lizardkingjm
map-marker Kalamazoo, Michigan

RUN, DO NOT WALK AWAY FROM FOTOCONNECTION!!!

I ordered an Olympus Zuiko 35mm f/3.5 Macro Lens for Olympus Digital Cameras for $184.95 with free shipping from FotoConnection.com on a Monday. First clue of forthcoming problems: Their confirmation email included no details of order (you will see why this is important later on). 25 minutes later I receive an email asking me to call someone confirming my order. I do so. Second clue: The guy tries hard to "upgrade" me to a "metal" lens instead of the plastic lens (there is no such thing as a plastic Olympus lens) . I decline. Two days later on Wednesday, I receive an email asking me to click a certain link to confirm my order (WTF?). I click the link and now the order is $219.95 -- again, no details of the order! By now I'm done with them. I call to cancel my order. After being put on hold by various people for 15 minutes -- apparently no one there is allowed to deal with cancelled orders except one person -- I get sent to someone named "Jack". Jack immediately asks, "Why would you want to do that?" I explain to him why and he says, "The $25 is because you wanted the metal lens." I told him I specifically did not want the "upgrade" and told him to cancel my order. He says there's a cancellation fee. I told him he's going to get a chargeback if he charges the cancellation fee. He hangs up. So the schtick is like this: 1) Customer orders Item A for $X. 2) Confirmation email contains no details. 3) Next email asks customer to call so salespeople can "upgrade" order. 4) Customer calls and some upgrade but most probably do not. 5) The customers that do not upgrade automatically get upgraded. 6) Customer gets another email asking for online confirmation with the higher price. 7) If customer refuses and wants to cancel order, there's a cancellation fee -- throughout the entire process there has been no cleverly no electronic confirmation of the details of the order. I called my credit card company and had them immediately report my card as stolen so no charges can even be made -- I'm not even interested in getting into a two month long chargeback struggle with a company this slimey. Buy from FotoConnection at your own risk. You have been warned.
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1 comment
Guest

everyone who is scammed by this company needs to file a complaint with the attorney general of new york this company needs to be shut down. please do it!

ralphwrasse
map-marker Kalamazoo, Michigan

Nightmare On My Street

Ordered a Olympus e-3 body only camera from the friendly lying swindlers at fotoconnection.com. I got an e-mail immediatley after ordering stating they needed to talk to me right away about my order. I called and guess what?, you got it....the hard sell extravaganza. I need lenses, I need a battery and charger since this dont come with one, I need memory, I need a tripod, a carrying case, a digital card reader, etc. I tell them I need none of this and the guy starts yelling at me and saying I must be retarded. I tell him send the camera as is and he says I need insurance and extra shipping. I ask for a manager and he says fine I will send it. One day, 2 days, 3 days, nothing. I call ( 3 hang ups and 1 hour on hold)and am told the camera I wanted is grey and the one I really want is 1600 dollars. The grey one from the phillipines will ship in 90 days...what a deal. I tell him this is unsatisfactory and then he says he will ship the American one today. One day, 2 days, 3 days, a week...guess what? nothing again. I call back and after the usual hangups and terminal holds the nice customer service guy tells me that my credit card is not clearing (after it was good for the last month). I told him I think he is a lying *** and to cancel my order immediately and hung up on him. I was called later that day by the "supervisor" and I told him that nothing he could tell me would convince me to ever buy anything from you criminals and my order better be cancelled or I would call the police. It was cancelled 3 days later via e-mail. If you love getting screwed, lied to and scammed to the max then by all means call these guys and get all you can handle.
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Loss:
$500
3 comments
Guest

You're a bigger *** than I thought. You know what happens when you assume, right?

Shut your mouth and go back to bed. Stop being so cheap and buy from a local store. I hate idiots like you.

I think everyone should belittle you daily. You deserve it.

