Complaint Review: 86 Photo & Video

Just want to make people aware of the '86 photo & Video' rip-offs. For your own save please never deal with this '86 photo & Video' company! Read below why.

I ordered a $450.00 HDR-SR11 camera from the http://www.86photovideo.com/ website. A few days later they called me to confirm the order. The sales person (who said his name was Chris Tang) started by saying that the battery that comes from Sony only lasts 10 minutes so I needed to buy a battery and that my camera would be worthless without a good battery and charger then he went on saying that the lens in the camera is extremely sensible to scratches and the camera would be worthless if the lens is scratched, so he added covers for the lens and the list went on.

He promised that these were the finest qualify accessories he giving me at the best price and that I had 23 days to return them if I was unsatisfied. So I agreed to his suggestions for a total of $1,399, which included the HDR-SR11 camcorder, 2X Digital Telephone Lens, 0.5 Wide Angle Lens, 3 Piece Digital Filter Kit, battery with charger, 1 GB memory card and 2 Years extended warranty for camcorder.

That was about $950 for these top quality accessories,
Before I agreed to buying these items I asked the guys if he could email me an itemized list of accessories I was getting with the model numbers and prices and to send it to my email right way. He promised he would do that. I figured I had 23 days to cancel if there was something wrong with these high quality items

So, I agreed to purchase these additional items and hanged up. I minute later after looking at the numbers I noticed that I was paying more for these top quality accessories than the camera, at this point I realized that something was wrong here I did not have the items brands or models, so I could not do not do an apples to apples comparison on the internet.

So I called the guys right back a couple minutes after the order to say that I had changed my mind and that I actually don't need any of these items. The guy went on talking and talking and talking how I must have these items and how I did not realize what I missing on. At this point I knew I was being ripped off and I said to the sales guy very firmly, you might be selling me the highest quality items on the planet but I am not interested in purchasing them, so please remove them from my original order.

He them told me that he could not do that because this was now one complete order and he could not separate the items from the original order. Then I said, Please cancel my complete order then. He then told me that he had just placed the order and that there would be a 15% restocking fee if I cancelled, so he tried again to persuade me to keep the order because it was a great deal and I was going to lose $200 if I cancel.

I told him he was crazy, I had just placed the order a few minutes ago, these items have not even been shipped yet, they don't need restocking. So, I asked to talk to his manager. He said he had no manager that he was the manager. So, I asked him if he was the owner of the company and he said no, so I said I need to talk to your boss then; He put me on hold for while and then said "Here is my Manager" and put someone else on the phone.

I talked to this other individual who claimed to be his boss. I explained the situation to this other person. He said he was sorry but these are their policies. There is 15% restocking fees for cancellation of ordered items. I told him that they only told me that that there was 23 day cancellation period but the sales guys never mentioned about 15% restocking fee. He said again, those are our rules! but the best I can do for you is knock off $200 from your purchase price for a total of $1199. We make absolutely no profit with you; we just pass on our whole sale price to you.

With no other alternatives I was forced to agree. I was pissed off and did not know what to do. So a minute after I hanged up with them, I thought about calling my credit card and tell them that I lost my card so that they could not process my order, but a was a few second too late, the payment request had already been posted and the credit card company could not remove it.

Any ways, I never got the email with the itemized accessories. I only got an email saying. Your order has been shipped here is the tracking number. I week and a half later I get my camera garbage accessories.

The HDR-SR11 camera box had been previously opened, the Sony seal on the box was broken, and so I am guessing that this is either a used camera or refurbished camera. I looked up all the items I got for the additional $750 (They are in not high quality items, they are cheapest junk you can find on the internet) and they are only worth about $180. So I was ripped off $570 just on the accessories and the camera is probably used or refurbished, so that is an additional rip-off. I have not even tested the camera yet. I hope it a least turns ON and shoots some video.

Any ways, if any one has any suggestions on what can be done in this scenario let me know. I would love to return the complete package even if I pay the 15% restocking fee. But I have zero percent trust in these people and company. If I returned the items, I am afraid they will not return my money. There are lots of things I can think they can do, such as claim they never received the items. If I have a signature verification delivery then they can claim that they only received an empty box, or missing or damaged items, or find any other excuse not to return my money. Or maybe this next time around when I call to return the items they will say that it is their policy not to take sold items back.

I wish there was third party company that could check the items before they got shipped so that '86 Photo & Video' does not claim they missing items.

HELP! Any suggestions?

Rigo
San Jose, California
U.S.A.