Prestige Camera sells Gray Market in a bait and switch.

[Touchdown]

The victim? ME!

I specifically asked them if it was a US D200 with a NIkon warranty, and he said yes. How did I find out? I sent it to Nikon of course. As some here may know, I've got some hot pixel problems on mine, and have had a white balance problem since I first got it. It may also be a return repair from Europe (where Nikon told me it should be), that was cleaned up and sold as new. I called them today and the girl said it was grey market. I said it couldn't be, and she said they know it is by the serial number. It's a European serial number.

I should have known it. Strange that a major camera manufacturer would pack in 200 pages of instructions into flimsy paper that was stapled, instead of the color card stock covers and glued spines from my other Nikon products, especially on a new flagship prosumer model, but I didn't have a clue, and accepted that they were telling me the truth.

Nikon will not repair it, even if I offer to pay for it, because it's gray market. That $300 5 year warranty that I was suckered into buying is also useless (Mack warranties, who may or may not be legit). I know this because I tried to take my camera to a local repair shop before sending it to Nikon, and the repairman said only Nikon can repair them. He hasn't been sent any manuals, schematics or tools to work on them, nor can he get any parts (like a new image sensor) so any other repair shop will be just as useless...and clueless to repair such a machine with so much proprietary hardware in it. How can I get a camera repaired if the only people with the documentation and parts are the same manufacturer who won't touch my camera? Nikon has only authorized repair for the D100 and D50, and Coolpix cameras. Not even the popular D70 or D70s can be repaired by anyone other than Nikon USA themselves.

I called Prestige, waited 20 minutes for someone to pick up. Someone did, and slammed the phone back down without answering, as if they could use the excuse that "we just got disconnected". I sent it from my work e-mail addr...the one that says att.com, so I hope they don't think I'm that stupid to swallow that one, being a phone tech and knowing what a real accidental call drop sounds like. So I e-mailed them Today, and also included the little nugget about being hung up on. I'll check back Tomorrow to see if they bother to write back.

Then I googled Prestige Camera+grey market and came up with this story ( which happened about the same time I ordered mine)...

http://www.aestheticdesign.com/prestige-camera.html

Another photog went to Brooklyn and took these of this "Camera Store". Doesn't look like a camera store to me..more like a meth lab. Sorry about the size, but those are Don Weiss' photos.







He's got more...

http://donwiss.com/pictures/BrooklynStores/#165

I am sorry to Bvar22 and others that I had told about this place. Had I known what they were all about in the first place I wouldn't have ordered from them anyhow. So in my ignorance, I apologize to anyone else who I may have turned on to this dump and forked over $2000+ to them for a D200. Keep in mind, all other stores were sold out of this camera, and they were the only ones who had it. I still paid the full price to "Prestige" that Ritz, Wolf, Adorama, Mike's, B&H or any other reputable source with an actual store would've charged. I should have known. I might have gotten a camera that didn't need any repair at all.

"Prestige Camera" is the very same company as these fine rip off artists. Only the names of the CEOs change, to brother, cousin, wife, second cousin twice removed, good buddy, etc. to keep the law two steps behind.

A&M Photoworld
Broadway Photo
Cameratopia (yeah right!)
Digital Liquidators LLC
Ghu, LLC
Preferred Photo
Regal Camera- another one that had the D200 in stock when everyone else was out.
Tronicity- Disney should sue

Oh yeah, those "5 star ratings" like at BizRate, etc. Don't trust them. They fill them out themselves.

[CC]

1. Get everything you have together

and contact your state's attorney general. Also anyone else that helps consumers. This really sucks and there should be someone that can go after these businesses. I'll do some searches and maybe others have some ideas. :hug:

[Touchdown]

3. Nikon told me they sent it back Monday.

I shoudl get it back in a couple of days. There will probably be a nasty-gram in it from them. I heard Nikon doesn't take kindly to being sent grey market cameras, but how was I to know? I can use that as documentation as well. Since I ordered over the phone, and remember asking if it had a Nikon warranty (not just a USA one...I knew that much), and told him that I wanted a US camera. He assured me it was, but I can't tell the difference. All Nikon's boxes are copper.:shrug: I am worried that it's going to be a he said/she said situation, and I wouldn't have much of a legal leg to stand on.

