Best Stop Digital

Phil of Ramonville, France, writes (12/2/01):
I bought a Sony DCR PC-100 on Nov. 8, 1999. I paid $100 extra for a 5 year extended warrenty. I have a copy of the "Date of Purchase Plan Order Form". On the form is listed the Manufacturer (Sony), the Model (DCR PC 100), Length of Plan (5 Years) Purchase date (11/8/99). However, the fields for "Product Code" "Price of Plan" "Product Purchase Price" and "Serial #" are all blank. I filled in the one for serial number myself.

I paid over $2,300 for the camera & accessories just 20 days before leaving on a round-the-world trip and was gone for a year. I have looked online for a Warrantech at 300 Atlantic St., Stamford, CT 06901 and can't find it. There are other Warrantechs listed but not this one. I went to the Best Stop Digital site but see no Customer Service number or no way to contact them. I see in small print at the bottom of the Date Of Purchase Plan that it is sold by Houston General Insurance Co. It says also that if I do not receive a validated Date of Purchase Plan certificate within 45 days to contact the Administrator. When I returned from my travels there was no validated Date of Purchase certificate.

I am currently living in Toulouse, France and the camera is malfunctioning and needs to be repaired but I now realize this extended warranty is (invalid) so I will be out the cost of repair, (which will undoubedtedly be expensive) plus what I paid for the extended warrenty. I don't know what resources are available to pursue this further and since I'm now in France an attorney is out of the question.

Lynn of Ivins, UT writes (12/22/00):
I bought a Sony DSC S70 Cybershot camera and an extra battery and some lenses they talked me into. I found the lenses would not fit the camera and as they were out of stock I got them cancelled. They sent the wrong battery for the camera, I had to buy one locally because we were just leaving on vacation and I got an RMA number and sent the camera back. They refused it. I sent them emails, and tried to call a number of times and finally gave up.

A lot of time was spent trying to call. I ended up selling the battery at a loss and of course the shipping charges for the refused return. They camera was fine and in good shape, but I will not do business with them again.

Paul of Minnetrista, MN, writes:
I bought a Sony DCR-PC100 camcorder which arrived a week later. I was persuaded to buy a 5-year extended warranty for $170 with Mack. Two months months later I received a letter from Mack saying that Best Stop Digital had not paid them and my warranty was now void. When I contacted Best Stop Digital they were rude and eventually they send they would pay Mack. They didn't. I asked for my money back on the phone, I sent a letter and tried to send an email (their customer service email returns mail saying the mail box is full.

Chris of Everett, MA, writes:
I placed an order for a camcorder which I ordered second day air. The day came when the camcorder should have arrived but was never delivered. I called Best Stop Digital. I was told that the camcorder was on backorder and that it would take 4-5 weeks.

I canceled the order and went out that night to a local shop and purchased a camcorder, because due to my vacation schedule I needed one right away.

The following day I got a call from Best Stop saying that the camcorder I ordered was on backorder; I replied I talked to someone yesterday and I was already informed. When I got home there was the comcorder I ordered from Best Stop. I called them up and told them I received the camera after them telling me a number of times that I was NOT getting one!

When I ordered this camcorder I purchased it with a credit card and since they talked me into the accessory package I didnt have any room on my card for both so I told them to send it COD which they agreed to. A few days later they credited my credit card but now it's been a month and I still havent recieved the $50 check for the Money Order. When I originally talked to Stan from Best stop he said that they would be giving me a full refund including shipping.

Now after I called them 2 days ago there trying to charge me shipping charges of $30. After 2 hours on the phone with them not accepting that I would pay shipping they said they would call me back yesterday morning which they never did. The thing that also really got me was that the $30 shipping charge was for second day air shipping and the so called backordered camcorder came 3 days later. When I asked him how they could even think that I would pay for shipping and never mind second day air shipping when the camcorder came 3 days later he said delays happen and that they still charge there customers the second day air rate!

Gene of Kansas City, KS, writes:
In July, 1999, I ordered a Canon Elura digital camcorder plus accessories. When I recieved it on the day promised they had also included a 5 year extended warranty at $149, which I did not order. I called the company the next day, received an RMA and returned the extended warranty. I have contacted Best Stop Digital 5 times since but as yet have still not received a credit for the extrended warranty.

B.S. of Clinton, Iowa writes:
On 05-11-99 I attempted to purchase a Sony Mavica FD-81 digital camera from Best Stop Digital. I made contact with "Dennis" who stated the camera was in stock so I provided him my credit card and shipping information.

Dennis attempted to sell me a lens kit for the digital camera. I advised Dennis that I was only interested in the camera but he would not take no for an answer. Dennis said "you have to have this for the camera".

I asked Dennis if he was going to allow me to purchase the camera without the lenses and he replied "only if the camera is in stock". I couldn't believe my ears, he had just told me the camera was in stock and now after he has my credit card information and I refused to purchase the lenses he says "if the camera is in stock" I was shocked that this sales representative was attempting the "bate & switch" technique.

Dennis put me on hold for approx. 15 mins and when he returned he stated they did not have the cameras in stock anymore. I advised Dennis that I work in Law Enforcement and that what he had done was illegal. Dennis said he no longer wanted to sell me any merchandise and said I was "bothering him". When I questioned Dennis again about the lenses and the availability of the camera he said "I don't give a SHIT about the lenses and I'm not going to sell you anything". I requested to speak to a supervisor and Dennis replied he was the supervisor.

I am shocked at the unprofessionalism and deliberate deceit that was demonstrated by the Best Stop Digital representative.

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