"BAIT and SWITCH. Called to order an Sony HDR-SR12 camcorder from this merchant. After reading several reviews, called and was transferred three times. When I asked about the product, they asked "what package?". When I replied that I simply wanted the camcorder, they replied "out of stock" and then slammed down the phone on me. Unreal."
"I was about to purchase the Sony HDR-SR12 from this company due to the incredibally low price until I decided to do some further investigation which led me to this site. There were numerous complaints about this company including several that indicated that low prices were due to the company actually opening the product packaging and "piece mealing" the contents. You can buy the product at a low price but you won't be able to use it until you purchase an "accessory package" that, essentially, gives you back what you were supposed to get in the fully packaged product and a few low-end junk items to make you feel like you really got a deal.
I was surprised to find that they didn't mislead me when I called and asked whether the product available online was the fully packaged product with all accessories. I waited on hold for about 3 minutes, a quick switch to the live line and held for another 30 seconds and a woman answered. I asked my question and she immediately forwarded my call to someone else. A man picks up, I ask the same question and he quickly responds with "No, that would cost $1,099." I went with that and began to mention that there was no option to get the fully packaged product online when I noticed about two words into my sentence that I had been hung up on.
These people are anything but professional. I don't know that you're actually getting a new product either (as the website states that all products are brand new). I'm beginning to believe that they're possibly refurbs or that you're actually getting a product that they unpackaged to sell the individual pieces. Is that even legal?
If you're looking for a good online vendor of camera/camcorder equipment with good prices, I've had much luck with Adorama.com. I think they're far more professional and their prices have been the best that I've found online. In fact, I'm going to make my camcorder purchase with them."
"HORRIBLE!!!
I purchased a Canon HG10 from their website on Sunday (they emailed me immediately saying I needed to call them.) Well, they are supposed to be open on sunday but never were. I called this morning and they told me that the Camera I ordered is on backorder for 3 weeks. They also said I purchased the Chinese model without a viewfinder. Viewfinders come on every camera - what a bunch of crap. The sales guy told me they would ship out a non-functional video camera if I didn't purchase a viewfinder for an additional $172. I asked them to cancel my order, have not recieved a confirmation so I'm cancelling and changing my CC. I have no idea how these people make money when everyone cancels with them."
"Ordered a Fuji S700 for my wife, got the camera, no warranty card, no lens cap, no cable. Called them (now four times) each time it was either being shipped out that week or backordered and now ready to ship this week, still no lens cap. I guess I should be happy no charges on my CC, and no lens cap, but the camera works fine. Fuji wants 22 bucks for the cap, and 8.50 for the string to attach the cap. Anyone know where to get a lens cap cheaper? Just don't feel like paying thirty bucks for a lens cap, + shipping.
Definitely would not do any business with these crooks again. Just glad that I found out now and not much damage done. What is this world coming to? "
"I too found their prices too good to pass up and was excited to order a Canon HG10 with an intermediate package for cheaper than the camera alone on other sites. I called to check on my order since I hadn't gotten it after a week. I was transfered 3 different times and they asked for my 3 digit code on the back of my credit card. I abliged and they then tried to sell me a battery charger for $189! I said no thank you and left it at my original order. I started looking online at reviews and after reading this site, I called again today to check on the status of my order and was told that it was on backorder. I cancelled my order and called my credit card company to cancel my card! Thanks for saving me a lot of time and frustration with this company! "
"Worlds biggest "Bait and Switch" and "Scam" company I have had the misfortune of dealing with.
Ordered a GPS on 5/25/08, as per MO had to confirm my order 2 days later. While confirming, they tried to sell me "updated S/W", which I declined. They then assured me that my order would ship in 7-10 business days.
Four calls and 2 months later, still waiting for my Back-Ordered GPS.
How can we put these theives out of business???????"
"Scam, Scam, Scam! What can I say? Everything you read here about TheCameraProfessionals is true! In fact, they are probably the same company as Sonic Cameras (soniccameras.com) which I have also wrote a terrible review for. Anything you see on their site with a great price they do NOT have in stock and probably never did.
On Saturday 26th July I order a Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR Camera Body for $409.99 AND a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens for $879.00. Great prices. I ordered with AMEX card. I received the email for confirmation Saturday like everyone else here (and how Sonic Camera does it). I had to wait until Sunday to call because they were closed. I called to confirm and was told the camera was NOT in stock. They tried to sell me a different camera which of course I was not going to do. I said place the Camera on back order then and send me my lens. So now I wait for the lens which will probably never show up. I am watching my AMEX card closely!