Now for Nikon. If this issue is soooooo damn important for them to stamp out, then why in God's green earth don't they have something on their website, displayed prominently warning prospective buyers about the shady business practices from certain on-line retailers in Brooklyn or Abe's of Maine (which is in Brooklyn)? Is it just a rote given that I should know all these things? Do they teach this at Brooks' School of Photography? I learned quite a bit today, but I surfed the web myself on this. I've beeen all over NikonUSA and NikonDigital and found nothing. No warnings about grey market products. I don't get it. I might check Olympus, Canon, Pentax, etc. to see if any manufacturer has a warning page about grey market cameras.

From now on, I'm buying at a local camera store. An actual store. You know, those ones with the bell on the door, the glass cases, the tripods you trip over, and the "Authorized Nikon re-seller" plackard on the wall. My friends can call me a sucker, but This is the first Nikon I've ever had break on me, and now I think I know why. All my others were bought at Wolf, Best Buy, and a little shop in Kansas City called Crick Camera when I lived there.

Thanks for the hug. :hug:

[CC]

4. I bet you are not the only one

and it is worth pursuing, even if it is a he said she said. You know they have done it to other people. You ask the right questions and paid full price. Now had you gotten it really, really cheap then you might be considered a sucker, but not when you are paying full price that included Nikon's import tax to the US govt. Do not be mad at yourself over it but do pursue it through the attorney general etc. Worse comes to worse we can always do an anti-Prestige website and ask for others with the same problem.
As for why Nikon doesn't list on its site, 1. would be there are so many and 2. they would need proof too or be liable. People that would lie and rip people off like this would love to go after Nikon, Canon et all. And I bet they do the same with other brands.
Try going to the Nikon EU site and see if there is somewhere there you can send it? Not sure if it is possible but it is worth trying. Also if nothing else watch for a firmware upgrade on the EU site, even if you have to make up a Canadian address to sign on to it. That may at least help with the white balance and even burned out pixels.
B&H has a good reputation now and has had one for a few years but there was a time they were known for gray market cameras etc. There are some old timer photogs that I have met that still won't deal with them because of bad past experience. Though I swear by the local camera store just for the support. That may be another place to ask for advice, they may know of others burned by Prestige.
I know how mad/brokenhearted I would be so of course I sent and am sending :hug:s. Hell I am upset with you. I wish Nikon would get more involved since it makes them look bad too.

There may be more people that have options and ideas tomorrow.

[CC]

2. Here are some links

CO Attorney General http://www.ago.state.co.us/consumer_protection.cfm?MenuPage=True
Not sure how good yours is, just know that ours is a pit bull when it comes to unlawful business practices.

FTC complaint form https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

NY state info http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/complaint.htm

The BBB site http://www.bbb.org/


So far all I have found that might help some.

[Eurobabe]

5. How did you pay for this camera? I ALWAYS buy expensive

electronics by credit card. You can dispute the sale with the merchant via the CC company. They send you a form to fill out and you can list it chapter and verse what happened, how you got "suckered." They will take the charge off your bill while in dispute, and it is alot easier to bust these companies that sell grey market goods this way.

And of course reporting to your AG always helps as someone suggested, but my first line of defense is my credit card company, they are good for something.

[Touchdown]

6. By credit card, but it was back in February.

I've had this camera for 5 months and just found out it was grey market. Their stated return policy is 30 days. Bait and Switch? That may be another avenue I can go down.

[Eurobabe]

8. I don't think it matters to the CC company

you could still try to dispute it through them, explain what happened, I betcha they'll back you up when you lay out your case. Give it a try!! I bought a Canon 20D 2 years ago, and my camera buddy gave me two companies to go to, he warned me about grey market, otherwise I never would have known.

Good luck, that really stinks. I have faith that you can resolve this through your credit card company. I've disputed several things over the years and always won the battle.

