Beware of Camera Stop 704 Canal St. New Orleans

[michael ellis]

Dear Fellow Photographers-
I am writing this to relate my recent experience at Camera Stop in New Orleans and to warn you of their business practices. I was in New Orleans for a couple of days recently and needed a few more memory cards for my Nikon D750. I was out wandering around and saw this store and went in. I told the salesman I needed some cards for my camera and took one of my cards out of my camera to show him what I wanted. He grabbed a couple packets off the rack and said here you go. I unfortunately wasn’t paying close attention and he started asking me questions about my camera, what lenses I had, etc. They were Sandisk and I assumed he gave me what I wanted. I asked how much they were and he said $9.95. That is about the price I had been paying so I said OK and gave him my credit card. I didn’t look closely at the receipt (my mistake) just signed it and put it in my wallet. When I got back to my hotel I was going to unwrap them and format them for my camera when I saw that he had sold me a smaller size card ( micro SD I think) with an adapter for SD size, which I didn’t want. I immediately walked back and tried to exchange them for what I did want.
They did not have the cards I wanted in the brand I wanted so I asked them to take them back. After going round and round a few times about why I wanted the exact same cards the other man said he’d go upstairs and see if they had some there. He returned with a different brand of card (Sony, not Sandisk) and wanted me to take them. When I said I wanted Lexmark and since they didn’t have them I would like a refund he then said they don’t give refunds and told me these cards were $20 more. I tried to talk them into a refund but they were adamant. He then said “just give me $15 and you can have them” I was not happy but it seemed they would not accommodate me so I did give him 15 dollars in cash. When I got back to my hotel I then looked at my credit card slip and saw that he had charged me $65.98. I then called them on the phone and told him they had overcharged me. He said he didn’t say $9.95 but rather 29.95. I told him that that’s not what I heard and if I had I wouldn’t have bought them. He then said no refunds etc. I told him how I felt about the whole series of transactions but could tell I would not get my money back so got off the phone with him.
I feel that my trusting nature was seriously taken advantage of and after a little reflection felt that the whole conversation we had was to distract me from noticing the amount they were charging me. I have never had a similar problem with anyone else I have done business with, in person or online.  I called my credit card company and they are going to dispute the charge so I think I will not have to pay the credit charge.

Sincerely,

Michael Ellis

[Rob C]

Michael, wait until you're my age: this will become a way of life - and you know the worst part? - it's our own fault.

Rob C

[michael ellis]

Hi Rob-
Yes, It is, but I have had generally such good experiences dealing with people that I am always surprised that there are people who aren't honest and trustworthy. I just wish I had ended up with cards I could use. They gave me Sony ultimately and when I looked up cards approved by Nikon they are not on the list.
MichaEL

[eronald]

just phone up the credit card company.

Hi Rob-
Yes, It is, but I have had generally such good experiences dealing with people that I am always surprised that there are people who aren't honest and trustworthy. I just wish I had ended up with cards I could use. They gave me Sony ultimately and when I looked up cards approved by Nikon they are not on the list.
MichaEL

[michael ellis]

just phone up the credit card company.

I did. They were pretty reassuring that they would take care of this. The transaction hadn't posted yet though so I'll have to call them Monday.

[BAB]

Have you called the camera store to speak with the owner and let them know how the sales person treated you? They store owner will have the charges reversed by the card company for sure. If you still in the area go drop off the cards on the counter and walk out of the store.


On another note I shopped at a camera store in LA for 25 years went in one day to purchase another complete system they wouldn't match the price on line. They said now the price is set by the manufacture, I call that price fixing. He knew me, helped me many times in our long term relationship. I reiterated how this product was being sold for less elsewhere. Oh ya I also ordered this system over the phone and waited a week for them to gather all the items. He replied "we'll go shop there" not the right thing to say.


I tried one more time and said why don't you give me a couple of SD cards and a camera case to make up the difference in price? NO! So I said you remember me don't you he said of course I told him good because it's the last time you will ever see my face. I called the owner and told him what a smart loyal employee he had working for him. I later purchased the entire system elsewhere saved 1k dollars and never have been back to that store.

[Jim Pascoe]

Have you called the camera store to speak with the owner and let them know how the sales person treated you? They store owner will have the charges reversed by the card company for sure. If you still in the area go drop off the cards on the counter and walk out of the store.


On another note I shopped at a camera store in LA for 25 years went in one day to purchase another complete system they wouldn't match the price on line. They said now the price is set by the manufacture, I call that price fixing. He knew me, helped me many times in our long term relationship. I reiterated how this product was being sold for less elsewhere. Oh ya I also ordered this system over the phone and waited a week for them to gather all the items. He replied "we'll go shop there" not the right thing to say.


I tried one more time and said why don't you give me a couple of SD cards and a camera case to make up the difference in price? NO! So I said you remember me don't you he said of course I told him good because it's the last time you will ever see my face. I called the owner and told him what a smart loyal employee he had working for him. I later purchased the entire system elsewhere saved 1k dollars and never have been back to that store.

Have you considered that they didn't have the margins to be able to match the other price you found online?  How much profit is there in selling a camera or lens - perhaps a retailer in this forum would like to comment.  A camera store and an online business are two quite different things......  What was the guy supposed to say?  I used to work in a bicycle shop and we always tried to keep our prices keen.  But there really is no sense in selling thousands of pounds of gear and making no profit.  Because you can be sure if there is a problem down the line the customer will expect first-class service to sort the problem having paid second-class money for the goods in the first place.

Jim

Jim

[michael ellis]

Have you called the camera store to speak with the owner and let them know how the sales person treated you? They store owner will have the charges reversed by the card company for sure. If you still in the area go drop off the cards on the counter and walk out of the store.

I haven't called to speak to the owner. I think I spoke to him the second time I was there. The store policy is no returns/no refunds. The truth of the matter is that due to inattention on my part I got taken. Wrong product/no returns/no refunds/wrong price, I didn't notice anything until the transaction was done. Due to the no return/refund policy my credit card company can't help me out. Live and learn I always say.

Michael

[michael ellis]

Have you considered that they didn't have the margins to be able to match the other price you found online?  How much profit is there in selling a camera or lens - perhaps a retailer in this forum would like to comment.

Jim

Jim

Hi Jim-

I had been buying the cards I wanted in Portland from a brick and mortar store for $9.98. I don't know much of anything about the camera store business.

Michael

[Jim Pascoe]

Hi Jim-

I had been buying the cards I wanted in Portland from a brick and mortar store for $9.98. I don't know much of anything about the camera store business.

Michael

Hi Michael - I know you started the thread, but note that my comments were in reply to BAB's post rather than yours.

Best wishes

Jim