Guest

Hey sally it takes alot of guts for a fotoconnection employee like you to come to a site that hates them so much and showing your ignorance. I applaud you!!!. Good luck with your career at fotoconnection.com

Guest

After being called "retarded" on the phone by a hard selling ***, you still went ahead and did business with them? He was right, you are retarded. ***.

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nobadservice
map-marker San Francisco, California

Horrible, Rude, Scammers

Horrible!! I placed order on 12-8-08. They claim to ship within 24 - 48 hours After many unanswered emails, I still had not received shipment on 12-29. After numerous phone calls (and waiting forever for a live person), I spoke with a "Customer Service Representative" (what a joke). He first mumbled some excuse and put me on hold then told me that it was a special order and that it would ship soon. Then he told me it shipped yesterday. When I called him on his *** and told him I wanted to be compensated for the delay, he said I would have to wait until the order arrived and then call back to see what they could do. I told him I was going to contact my credit card company to file a dispute. His answer was " you're going to do that for only $63 dollars"? I hung up, called my credit card company and filed a dispute with no problem. No sooner that I hung up with the bank, Fotoconnection called to offer me a $10 refund. I told them I already filed the dispute and that I was not going to cancel it until I received my order and received a fair reimbursement from them. I received my order today (12-31) and it was the wrong item (not even close to what I ordered). I think they just threw something in a box and shipped it to try and get me to back off.
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1 comment
Guest

please file a complaint with the attorney general of new york. they need to hear about this and stop this operation.

Anonymous
map-marker Reston, Virginia

Charged my master card but did not ship

I ordered a tv Feb 4. I was promised a tracking no. in 48 hrs. I called every day from Feb. 6 to Feb.16th. Every day was promised a tracking no within 24 hrs. Never did get a tracking no. They talked me into an extended warranty and cable. Shipment for the tv was suppose to be $119. They never shipped the tv and tried to charge me the $119 for the less than 1 pound shipment of the cable which they offered me for free. Beware. These people lie and will do anything to stall you. Buy from anyone but foto connection. They are expert at telling you they will take care of it and then do nothing. They will give you their names and extensions but you can never reach them again. You will just keep getting another customer service rep who will promise you they are different and they will handle your problem. Expert at scamming their customers.
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Mirza Ppq
map-marker Kalamazoo, Michigan

I am appalled at these heart-less soul-less creatures

I really wanted to get a nice video camera for my family as my grandma was dying and we needed to take lots of video of her with the family to preserve her memory. I went to fotoconnection because the price was so cheap. They had a really nice set-up that was much cheaper than anyone elses by far. I talked to the salesman who was very pushy and was trying to push many add ons that were very overpriced and un needed by me. He tried to push warranties and extra shipping prices on me as well. I told him I did not need these things and he asked me why I needed the camera. I told him and he said you really will want the american version of this camera as the version I want is an import from taiwan. I told him this is not right as I read it on the site and he became furious and started cussing and screaming at me over the phone. I asked him what in the world is wrong with you and he cursed me one more time and said thanks for wasting my time you *** ***. He then said he hopes my granda dies and hung up the phone. I have never been angrier in my entire life and I am trying to save anyone here from going through this kind of un needed trauma as me and my family had to. These people are criminals and should be locked up behind bars. They have no heart or no soul.
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2 comments
Guest

I know now sally that you are DEFINITELY a fotoconnection.com employee whyo is soming here trying to further insult and harm the people that you and your comany do to on a daily basis. I bet your especially proud of further hurting this poor person who lost their grandmother or is close to losing her.

Congratulations *** of the earth. Have a nice career at fotoconnection with your fellow embeciles you work with.

Guest

That's what you get for not doing research, and for being so cheap.