-48

[Ms. Toad]

7. Sorry about your experience.

:hug:

I love the internet - but I am also really skeptical about it, particularly where my money is involved.

Here's some things I have found helpful to make sure I don't get ripped off. I always do a two way check on warranties. If a company (particularly an on-line company) tells me they sell genuine XYZ products which will be covered by XYZ's warranty I check it in reverse by going to the XYZ website dealer listing and checking to make sure the company is listed on the XYZ website as an authorized dealer: (here's Nikon's: http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?goingto=wb_search& ) Nikon requires your zip code - I'd put in the zip code of the company I was checking out (I also reject an on-line vendor if they do not provide a physical location on their website - which I see would have kicked Prestige Camera out of the running for my business).

FWIW, I don't necessarily even believe bricks and mortar store claims - particularly if the bricks and mortar store is a newer/non-chain I might also do the reverse check on their claim to be an authorized dealer.

I also do read reviews at business rating sites (not the star rating, but the reports from folks purporting to be customers), and do a Google search - in this case - "review Prestige Camera," which doesn't always work - but in this case yields some interesting results (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=review+prestige+camera&btnG=Search )

So far, I've had pretty good luck...although I'm sure I'll hit a loser some day.

[bvar22]

9. Sorry about your problems.

:(
You owe me no apology. I knew Prestige was "Gray Market" when I bought from them, and that there would be no "Warranty Service" from NikonUSA. I took the gamble because Prestige could deliver immediately (which you verified), and 17thStreet and B&H had a 90 day back order on the D200. I was more worried that Prestige would take my money, and not deliver for 90 days.

"Gray Market" is not as shady as it sounds. It is merely equipment that has been imported from another country. If you were in Europe, a USA camera would be gray market. B&H and most credible US retailers currently sell "gray market" Nikon equipment, thought they label it as such (US version vs. imported version).
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=4605

NIKON "adjusts" their prices in different countries according to what the consumer market will tolerate. The consumer market in the USA has more disposable income, and the prices from Nikon USA are higher than prices for Nikon equipment in other countries. In order to enforce their local pricing scheme (scam?), Nikon USA uses the policy of refusing Warranty Service on their own equipment. I find Nikon's practice of refusing to repair their own equipment, manufactured at the SAME factory to be as unethical as Prestige Camera's marketing.

http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID202/19143.html

You might try contacting Nikon repair service in Europe, :shrug:.
You should certainly contact the NY AG. The bogus Warranty is certainly FRAUD, and would be easy to document.


If you can document that your camera is refurbished and not "NEW", the AG would like to know that. Prestige clearly labels their D200 as "NEW".
http://www.prestigecamera.com/product~id~nkd200.htm
Nikon routinely includes that gem ("your camera MAY be refurbished") in their information when they refuse to service their own equipment.

The OPANDA EXIF viewer can show you how many times the shutter has been snapped. Find one of your first pictures and use OPANDA to view the shutter cycle data. Expect to see about 200 cycles on a "new" camera.


If your only problem is a hot pixel, they are not too difficult to live with. Most disappear during resizing for InterNet posting. If not, a quick one pixel dab with the paint brush during post processing will fix the problem. My Olympus had two hot pixels that I routinely fix during post processing. I realize that this is not a perfect solution, but it does keep you in the game.
Nikon is also going to release a Firmware Upgrade for the D200 in the near future which may also fix your problem. It is not out yet, but there is BUZZ about it at the Nikonians website.


So far, my camera has been OK. It was a risk I was willing to take at the time. It is a pretty sophisticated piece of equipment to buy without a warranty, but I wanted mine NOW, not 90 days later.
I am willing to replace the camera body if necessary.

I will continue to look for bargains on the Gray Market, though I won't buy anything as sophisticated as a D200 body if I can avoid it. I love the idea of supporting local merchants, but the price differential for the 70-200mm VR lens was over $500, so I bought it (USA version with warranty) from a reputable online dealer, 17thSt Photo. I know my local dealer has to make a living, but so do I.

