Picked up this link from Colin’s twitter. Apparently he was ripped off by a Ted’s Camera Store in Melbourne and they refused to give him a refund. Don’t buy camera gear from stores like Ted’s Camera Stores. ALWAYS buy it online from Singapore or Hong Kong via Ebay. You’ll save 30 – 50%. Read Colin’s full story here.
Colin says: Never buy consumables from Ted’s Camera Stores
by cameron | Sep 5, 2007 | Melbourne, Uncategorized | 8 comments
8 Comments
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Yes bad customer service, but they have done nothing illegal. Personally I do always ask if when buying things over $50 that if it isn’t right or the person I am buying it for has one, can I get a refund. This way I am covered and can argue its not what I thought I was buying in that I thought the good could be refunded. A very good idea in my mind. If they say I can’t refund it, I will consider walking away.
I think Colin should take a lot of the blame himself and learn from the lesson (as we all do from time to time).
Molly
Hey Molly, like I said in the original post, Ted’s have done nothing wrong. Its just a “warning”, so to speak, so that customers know that Ted’s is a store that doesn’t really do refunds (however on hardware, they might be open to a store credit within the first 14-days, according to their website).
Thanks for the tip re: asking the person at the store if they accept refunds. Maybe this is basic consumerism at work, in where we all have to ask, but man, I remember a time when these weren’t really a problem. Just take it back to the store, and voila!, you’d get your refund, no questions asked.
Molly, that’s just bullshit.
a. Neither Colin or I suggested they did anything illegal. Just overcharged him and then refused a refund.
b. And Colin can’t take the blame for their lax attitude towards customer service. A good business will have reasonable pricing and a positive attitude to customer service. Apparently, in this case, Ted’s Camera Stores did not.
A) I never said you did! Do you have a guilty conscience?
B) Whether he take the blame or not, apart from bouycotting them and letting others know, he isn’t going to get the difference back (unless they have a change of heart). I agree with your other comments though. Interested if Colin tried contacting Corporate Ted’s to see if they had anything to say about it? Sometimes (and to be honest, I don’t think Ted’s is one) it could be an inexperienced or under trained staff member that was following the letter of the law/policy that didn’t feel they had any room to move that could cause the problem. Talking to a higher person with more room to move might help. Cam why don’t you call the CEO and ask him? Do a podcast out it.
Also, did Colin use the product before he tried to get the refund (missed that in the quick read)? If he did, it also takes away from the arguement for a refund (whole or difference) as he has got gain out of buying it where he did because he got the good instantly and gained this benefit over having to research the best price and not having in such a quick manner (especially if he takes your advice of ebay from asia).
JMTC
Molly
FWIW, they have not been used and are still in the packaging. They’re now sitting on my desk.
I wouldn’t buy anything from Hong Kong or Singapore through eBay! You’d never know what kinda junk you’d get. It might be different for you fellas down there in Aus, but if I got something shipped from HK into Canada then I’d pay a bunch of taxes on it before it crossed the border. Nevermind the fact that they could ship me anything and say “too bad, so sad!”
Then again, I don’t buy anything on eBay over $50 or so unless I know the people/person/store that I’m buying from. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose.
I actually bought latest camera lens on eBay, but it was from a store right here in Toronto. Saved $150 by buying it on eBay, no duty, no import charges, and Canon gave me a rebate because I bought from an authorized retailer. I even get the full warranty on it.
I bought my last miniDV overEbay from HK. Had an excellent experience. Saved a few hundred dollars, had it delivered in days. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous that it wouldn’t turn up, but it did. Just choose your vendor with caution.
Funny how no one actually asked WHY Colin wanted to return it….