Re: Fraudulant 128GB SDXC sold at BHPhoto.com // Alleged Thieves left footage in card

E

ectobuilder

Veteran
Re: Fraudulant 128GB SDXC sold at BHPhoto.com // Alleged Thieves left footage in card

Hey Guys,

BUYERS BEWARE:

I purchased two Lexar Professional 128GB 133x SDXC cards from bhphoto.com and one of them turned out to be a fraudulent 8GB SDHC card.

They simply took the 128GB sticker and stuck it onto the lower capacity card. What's really weird about this is that I bought these cards new, so obviously they either mixed up a USED item with the new stuff or there is an inside job happening. Either way, any returned cards should be checked for correct capacity and should be wiped clean (formatted).

What's more bizarre is that the alleged thieves left some of their footage on the card which you can watch here:
PART 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2imOdf_D4E&feature=youtu.be
PART 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loC4NmrYTNg

And to make this even more bizarre, the footage appears to be of an amateur attempt at making a music video (extremely amateurish).

So buyers beware!

PS: I'm still waiting to see how BHphoto responds to this as I am waiting a response from them.


*UPDATE APRIL 23, 2012:
I would like to personally thank Henry Posner and his Customer Service staff/managers for taking care of this so promptly. They immediately sent a new 128GB SDXC card via OVERNIGHT AIR! And paid the shipping, taxes and levies for me without any hesitation. The process was quick, easy and very enjoyable.

Thanks BH Photo!
 
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Well, it'll never go that far, but chances are there are fingerprints under the "switched" sticker.
You could also do a recovery on the card, and probably pull other footage/photos.
If they went to all that trouble to switch the sticker, then they could easily reseal a package and make it look new. That really sucks though!
I hope that B&H refunds your money somehow. I'm always weary of used items, that can be "switched" out for something else. Never thought of stickers on memory cards though. (Usually the serial number and model number is written on the back somewhere... so ill make sure i look at those before i purchase another used memory card)

Best of luck!
 
daihard said:
Well, it'll never go that far, but chances are there are fingerprints under the "switched" sticker.
You could also do a recovery on the card, and probably pull other footage/photos.
If they went to all that trouble to switch the sticker, then they could easily reseal a package and make it look new. That really sucks though!
I hope that B&H refunds your money somehow. I'm always weary of used items, that can be "switched" out for something else. Never thought of stickers on memory cards though. (Usually the serial number and model number is written on the back somewhere... so ill make sure i look at those before i purchase another used memory card)

Best of luck!
Click to expand...

Funny thing is I bought this thing as NEW. So someone either mixed this up with the new stuff or there was an inside job done.
 
I doubt very seriously that B&H knowingly sold you a fraudulent card. They have a stellar reputation. You will probably never know what really happened. One possibility is that the original purchaser of the cards bought some 8 and 128 GB cards, used them, peeled the 128 sticker off, put it on 8GB, sealed it and returned it for a higher $ refund. B&H may have resold it thinking it was new and unopened.
 
Mark Williams said:
I doubt very seriously that B&H knowingly sold you a fraudulent card. They have a stellar reputation. You will probably never know what really happened. One possibility is that the original purchaser of the cards bought some 8 and 128 GB cards, used them, peeled the 128 sticker off, put it on 8GB, sealed it and returned it for a higher $ refund. B&H may have resold it thinking it was new and unopened.
Click to expand...

Totally, I don't think BHPhoto had any intention of selling a fake SDXC card. It could have been one of two things:
1) a bad customer
2) a rogue employee (either at BHphoto or at the shipping/manufacturing facility)

Now, if it was a bad customer, then the product was obviously returned. In that case, why was it mixed up with the new products and why didn't they wipe the card clean before reselling?
 
Back in the day some... friends.... used to buy computer hard drives (we're talking Commodore 64 here), pull the guts out of the case, replace the guts with a brick, and return it. This kind of thing has gone on forever.
 
hang on - if the cards were new they should have been sealed in their packaging - did you notice anything?
 
ectobuilder said:
I purchased two Lexar Professional 128GB 133x SDXC cards from bhphoto.com and one of them turned out to be a fraudulent 8GB SDHC card.
Click to expand...