Good Luck with the problem. I'll help in any way I can.

[Touchdown]

10. Is there a Mac equivalent to OPANDA?

That's WindowsXP only.

Thanks for telling me that's what you wanted. I honestly thoughty I was getting a US camera, and I do agree, that Nikon having different price points for different parts of the world is pretty douche baggish of them.

[regnaD kciN]

11. That really stinks...

I know it's the sort of thing that you only realize after you've been bitten by it, but for future reference by others on this site, a dead giveaway is when, after you make the purchase, they try to sell you an "extended warranty." (I know, lots of brick'n'mortar stores will do that, too, but generally, in those cases, it means that you can go back if your camera breaks and they'll hand you a new one rather than having to take the time to send it in for service. With a mail-order place, you'd have to send it in anyway, so what's the point? Trying to sell you a warranty generally means that the product isn't covered by the manufacturer's own policy.)

I had to deal with this back in 1999, when I tried to buy a Sony TRV-900 camcorder. One place I called (I'm not giving the name, because at this moment I can't be sure of the dealer, but it was another one based in an "outer NYC" region like Brooklyn or Hackensack) assured me that this was a original sealed-box U.S. unit with a full Sony U.S.A. warranty. After I had given them my address, credit-card number, etc., they told me that there would be an extra couple hundred dollar charge for a warranty. Huh? I reminded them that they said it came with a Sony U.S.A. warranty. After a bit of hemming and hawing, they clarified that it was a warranty through their own store, not Sony. At that point, recognizing a gray-market deal when I saw one, I told them to cancel the order. Unbelievably, the salescritter told me that they couldn't do that, since I had already "finalized" the order. No matter what I told them now, they were going to charge my card as soon as I hung up and send me the camcorder, unless I called their "management" at a separate, non-toll-free number, and worked it out with them. Need I tell you that the so-called management number was continuously busy? It took me two days to get through to them, and a not-too-friendly conversation to get them to cancel the whole thing. (As a postscript, I did find a real U.S. version of that camcorder through Computability, an above-board mail-order retailer that is, unfortunately, no longer in existence.)

In general, at this time, I'd be extremely leery of making a major mail-order camera purchase from anyone other than B&H (although I've heard positive things about Adorama, OneCall, and BuyDig as well). And I'd be especially careful about any of the hundreds of "NYC or environs" stores except those mentioned above. Thirty years ago, there were a number of reliable mail-order stores where you could get genuine U.S. product for a price far lower than list -- nowadays, pick any mail-order camera store at random and you're fairly certain of finding a scammer.

And, by the way, not all BizRate et. al. ratings are to be distrusted. Look for a large number of respondents -- it's fairly easy to self-generate a handful of positive comments; a lot harder to manufacture several hundred of them. Also, don't just look at the numeric rating, actually read the comments, which will give you a much better idea of people's experiences with those businesses.

[F.Gordon]

12. Major Bummer

I really hope things work out for you. Really sucks what you're going through.

I'll avoid getting into the internet vs store thing, but I'm 100% 'mom and pop' store now.

Thinkin' good thoughts for ya'... we have a neon-date when you get pixeled up again.
:hi:

BTW: If an 800 # from ATT shows up on my caller ID, I do the pickup and slam down. But then we get 15-20 telemarketing calls a day. Businesses can't be on a no-call list. Not offering excuses for this very dubious company.... just sayin'.

[Touchdown]

16. It's on.

I have a Coolpix 8700, so I guess that will do for awhile. Unfortunately, anything above ISO 160 is very noisy, but that's par for the course with P&S.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

13. Check out their NY BBB listing...

http://www.newyork.bbb.org/reports/businessreports.aspx?pid=44&page=1&id=68047


that has to be one of the worst ones I have ever seen

[Touchdown]

15. Wait 'till you see Rip Off Report on them.

The link at the top has a link to them down the page.

Edited to the link...

http://www.ripoffreport.com/results.asp?searchtype=1&q1=36&q3=&q2=New+York&submit2=Search%21

[Touchdown]

14. Update; I got a reply back from the scuzzballs

Here's my original e-mail...