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forcerecondoc
map-marker Kalamazoo, Michigan

Avoid these crooks. They are liars and scam artists

I am a disabled Iraq Vet who saved money all year to be able to afford a nice camera for my child who is in photo club at high school. I found fotoconnection and because of the low price and me being very poor I decided to try them. They sat on my order for several days and I finally had to call them. The sales rep was high pressure and a LIAR telling me my camera did not come with a battery and I would need to purchase one for 130.00. I told him I could not afford this and eventually he said he was shipping my camera immediately. I also explained to him my disability and financial situation but he seemed to have cared less. A few days later again nothing, no confirmation, tracking number or anything. Again I contact them and they tell me that the item is now back-ordered (remember it shipped days ago I was told). I called my credit card company to verify they had not charged me yet and when I saw they did not I told them it was fraud and if charged I would dispute it. They said they would refund any charges from this FRAUD SCAM company immediately. I then cancelled my order on their website and have not heard from them since. I should have researched them well before but as a former Marine I give people the benefit of the doubt. These CROOKS should be put out of business permanently!!!. I am spreading the word to my friends at the VFW, American Legion, DAV, and everyone I know. These CLOWNS will eventually get whats coming to them for taking advantage of people in this horrible way.
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Loss:
$500
1 comment
derrick m Gba

everyone who is scammed by this company needs to file a complaint with the attorney general of new york this company needs to be shut down. please do it!

Anonymous
map-marker Dallas, Texas

False advertisement

At the time of purchase the sales person recommended buying extended warranty from Pioneer on the Pioneer receiver. I was even told me that Pioneer will come pick up the receiver from home if it breaks down. Yesterday, I received my tuner and in the box there was warrantly from the third unknown party not Pioneer. I was made to believe that I was getting a good deal at $269 warranty when the regular price is over $300. It took me two weeks to call repeatedly to get the credit card situation resolved and I was put on hold for prolong periods of time.
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Rphearn
map-marker Columbus, Georgia

FotoConnection Avoid At All Cost

Fotoconnection.com is the worst company i have ever dealt with on the internet. They screwed up my next day delivery Christmas week. Package will now arrive after Christmas. Horrible communication from the seller. Got over charged for what was purchased. Package deal was like for 674. Sales rep on phone managed to persued me into grading to better lens. I later googled later to find out the lens could be purchased for 40 by itself. I was charded 70 for it. Avoid at all cost, even if it means spending a little extra. The way fotoconnection is conducting business, they will go under in no time.
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Loss:
$694
1 comment
Guest

please file a complaint with the attorney general of new york. this company needs to be reported.

ringorulez
map-marker Kalamazoo, Michigan

***

Fotoconnection is very slow to fill orders UNTIL they call you and try to tell you lies about the product(s) you ordered. The so-called sales persons try to intimidate you with 'upselling' you on products for your purchase that you do not need. (Mostly the item IS included with the product.) Furthermore, they CALL you under FALSE and MISLEADING statements then leap into their 'pitch'. In the meantime your product is NOT shipped. LAST YEAR they advertised a product as in stock, and when I ordered it they called and tried to have me add other items. When I refused they then told me the product I wanted would NOT be available until after Christmas. (I should have learned my lesson then!) PAY A BIT MORE-AND GET GREAT SERVICE FROM A RELIABLE SITE. Because of their call they ruined a surprise gift--even after I let them know when I ordered it. These people are ***!
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countrylinda C
map-marker Dresden, Tennessee

FotoConnection RIP-Offs

Best internet price...HAH . Wait until you get your Credit card statement... Nikon L18 digital camera..Advertise price 108.95 total with shipping... not bad price...but wait there is more how about a 128.95 to my credit card!!!!!!!!! So when I called, they told me I was upgraded to the "Nikon" package.. lens cleaning kit, tripod and camera case.. I told them I didn't order this .Besides it was NOT Nikon..but some cheap no name items worth about $3.95 in the Dollar store....he then said it was a Vietnam Camera ..what this had to do with it, I to this day don't know..They then told me they would give me a $ 25.00 store credit..... I am still waiting........save your money shop somewhere else....it will save you more in the long run.
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Loss:
$128
1 comment
derrick m Gba

everyone who is scammed by this company needs to file a complaint with the attorney general of new york this company needs to be shut down. please do it!

