Complaint Review: CloseoutDigital - San Jose California

This business is a fraud> They say they are not to connected to another internet business.  I have proof upon demand that they operate under other names>  They are not in San Jose California.  Brooklyn new York is where they conduct their criminal enterprise.  I was scammed by them last year, and  since then have dug up a mountain of dirt on these guys.  ANY POSITIVE comment is made here is by the owners themselves.

My name is Ed Snowden from Bakersfield Ca. My email is [email protected] and my web site is www.xoxphotography.com .

Price: 5 Stars , Knowledge: 5 Stars, Equipment: 5 Stars, Communication: 5 Stars  I wasn’t asked to give a review, but there are 2 reasons I take the time to provide one, 1st is if the product or service is really bad and 2nd if the product or service is really outstanding. If it’s in the middle ground I won’t waste my time. In the case of this review regarding Closeout Digital, it’s OUTSTANDING!, I researched several online camera shops for several months. I narrowed it down to Closeout Digital and BandH Photo. Both have quality equipment and fairly competitive pricing with each other, but Closeout Digital overall saved me more money for the camera package I needed.

My budget for camera and equipment was $6500.00. I knew I would be buying online, so I knew the business better have a solid back ground. They needed to have top quality products, be easy to get a hold of, knowledgeable, and have a prompt reply. I was disappointed with BandH Photo for a few reasons; specifically I didn’t feel like they were really trying to help me with what equipment was best for my level of photography. Additionally I didn’t feel that BandH Photo’s knowledge (or lack of knowledge) of their equipment helped matters. Like I said, I researched the types of equipment I wanted for several months and made many calls to BandH Photo, yet several times I received conflicting information. When I asked about certain lenses and flashes, the BandH sales rep needed ME to tell him about the item and that’s not where I wanted to spend $6500. Lastly, when I called BandH it seemed impossible to get the same sales rep twice in a row. Some were very nice, while others seemed to be hurried and not caring, almost a Big Box Store call center type attitude. The times that I called Closeout Digital I spoke to the same two individuals, with one even remembering my name from just knowing my voice. It was like two buddies just bs’n about camera equipment, absolutely no “Sales Pitch”, 100% knowledge.

This is Closeout Digital’s # 1-408-409-7801, if you dial ext. 100, Ben will answer. PERIOD! He is extremely knowledgeable about the equipment, not on commission (something one of the BandH reps wouldn’t tell me about their sales staff), and I truly felt that he was trying to help me get the most for my purchase. My order arrived ahead of schedule. There were two minor items that had to be backordered but Ben knew that I had an Advance Photography class coming up next week so he sent me the camera and everything I needed to make sure I showed up to class well equipped, with the remaining two items to be delivered any day now. I couldn’t be happier. He even gave me a small tripod for my old camera, thanks Ben.

If you would like to contact me about Closeout Digital, please feel free to do so.

I will not deny that Closeout Digital's business practice of having a cheap foreign import for sale to be the lowest price on the web, but hey alot of shop like that so they get our interest. Does the follow up call where they correct you and move you to the right product seem like bait and switch, yes it doesnt feel the best, however, you are getting the right product at the best price on the net and their customer service is exceptional, second to non. I have personally spent thousands of dollars with them on Cameras (Nikon D800) and lens (Nikor 14-24mm) and they have bent over backwards to help and ensure satisfaction.

Remove previous post company righted them selves and this is a misunderstanding. Customerservice seems very upto par with issuing and assisting in turning a wrong situation into a right situation.

Same as the first report purchased online 60d body for 580 and 17-55 lens for 869 called with confirmation code same international deal upgraded to us spec for 799 and the lens I selected was a "plastic mount" to upgrade to metal mount for US spec was 1100 but since I upgraded the body they would sell it at international price... they charged my card full cost for lens and on top of that charged me 80 bucks for an insurance fee... should have been 1680 total cost with shipping they charged me 2300... credit card said refuse shipment and dispute but the 10% restocking fee shipping charge and insurance fee is non refundable... so 10% of the sale $2000, 201 for shipping and this $80 insurance fee is gone... total loss of +/-$490 gone.... and to top everything off this place is an unauthorized canon dealer for anyone who has made a purchase and needs service this is a gray market item and they will not authorize future warantee issues.... good luck to all hopefull someone will shut this place down and these guys loom at jail time and fines... loard knows I didnt have $500 to throw away...