I have no idea what these people are doing. Sonic Camera and The CameraProfessionals are spending money on advertising (how I found out about them), but they have none of these great deals in stock. I realize they try to sell you something different, but most looking for a camera know what they want and are unlikely to change just because it's not in stock. If stealing credit cards is their scam, how long can they last?
Did some research and found thecameraprofessionals.com domain was registered here:
Avenida do Infante 50
Funchal, Madeira 9004-521
Funchal is the capital of the Madeira Islands of Portugal! soniccameras.com has a "private" registration through GoDaddy so you can't get any information on them. I just don't understand these companies."
"Well, I pulled the trigger and ordered a Nikon D300 body from them. Got the usual email wanting me to call them to confirm. I did call and did not really have to wait long to talk to a rep. He wasn't rude, but not a warm and fuzzy type either, he simply asked for my order number and then said I was confirmed and that the camera would ship out in 3-5 days. Have not seen a charge on my credit card so not certain if it will ever ship or not. I am just wondering, with so many bad ratings, how do these clowns stay in business? Update 4 Aug - I emailed them again with my invoice and asking for an update. No surprise, no reply and still no camera. I should consider myself lucky, they still haven't charged me anything either."
"I ordered a Kodak Easy share camera from HD camera world.com, when I got my camera in the mail the invoice said the camera professionals.com. It looks like they changed their website name to avoid all the bad reviews. I guess I'm going to cancel my credit card because I'm terrified (after reading other peoples horror stories) that they are going to charge my card for other stuff. My experience wasn't all that bad though. There were a few things missing from my package, which I can deal with, because I called them and they said they would have the missing items out tomorrow. So hopefully with this company's new name they have changed their ways! But just to be on the safe side I'm gonna cancel my card too. "
"As many have stated here the pricing hooked me and was hard to resist. I received the same placing of the order with no response. When I called they either tried to upsell ("you want maps on your gps"), pretend the order is being shipped (3 weeks and no order) or being just plain rude ("I don't blame anyone for not trying to help you on Sunday, it's Sunday for God's sake") All the signs are there, no email to send to, bait and switch tactics, and rude, unprofessional behavior. I guess the potential savings clouded my judgement, along with all the consumer awards posted on their site. Definately do go here."
"Worst experience with online merchant. They took the order, and then said it was out of stock. Over a month later, they now say they do not have this item anymore (but you can order it online). To make matters worse, they used my credit card to buy other stuff and ship to misc people. My credit card company stopped it. SCAM!!!! Stay away!!!!"
"I ordered from them... use AMEX instead of Visa... I wish I read the forums before to place the order. The receipt to print wasn't on letterhead just a plain blank sheet with no references at all. I try to call and there was always an answer machine that tells you to go on line. I sent an email canceling the order. No answer from them and no charge on my cc... so far!"
"If I had read the info below I would not have ordered, but I "lucked out:" bought a Nikon S10, now discontinued by Nikon but had all the features I wanted, & the price was almost "too good to be true." I also had the mandatory phone verification but resisted all the upsell, maybe because I had already ordred an extra battery at twice the usual price. (The "high capacity" battery is the same 1100 mah as the standard one.) When the camera came in a plain cardboard box & was obviously repackaged, had NO warranty card, I called Nikon. They couldn't tell me over the phone if the unit was USA or gray market, the only way to tell was to register the purchase and...it went through, thus showing me that it was a USA product. I don't know if it "fell off a truck" since the repackaging is unexpected and sloppy, but it seems to work okay right now. In summary: the price was too good, they were rude, accessories were way overpriced (so was Abe's) but the camera is a USA, not a grey market."
"These people are nothing more than con artists. Criminals.
I ordered a camera - price too good to be true. I got an email saying I had to CALL and VERIFY my order. What? Nobody does that.
After repeated attempts, dropped calls, and rude New Jersy guys on the phone, I confirmed my order. He tried to sell me more crap at very high prices. I declined, and he said I'd have the camer in 4-5 days. Great.
The camera never came and after two weeks, I called, and they said it was on backorder. BS.
I cancelled my order because of what I read on this forum. Someone even said that shortly after placing an order with these crooks, their card was charged in CHina or something.
Now it happened to me. Somebody made three purchases of crappy 14K gold Dale Earnhardt Jr CHARM BRACELTS which they no doubt intend to turn around and seller to trailer trash on eBay.
BOTTOM LINE:
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THESE GUYS. "
"This is what they sent me and after a 45 min phone call I was told that the battery that comes with it was a special 15 min and the better one was $110.00 extra. I didn't know that Sony made a 15 min battery
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TheCameraProfessionals.com
Same crap, ordered the same camera from B&H with free shipping,but needed it asap as I was a gift, so with the next day air, and the free shipping the freight was $24.00 and I had it in Chicago at 9am the next day"