Sunset seems to have some great prices. Did these guys used to be AAA Camera? Can they be trusted?

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), February 02, 2002

Answers

I've heard some negative news about these guys from one of our members off line. Bottom line; Avoid.

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), February 22, 2002.

5 weeks before a first and only trip of a lifetime to India, I inquired about the availability of a Minolta Dimage 7 digital camera. I was assured it was in stock and would ship overnight. After waiting 1 week, I called back to check the status. "ship next week" was the only 3 words I could get out of them. I waited another week and called back saying this is Friday, it needs to ship today so I can receive it tomorrow because I'm leaving Monday. They said no problem, it will be there. In reality I wasn't leaving for another 2 weeks but it taught me that if I had trusted them, I would have left for India with no camera. Do not trust these lying weasels. They billed my credit card the day I first ordered, knowing it would be weeks before they even received them in stock. Got one the next day from PC Connection. Also bought a photo trimmer that was back ordered for 2 weeks. They didn't bill it until it was shipped. Dick

-- Dick Pearce (dickrad@sover.net), March 27, 2002.

My experience was similar to Dick's. I recently ordered a Nikon Coolscan 8000 film scanner from AAA because they had the lowest price I could find. I was promised it would ship the next day. Later I was told 'I'm almost sure it has been shipped', 'Don't worry, it will go out this week', 'It will be shipped tomorrow for sure', and 'It was shipped yesterday but I'll have to get back to you later with the tracking number'. It was never shipped, so I cancelled the order and got it from Delta International for only $37.00 more. They shipped it the same day I ordered it. Bob

-- Bobby Mahaffey (mahajen@prodigy.net), March 30, 2002.

I ordered a Tamron 28-300 lens from their website. My credit card was charged, but for an extra $100.00. They kept giving me wrong FEDEX tracking numbers. When I asked for a refund, they said that I had to return the lens (that I never received). Trying to get a hold of them was frustrating and impossible. They kept putting me on hold. I finally was refunded by filing a complaint through my credit card company.

-- Mike (mikeinsocal@aol.com), April 15, 2002.

I'm in the same boat as the rest of you. I ordered a Cannon powershot G1. They billed the credit card the day I ordered. It's 2 weeks later and still no camera. It took 4 phone calls before someone would tell me anything. Now it's back ordered. I asked if they billed my credit card, "No we don't bill until it is shipped" I called the credit card company "They billed you the day it was oredered" I called sunset and asked to have the charges reversed and was hung up on. This is going to be fun.

-- Mike Herbert (bigmikeh24@yahoo.com), May 13, 2002.

This is one area where e-mail has an advantage. I had a situation where I requested my credit card company to back charge a company because they were giving me a hard time about their 6 month warrentee. The fact that I had all of the messages documented on paper, made it a piece of cake to get it done. I sure got a lot of attention when the back charge arrived at the store and I still had their hasselblad!

-- Gene Crumpler (hassieguy@att.net), May 15, 2002.

Gene, may I ask what credit card you used? When I have disputed claims in the past my credit card company always insisted I provide proof the item was returned, and then the dispute had to be filed within 30 days. I'd be interrested in changing credit cards to get the kind of service you got. Bob

-- Bobby Mahaffey (mahajen@prodigy.net), May 15, 2002.

WOW! Lucky break for me, that I found this page, WAS going to order a lens from them.

-- ken hunter (khunter830@aol.com), June 23, 2002.

I was not so lucky in discovering this post before placing my order. I found this thread after thinking something was very wrong when I started getting the run around and wrong tracking numbers.

I am trying to cancel the order and have discussed reversing the charge on my credit card. It looks like its heading for a mess.

Don't order from these guys!

-- S. DiMaggio (sdimaggio@onebox.com), June 27, 2002.