- Report: #402070
Complaint Review: Ritz Camera - Beltsville Maryland
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Author Confirmed
Why?
Ritz Camera
6711 Ritz Way Beltsville, 25401 Maryland, U.S.A.
Phone:
301-419-0000
Web:
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I was fool enough to believe that a large and established company would have good business practices, otherwise I would have done research on the company prior to purchasing anything from their internet store. It was only after they ripped me off that I did that research and found how many people have issued complaints regarding Ritz Camera ripping them off as well.
I chose to buy the camera I was purchasing from this company because they not only offered free shipping (like everyone else), but also a free photo printer. Their website flashed that every camera came with a free photo printer during the promotional period.
Under the item description of the camera I purchased, it stated that the camera automatically came with a free photo printer during the promotional period. There was a photograph of that printer and it claimed it was worth $99.00.
After I clicked to purchase, of course they attempted to upsell me and as always, I ignored all their offers. I could tell at a glance that they were trying to sell me more expensive photo printers and also SD cards.
I received the camera in a very timely manner, but without the printer. I called the phone number that came with the package (it was for their contracted fulfillment center and NOT Ritz Camera). The man I spoke with was named LaMar and he refused to give me his last name. He told me that it was a rebate offer. I had to BUY a printer and they would rebate $99.00 towards whichever one I chose. He said there were three to choose from. I explained to him that there were not three pictured with the camera, but only one and it stated that it was automatically included free with any camera purchase. He offered to take a credit card for the amount and send the printer and rebate form. I demanded to speak to his supervisor.
LaMar came back after putting me on hold for five minutes and told me that no supervisor was available and he could put me through to their voicemail. I told him I needed to speak with someone immediately. He said I had two choices, I could talk to the voicemail or give him a credit card. I told him he had two choices, he could get a supervisor on the phone immediately or send me the printer. He gave me the supervisor.
Her name was Debbie and she refused to help me other than offer to send me a shipping label so I could return the camera free of charge. She told me that it says all the stuff about the rebate elsewhere on the website. When I tried to explain to her that it does not matter what it says elsewhere on the website if it clearly states that the photo printer automatically comes free with the camera in the camera's description page. I never saw anything that indicated anything other than the fact that the printer came as a package deal. She told me that she was sure that I was wrong, but there is no way to prove either way because that promotion is over and the website has changed.
I asked for the company's corporate phone number. She gave me a phone number, but it was not Ritz Camera's corporate phone number, it was just another division of her own company. I was on hold for twenty minutes when I gave up and decided to find the real way to contact the company.
I found out that Ritz Camera's Corporate Office's real phone number is: 301-419-0000. I am going to call them tomorrow, but after reading how so many people have been treated by them, I have little hope they will honor their advertisement the way it was written.
I will update this report after I have talked to the corporate office. No one should have to go through so much hassle the week before Christmas.
Judith
Martinsburg, West Virginia
U.S.A.
I chose to buy the camera I was purchasing from this company because they not only offered free shipping (like everyone else), but also a free photo printer. Their website flashed that every camera came with a free photo printer during the promotional period.
Under the item description of the camera I purchased, it stated that the camera automatically came with a free photo printer during the promotional period. There was a photograph of that printer and it claimed it was worth $99.00.
After I clicked to purchase, of course they attempted to upsell me and as always, I ignored all their offers. I could tell at a glance that they were trying to sell me more expensive photo printers and also SD cards.
I received the camera in a very timely manner, but without the printer. I called the phone number that came with the package (it was for their contracted fulfillment center and NOT Ritz Camera). The man I spoke with was named LaMar and he refused to give me his last name. He told me that it was a rebate offer. I had to BUY a printer and they would rebate $99.00 towards whichever one I chose. He said there were three to choose from. I explained to him that there were not three pictured with the camera, but only one and it stated that it was automatically included free with any camera purchase. He offered to take a credit card for the amount and send the printer and rebate form. I demanded to speak to his supervisor.
LaMar came back after putting me on hold for five minutes and told me that no supervisor was available and he could put me through to their voicemail. I told him I needed to speak with someone immediately. He said I had two choices, I could talk to the voicemail or give him a credit card. I told him he had two choices, he could get a supervisor on the phone immediately or send me the printer. He gave me the supervisor.
Her name was Debbie and she refused to help me other than offer to send me a shipping label so I could return the camera free of charge. She told me that it says all the stuff about the rebate elsewhere on the website. When I tried to explain to her that it does not matter what it says elsewhere on the website if it clearly states that the photo printer automatically comes free with the camera in the camera's description page. I never saw anything that indicated anything other than the fact that the printer came as a package deal. She told me that she was sure that I was wrong, but there is no way to prove either way because that promotion is over and the website has changed.
I asked for the company's corporate phone number. She gave me a phone number, but it was not Ritz Camera's corporate phone number, it was just another division of her own company. I was on hold for twenty minutes when I gave up and decided to find the real way to contact the company.
