Genius Camera

I suppose this falls under the category of things probably being too good to be true if they seem too good to be true. I ordered a camera from Genius Camera because they had the best price. Once you order, you have to call them on the phone to verify. When you do, they inform you about the price of all the other stuff that normally comes in the box from the manufacturer. By the time the guy was finished charging obscene prices for things that Canon ships in the box with the camera, it was MORE than B and H and even more than my local pro camera shop. In my opinion, you should avoid Genius Camera like the plague.

I've had this happen with a video camera I was buying. I searched the internet for days looking for the best deal. (the camera was $2,400) Then I place the order, the company charges my credit card, and then I get the e-mail. After calling the place and going through the ringer, I was strong and refused the desperate upsale that they must do. the guy on the phone told me nothing out of the ordinary, but the next day i get an e-mail that my order had been canceled and it could take up to 30 days to refund my credit card. My lesson was learned, and I have never ordered from the bargain basement internet shops ever again. My suggestion Cancel the order and get the one from B&H then post a review stating what happened a price comparison web site.

Years ago one of my friends asked me to buy him, among other things, a Pentax K-1000. This before the WWW had been invented.

I went through the latest issues of Shutterbug, MP, and PP and listed every offer to sell a K1000 that had a price. Those with no price, just "call," were suspect and rejected. Then I sorted them in increasing order of price and called all who advertised a price no higher than 47th St Camera's. For those of you who don't remember, until they went bankrupt 47th St. was the gold standard of mail order camera dealers, the B&H, if you will, of its day.

Every advertiser whose advertised price was below 47th St's refused to sell at the advertised price. All wanted at least 47th St's price. 47th St honored their advertised price, got the sale.

Nothing much has changed since. The gold standard, these days B&H, advertises real prices, the chiselers who advertise lower prices won't sell at the advertised price.

Always check with:

http://www.resellerratings.com

For example, Genius Camera ratings were:

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller8519.html

Wow, a store with a 0.00 rating, not one single satisfied customer...

Thanks for the link, that's a good place to check before buying from an unknown source.

BTW Dan, it's 47th Street Photo, not Camera. I remember them well. Their prices were indeed the best, but customer service was not included in the price.

It's not just that the "chiseler's" won't sell at the advertized price... but they often don't really have what they advertized. If they don't have it, they can't really sell it!

BrianShaw said:

It's not just that the "chiseler's" won't sell at the advertized price... but they often don't really have what they advertized. If they don't have it, they can't really sell it!

Click to expand...

Well, if you want all the extras that they are hard selling you, they have it. It's when you won't play along with their scam that they suddenly become out of stock.