beachcamera

[Don]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Beachcamera .........thumbs up or thumbs down?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Don wrote:

> Beachcamera .........thumbs up or thumbs down?

Down. I have rarely had good experiences with those sweatshop smooth talking
NY camera shops. I only order photo equipment now from B&H Photo; they
always have in stock what the say, easy web ordering, no bullshit, very
high reputation

 

[hans]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Don" <rath2@comcast.net> wrote in news:l6udnXVfHKRsWHPfRVn-
pA@comcast.com:

> Beachcamera .........thumbs up or thumbs down?
>
>

I have never had a problem with Beach Camera. Fast shipment and
always have item in stock when they say they do.

 

[Tony]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

There are a few Beach buddies on this forum who have nothing but nice things
to say about them --- except when someone posts to say that Beach advertised
a USA warantee on a camera but sent them a grey market version. Apparently
all of the Beach fans were out of town that week.
Except for the few on this forum I've never heard anyone say anything
good about Beach.
I suggest letting those fans deal with Beach and their aliases (buydig.com
is one) while you, I and other apparently way too fussy people stick with
stores that have a good reputation.

--
http/www.chapelhillnoir.com
home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto
The Improved Links Pages are at
http/www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html
A sample chapter from "Haight-Ashbury" is at
http/www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html

"Don" <rath2@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:l6udnXVfHKRsWHPfRVn-pA@comcast.com...
> Beachcamera .........thumbs up or thumbs down?
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Yes, the scumbag businesses always have their shills working for them.
-S

"Tony" <tspadaro@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:RrCHe.81774$3j2.2803987@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> There are a few Beach buddies on this forum who have nothing but nice
things
> to say about them --- except when someone posts to say that Beach
advertised
> a USA warantee on a camera but sent them a grey market version. Apparently
> all of the Beach fans were out of town that week.
> Except for the few on this forum I've never heard anyone say anything
> good about Beach.
> I suggest letting those fans deal with Beach and their aliases
(buydig.com
> is one) while you, I and other apparently way too fussy people stick with
> stores that have a good reputation.
>
> --
> http/www.chapelhillnoir.com
> home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto
> The Improved Links Pages are at
> http/www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html
> A sample chapter from "Haight-Ashbury" is at
> http/www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html
>
> "Don" <rath2@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:l6udnXVfHKRsWHPfRVn-pA@comcast.com...
> > Beachcamera .........thumbs up or thumbs down?
> >
> >
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Don" <rath2@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:l6udnXVfHKRsWHPfRVn-pA@comcast.com...
> Beachcamera .........thumbs up or thumbs down?

Beach Camera used to have a very bad reputation, like most of the NY/NJ
mail-order stores.

Now it has excellent user reviews (see www.bizrate.com, etc.). What changed
I have no idea. Maybe it's under new management. Maybe it never was as bad
as people thought. I've never dealt with Beach myself.

I have, however, bought several digital cameras from BuyDig.com, which is a
"sister company" or division of Beach Camera. In every case I have been 100%
satisfied. Great price, item in stock when ordered, brand new and with USA
warranty as advertised, shipped extremely fast. Based on my experience with
BuyDig.com, and Beach's excellent customer reviews, I would not hesitate to
buy from Beach if there were a reason to do so, like a lower price than
BuyDig.com. But so far I've had no good reason to buy from other than the
latter company. (I did try elsewhere once because of a substantially lower
advertised price, but for various reasons ended up canceling the order and
ordering from BuyDig.com instead.)

Pay no attention to the paranoid know-it-alls who imagine everyone who
praises a good, reliable low-priced seller must be a "Beach buddy" or a
"shill."

N.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Proteus wrote:

> Don wrote:
>
>> Beachcamera .........thumbs up or thumbs down?
>
> Down. I have rarely had good experiences with those sweatshop smooth
> talking NY camera shops. I only order photo equipment now from B&H Photo;
> they always have in stock what the say, easy web ordering, no bullshit,
> very high reputation