In the article above the individual went to a lot of work to see if closeoutdigital.com was an actual business.  If closeoutdigital.com is a legitimate legal business then they should have filed all of the proper documentation.  Please prove that you are a business that is legitimate.  I would love to buy lenses from you.  Your prices are way below the normal prices that as customers we are worried.  Why are your prices so cheap?  Most major camera companies have set prices that you are way below.  Maybe if you explained your business practices and how you obtain your products we would feel more comfortable as consumers to buy from you. 
I really don't care why this one consumer had trouble with his Visa card.  Give me honest answers so that I will be able to purchase products from you and save money.

Thanks.

Hello Everyone,

As a senior marketing Representative for this company i can say that these comments written here are 100% false.

Closeoutdigital.com has no affiliations with any other online retailer.

Customers credit did indeed get declined when processing his order but only because the customer was sepending out of his spending pattern. it is normail the credit card companies due decline transactions because of the high dollar amount.

If anyone wishes to receive more information you may contact me at [email protected]

Do you really want to do business with someone who builds a website and runs his illegitimate business on a cell phone and lies about where he is located so you cannot find him after he takes advantage of you?  He attempts to intimidate you if you put anything negative on ResellerRatings by threatening legal action.  His business needs to be properly established before he can file a legal action. 

Taking a legal look at Closeout Digital, their phone number 408-409-7801 is in California.  In California, a corporation or limited liability corporation, LLC must register with the Secretary of State.  This is the link to the Secretary of State site http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/cbs.aspx.  I have tried with close, closeout, and close-out.  Under corporation and LLC, Closeout Digital is not registered as a corporation.

If a business is not a corporation, it must file a fictitious business name in the county in which the business is operating.  On the website http://www.closeoutdigital.com/about.asp they say their address is 1111 Story Rd, San Jose CA 921233 (sic).  This would put them in Santa Clara County.  The Santa Clara County Fictitious Business Name search is available at http://www.clerkrecordersearch.org/.  Again, there is no listing for close, closeout, or close-out.  Closeout Digital is not legally doing business in California. 

This paragraph describes the purpose of a fictitious business name.  It is taken from the San Jose guide for helping set up a business at http://www.establishmybusiness.com/business-basics/santa-clara-county-fictitious-business-name-dba/.   This is a statement that allows consumers to look up to find out who exactly they are doing business with.  This helps prevent some fraudulent activities and helps customers trust people that are in business.  You do not need a Santa Clara County Fictitious Business Name if you have your name in your business (Marks Miracle Maker) but if you want to open up a business banking account, you will more than likely need one.

In California, we are required by the city in which a business operates to have a business license.  For San Jose the city business license search is at http://www.establishmybusiness.com/san-jose-business-license-search/.  Again, there is no close, closeout, or close-out.

Going back to that address, it is the Sun Valley Shopping Center.  This is their directory of stores http://shopsunvalley-px.rtrk.com/directory.  There is no Closeout Digital.  On the shopping center site, you can find the managements phone number 877-615-0088.  When I called the shopping center, the lady said they had no store named Closeout Digital or Digital Depot. 

Going back to the phone number, on a reverse search http://www.melissadata.com/lookups/phonelocation.asp?number=%28408%29+409-7801 it is a cell phone in the city of Campbell, not San Jose.  Campbell is still in Santa Clara County so no difference concerning their fictitious business name.  But Campbells business license search is not automated http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/cityclerk/FAQs.htm.  You may call them at 408-866-2174.  The helpful lady who answers that phone number says Closeout Digital has no business license in Campbell.