Anonymous
map-marker Saint Louis, Missouri

Don't buy from FotoConnection!!!

I purchased my camera in the beginning of June and had it sent to my brother's house, which is where I was going to be at the time of the delivery, so I figured it'd be a great time to try it out. The order went relatively smoothly, I ordered the Nikon D40 kit, and asked if this was the "REAL DEAL American Version." They assured me that it was and I was quickly sent to the Sales dept. for my purchase. I had everything from their online store in front of me and ready to order via telephone. Throughout the order the person on the phone was polite and kept trying to upsell me into something extra with the camera, I told him I just wanted the package deal that was online and that was all, he then told me that the package wasn't available and they would "Upgrade" me to other "great" accessories for 10 bucks more, I said "whatever" and went ahead with that. After placing my order and giving the CC info and all, I happily hung up but was sort of suspicious, and decided to look them up online and quickly saw all the complaints. I rushed to the phone (had been about 10 minutes) and called my dad (an attorney) he told me to call the CC company and the camera company and cancel my order. I called the FotoConnection store to cancel (had been just at 20 minutes, I looked in my phone for call history and times) and they told me that the order had already been processed and was sent to shipping. I was then put on hold forever (literally 35 minutes) and then transferred to a representative finally and told him that I couldn't justify spending that much on a camera (just wanted to cancel my order) he gave me the same talk that it couldn't be canceled anymore (this comes into play later) but he would give me 20 dollars off my order if I kept it, I then asked to speak with a manager, he said "he's busy right now" I said well trnasfer me to him and let me hold, he then said "he's not here right now" so I replied "you just said he was busy" he then said "I am the manager." At this point I was not only confused but thoroughly angry! I hung up and called the CC company. I asked them if they could cancel the order and they said FC had already processed the order (about 12 minutes after I originally got off the phone with them). I went through the story with them and they offered to open a claim so if something bad happened I'd have history and references. So I went through with that and updated them when I got the camera, and shipped it back and so on... Anyways, when I was waiting for the camera to come in (while at my brother's) I was on the phone various times waiting for customer service, each hold period was well over 45 minutes and then multiple on holds (the average phone call lasted over 2 hours for 3 days each, not much of a vacation). They refused to allow me to ship the camera back when I got it and to give me the number needed to send it back. After getting the camera I called Nikon to verify if it was INDEED a real American Nikon like FC claimed, it was definitely not and Nikon told me to send it back! I called FC again to get the return number I needed and they said, "Well you bought the camera and now it's yours" I told them again I did not want it and needed to send it back, after about 2 days of calling for the number I finally got it! Shipped it and sent it, everything triple checked to make sure I did it correctly. After triple checking everything, I ready something that said, any order cancelled within 30 minutes of placing the order is basically fine, YEA RIGHT! you're on hold forever so you can't cancel it... Anyways I just got my percentage of my money back (85% or whatever it was is better than giving those crooks all of it!) and this is 2 and a half months later, I was just about to go through with the CC claim and have them go after FC, but FC turned it in just in time, for them. Moral of the story, don't buy from FC they're crooks, they lie, they cheat, they are not professional business people, just professional crooks! DONT BUY FROM FOTO CONNECTION!
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Loss:
$63
1 comment
derrick m Gba

everyone who is scammed by this company needs to file a complaint with the attorney general of new york this company needs to be shut down. please do it!

Anonymous
map-marker Baghdad, Baghdad

FotoConnection

I bought a camera from FotoConnection about a week ago and chose the speedy delivery. After a week now I haven't received a tracking nr. nor an email from them after I've send numerous messages to them and had NO reply what so ever!! I WONT RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY TO ANYONE!!!!! Stay away from FOTOCONNECT!!!! Or you will loos your money and all the time wasted on their site and time wasted waiting for delivery or a response!! You've been worn by numerous unsatisfied customers, so dont make the same mistake. Amezon.com must take FOTOCONNECTION's name off their site, it give a wrong impression!!
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2 comments
Nerine S

I am calling the attorney general in NY and the BBB tomorrow!