I will add that I would have less of an issue buying from NY shops like
Beach, etc. ONLY if doing so through e.g. Yahoo Shopping-- then the whole
transaction has a written record and you can do feedback ratings of the
vendor; I would also ALWAYS add in the comment field of an online buying
experience to "complete order ONLY if item is in stock and can be shipped
within 5 days"; othewise a vendor can INDEFINATELY (yes you read that
right) hold you hostage and ship your order in even a year from taking the
order! They must ship within 30 days of billing your credit card, but they
can wait a year or more before doing that! Once I learned this and saw I
was being shafted by a NY shop for an order, I saw the only way out was to
cancel my credit card and get a new credit card issued!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I guess I'm a shill: I've bought many items from Beach camera with no
problems at all, including valid Nikon rebated items.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Proteus" <nospam@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:TZPHe.1842$_41.299@fe02.lga...
[ . . . ]
>
> I will add that I would have less of an issue buying from NY shops like
> Beach, etc. ONLY if doing so through e.g. Yahoo Shopping-- then the whole
> transaction has a written record and you can do feedback ratings of the
> vendor; I would also ALWAYS add in the comment field of an online buying
> experience to "complete order ONLY if item is in stock and can be shipped
> within 5 days"; othewise a vendor can INDEFINATELY (yes you read that
> right) hold you hostage and ship your order in even a year from taking the
> order! They must ship within 30 days of billing your credit card, but they
> can wait a year or more before doing that! Once I learned this and saw I
> was being shafted by a NY shop for an order, I saw the only way out was to
> cancel my credit card and get a new credit card issued!

Did your *credit card company* tell you that, or did you hear it from
someone in a bar? It seems extremely unlikely to me. Sounds like bullshit,
in fact. Did you call you credit card company when you "saw [you were] being
shafted" in that way?

In any case it has never been a problem with me, and I buy almost everything
camera- or computer-related online and by credit card. I have very, very
rarely wanted to cancel an order, but haven't had any problem doing so on
those few occasions. The only exception was one order from Buy.com, about
which I changed my mind after placing the order and tried to cancel. They
have a provision for doing this, but you have to get the cancellation
request in before the order is processed (which is reasonable enough) and I
was too late in doing so. On most items they process and ship fast. My
fault, not theirs.

N.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Mon, 1 Aug 2005 21:01:43 -0400, Don <rath2@comcast.net> wrote:

> Beachcamera .........thumbs up or thumbs down?

I have bought from both BeachCamera and BuyDig within the past year. Prompt
shipment. No phone call to sell me anything extra. The only problem is they
forgot to include the rebate form. I called and it was promptly sent.

A friend, at my recommendation, just bought from Beach. No problem at all.

If anyone has anything negative to say, it should be a first hand
experience with details of why negative.

Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Mon, 01 Aug 2005 20:29:34 -0500, Proteus <nospam@nowhere.net> wrote:

>Don wrote:
>
>> Beachcamera .........thumbs up or thumbs down?
>
>Down. I have rarely had good experiences with those sweatshop smooth talking
>NY camera shops.

BeachCamera is not in NY. Never was. They have been on Route 22 in NJ for
years. Plenty of walk in sales.

Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Don Wiss wrote:

>
> BeachCamera is not in NY. Never was. They have been on Route 22 in NJ for
> years. Plenty of walk in sales.

Yes, unfortunately they seem to treat their walk-in business VERY
separately from online. Last time I attempted to buy something from
them, I offered to order online and then head to their route 22
storefront, seeing as I live only 20 minutes away. No dice. They
REALLY wanted that $35 for ground shipping.

That's when I decided that if I had to pay shipping and wait a day, I
may as well order from B&H, where despite the increased distance, the
product price was the same AND shipping ended up being less.

--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Don Wiss wrote:

> On Mon, 01 Aug 2005 20:29:34 -0500, Proteus <nospam@nowhere.net> wrote:
>
>>Don wrote:
>>
>>> Beachcamera .........thumbs up or thumbs down?
>>
>>Down. I have rarely had good experiences with those sweatshop smooth
>>talking NY camera shops.
>
> BeachCamera is not in NY. Never was. They have been on Route 22 in NJ for
> years. Plenty of walk in sales.
>
> Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).

My bad. Being a Minnesotan, I sort of equate all those fast talking east
coast talking mail order places with the general NY area. My apologies for
confusing NY and NJ.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Nostrobino wrote:
....
> Did your *credit card company* tell you that, or did you hear it from
> someone in a bar? It seems extremely unlikely to me. Sounds like bullshit,
> in fact. Did you call you credit card company when you "saw [you were]
> being shafted" in that way?
>
...

