BEENYWEENIES
Active member
Given that video production requires such high dollar equipment, most of which falls into the electronics category, scammers of all stripes are preying on us each and every day. I would be interested to see all of the stores/online retailers you guys know of that are scammers, rip offs or just not worth our money. Here's mine:
Broadway Photo (and so begin the groans and rolling of eyes) and ExpressCameras.com
Broadway Photo has been written up by PC World magazine detailing how their "storefront" is little more than a hole in the wall with cardboard over the windows and a guy out front who leads you into "the back" for a deal. As for their online/telephone ordering, well I saw their ad in Videography magazine, something I considered at least a reasonable endorsement of their service. I won't bore you with the details but unless you are actively seeking to pay for one thing and be shipped some grey market POS with an unusable warrantee, avoid them at all costs. Do a google search for broadway photo and you'll see why.
I had the exact same experience with ExpressCameras.com, I called in to order the dvx100a and their sales rep was not only the most rude and obnoxious dildo I have ever encountered on the other end of a sales call, but they sell cameras cheap by stripping every single item out of the package and just send you the raw camera body - no AC adapter cable, no battery, nothing at all. They don't tell you this unless you refuse to upgrade to all their different package "deals," at which point they try to sell you up on the "manufacturer package" which is basically the standard dvx100a as shipped by Panasonic. The going price for this package? More than you will pay at your local dealer. No deals to be had, but you will get an earful of Brooklyn angst from their shite servicepeople and will probably get ripped off badly as well.
Luckily I didn't end up falling for either one of these scams, but thought I'd share the experience and, hopefully, save some of you the heartache of being ripped for several grand.
Broadway Photo (and so begin the groans and rolling of eyes) and ExpressCameras.com
Broadway Photo has been written up by PC World magazine detailing how their "storefront" is little more than a hole in the wall with cardboard over the windows and a guy out front who leads you into "the back" for a deal. As for their online/telephone ordering, well I saw their ad in Videography magazine, something I considered at least a reasonable endorsement of their service. I won't bore you with the details but unless you are actively seeking to pay for one thing and be shipped some grey market POS with an unusable warrantee, avoid them at all costs. Do a google search for broadway photo and you'll see why.
I had the exact same experience with ExpressCameras.com, I called in to order the dvx100a and their sales rep was not only the most rude and obnoxious dildo I have ever encountered on the other end of a sales call, but they sell cameras cheap by stripping every single item out of the package and just send you the raw camera body - no AC adapter cable, no battery, nothing at all. They don't tell you this unless you refuse to upgrade to all their different package "deals," at which point they try to sell you up on the "manufacturer package" which is basically the standard dvx100a as shipped by Panasonic. The going price for this package? More than you will pay at your local dealer. No deals to be had, but you will get an earful of Brooklyn angst from their shite servicepeople and will probably get ripped off badly as well.
Luckily I didn't end up falling for either one of these scams, but thought I'd share the experience and, hopefully, save some of you the heartache of being ripped for several grand.
