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Camera Batteries

HMTKSteveHMTKSteve
edited June 2008 in Technology
I just canceled an order my wife placed for a new Canon digital camera after the salesman gave her the hard sell on the phone. He claimed that the battery that comes with the camera is some sort of "starter" battery and only works for 20 minutes. I know they typically only ship small SD cards with cameras but I "starter" battery? I have never heard of such a thing!

When I canceled the order the salesman threatened us with a 15% restocking fee for canceling. I told him we would not be paying such a fee and then he jumped his fee to 50% before hanging up (it is a webstore located in New York). We promptly called out credit card company and told them to cancel the charge but the charge was not yet in the system.

She had placed the order just for the camera a few days ago but had to talk to a salesman over the phone before they would complete the order. I feel this is a real shitty business and if I have any problems with the billing I will contact the BBB in New York among other things.

Comments

  • RymRym
    She had placed the order just for the camera a few days ago but had to talk to a salesman over the phone before they would complete the order. I feel this is a real shitty business and if I have any problems with the billing I will contact the BBB in New York among other things.
    This is an old and very common issue with online camera sellers (and electronics stores in New York). Never buy cameras online, especially if they appear cheap: they'll force you to "upgrade" some very expensive components, then charge you a fee if you cancel the order or otherwise balk. There was an article on Slashdot a few years ago about the racket.
  • HungryJoeHungryJoe
    The BBB doesn't actually have any teeth. Most businesses laugh at the BBB.
  • AprecheApreche
    There are many small camera shops, many in NY for some reason, that have incredibly shady business practices. I think it's the last gasp of a failing business model. Since people now buy cameras at Best Buy and such, these camera shops that used to thrive in a time of film are resorting to thievery to stay in business. If you want to buy a camera, get it from a large and trustworthy retailer like Best Buy, Amazon, Newegg, etc. Do not trust small online camera shops, they are almost all scam artists.
  • HMTKSteveHMTKSteve
    I'm just glad I was home when this all went down.
  • FunfetusFunfetus
    There was a heavily Dugg story a couple years back about a camera store in NY that screwed some guy. Priceritefoto.com or something, I think. It blew up all over the internet, and the store got harassed like crazy, and I think the guy got his money back. I think the site also shut down, but started up again under a different name. The moral of the story is that NY camera stores are shady, and it's kinda strange the things the internet will rally behind sometimes.
  • HMTKSteveHMTKSteve
    edited June 2008
    I remember that story. We had talked about B&H before so I foolishly assumed that was the store she was ordering through.
    Post edited by HMTKSteve on
  • AprecheApreche
    I remember that story. We had talked about B&H; before so I foolishly assumed that was the store she was ordering through.
    B&H; is a trustworthy store. It is super fancy, and many professionals shop there. It's actually run by a bunch of orthodox Jews, so it's always closed on the sabbath. As a result, it is very difficult to actually get into the store. However, the prices are ok, but not amazing. You can usually get a better deal, unless you are buying really fancy stuff that is hard to get from Amazon, Best Buy, etc.
  • SeanSean
    I just canceled an order my wife placed for a new Canon digital camera after the salesman gave her the hard sell on the phone. He claimed that the battery that comes with the camera is some sort of "starter" battery and only works for 20 minutes. I know they typically only ship small SD cards with cameras but I "starter" battery? I have never heard of such a thing!
    He is not being completely dishonest here. Canon cameras typically come with fairly crappy Alkaline batteries that don't have a particularly good life. 20 minutes seems a bit short, I would expect around 40-50 shots off a set of batteries like these. With any camera that does not come with its own rechargeable battery you are generally better off picking up a charger and some Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries. They last for a reasonable amount of time and charge up fairly quickly.
  • HMTKSteveHMTKSteve
    It is the Cannon Powershot G9 with the NB-2LH battery.
  • AprecheApreche
    I bought a Canon Powershot SD, and I just got my mom a newer version of the same thing. They both came with the same little square battery, and it lasts a very long time.
  • HMTKSteveHMTKSteve
    We have been buying Cannon cameras for a while now and my wife has two Powershot cameras. She did a bunch of research, talked with other photographers, and picked this one.
  • SeanSean
    edited June 2008
    Um... right... So the salesperson said that the battery that comes in the box only lasts for 20 minutes? Yeah he is totally trying to scam you. The NB-2LH is a Li-Ion rechargeable and will last way longer than twenty minutes. That and the fact that the G9 takes a very specific battery and the only thing you can buy is another NB-2LH which would be identical to the one in the box. I would definitely avoid buying from that store!!
    Post edited by Sean on
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