Do not buy from Primotronix! They are scammers!

10/18/2013 03:06:13 PM · #1

It has been a long time since I have started a thread here but I felt compelled to do so today after what I have experienced with Primotronix .

Yes, I know that if a price sounds to good to be true then it probably is. However, on September 25 their score on resellerratings.com was around 8 out of 10. They must have been padding that score with their own manufactured reviews because today that score is down to 5.3, even with some obvious fake reviews with high marks for customer service.

Their scam is one that we have all heard before: advertise products with ridiculously low prices and then call after you place the order to up sell you on an overpriced battery.

After my girlfriend told them that she would discuss it with me, I told her to call them back and to politely tell them that she has two batteries from the previous camera model that will also work in the new camera that she purchased. I suppose they weren't ready for that and they didn't have an answer for it. The ~~customer service~~ rep quickly said "Okay, we will ship it tomorrow" and hung up. That was two weeks ago. Today, I called on her behalf and ended up on automatic hold for ten minutes during which time I went back to resellerratings.com to find quite different and negative reviews citing similar stories. I hung up and called back for a different extension and this time the line was picked up and immediately disconnected. This happened about six times. I called the number and went through the menu to go to sales this time. After several attempts someone finally answered. I asked him to cut to the chase and let me know if they were going to ship the camera or continue avoiding us for not buying the overpriced battery. He said that the order has been cancelled and when I asked why he got rude, I got rude, he got ruder and it escalated until he hung up on me.

So, just don't even think about dealing with Primotronix. I told them that I would spread the word here, on Fred Miranda, and on Facebook and I hope that they check to see that I did.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/18/2013 03:15:43 PM · #2

Oh yeah, one more thing: while the rep was yelling at me I couldn't believe what his reply was when I told him that I would post this here, on Facebook, and on resellerratings. He actually said to me "We are B&H Photo now."

Yeah, right!

LN13

Canon EOS-60D

10/18/2013 03:27:52 PM · #3

I know times are tough and you have to take a job where you can get it, but I don't understand how anyone can do a job like that and still sleep at night.

Message edited by author 2013-10-18 15:28:05.

LN13

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/18/2013 03:32:41 PM · #4

BBB: F

//www.bbb.org/connecticut/business-reviews/electronic-equipment-and-supplies-dealers/primotronix-llc-in-stamford-ct-87105099/

Message edited by author 2013-10-18 15:36:34.

tanguera

Nikon D750

10/18/2013 05:15:04 PM · #5

It is unfathomable why, in this day and age of instant, widespread, reporting capabilities, anyone still believes they can get away with such scams.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/18/2013 05:46:10 PM · #6

Originally posted by tanguera:

It is unfathomable why, in this day and age of instant, widespread, reporting capabilities, anyone still believes they can get away with such scams.

They wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't seriously profitable. The "unfathomable" part is that "in this day of..." people still fall victim to these scams. Except it's not unfathomable. Some people will willingly suspend disbelief in search of a killer deal, then let themselves get talked into "add-ons" with the rationale "I'd end up spending this much anyway at a better store."

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

10/18/2013 05:52:45 PM · #7

One look at this would send me flying in the opposite direction.

Devinder

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/19/2013 12:11:33 AM · #8

edit: should have said this in the original post - didn't mean to sound like i was stroking my ego. Thanks for the whistle, it is appreciated

i buy bnh. no deals - but fair prices and excellent service. Deals for students though! thats nice i suppose =)

Message edited by author 2013-10-20 22:27:20.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/20/2013 09:33:58 AM · #9

Originally posted by kirbic:

One look at this would send me flying in the opposite direction.

Originally posted by yakatme:

However, on September 25 their score on resellerratings.com was around 8 out of 10. They must have been padding that score with their own manufactured reviews because today that score is down to 5.3, even with some obvious fake reviews with high marks for customer service.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

10/20/2013 10:20:12 AM · #10

I thought it was difficult to post fake reviews on resellerratings.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/20/2013 10:37:20 AM · #11

Yes, I thought so too. But I think that they must be doing so because of the great disparity between ratings. There are either the haters or the lovers of their store...nothing in between. And the lovers of their store post very short reviews as if somebody is posting them but don't have much time to dedicate to each review.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

10/20/2013 10:39:10 AM · #12

Originally posted by tanguera:

It is unfathomable why, in this day and age of instant, widespread, reporting capabilities, anyone still believes they can get away with such scams.

Sure, they make as much as they can, then switch names and start again.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/20/2013 10:52:20 AM · #13

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

The "unfathomable" part is that "in this day of..." people still fall victim to these scams.

Yes, Supreme One. I am so stupid and I wish that I was more like you.

Just like when you and I chartered a sailboat for ten days from the bargain company. That deal that saved us over $2000 delivered us a boat which had an old halyard that broke. That break cost us a 30 minute delay out of ten days and we were on our way again. That was the worst of it and I would charter from the same company again. There are risks that we take when we choose the bargain company and I don't think that the price we paid, neither the bargain charter rate nor the hassle of rigging the spare halyard, was the wrong choice.

