Pixiq

I had a horrible experience with them in 1992 and never, ever went back. Warned everyone I knew. I still do, every chance I get. I registered with Pixiq just so I could post this comment.

The sales person was totally slimy and had obviously been coached on using phrases that were ambiguous and misleading. I went in expecting to speak with a fellow enthusiast and get good insights. I was totally unsuspecting, so didn't even think to question the things he said and recommended as less than truthful.

Ugh. Still feels awful almost twenty years later.

so, let me get this straight... Sarah wanted to skip out on VAT in her country and ordered US cameras sent to a US address, and because they took a few extra days DURING THE CHRISTMAS RUSH, that's the store's fault?

Yes, 42nd street is shady, and no, I will never shop with them (I'm a B&H guy). And while 42nd street might have billed this item a wee bit earlier than they shipped it (again, during Xmas) I think there's more to be said about your friend Sarah and the fact she's bending the rules on import taxes than 42nd street. And why might they call the shipping address? Let's start with a ~6 hour time difference and end with the fact CA costs a heck of a lot less to call than the UK....

Come on guys, don't make a rule cheater the poster child for your case against shady NYC retailers. Surely you can find worse examples?

I haven't dealt with 42nd, but have dealt with B&H and was quite unimpressed. I recently went to their web site looking to upgrade my copy of Adobe Design Premium CS4. Having searched for it under these exact terms, I purchased what I thought was the most recent version. Except that it wasn't - it had been replaced by CS5.5. When I realized that I had bought a discontinued product, I was told that it was still a popular product and that it was my problem - I ended up paying shipping back and forth to Canada. I later tried to review in order to indicate somewhere in the description that it was not the most recent incarnation of this software, but my review was never posted. I still can't imagine why anyone would purchase an older version of any software knowingly, especially considering the cost of upgrading.

Bought a lens there in person (B&H didn't have stock) - seemed Ok.

42nd STREET PHOTO - HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE - AVOID THIS PLACE

I am in the market for a DSLR and decided to go to a few of the camera shops in the area. I walked into 42nd Street Photo and was surprised that it is such a small store with just two counters.

I said that I was looking for a good Canon or Nikon DSLR with an upgraded lens. I told him that I am not concerned about video but making good still images. He told me that I would have to do some research and didn't even venture a suggestion as to what to look at.

I asked to see one on the shelf. I looked at it for a 1/2 minute and wanted to see another one. He said, "You can't play with the cameras" and told me to come back when I am ready to buy.

He asked when I was going to buy one, today??? Ridiculous.

Only the tourists would go here. They'd get a better deal AND better service at BEST BUY. I wish I could give this experience ZERO stars. All I wanted to do was look at a few cameras.

I would never go back there again or buy from them. Avoid this place. They want to sell cameras (not really, they just want your $$$$$$) and think that treating you like dirt is a good way to approach it.

GO TO BEST BUY. DON"T GIVE THESE SMALL STORES your money.

Odd. I've done business with them since 1975 and today is the first time I've had a problem and it was a screw up between sales and their fulfillment center, which means I'll get my order a week later than expected.

Other than that, I've found good prices there at times, but will keep this warning in mind.

As far as the sell-up goes, a lot of businesses do that. Just say no. I didn't get a sell-up, but they did ask me if I wanted a few other things. I said no.

Ken

What's ironic is tha she needed the device in a time sensitive manner but didn't want to pay for shipping to expedite it. I have been shopping with this store since my grandpa put me on almost 20 years ago. They have had free shipping every time I have ever ordered on their website. There's no doubt that they will try and sell you memory cards and extra batteries. Big deal! Get over it! Bh is a great a store but 42 always beats the price. Oh and another thing, if your billing address and shipping address is different then they have to do a thorough security check especially with an international order during the holiday season when fraud is high. That includes investigating where the package is going. And as a merchant of my own business I can tell you that when you bill a card through the terminal the seller relieves a code from the card company that evaluates the risk of the order and may require the merchant to follow up. And btw why are you trying to avoid paying VAT? Really Haje Jan Kamps? Find a more credible story and topic and stop being lazy!