On November 19 I ordered a Nikon AF-S Nikkor
400mm f2.8G ED VR Lens that was advertised as being in BRAND NEW condition but
with an open box. I called immediately after placing the order (Friday at 9AM)
to inquire about why the box was open and if the lens had been used in the
field. I was assured that it was brand new and that they "open the box of
all high end lenses to make sure all components were included". I did not
buy this but felt they had assured me that it had not been used in the field to
that point in time. I asked when I would get it and was told it would ship late
that day or early Monday and I would have it by Wednesday...in time for the
football game I was shooting Thursday.
Monday I had not received tracking information
and after a few e-mails I called and was told they were having trouble getting
my order approved by their bank...I asked why their bank was concerned since my
AMEX card had already authorized the charge. I was subsequently told that they
would ship it Tuesday AM and I would get it Wednesday. On Tuesday morning at 10 I followed up again
looking for the tracking information and was told that my charge had not passed
their verification department until that morning and now that it had it would
ship that day and I would get the lens on Friday. Later Tuesday11/23, at 5:19 in the afternoon, I
got an e-mail telling me that my order had not passed verification and that I
would receive a full refund of my $7,498. I called and inquired as to how they
had managed to decide that a transaction that Amex had approved was not a valid
transaction especially since my e-mail is tied to my photography site that
lists the same name and address that they had on the order....the gentleman
continued to be insulting and dishonest with me.... Amex later verified that
they had gotten an authorization for the charge from Amex on the day of
purchase, but never put the charge through to request payment...so his claims
had all been untruths including his statement that they had issued a
refund....I called him back and got some other story about how he was choosing
not to do business with me and then I got a separate e-mail saying that my Amex
rep was not telling me the truth and that the lens "was not the most
pristine condition". Yeah, I bet Amex is the dishonest company here.
I would not shop here if you are counting on
getting what you are trying to get...it cost me the opportunity to have the
proper equipment when I photographed from the sidelines of my first NFL
game...I will make due with a shorter lens and a tele-converter...you would
have a tough time solving the problem they leave you with just before the
holidays. To fall short of delivering an item is bad, but
it happens....to provide such poor customer service along the way is
deplorable....to be repeatedly dishonest and insulting on the phone and over
e-mail for 5 days is inexcusable.
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