I didn't just blindly fall for the unbelievably low price. As I originally posted, I checked resellerrating.com and the score was 8 something at the time.

I choose to compare prices and shop for great deals and more often than not I find great bargains with no problems in return for my time. I rarely encounter this type of problem and my patience in shopping pays off. Otherwise, I might find myself living a life of sitting in front of a computer, comfortable in insidiously criticizing others instead of travelling the world over 100 days last year.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

10/20/2013 12:44:03 PM · #14

If you look at the RX100, you can see their modus operandi....

$489.99 for the Rx100, much lower than others.

Add a few accessories, worth very little:

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Starter Package
This item qualifies for FREE SHIPPING!
$624.99 add to cart
1- Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Digital Camera (Black)
2- SecureDigitalâ�¢ - 4GB Professional SD Memory Card
3- High-Speed SD Memory Card Reader
4- Medium Size Deluxe Video & Camera Case
5- Flexible Mini Table Top Tripod
6- Deluxe Lens Care & Maintenance Package
7- Pack Of LCD Screen Protectors

Back up to full price! All they have to do is refuse to ship it without the accessories. Bait and switch, of a sorts.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/20/2013 12:55:20 PM · #15

Yes, exactly. This is what we wanted to purchase, the camera, not the package. When we wouldn't fall for the second battery at triple the price is when they reneged.

That's okay. We knew it was a risk, discussed it, and then attempted to buy the camera only while using a credit card from a company that we know will reverse the charges if Primotronix doesn't.

I think it was worth the try but, in hindsight, I wouldn't deal with them again

Message edited by author 2013-10-20 12:57:25.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

10/20/2013 01:23:07 PM · #16

That camera was 429 in March...it will drop again probably around Thanksgiving...you can set a price watch here and they'll email you when it drops.

//camelcamelcamel.com/Panasonic-DMC-FZ200-Digital-Camera-Optical/product/B008MB6ZX0?context=tracker

I have one on it because I was considering it once before, but I always chicken out because of the small sensor since I'm a pixel peeper. You might look at the new RX10 too...though it's a heck of a lot more money!

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

10/20/2013 02:22:23 PM · #17

Originally posted by Neil:

That camera was 429 in March...

Yeah, I thought that I might have been losing my mind when I seemed to recall it being a lot less than the $500+ price tag recently. Thanks for that link to the price watch site.

I will look into the RX10 to see if it shoots RAW. My girlfriend has recently joined our local camera club with me and wants to continue photography as a hobby. She has learned to value the benefits of shooting in RAW but she doesn't want the hassle of changing lenses with a DSLR. That's one of the many features of the Lumix FZ-200 that we like.

edit to add: Ah, yes, I see that it does shoot RAW. Another feature of the FZ-200 that she likes, though, is the zoom equivalent of up to 600mm or so. That and the price difference will probably keep her looking to purchase that one instead.

Message edited by author 2013-10-20 14:29:53.

David Ey

Nikon D80

10/20/2013 09:18:38 PM · #18

digital zoom is not the same as lens zoom....watch out

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/20/2013 09:47:29 PM · #19

Originally posted by yakatme:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
The "unfathomable" part is that "in this day of..." people still fall victim to these scams.

Yes, Supreme One. I am so stupid and I wish that I was more like you.

Just like when you and I chartered a sailboat for ten days from the bargain company. That deal that saved us over $2000 delivered us a boat which had an old halyard that broke. That break cost us a 30 minute delay out of ten days and we were on our way again. That was the worst of it and I would charter from the same company again. There are risks that we take when we choose the bargain company and I don't think that the price we paid, neither the bargain charter rate nor the hassle of rigging the spare halyard, was the wrong choice.

I didn't just blindly fall for the unbelievably low price. As I originally posted, I checked resellerrating.com and the score was 8 something at the time.

I choose to compare prices and shop for great deals and more often than not I find great bargains with no problems in return for my time. I rarely encounter this type of problem and my patience in shopping pays off. Otherwise, I might find myself living a life of sitting in front of a computer, comfortable in insidiously criticizing others instead of travelling the world over 100 days last year.

Jaysus Robert, chill down a little. I wasn't even talking about you. Read what I wrote: I was referencing the people who let themselves get talked into the overpriced add-ons. YOU did fine: you stood your ground. All I meant to say was, it amazes me that enough people DO fall for this that they remain profitable.

Originally posted by me:

Except it's not unfathomable. Some people will willingly suspend disbelief in search of a killer deal, then let themselves get talked into "add-ons" with the rationale "I'd end up spending this much anyway at a better store."

Apology appreciated. And yeah, the charter price was worth the slight inconvenience, absolutely. I've been know to seek a deal myself. I just bought a watch, at half-price, that I've been looking at and waiting on for over 2 years...

Message edited by author 2013-10-20 21:57:50.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

10/20/2013 10:53:04 PM · #20

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/20/2013 10:55:24 PM · #21

Pass me some. My dander's up. I've been unjustly impugned! I'm innocent! I swear I am! :-)

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

10/20/2013 10:56:06 PM · #22

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/20/2013 11:20:41 PM · #23