Pretty sure this is a scam, beware...

[Craig E Hood]

So, I decided to pull the trigger on a Nikkor 70-300 4.5-5.6 IF ED AFS VR. Searched the web and came up with Sonic Camera. They had the lens for 329.00 free shipping. I almost fell out of my chair as this lens is around 580.00 everywhere else. I ordered it anyway very skeptical that something was gonna go askew. Well guess what? Got a phone call about 30 minutes ago to "confirm" my order. The salesman wanted to know what camera I was gonna use it on, I'm now getting worried. I told him a D80. He says oh, this lens will not VR with that camera, you will need a VRII lens for 79.00 more. At that point I stopped him and told him I would get back with him. Called Nikon, they had no idea what he was talking about, said it was definitely a scam. I would hope they know what they are talking about so I called him back and kindly cancelled the order. My guess is that by the time he was finished I would have been up to a 500.00 lens. Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

Craig

 

[annnewjerz]

You are probably right. For future reference, if a deal online sounds good to be true, as the saying goes...it probably is. Check out www.resellerratings.com from now on if you are dealing with a store you haven't used before.

FYI - Sonic Cameras received less than a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10 for their average on about 200 reviews...that says something right there.

Sorry about the problems you dealt with but luckily you were smart enough to cancel the order and leave it at that.

 

[dburg30]

Yea, good catch! As I bet most of us have noticed, new, camera gear, thru legit dealers doesnt vary a 'lot'. Sure some are better, but you dont often see prices 25% or more less. So you were smart to check it out.

 

[Craig E Hood]

FYI - Sonic Cameras received less than a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10 for their average on about 200 reviews...that says something right there.

Don't know if you read any of the reviews, but every one of them stated this was a classic bait and switch company.

Oh well, live and learn.

Craig

 

[handicap18]

So, I decided to pull the trigger on a Nikkor 70-300 4.5-5.6 IF ED AFS VR. Searched the web and came up with Sonic Camera. They had the lens for 329.00 free shipping. I almost fell out of my chair as this lens is around 580.00 everywhere else. I ordered it anyway very skeptical that something was gonna go askew. Well guess what? Got a phone call about 30 minutes ago to "confirm" my order. The salesman wanted to know what camera I was gonna use it on, I'm now getting worried. I told him a D80. He says oh, this lens will not VR with that camera, you will need a VRII lens for 79.00 more. At that point I stopped him and told him I would get back with him. Called Nikon, they had no idea what he was talking about, said it was definitely a scam. I would hope they know what they are talking about so I called him back and kindly cancelled the order. My guess is that by the time he was finished I would have been up to a 500.00 lens. Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

Craig

That is quite possibly the most laughable thing I've ever heard. Though they are also known for saying that the battery the dSLR camera's they sell are good for only 1 hour and that you need to buy the regular battery for $250!!

I wouldn't have canceled the order. I would have demanded that they send me the lens with free shipping for the $329 they had advertised. Its not like they can't send you the VR part LOL. The lens doesn't come with anything extra.

Though I guess you could relate this company to a company that sells time share.

I wonder how they would handle someone who flat out refuses everything they are offering to hard sell. They'd probably, as a last ditch effort, say something like... "Oh, well since this conversation lasted so long, we only had 2 left in stock and now they aren't available. I don't know when we'll get another shipment in. Would you like to cancel your order?"

 

[dburg30]

Pretty much, if you just say 'send me what I ordered' it winds up being 'backordered'

 

[ukcatfan]

Craig,

Keep a VERY close eye on your card for the next couple of weeks. You are not out of the woods yet. Some of these companies will send it anyway (and at the inflated price) even if you cancel. Then once it is delivered (usually while you are at work), they refuse to take it back or charge a re-stock fee of 15-30%. There are even some that will charge your card and never send anything hoping you just do not notice.

 

[Craig E Hood]

Every review of this company that I read was the same story over and over. If they were pressured to send what was originally ordered without any "upgrades", the item was miraculously backordered or cancelled altogether. Believe me, I will watch my card statement like a hawk. It amazes me that places like this are allowed to operate, but I guess there are tons of them out there. Too hard to police.

Craig

 

[Craig E Hood]

Craig,

Keep a VERY close eye on your card for the next couple of weeks. You are not out of the woods yet. Some of these companies will send it anyway (and at the inflated price) even if you cancel. Then once it is delivered (usually while you are at work), they refuse to take it back or charge a re-stock fee of 15-30%. There are even some that will charge your card and never send anything hoping you just do not notice.

Thanks! I never thought about this. I just called Disney Visa and had them cancel my account and issue me a new one. They were more than happy to do it. She said as of 10pm tonight nothing was charged from Sonic Camera and if they tried from now forward the charge will be denied. Boy, I feel like an idiot. I am a very cautious consumer and I knew something was not right about that deal. If it sounds too good to be true...

 

[My2Girls66]

I bought mine from Beach over the summer. It was around $480. I love the lens.

 

[robb01]

Thanks for this info, it does sound like a scam to me