I found out that Ritz Camera's Corporate Office's real phone number is: 301-419-0000. I am going to call them tomorrow, but after reading how so many people have been treated by them, I have little hope they will honor their advertisement the way it was written.
I will update this report after I have talked to the corporate office. No one should have to go through so much hassle the week before Christmas.
Judith
Martinsburg, West Virginia
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert Williams
Saint Louis,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Yes...I agree. And they are closing the Ritz stores in St. Louis too
#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, March 08, 2009
I agree with this posting...I worked for them in Atlanta and they are not nice to work for. I just moved to St. Louis and they offered me a job...but told me they are closing soon. So too bad.
Ai3clb
Ft. Myers,Florida,
U.S.A.
**Inside Information-Here it is: Pay attention!**
#3UPDATE Employee
Mon, February 23, 2009
..Ritz Camera.com and Ritz Camera are 2 separate Companies- 1st of all.. The reason you didn't get Ritz Camera when you called was because you called the Corporate Customer Service for the other Company. Although Ritz Camera is affiliated with this website, the actual Brick and Mortar Ritz cameras do not have any other relation. That is why if you buy something on the website, you can not return it in store. As far as the mail-in-rebate goes, I have worked for the company for three and a half years, and "FREE photoprinters" are always mail-in-rebates unless specified by other companies (such as canon, nikon, or epson). I visit the website regularly so I can better help my customers when they ask me questions reguarding the site, and I can tell you that "*After Mail-in-Rebates" means |After Rebates| not |Free Instantly|. Anyway- Free is Free. You pay $99.00 and get $100 check in the mail. What really throws me off is that you strike me as someone who wants customer service, yet you are shopping online? Perhaps if you had visited one of our hundreds of locations you would have received the customer service you demand. OR Maybe you visited one of our stores, talked to a camera rep for an hour to feel out what camera was for you, and then purshased online to save the Sales Tax? Oh... and KUDOS to you for avoiding the websites upselling techniques, such SAVVY website purchasing skills.. *ROLLS EYES* Our job at Ritz Camera is to get the customer fitted with the camera that best works for them aa well as everything that customer needs to get started. So if you go to a Ritz Camera and the Sales Rep. is telling you about a memory card- it's because you need one!! He tried to sell you a bag? It's bc you should use one! and so forth... **Yet another SAVVY SHOPPER bites the dust**
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
Not Bait and Switch...
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, December 16, 2008
This was not Bait and Switch you just failed to read how to get the printer for free. If you go to their site now, it still clearly says that it is AFTER the rebate. Yes I am sure you are going to disagree and swear that it did not say that when you bought the camera. However, I can almost guarantee that it was. This is how I have seen every one of these "free" offers work no matter what company is doing them. You click on the offer detail and it states: Manufactures' rebate forms with full terms and conditions are available on the individual printer product pages - to see all of our rebates, see our rebates & coupons page. * Free Digital Printer Offer applies to most digital cameras that have serial numbers EXCEPT: EP SKU digital cameras (digital cameras that have an "EP" in our Stock #, for example: EP21011198). * You must purchase a qualifying Digital Camera AND purchase the printer of your choice. Savings occurs with participation of rebates. * See Individual Rebate Forms for Specific Details. * Offers Can Not be Combined. * Valid only While Supplies Last.
Edgeman
Chico,California,
U.S.A.
Rebate offer...
#5Consumer Comment
Tue, December 16, 2008
I decided to test the Ritz website and see if a printer would be added to the order or if it was a 'free after rebate' deal. I clicked on a Nikon Coolpix L18 digital camera. Here is the link: http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/541531984.htm?bct=%3Bcidigital-camera-promo Note on the left hand side there is a photo of the camera and underneath the photo there are three specials. Two are for memory cards and the one in the middle is for a printer. The user is offered the choice of a free (after rebate) printer or one of two better models at a lower price (after rebate). The price on all three printers is marked with an asterisk and below all three printers are the words 'after rebates- click for details'. Clicking on that link generates a popup page that shows an Epson and a Canon printer. The price for both clearly state that the price is free after rebate. The bottom of the popup page contains this text: >>Manufactures' rebate forms with full terms and conditions are available on the individual printer product pages - to see all of our rebates, see our rebates & coupons page. * Free Digital Printer Offer applies to most digital cameras that have serial numbers EXCEPT: EP SKU digital cameras (digital cameras that have an "EP" in our Stock #, for example: EP21011198). * You must purchase a qualifying Digital Camera AND purchase the printer of your choice. Savings occurs with participation of rebates. * See Individual Rebate Forms for Specific Details. * Offers Can Not be Combined. * Valid only While Supplies Last.<< My observation- Just going to the page for one digital camera and clicking on the printer special exposed me to the word 'rebate' about a dozen times.