Guest

please file a complaint with the attorney general of new york. they must be shut down!

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shahidhaque
map-marker Missoula, Montana

Lying about having sent my item; will not cancel my order.

On 6/17/08, I placed an order with Fotoconnection.com for a Bosch dishwasher. I called by telephone to check availability and after it was confirmed to be in stock, I placed the order by telephone. I never received my order confirmation as was promised over the phone. I called the next day to ask for the order confirmation, and was surprised to hear that the order had already shipped. I asked for my order confirmation and for my tracking number. However, hours passed and I did not receive either. I began to worry, and started researching the company. I was shocked to see the large number of customers that were having serious problems with the company, including problems with the company lying about when they send items and sending grey-market items instead of items with legitimate manufacturer-covered warranties. I called again to try and obtain my order confirmation and tracking number I spoke to someone named "Bobby" (but who sounded exactly like someone else I had just spoken to). He confirmed that my order had shipped. When I asked for the tracking number, he stated that he would have to look it up and send it to me by e-mail after 7 pm that night. I confirmed my e-mail address to ensure it was correctly entered in their system. I asked who the shipper would be, and he stated that it was sent via Ceva Logistics. Based on other customer complaints, I also asked to confirm that I would get a new item. When I asked if the item would be new, he said: "No, it will be refurbished." I asked if he was serious, and he said he was only kidding. But then he said: "It is going to be used and have a dent in the back, but you won't see it." I asked if he was joking again, and he didn't respond. I once again asked to confirm that the item would be new, and he would say only that "the item will be coming direct from the manufacturer." He would not say it would be NEW, even after asking several times. The next day, after I did not receive my order confirmation or tracking number, I called and asked for it once again. I was placed on hold for several minutes, and was told that they were on the phone with the shipper about getting the tracking number. They finally said that the shipper was unable to find the tracking number, and that they would have to e-mail it to me later. I called Ceva Logistics myself to check on my order. The agent could not find any record of my shipment in their system. She ultimately looked Fotoconnection up and tracked down their local sales station in New York. I learned that for purposes of their shipping with Ceva Logistics, Fotoconnection operates under the name First Stop. I called this local sales station and spoke to someone named Keisha Allen. After investigating and calling me back, she confirmed that Fotoconnection had not sent my package with them. They had not picked up the package and have not even been asked to come pick it up. They were completely lying about my package being shipped. I called and stated that I wanted to cancel my order. The Fotoconnection agent refused, stating that I could not cancel the order after it had already been shipped. I demanded that if my package had been shipped, they should send me proof, and if they cannot prove that they shipped the package, I should be able to cancel. I was placed on hold for several minutes as they supposedly called Ceva Logistics to try and find the tracking number. I was told, once again, that they would have to call me back. I finally received a tracking number by e-mail. However, imagine my surprise when I looked it up and saw that it was for a package that was delivered in March 2007 to Las vegas. This was not my tracking number. I called yet again to tell them that the tracking number was incorrect, and was told that this was the fault of Ceva Logistics. They claimed that Ceva Logistics was having technical problems and was sending out recycled tracking numbers. After calling Ceva Logistics once again, I confirmed that the tracking number was wrong, that they are having no technical difficulties, and that they still have no record of my shipment. The local sales office that deals directly with Fotoconnection confirmed that they simply have not been asked to pick up or send my package. As it stands, I have still not been sent my order confirmation or tracking number and I have no idea when or if I will ever receive my dishwasher. They will not cancel my order because it has supposedly shipped, but they will not send me a tracking number to confirm that the order has actually shipped. Another issue that is worth mentioning is that I was overcharged on shipping. I was told that if I bought an extended warranty, I would get free trucking delivery. The agent confirmed that this meant that I would not be billed any shipping charges whatsoever. Later they claimed that I got a free upgrade to trucking delivery, but that I still owed the regular shipping charges. While this may be what was said on the website, it is simply not what I was promised on the phone.
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Loss:
$1
2 comments
Guest

Ordered a new Factory sealed TV from Fotoconnection and when I recieved it, it was obviously refurbished or a tv that was sitting in a smoke filled room for the last 6 months. The TV had small little scratches all over it and you could tell it had been used.

