Complaint Review: World Camer

I recently was on my first ever visit to California for vacation. 

I had driven up to San Francisco to surprise a friend who works at Pier 39.  While driving around looking for parking, I noticed the World Camera and decided I would visit the store after I spent time with my friend.

When I went into the store, I left my camera bag locked in the trunk of my rental.  I did have in my hand a lens that I wanted to see if they would offer me credit towards a new lens for, which of course I found out they don't.

I was met by an older gentleman who asked what I was looking for.  I told him I have been wanting a 75-300mm zoom lens for a while.  This is where it all got started.

First he asked what kind of camera I had.  I told him - which by the way is a Sony A55.  He pulled the camera from shelf.  He then proceeded to show me a 2x converter lens adapter.  He said I wouldn't need a longer zoom lens if I had this.  He allowed me to walk outside and take a picture.  Seeing I was interested, he then proceeded to show me the Axer 58mm Professional Series Wide Angle lens adapter.  I thought they were both pretty cool and in standing there looking at each one, I turned the boxes on each upside down.  There were each marked with a sticker that said 1499.  I thinking $14.99 because that is what I have seen adapters like this go for on eBay and Amazon.  He said no $1,499 each.  I immediately told him I did not have that kind of money.

He kind of set those aside and proceeded to show me a Sigma 70-300mm DG Macro Lens.  I asked him about the Sony lens instead.  He said he did not have any and that the Sigma was a better built lens anyway.  Once again, he put it on his A55 and allowed me to take some sample photos.  I asked him how much this lens was and he said $699.  I told him too much.  He came down in price a little.  As I was standing there comteplating whether to run or negotiate a lower price, I happened to look up and see the Sony lens I orginally wanted.  I asked him about it and then he suddenly pulled one from under the counter.  Again he kept saying that the Sigma lens was much better.

By this time I was feeling allot of pressure, so I told him I wanted to step outside and decide.  What I really wanted to do was an eBay search (I have the app on my phone) of the Sigma lens to see how much they sell for because I felt he was being shady.  He didn't want me to, so I pulled it up right there in front of him.  I found the lens listed for $249.  He agreed to sell it to me for that price.  I accepted because I knew the Sony lens that I wanted retailed for about the same price.  It was only after I left San Francisco that I found out the Sigma lens for a Sony sells for just about $100 (or more) cheaper.  BTW this lens does not work properly with my camera.  I have to set my camera on manual mode and manual adjust the focus to get it to work.  The pictures it takes are not all that great either.  I have talked to my credit card company and filed a dispute for this charge.  Hopefully it will be resolved in my favor.

As I was checking out, he said he would make me a deal for the Axer wide angle lens adapter too.  He said he would sell it to me for the same price as the lens I just bought.  He made the remark about how he had just moved to this location and how he needed the money to pay the rent. 

When I searched eBay for the Sigma lens, I also searched, under his recommendation for the Axer wide angle adapter.  I found it listed on eBay for $999, so I figured paying $250 + tax was a steal.  Again it wasn't until after I left San Fran and did a little more research that I found the eBay seller who was listing the Axer lens adapter was also from San Francisco.  More than likely they probably know each other or are the same seller.  Also when you search the name Axer, you find a website that has not been updated since 2010.  They show this wide angle adapter for $1199.  I have my doubts if this is in fact a legitimate website.  There is no contact phone number and even though it shows there were two reviews for this particular product you can only see one and it is typed in what appears to be Spanish.

Bottom line - these guys are a bunch of rip off artist.  They sell you products for twice, three, and sometimes even four times what they are worth.  They pray on unsuspecting tourist and do not care about anything except making a fast buck.  They need to be shut down.