and I told him I had already ordered accessories from another website. He laughed at me. Then he told me that I had ordered the international version of the camera, which didn't come with a battery or any accessories at all. He said the instructions and labels on the camera were all in Chinese and it would take 5 weeks to get it! He said they could ship the US version today, but it cost $300 more. Realizing that I was being taken by a bait and switch scam, I asked him to cancel my order. I found this store through froogle.com. It had the lowest price for the camera, but now I know why."

"Worst possible experience you can imagine. Total scammers. I asked if it was a black market model initially they said no. Then it was changed when I would not pay insane prices for accessories and they changed their story to it WAS a black market model and would take months to get instead of the original few days after I had bought 2 cameras for resale. I lost over $100 after all was done and had nothing to show for it. Only part of the nightmare but just say NO to buying anything from Royal!"

"Royal Camera & Video (www.royalcamera.com) ripped me off!

i purchased a lens from them for an agreed price of $1699 + $50 shipping. they told me it was a new lens with certain features like IS (image stabalization) that was a brand new product (no reviews) from Sigma and that i could test it out and return it if i didn't like it or exchange it for another lens for no additional cost beyond just shipping it back. i fell for it because i believed i could just return it. I wa even given a fake model number Sigma PE 70-200 2.8L

when i got the lens it was a different lens (worth $1000 less) with no IS. so i called to return it and the supervisor, Mr Ronnie Shy said they would not refund shipping. they offered to rebate me 50, 100, 200, 400 even $600 if i kept the lens which was clearly not what i wanted. so we agreed that i would return it and get refunded for the lens amount minus shipping.

then upon careful inspection of my receipt, i realized that they had only billed me for the total sum of $1750.00, no shipping or handling, no itemized bill..

concerned, i called back to see how much they would charge for the lens i had been sold.
a salesman told me the price was $999.00 and $15 for the same type of shipping.

with this info, i called the supervisor (Mr.Ronnie Shy) back to ask him nicely how much he was planning on charging me for the shipping, hoping that at in the worst case scenario this had cost me $50 plus return shipping...

well he calmly stated that the shipping was $150! so when i told him i had been quoted $1699 + 50 he said " we can't sell that lens for more than $1600 and we have to charge you $150 for shipping"
when i told him that i had just been offered $15 shipping he denied it and well now you know...
after 2 more conversations, where i told him i was going to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and a dispute with my credit card company, Mr. Ronnie Shy offered to reduce the shipping to $100 and refund me $1650. This is still $50 more than i had been quoted.

He also refused to sell me the other lens a Canon 70-200 2.8L IS lens that had been offered online for $1539 plus $80 shipping. the same lens i was promised that i could exchange for at NO COST and this includes shipping.
i was lied to about the services offered and i would never have bought anything from them , had i been told their policy up front. now i need to pay shipping and insurance to return this unwanted merchandise
i feel that they will play with the numbers to make $$ off of you no matter what. each salesperson quotes a different price and they are not clear or honest with their sale or billing. this needs to end."

"I've purchased my Canon EOS 20D and my order was immediately processed. Accurate packing and fast shipping. Will definitely shop here again. Of course after some bargaining had been done."

"I just bought a camera from these guys no less than a week ago. I'm happy. They knew all the answers to all of my questions. the price wasn't as low as expected but i got a bunch of free accesories. Thank you. "

"In the past I would never leave comments for any typr of business. However there is always a first for everything. After searching through website after website for the best prices on the new Nikon Coolpix 8800, I stumbled across the royal camera website. I couldn't believe the prices were this good. So I decided to call them directly, and realized that even though the representatives were a bit pushy with the accesories, overall I felt that I came out with a much better deal than I thought I would get. And it was shipped next day air to my house. Thank you Royal Camera."