I tried calling them and they just tried to upsell me another warranty. They would not get me a new factory sealed TV.

They said that they would send me an email detailing how to send the TV back and I am still waiting for that email to arrive in my inbox. Do not buy from Fotoconnection!

Guest

Yes, I agree with what you said. I'm having the same exact problem with a gps that I ordered 2 weeks ago.

They already charged my credit card, and will not provide any tracking number.

I called my credit card issuer, and filed a complaint. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY!

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Anonymous
map-marker Albany, New York

Bait and Switch from FotoConnection.com

FotoConnection.com is a bait and switch shop. They advertise great deals on their website but scam the consumer by calling and claiming they need to verify information due to people using credit cards that were stolen. Sam, who claims to be the owner, calls and tries to sell you all the extras. When I said no to every pitch at least 5 times, he then rips you off by asking "do you want a USA camera". When asked what the website was advertising, he claims it was a camera in Japanese and to get one in English it would cost $100 more. No where on the web site was this disclosed. When the package arrived, he had substituted a non Nikon lenses and shorted me a wide angle. I called and asked what was up, he claimed I agreed to the "upgrade". I am in the process of filing a claim with the Attorney General of New York. BEWARE of this website.
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rwnole
map-marker Saint Petersburg, Florida

Fotoconnection.com

I ordered a digital camera from fotoconnection.com at the end of July 2008. I received a call approximately 4 days later (on a Sunday) explaining that the one I ordered online was actually one that they only sell overseas (in China) to tourists because the battery only lasts for approx 20 minutes and it will break after about a month of use. They told me that they also sell the US version of this camera for 239.00 as apposed to the 189.00 that was initially discussed. Well, that should have been the end of my business but stupidly I agreed to have it ordered. Now the order was going to be late as this was a birthday gift. I agreed to pay the extra 39.95 shipping to get it there by the following Wednesday (August 6th) & purchase the 239.00 camera. August 6th came & went & there was no receipt of the camera until August 7th (late- therefore hardly worth the extra cost for shipping). After opening the package I discovered that they shipped the camera model that I ordered but not in silver as discussed, but in black. I called the following day & advised fotoconnection.com of the mistake. They rudely told me that the correct camera was sent & that this is all they have. They would not have the silver one in stock for at least a few weeks so I would just have to deal with the black one. Their exact quote was "This is more of a headache for me to return it. Why don't you just keep the black one? What's the difference?" I explained the difference & advised them that I would like to return it. The initially stated that I would have to pay the 15% restocking fee. I could not believe this! Why would I pay a restocking fee on something they sent to me incorrectly? I refused & then they told me that I would have to pay the 39.95 shipping charge because the policy is that this is non-refundable. I again explained that me paying a shipping fee for something that was late & incorrect was simply unacceptable. They then agreed to refund it but when I checked my credit card statement they had not. I again called & they denied that they had told me this. I wrote down who I spoke with on each occasion w/ date & time- this was no mistake--they lied! I am now disputing this charge with my credit card company. Every time I called I spoke with someone who was either exceptionally rude or sitting next to someone else who was dropping the F-bomb every fifth word. Even after addressing this unprofessional behavior with the "customer service rep" (definately in quotations for a reason) their behavior continued. Each operator refused to allow me to speak with a manager, saying that they were the manager or that they are the highest ranking employee in the company. They would deny that they were the the owner, saying that the owner was in Thailand. I am disgusted with they way that they treated me & I would never purchase anything from here. God forbid the equipment you purchase from fotoconnection.com be defective- I can guarantee that they will not stand behind their product! Horrible experience & do not shop here.
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Loss:
$250