We're very sorry about this and sorry for the inconvenience it's caused you. Other managers here are also already aware of your post and all are equally concerned. There are, at present, two issues:
Getting you the card you ordered and paid for as speedily as possible.
Conducting the internal investigation which should reveal how this happened and help us identify any procedures we need to ensure this does not happen again.

We found your B&H order number. Customer service has asked for a snapshot of the card, with packaging if possible. Please cc me; my email address is in my sig.
We want the card pics for our investigation. We've already instructed customer service to ship another card to you ASAP so you're made whole. once again, we apologize for this situation and appreciate your bringing it to our attention.
 
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henryp said:
We're very sorry about this and sorry for the inconvenience it's caused you. Other managers here are also already aware of your post and all are equally concerned. There are, at present, two issues:
Getting you the card you ordered and paid for as speedily as possible.
Conducting the internal investigation which should reveal how this happened and help us identify any procedures we need to ensure this does not happen again.

We found your B&H order number. Customer service has asked for a snapshot of the card, with packaging if possible. Please cc me; my email address is in my sig.
We want the card pics for our investigation. We've already instructed customer service to ship another card to you ASAP so you're made whole. once again, we apologize for this situation and appreciate your bringing it to our attention.
Click to expand...

Thanks Henry, I'll promptly send the pictures over.
 
ectobuilder said:
Now, if it was a bad customer, then the product was obviously returned. In that case, why was it mixed up with the new products and why didn't they wipe the card clean before reselling?
Click to expand...

My guess is if it was returned, the original buyer obviously went to the trouble of tampering with it and therefore also went to the trouble of resealing it so that it appeared new and unopened. When they returned it, it appeared brand new and unopened so was put back with the rest of the stock. Why would you expect B & H to open a seemingly brand new, unopened package to wipe the contents of a card? They are victims in this as much as you are, and as the response from them above proves, have a stellar reputation and service.
 
I would like to personally thank Henry Posner and his Customer Service staff/managers for taking care of this so promptly. They immediately sent a new 128GB SDXC card via OVERNIGHT AIR! And paid the shipping, taxes and levies for me without any hesitation. The process was quick, easy and very enjoyable.

Thanks BH Photo!
 
deltoidjohn said:
My guess is if it was returned, the original buyer obviously went to the trouble of tampering with it and therefore also went to the trouble of resealing it so that it appeared new and unopened. When they returned it, it appeared brand new and unopened so was put back with the rest of the stock. Why would you expect B & H to open a seemingly brand new, unopened package to wipe the contents of a card? They are victims in this as much as you are, and as the response from them above proves, have a stellar reputation and service.
Click to expand...

Well they resolved the issue pretty well, so I am pleased with the service.

However I feel it is good practice to make all returned storage media as RTV "Return to Vendor" or just simply wipe it clean due to privacy issues as you never know what is still on that card.

I think a few years ago one of the big box retailers had porn on their returned hard drive and was resold to a customer. Therefore the best thing to do with any returned storage medium is to treat it as already opened and either take the necessary steps to wipe it clean or to Return to Vendor.
 
henryp said:
We're very sorry about this and sorry for the inconvenience it's caused you. Other managers here are also already aware of your post and all are equally concerned. There are, at present, two issues:
Getting you the card you ordered and paid for as speedily as possible.
Conducting the internal investigation which should reveal how this happened and help us identify any procedures we need to ensure this does not happen again.

We found your B&H order number. Customer service has asked for a snapshot of the card, with packaging if possible. Please cc me; my email address is in my sig.
We want the card pics for our investigation. We've already instructed customer service to ship another card to you ASAP so you're made whole. once again, we apologize for this situation and appreciate your bringing it to our attention.
Click to expand...

This is why I love B&H. That, and the fact that at least 10 or so of my personal friends work there. Great company. ;)
 
Thats pretty funny...
I once bought a stack of blank DVD's and one of them had a whole bunch a religious propaganda on it. Didn't take it back, i figured that because there was no print on the disk then their copyright didn't exist so i could do what i want with the footage.

yeah B&H you guys rock...
 
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