It's in need of repair, and I did buy a 5 year MACK warranty for it. I would appreciate a list of where I could send it for repair.

They mentioned that the serial number on my Nikon D200 that I bought in February ...201XXX1 on my camera says it was destined to be sold in Europe, not the US. Nikon suggested I take it up with you. I tried calling your customer service, waited for 20 minutes, somebody picked up and hung up immediately without saying a word. Seems like a waste of the 800 number fees you pay. First you promise me 2 batteries because of the 3 month long wait, and only send one (I let that slide because I didn't pay for it), then I find out you're selling me a grey market camera, when I specifically asked the sales rep if it was or not. He said "Oh no, no. Not us". What gives? If this is true, I am embarassed that I recommended you to 3 others, one of which already bought his D200 from you.

Here's what they said...
You have to call Mack and give them your serial number.

Is there anything missing that they haven't addressed here? Hmmm. I couldn't imagine.:eyes:

Mack is out of New Jersey. It does stipulate that they would replace the product (at their discretion) if they can't fix it to specifications. Is this a shady outfit like Prestooge? They want a $20 check in the box for return postage. :wtf: They claim to have been in business since the 1920s. Anybody know about them?:shrug:

My camera isn't back yet. $10 says Nikon sent it slow boat to China, with a bill for opening my package.:eyes:

I've got 2 senior portraits lined up for at least $250. I can use my Coolpix as it works well as long as I'm in ISO 100. It's color balance is so much better than my D200 ever was. It just doesn't look impressive to the portraitee, like a pro would use. I would just rather use my new one. With teenagers though, I have to photoshop no matter what, since they all want their zits removed. Never thought the Spot Healer would be the most important button in the whole damn program.;)

[regnaD kciN]

18. Your e-mail was too easy on them, IMHO...

Instead of asking where you could send it for repair, and complaining about how "embarrassed" you are for recommending them, I would have simply said that they sold you a gray-market camera under false pretenses, and you want your money back.

Even better, if you have a friend who is a lawyer, I would have asked him or her to write such a letter and send it on their letterhead. Scammers tend to get very nervous when it looks like someone is serious enough about their complaint to hire an attorney to handle it.

And, BTW, did you ever check with your credit card company?

I don't know about you, but if I had spent several thousand dollars, only to find myself with a non-working and apparently unrepairable (through normal channels) camera, I'd be organizing a lynch mob!

[Touchdown]

23. My next door neighbor works in the Denver DA's office

...and he is an attorney. I wouldn't want him to do anything that would get him into trouble though. I also campaigned for his boss in 2004, but that sounds so "Abramoffy" to me.:shrug:

[Touchdown]

17. Did I mention they charged me $180 for shipping?

What would cost $1 hundred-fucking80 smackers to ship UPS? My Bowflex (which I need to use) only costed $150. Pricks!:puke:

[Eurobabe]

19. Touchdown, you really need to call your credit card

company now. Sometimes even just the threat of something like this will get movement out of these creeps. I would call my CC company, get them to go after them, and then call Prestige/Stooge whatever, and tell them that you have called your credit card company to dispute the charge for the camera since it is not the US merchandise you were expecting to receive.

I have a MACK warranty on my 20D, got it through Adorama, from what I have heard they are reputable (MACK).

[F.Gordon]

20. He's kinda' screwed at this point..... has to wait

Prior to filing a CC dispute you have to give the Merchant the opportunity to resolve the issue. If I'm reading all this correctly that is what is currently going on. Now if Touchdown gives them every chance to resolve this and they still fuck him over.... he might have a CC dispute case.

CC disputes usually always favor the Merchant except in cases of out and out fraud, contracted product/service not provided.... things were the Merchant is clearly at fault. I can tell you that sleaze Companies like Prestige stay in business despite their bad reputation because A; they appeal to the lowest common denominator as a business: they are cheap, and B; because they are probably very good at covering their ass.