Credit card company. I called and talked to credit card customer service
about that.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Proteus" <nospam@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:rBaIe.3838$Tt6.925@fe04.lga...
> Nostrobino wrote:
> ...
>> Did your *credit card company* tell you that, or did you hear it from
>> someone in a bar? It seems extremely unlikely to me. Sounds like
>> bullshit,
>> in fact. Did you call you credit card company when you "saw [you were]
>> being shafted" in that way?
>>
> ..
>
> Credit card company. I called and talked to credit card customer service
> about that.

Well, that's interesting. I just called my credit card company to ask for
their policy in such a situation, but they are now apparently outsourcing
their customer service to India (as so many other companies are), with the
result that I spoke to a woman whose English I could barely understand. But
what she *seemed* to be saying was that in such a situation (i.e., seller
tries to refuse cancellation of an order even though out of stock) I could
call the c.c. company and they would straighten it out with the seller. She
definitely did say I would *not* be "held hostage" on the order as you
stated in your post.

I suppose different c.c. companies have different policies.

Now I'm sure that if a seller *clearly states* in his ad that the order
cannot be cancelled (e.g., for a special-order item) that would be
different, obviously. But if the item is represented as being in stock and
really isn't, I cannot imagine any reputable credit card company letting the
seller hold the customer hostage in that way.

N.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Nostrobino wrote:

>
> "Proteus" <nospam@nowhere.net> wrote in message
> news:rBaIe.3838$Tt6.925@fe04.lga...
>> Nostrobino wrote:
>> ...
>>> Did your *credit card company* tell you that, or did you hear it from
>>> someone in a bar? It seems extremely unlikely to me. Sounds like
>>> bullshit,
>>> in fact. Did you call you credit card company when you "saw [you were]
>>> being shafted" in that way?
>>>
>> ..
>>
>> Credit card company. I called and talked to credit card customer service
>> about that.
>
> Well, that's interesting. I just called my credit card company to ask for
> their policy in such a situation, but they are now apparently outsourcing
> their customer service to India (as so many other companies are), with the
> result that I spoke to a woman whose English I could barely understand.
> But what she *seemed* to be saying was that in such a situation (i.e.,
> seller tries to refuse cancellation of an order even though out of stock)
> I could call the c.c. company and they would straighten it out with the
> seller. She definitely did say I would *not* be "held hostage" on the
> order as you stated in your post.
>
> I suppose different c.c. companies have different policies.
>
> Now I'm sure that if a seller *clearly states* in his ad that the order
> cannot be cancelled (e.g., for a special-order item) that would be
> different, obviously. But if the item is represented as being in stock and
> really isn't, I cannot imagine any reputable credit card company letting
> the seller hold the customer hostage in that way.
>
> N.


You are preaching to the choir. I have no reason to lie, and I really do not
care if you believe me; I am just relaying an actual incident. Use it or
lose it. Maybe policies have gotten better, that was 3 years ago.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Proteus" <nospam@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:BSeIe.2960$_41.2787@fe02.lga...
> Nostrobino wrote:
>
>>
>> "Proteus" <nospam@nowhere.net> wrote in message
>> news:rBaIe.3838$Tt6.925@fe04.lga...
>>> Nostrobino wrote:
>>> ...
>>>> Did your *credit card company* tell you that, or did you hear it from
>>>> someone in a bar? It seems extremely unlikely to me. Sounds like
>>>> bullshit,
>>>> in fact. Did you call you credit card company when you "saw [you were]
>>>> being shafted" in that way?
>>>>
>>> ..
>>>
>>> Credit card company. I called and talked to credit card customer service
>>> about that.
>>
>> Well, that's interesting. I just called my credit card company to ask for
>> their policy in such a situation, but they are now apparently outsourcing
>> their customer service to India (as so many other companies are), with
>> the
>> result that I spoke to a woman whose English I could barely understand.
>> But what she *seemed* to be saying was that in such a situation (i.e.,
>> seller tries to refuse cancellation of an order even though out of stock)
>> I could call the c.c. company and they would straighten it out with the
>> seller. She definitely did say I would *not* be "held hostage" on the
>> order as you stated in your post.
>>
>> I suppose different c.c. companies have different policies.
>>
>> Now I'm sure that if a seller *clearly states* in his ad that the order
>> cannot be cancelled (e.g., for a special-order item) that would be
>> different, obviously. But if the item is represented as being in stock
>> and
>> really isn't, I cannot imagine any reputable credit card company letting
>> the seller hold the customer hostage in that way.
>>
>> N.
>
>
> You are preaching to the choir. I have no reason to lie, and I really do
> not
> care if you believe me; I am just relaying an actual incident. Use it or
> lose it. Maybe policies have gotten better, that was 3 years ago.

