When shopping on the Internet, it is important to watch out for liars and swindlers. Ignore the phony 5-star ratings posted by Closeout employees. The ones suggesting that this company is a fraud are closer to accurate. To say outright that they are swindlers and liars would probably get me sued, so I'll just post my experience and let you compare it to the other 1-star postings and let you make your own decision.
I ordered a camera outfit from them back in April. The ad clearly said it was a Canon camera and two Canon IS lenses AND it said that is included US warranty. I received an email from them the next day saying that I had to call them to verify my credit card before they could process the order and then the fun began. First came the high-pressure sales effort to buy a $24.95 charger for ONLY $125.00! (I know what they really sell for because I bought one elsewhere.) That didn't work so they told me I was getting an International version of the camera and that a US version with menus in English was $300.00 more. While it is true that such a version exists, and that there is such a price difference, a Canon representative informed me that those cameras are NEVER sold with a USA warranty. Since the ad stated I included a USA warranty, that was their first lie. I told them to ship the order as I placed it. 18 days later (speedy shipping, no?) I received a box with a refurbished and cosmetically battered (albeit functional) camera.
Instead of a 28-135 I got a 50mm Canon lens and instead of a 70-300 Canon, I got a Sigma. And the Sigma wasn't even factory packed. It was wrapped in bubble wrap and dropped into the box to bounce around. I called and demanded a return authorization. First they told me that I got exactly what I ordered. Here we have bait and switch without the consumer even being told they are being switched. Sound like a swindle to me. How about you?
But after I emailed them a screenshot of their own web page with the offer, they backed off of that. They still wound up charging me $300 extra for the lens and nearly $200 for shipping that was supposed to be "free shipping." So my "bargain" has now zapped my credit card $500.00 more than the outfit was offered at and I still don't have any equipment. Those were lies 2 and 3. I have document 15 phone calls and 12 exchanges of emails. I have been told, "Your shipment will arrive June 3." It didn't. Lie 4. On June 5, I called and was told, "We said June 13, not June 3". Lie 5. June 13 rolls around and still no shipment. Lie 6. Now they don't bother returning calls or emails.
Therefore they have taken my money, but given nothing in return. Sounds like something a thief would do to me, doesn't it you?
Are they swindlers, liars and thieves? My experience suggests very strongly that they are?
Don't wait passively. I've reported this company to the AG's office for the states of California and New York. Neither state would go after them on the basis of my complaint, but both said that they would keep the complaint on record and if there was sufficient "traffic", they would consider taking action. Give them the traffic they need.
Bought an authentic Nikon D800 but received a gray market D600. There was no responce to my complaints. I cannot believe these ripoff artists are still in business.
June 11,2014 I ordered a Nikon D600 total price $1,099.00. I received an email that I needed to call in to confirm my order since I ordered on line... when I called in they told me that the camera's language was in Japanese and I would be unable to change it. I was told they could change my order to an English language camera for a total of $1,499.00, after some thought I agreed, he than gave me a total of $1,531.00, as he was putting $32.00 on for shipping insurance. I told him to cancel my order. He then agreed to take off the insurance and upgrade me to express shipping that my camera would arrive by June 21,2014. I agreed... June 23,2014 I called regarding my order that I had not received. I was told it would be delivered that day via UPS, I advised the represented had already been there that day, he assured me it would arrive by 8pm on 06/21/14.. it did not. I called again on June 25th, and was told that my order I was told that it was being overnighted to me and that I would have it by June 26, 2014 according to the tracking number. I advised them I never received a tracking number. When I tried to express my dissatisfaction with them and that I felt I had been lied to, I was asked if I wanted to cancel my order. I asked how that was possible if the camera had already been overnighted to me, the representative than stated it was still in there warehouse that they would be overnighting it to me that day..... I was lied to again and again by this company.... I canceled my order with an extremely rude representative that told me to "go ahead and pay more someplace else".....I would never do business with this company again, and I warn others against it. Now waiting for my refund."
Don't wait passively. I've reported this company to the AG's office for the states of California and New York. Neither state would go after them on the basis of my complaint, but both said that they would keep the complaint on record and if there was sufficient "traffic", they would consider taking action. Give them the traffic they need.
Shoppers BEWARE, this company is a rip-off! They advertise real products with really low prices. I purchased 2 of their products online. Two days later somebody from their company called me see if i wanted to switch to the USA version of the same product which was $350 more expensive, stating the one I picked - canon 7D - was a Japanese model with plastic body with Japanese language only. So I decided the gentleman talking to me about the switch was probably right so i switched.
After researching I found out that there is not a 7D with plastic body. The Japanese version has 2 languages Japanese and English. The camera I received has both English and Japanese language, and after I scanned every barcode on the box, nothing but Japanese sites came up meaning they sent me the Japanese model WITHOUT warranty card.
The other item I ordered was a 100mm f2.8 "L" IS USM lens. This company had the nerve to sent me the non L series which cost $450 cheaper. When I called the company they said the boxes are similar and the shipping department must of made a mistake. I really believe they were just trying to scam me.
I mailed the lens back the same day for $20 which they received in 3 business days. I paid over $100 for 2-3 day shipping when i initially purchased both items, which aggravates me even more.
I spoke with Ben who told me they mailed the lens on a friday however the following Thursday when i called to demand the status of my lens they provided me a bogus tracking number. After 27 days, a bunch of phone calls and lots of broken promises I still don't have the lens I paid for.