If you're going to buy online over the internet I'd highly recommend that the first thing you do is look for the BBB Online Reliability logo. For example, Adorama has this. I can tell you that this logo is a little tough to get because the BBB has specific guidelines you have to follow as a business when you sell online. When the BBB reviewed our biz web site they rejected the Online label/logo because of several different items. I could have corrected all of them but I eventually declined the application because they required us to put the LAST name of our customer's on our Testimonial page. We respect our customers privacy so I opted out even though I offered to send BBB the actual notes/letters so they could verify the accuracy of the testimonials. For us, anyway, it's not so important because our Business is a "Gold Star" member of the BBB..... meaning we've had no "0" complaints for "X" number of years. That 'label' carries even more weight than the BBB Online Reliability thing.
:hi:

Edit? Missing word.

[regnaD kciN]

21. "Out-and-out fraud"...

From what I understand, Touchdown verified before ordering that this was a U.S. (i.e. not gray market) camera with a full Nikon (i.e. not third-party that might not be able to get parts) warranty. What he received was not a U.S. camera and did not come with a full Nikon warranty.

How is this anything other than out-and-out fraud?

In fact, if there's one thing on which I fault Touchdown, it would be for a too-passive approach that would imply that somehow getting the gray-market D200 repaired would "resolve the issue." To my mind, it would not. Even if Mack somehow manages to get the repair parts this time -- by hook or by crook -- what if it breaks down after the Mack warranty period? He can't send it to Nikon. Mack might not want to deal with digging up the parts for a non-warrantied camera on which they have no legal obligation. It seems to me that, under such a scenario, the only place this $2K camera could go would be straight into the trash.

If I were Touchdown, I would inform Prestige that the only way to "resolve the issue" would be for them to take the gray-market D200 back, and either:

a) replace it with a brand-new, factory-sealed U.S. D200 (with a serial number that can be verified as genuine by NikonUSA) and a valid factory warranty, or

b) refund 100% of the money he spent on this transaction, including the $300 Mack warranty and the $180 shipping cost.

If they refused, I would say that they refused to resolve the issue, and take it up with the credit card company.

But any half-measures will only work to Prestige's advantage, and the detriment of Touchdown himself.

[Touchdown]

22. In honesty, I wrote that e-mail right after I got off the phone

...with Nikon. I guess I was still in the denial stage, or giving them the BotD. But based on my reciept, it is grey market. Item says "NKD200D" ...and I'm getting more pissed every day.

In the fine print, section <k> it says "the G after an item number indicates a 1 year parts, 90 days labor in-store limited warranty", i.e. no manufacturer's warranty, or grey market. There's also a "G" after my 28-70 DX lense as well.:grr:

Yes <k>, there are 11 terms in the fine print, including a "a minumum 5% restocking fee on ALL RETURNS" ...item <h>.:rofl:

It get's worse. Item <a> is a 7 day return policy on video & digital products, with prior authorization only. "Call our customer service to get a return authorization number" (if they don't hang up on you).

Item <f>..."Failure to comply with any of these (11) terms or conditions will result in a denial of a return or exchange."

You are correct of course. The more I think about getting ripped off, the more tainted that camera is going to be when I get it back, thus the less enjoyment I'll get out of it. I can go two routes... try the Mac route. If they say that Prestige pays for the parts, or replaces the camera, then Mac can deal with them. The possibility of losing a warranty company carrys more weight with these assholes than some sucker they screwed.

The second is your suggestion, which in the long run is a better solution, but a bit more iffy as to the resolution, noting the nice little golden parachute of "11 terms" they built for themselves. This transaction was 5 months ago in Feb. They already have their money, what could a CC company do? Retro-charge them back?

[F.Gordon]

24. and B;......

because they are probably very good at covering their ass.

:-(

You can try the CC dispute thing, but I don't know if you'd be successful or not. Even though it was five months ago the CC company can still issue a chargeback.

If you have an important shoot comin' up you're more than welcome to use my Canon crap if you don't have your D200 back by then. As I understand it the controls on a Canon are ass-backwards from a Nikon so you'll just have to shoot everything ass-backwards.