I certainly did not mean to imply that you are lying. Your experience as
you've stated it is disturbing, and it was worth your mentioning it. As I
said, I suppose different credit card companies have different policies.

N.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Nostrobino wrote:
...
> I certainly did not mean to imply that you are lying. Your experience as
> you've stated it is disturbing, and it was worth your mentioning it. As I
> said, I suppose different credit card companies have different policies.
>
> N.

Agreed. Like my current credit card company surprised me by blocking charges
while I was traveling a couple of years ago, to Europe, and also Mexico a
year ago-- for security purposes. To me it was a hassle big time. Times are
changing I guess.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Wed, 03 Aug 2005 21:14:11 -0500, Proteus <nospam@nowhere.net>
wrote:

>Nostrobino wrote:
>
>>
>> "Proteus" <nospam@nowhere.net> wrote in message
>> news:rBaIe.3838$Tt6.925@fe04.lga...
>>> Nostrobino wrote:
>>> ...
>>>> Did your *credit card company* tell you that, or did you hear it from
>>>> someone in a bar? It seems extremely unlikely to me. Sounds like
>>>> bullshit,
>>>> in fact. Did you call you credit card company when you "saw [you were]
>>>> being shafted" in that way?
>>>>
>>> ..
>>>
>>> Credit card company. I called and talked to credit card customer service
>>> about that.
>>
>> Well, that's interesting. I just called my credit card company to ask for
>> their policy in such a situation, but they are now apparently outsourcing
>> their customer service to India (as so many other companies are), with the
>> result that I spoke to a woman whose English I could barely understand.
>> But what she *seemed* to be saying was that in such a situation (i.e.,
>> seller tries to refuse cancellation of an order even though out of stock)
>> I could call the c.c. company and they would straighten it out with the
>> seller. She definitely did say I would *not* be "held hostage" on the
>> order as you stated in your post.
>>
>> I suppose different c.c. companies have different policies.
>>
>> Now I'm sure that if a seller *clearly states* in his ad that the order
>> cannot be cancelled (e.g., for a special-order item) that would be
>> different, obviously. But if the item is represented as being in stock and
>> really isn't, I cannot imagine any reputable credit card company letting
>> the seller hold the customer hostage in that way.
>>
>> N.
>
>
>You are preaching to the choir. I have no reason to lie, and I really do not
>care if you believe me; I am just relaying an actual incident. Use it or
>lose it. Maybe policies have gotten better, that was 3 years ago.

I know that for mail or telephone orders, if the item can't be shipped
within 30 days of receipt of the order, the retailer must notify the
customer, and offer a refund or cancelation.
I don't know if that pertains to online orders, too, but I would think
it does.
Anyone know?
--
Bill Funk
replace "g" with "a"
funktionality.blogspot.com

 

[george]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Isaiah Beard" <sacredpoet@sacredpoet.com> wrote in message
news:11f20f9l6387g54@corp.supernews.com...
> Don Wiss wrote:
>
>>
>> BeachCamera is not in NY. Never was. They have been on Route 22 in NJ for
>> years. Plenty of walk in sales.
>
> Yes, unfortunately they seem to treat their walk-in business VERY
> separately from online. Last time I attempted to buy something from them,
> I offered to order online and then head to their route 22 storefront,
> seeing as I live only 20 minutes away. No dice. They REALLY wanted that
> $35 for ground shipping.
>
> That's when I decided that if I had to pay shipping and wait a day, I may
> as well order from B&H, where despite the increased distance, the product
> price was the same AND shipping ended up being less.
>
> --
> E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
> Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Are you sure you're talking about the right store? The MOST I've ever paid
them for shipping
has been $6.95 and it was 3-day. Most of the time I've ordered from them,
shipping was free.
BS shipping/handling fees is one of my pet peeves and this is one of the
things that got my attention
in the first place.