Closeout Digital Reviews
Scammers and thieves
When shopping on the Internet, it is important to watch out for liars and swindlers. Ignore the phony 5-star ratings posted by Closeout employees. The ones suggesting that this company is a fraud are closer to accurate. To say outright that they are swindlers and liars would probably get me sued, so I'll just post my experience and let you compare it to the other 1-star postings and let you make your own decision.
I ordered a camera outfit from them back in April. The ad clearly said it was a Canon camera and two Canon IS lenses AND it said that is included US warranty. I received an email from them the next day saying that I had to call them to verify my credit card before they could process the order and then the fun began. First came the high-pressure sales effort to buy a $24.95 charger for ONLY $125.00! (I know what they really sell for because I bought one elsewhere.) That didn't work so they told me I was getting an International version of the camera and that a US version with menus in English was $300.00 more. While it is true that such a version exists, and that there is such a price difference, a Canon representative informed me that those cameras are NEVER sold with a USA warranty. Since the ad stated I included a USA warranty, that was their first lie. I told them to ship the order as I placed it. 18 days later (speedy shipping, no?) I received a box with a refurbished and cosmetically battered (albeit functional) camera.
Instead of a 28-135 I got a 50mm Canon lens and instead of a 70-300 Canon, I got a Sigma. And the Sigma wasn't even factory packed. It was wrapped in bubble wrap and dropped into the box to bounce around. I called and demanded a return authorization. First they told me that I got exactly what I ordered. Here we have bait and switch without the consumer even being told they are being switched. Sound like a swindle to me. How about you?
But after I emailed them a screenshot of their own web page with the offer, they backed off of that. They still wound up charging me $300 extra for the lens and nearly $200 for shipping that was supposed to be "free shipping." So my "bargain" has now zapped my credit card $500.00 more than the outfit was offered at and I still don't have any equipment. Those were lies 2 and 3. I have document 15 phone calls and 12 exchanges of emails. I have been told, "Your shipment will arrive June 3." It didn't. Lie 4. On June 5, I called and was told, "We said June 13, not June 3". Lie 5. June 13 rolls around and still no shipment. Lie 6. Now they don't bother returning calls or emails.
Therefore they have taken my money, but given nothing in return. Sounds like something a thief would do to me, doesn't it you?
Are they swindlers, liars and thieves? My experience suggests very strongly that they are?
Go after them...
Don't wait passively. I've reported this company to the AG's office for the states of California and New York. Neither state would go after them on the basis of my complaint, but both said that they would keep the complaint on record and if there was sufficient "traffic", they would consider taking action. Give them the traffic they need.
Bought an authentic Nikon D800 but received a gray market D600. There was no responce to my complaints. I cannot believe these ripoff artists are still in business.
June 11,2014 I ordered a Nikon D600 total price $1,099.00. I received an email that I needed to call in to confirm my order since I ordered on line... when I called in they told me that the camera's language was in Japanese and I would be unable to change it. I was told they could change my order to an English language camera for a total of $1,499.00, after some thought I agreed, he than gave me a total of $1,531.00, as he was putting $32.00 on for shipping insurance. I told him to cancel my order. He then agreed to take off the insurance and upgrade me to express shipping that my camera would arrive by June 21,2014. I agreed... June 23,2014 I called regarding my order that I had not received. I was told it would be delivered that day via UPS, I advised the represented had already been there that day, he assured me it would arrive by 8pm on 06/21/14.. it did not. I called again on June 25th, and was told that my order I was told that it was being overnighted to me and that I would have it by June 26, 2014 according to the tracking number. I advised them I never received a tracking number. When I tried to express my dissatisfaction with them and that I felt I had been lied to, I was asked if I wanted to cancel my order. I asked how that was possible if the camera had already been overnighted to me, the representative than stated it was still in there warehouse that they would be overnighting it to me that day..... I was lied to again and again by this company.... I canceled my order with an extremely rude representative that told me to "go ahead and pay more someplace else".....I would never do business with this company again, and I warn others against it. Now waiting for my refund."
Go after them...
Don't wait passively. I've reported this company to the AG's office for the states of California and New York. Neither state would go after them on the basis of my complaint, but both said that they would keep the complaint on record and if there was sufficient "traffic", they would consider taking action. Give them the traffic they need.
Shoppers BEWARE, this company is a rip-off! They advertise real products with really low prices. I purchased 2 of their products online. Two days later somebody from their company called me see if i wanted to switch to the USA version of the same product which was $350 more expensive, stating the one I picked - canon 7D - was a Japanese model with plastic body with Japanese language only. So I decided the gentleman talking to me about the switch was probably right so i switched.
After researching I found out that there is not a 7D with plastic body. The Japanese version has 2 languages Japanese and English. The camera I received has both English and Japanese language, and after I scanned every barcode on the box, nothing but Japanese sites came up meaning they sent me the Japanese model WITHOUT warranty card.
The other item I ordered was a 100mm f2.8 "L" IS USM lens. This company had the nerve to sent me the non L series which cost $450 cheaper. When I called the company they said the boxes are similar and the shipping department must of made a mistake. I really believe they were just trying to scam me.
I mailed the lens back the same day for $20 which they received in 3 business days. I paid over $100 for 2-3 day shipping when i initially purchased both items, which aggravates me even more.
I spoke with Ben who told me they mailed the lens on a friday however the following Thursday when i called to demand the status of my lens they provided me a bogus tracking number. After 27 days, a bunch of phone calls and lots of broken promises I still don't have the lens I paid for.
I knew their prices were too good to be true.