Thinkin' good thoughts for ya'. Hope you can get through all this bullshit and get a working D200 back.
:hi:

[Touchdown]

27. Thanks for the offer, and it's not crap.

Half of the snaps here have Canons and I've never been able to tell the difference between any of the major brands. My co-worker has a RebelX or something like that, It's a nice little camera, not very heavy, and has 8mp. Of course he's a toy guy and a shitty photographer. He showed me clouds and purple sunsets with power lines to frame them, that's about it (I do that too, but I don't show anybody). He's had it more than a year and it has maybe a count of 150 shots on it. I told him once...Please tell me you didn't spend $1000 to take pictures of the sky! :evilgrin:

It's a 5D right? Don't say it's crap. Blue in Ak will hit you with her purse.

I just had 3 other Nikons and ...this is funny...never had a problem with any of them. I'd be a Canon user if I was a European. :rofl:

I should be Ok with the senior kids. I don't have a studio, so they'll all be taken outside at 10am or 5pm in the shade with a fill anyhow.

[CC]

25. You can do both and add in a C

that you can do at the same time, file a complaint with the Attorney General. You are allowed to use all options to rectify the situation. With the fraud, and it was fraud the Attorney General should be informed at the least. You are not the only one to get ripped off and most likely not the only one in CO. If enough people file complaints the AG will go after them. That's his job. We are going to lose a very good one here :cry: because his son-in-law is running for Governor. He didn't feel it was right to have too many people in the same family holding govt. office. O'Malley would of made it two. I'm going to miss Curran though, he loved to go after companies that ripped off people.

[Touchdown]

28. I'll do both onn Monday. Gov is closed, so is Presteal Camera

I don't even have my camera back yet. :shrug:

[Eurobabe]

30. The squeaky wheel gets the grease

This is where I take the gloves off...when I have been screwed by a merchant, I turn into a real bee-yotch. I've never had a problem getting a refund of any sorts, once the CC company gets wind of the fraud, they aren't going to want to do business with these people and will most likely cut off their privileges. I've even threatened a CC company to take my business elsewhere if they didn't find a resolution to problem X. I don't do it often, but if I feel I have been ripped, I raise holy hell.

Good luck, I feel confident if you document what you have done already, you will be successful in either obtaining a new camera or a refund. Hang in there!!!

[ConsAreLiars]

26. In a similar situation (but a laptop) I contacted both the AG and the CC

before succeeding in getting a refund. Long ago, but the state AG (now Gov. Gregoire) sent a letter to to the CA AG, and a copy to the "business." I forget how the CC Co. was involved, maybe as a backup, but I seem to recall that the AG letter and my record of our "conversations" would get my money back if the business did not cooperate, and I think they sent a notice of my challenge to their charge on my CC to the mail order guys. They told me Model X had certain features and when it arrived that proved to be false -- could be a mere matter of a poorly trained order-taker rather than outright fraud, as in your case -- so your situation is certainly something your AG would be expected to act on.

I think CCs have some limit on how late a payment can be challenged, but I suspect you are within that period since you just discovered the fraud, although you may have to fight with them a bit if you are unlucky. The can take the money back any time they want to, and even if not they might be willing to just eat the cost in any case to keep your account.

Give them an ultimatum. The fact that you have used it means you might want to compromise and settle at whatever it would cost you to get a mint condition US D200 with extended warranty, but don't offer that unless you feel they are honestly trying for a fair settlement.

My recommendation would be to give the AG and the CC Co. phone calls. See what they say.

[Touchdown]

29. I'm starting to question myself now.

I searched back for my first thread on it, to see if I knew it was grey market. I didn't think so. Kind of a blast from the past. So exited that I never bothered to read the fine print on my reciept. Who does when they have a new toy?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=280&topic_id=13423

I did mention that they called me "to confirm my address". Others at Rip off Report, BizRate and BBB have said that they call to up sell for $400 1gig flashcards. They never did that to me, probably because I bought the Mack warranty.