Maybe this should be in the Off-Topic thread, I dont know. If so, feel free to move it.

After reading/posting in another post about China Suppliers, I wanted to put up a warning about some electronics purchasing. This has nothing to do with China suppliers, but mainly US companies that are scams and ripoffs. This info may already be known by some, but these people get new suckers all the time, and they almost got me last year, so I wanted to give a heads up about a few things.

If anyone here is looking into buying high end electronics, and do not already have a good knowledge of the area they are looking to buy something in, then take heed. There are many online merchants who thrive off of scams and ripoffs and with a little research you can quickly find out who they are and can avoid alot of headaches and money loss.

One of the biggest scam markets is in high end camera equipment (mainly digital cameras and digital SLR cameras). Before you consider buying such a camera do your research on what you want first, they are expensive so dont just hop out and buy the first neat one you see. Anyways, there are probably more online merchants selling these in a scam situation than are good merchants. Since most people are becoming aware that you can often find better prices online than in stores, this kind of equipment is becoming a popular item to buy online.

What seems to be the most common are the Bait and Switch tactics being used. The scam companies quite often have many different websites, with different company names and different prices. The first key to the scam is an outrageously low price on the item. You should know what the stanard retail price is at this point and seeing one heck of deal at these places is tempting...dont fall for it. There are thousands of complaints on the net about these places stealing money,not shipping anything, shipping cheap or knock off items, requiring you to but epensive extras after they already have your money for the main item, etc.

In respect to cameras, the largest majority of the scammers are in New York (most in the Bronx...sorry Greek...hehe), California and Chicago, but they exist all over and with internet phones now they can pretend to be located anywhere.

With any such high end purchase, you should call the business first (repeat calls over a week or so helps alot). Most scammers will answer the phone as someone they are not, repeat calls will never produce the same person and you maynever be able to speak to the same person twice even if you ask (in many cases you will actually be speaking to the same person). You may find the same person answering the phone for different online stores also.

Anyways, check out the store before you ever consider buying such an item. Look over all their items...Do the main things seem exceptionally cheap but the little things seems outrageously priced? Its a bad sign.In my example (and almost bad story), I found one that sold the camera I wanted for less than half the price of even reputable retailers on their best sales events.Looking further they were selling cheapo memory cards for nearly 10 times the price you would go to a local retailer to buy.

Their methods are cruel, which is why calling several times is important so you dont get caught up with them. First call they are very helpful and cheerful and really try to make the sale. Once the sale is made you are in trouble. Many people report that it takes the places many months to ever ship the item (even after taking your money which they by law they are ot supposed to do until it ships). Many report recieving a phone call days later stating that the item is not in stock and want you to take their other more expensive option. Most items are grey market or knockoffs, but is being sold to you as the real thing. Many such cameras tat get shipped, get shipped with none of the included extras that you get in any packaged camera if you bought it anywhere else (like the charger or USB cable...it comes with it from the manufacturer but they take it out), and then they ty to get you to buy it at an outrageous price, or tell you that you have to pay extra for those items, even though it already comes with it. Problems then start coming up with many reports of these people making extra charges to your credit cards for no reason (just stealing money).

As with most things, if it is too good to be true it probably isnt. If you really feel you cant pass up the deal, then take the time to do some serious researching on that company first. There are alot of sites out there dedicated simply to warning people of such companies. There is even a website out there that someone did of alot of such scam buinesses in the New York area where he took pictures of all the so called store fronts of these places (many are just houses, some are abandonded warehouses, some are another business entirely, etc....he has dozens and dozens of places listed so far and that is just a part of the ones in New York).

In short, buy from reputable sellers. For camera equipment I personally suggest B&H or Adorama...both are in New York as well, but they are excellent merchants and very reliable and exceptionally knowledgeable and easy to deal with. Their prices are as good as I have come buy for new items, and they also sell the grey market stuff, but they make sure you know which is which (minimal price difference anyways)

These kinds of scammers are all over the internet covering all sorts of types of products (but especially higher end electronics), so just be careful.

cheers for the heads up mate, i did a little expose thing for a sound mag article thing on ebay scammers, with some industry standard microphones, usually around £100 each ... they were on sale for £49. perfect. exposed some chinese people and got they're accounts shut off on ebay AND got the money back.

the best bit, they even had the cheek to ask for the microphones back and i said no they couldnt as they were with my fraud invesitgation team - they really went in the bin because they were truely appauling!