Ordered a camera and lens on line. I didn't receive any acknowledgment so I called and talked to a salesperson. After he tried to sell me a charger and battery that was included with the standard Nikon offering, I cancelled the order. I looked at my credit card statement a week later and noticed they had charged me the full amount of $1160. I called them multiple times and they lied about sending me refunds. After a month of lies Bank of America got me a full refund.
Summary: Stay away from any company based in New York. I have multiple bad experiences from these crooks. America Cameras is related to Primotronix.
By Ray T.
Worst online experience Ever
I placed an order for a Canon SL1 Camer body with battery and charger on 10/20. Charge hit my card on 10/22. I was promised this camera in 5 to 7 business day. I asked repeatedly if they were sure of this as I was leaving for Europe and defianately wanted have it for the trip that was within that time frame. I called two days before the trip on Oct 29 and asked for tracking numbers and if the camera would be to me in the next two days. They said they would call down to the mail room and change the shipping on the item that had already shipped 4 days previously. ( I have no fn idea how they planned on occomplishing that which is impossible ) but they guaranteed that it would be here. Needless to say I have already been to Europe and Back without this camera. I have tried to call several times now with numbers saying that they are not accepting call right now. So here is some advise Primo...if you are reading this I would reccomend keeping that camera and shoving it up you apature hole. I have already called my banking institution and am having the charges reversed for lack of satisfing the level of service you promised in the beginning. Also based on the bribes I saw being shoved down other customers throats in previous reviews I would more than welcom you to give me a call so that I can personally let you know the level of disatisfaction I feel as you cannot seem to answer my calls.
PS if anyone else is reading this......run from this company, they should be shut down my the BBB.
By Kenneth H.
Good buy on a recently discontinued camera
I learned that KEH was coming to Richmond camera. I had been thinking that I wanted to move from a good point and shoot to a DSLR so I could take better pictures with ease. I had researched the alternatives and had settled on one of the Nikon entry level cameras. I got a decent price from KEH for my camera and Richmond Camera added 10% to this. Buying a one generation behind DSLR saved me even more... and then the RC assistant suggested I could sell the "kit" lens I did not need or want to KEH. They did! The result was a very good buy aided by KEH and a very helpful person at Richmond Camera. Thank you everyone.
By Camera35
Great Customer Service
Late In 2013 I ordered a 120- 400mm Telephoto Lens that I thought was compatible with my Canon EOS Rebel Camera body. I wanted it for wildlife pictures on an upcoming trip. I got a call to confirm the order. When I gave the specifics of my model, I had ordered a non-compatible lens. The representative discussed the choices I had and steered me to the most economical but quality and value choice, a Sigma Lens. It was incredible! The close ups I got of penguins, seals, orcas and seabirds were simply amazing. Primotronix is an online camera site that still really provides excellent customer service.
By Tom B.
Manipulative crooks - they take your money, never send you anything, and never refund you
Primotronix has low prices, but don't order from them if you don't want to lose your money and get nothing in return. They informed me that an item would be shipped in the next 24-72 hours, then for 7 weeks I did not receive it, nor did I receive any shipping or tracking information. I made many calls and received many conflicting explanations from them. Finally after that time had expired they informed me that their overseas partner had shipped the item incorrectly, and they agreed to issue me a full refund on September 9. Over two weeks later, I had received no refund, and was compelled to follow up with the Better Business Bureau. They promised to issue a refund within 2 weeks, but did not do so. I called them and filed a *second* complaint with the Better Business Bureau, and they promised for a third time to issue a refund. It is now November 3 and they still have not issued a refund, holding my $800 hostage for over 3 months - it is increasingly evident that I will not recover my money unless I take them to court.
Primotronix provides support by phone, not by email or chat, their support hours are extremely limited (11am-5pm, Mon-Thu), and on one occasion I was on hold for over an hour. They were closed two of four Thursdays in September, further limiting their hours. They made me promises several times about providing shipping information by email and then never did. For about 3 weeks they claimed everything was proceeding normally. After that, they gave me contradictory messages about what was going on, ranging from a backorder (which they later denied) to a direct shipment from Japan (which I never authorized - I requested 7-10 day domestic shipping during checkout). After 5 weeks, they gave me a delivery date of September 5th, but the item never arrived.
They are extremely sensitive about negative reviews, once becoming angry with me about this one, and tried to bribe me with a 3-year warranty to change it. Later on, upon issuing me a refund, they said they would "make sure I was not charged a restocking fee" and that my refund would be "processed quickly" if I posted a "favorable review." I stick to my guns, and sure enough, months later, I have no refund. This is blackmail! This sinister manipulation of their online reputation makes me wonder how many other negative reviews they've made disappear.
Primotronix goes far beyond mere incompetence: they are untrustworthy, deeply immoral and manipulative, and quite possibly criminal. Forget you ever saw them.
By Derrick C.
Liars and crooks, they have been sitting on my money for over a month without shipping any product or processing a refund.
09/11 Ordered a camera from Primotronix.
09/16 the charge hit my credit card
09/18 I was informed that the camera was shipped the previous day
09/23 they could not provide a tracking #
09/24 Steve told me that it was shipped from overseas and they could not provide a FedEx tracking # until it lands in the US sometime next week.
09/30 Steve told me that it should be arriving next week
10/07 Reggie informs me that their distributor was unable to ship it, and they would refund my $$ within 7 days
10/17 refund still has not arrived, Jeffrey informs me that it takes 7-10 dyas for the refund to process
10/23 Refund still has not arrived, Jeffrey informs me that they processed the refund on 10/18 (11 days AFTER I was told I would have my $$ back in 7 days)
Jeffrey also informed me that they didn't refund my money for eleven days after the order was canceled because the credit card companies allow them to wait 30 days.
DO NOT give these liars your money or credit card information!"
By coscharlie
This is DEFINITELY A SCAM
I ordered a camera from them but haven't heard anything since they tried to upgrade me on a battery because they CLAIM that the canon battery is only 20 mins.. are u kidding? I've called them and emails probably well over 20+ times.. NO ANSWER.. no tracking, nothing. I actually got someone his name is BEN.. hes in sales, he will NOT talk to u about customer service or billing or anything else.. if you say you have an issue, he just transfers you without saying anything or while you're even talking.. then when you try to call back it won't ring... but when i call back from a different number it rings and he does the same thing. THIS IS A TOTAL SCAM
By Minh N.
Very shady. Never recieved camera or refund. Lied to by customer service.
Very shady, very disappointing experience. Never recieved my camera and needed to have VISA force a refund to get my money back.
I ordered a Nikon D5100 from Primotronix in early September, using their 7-9 business day shipping + 24-72 hour processing option. Within 24 hours I recieved a call suggesting I upgrade batteries because I'd be disappointed in the life of the standard one. After rejecting the upsell, they assured me the item would be on its way shortly. Three days after ordering I recieved an e-mail stating the order was being dispatched from the warehouse. This is where things started to go south.
Two weeks after the last e-mail I called to follow-up on the order. I was hung up on twice before reaching an agent. They checked the status and said I'd get a FedEx tracking number two days later (a Wednesday) and it would be delivered on the following Monday. This was a lie. Three days went by, and no tracking number. I called the day I'd been told it would arrive, to hear the rep telling me it hadn't been shipped yet but would be by the end of the week. This was long outside the maximum 12 business day processing + shipping their site guaranteed, so I asked to cancel my order. I was hung up on.
Please beware when ordering. The price I saw for this camera that looked too good to be true turned out too good to be true.