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Brooklyn Camera Store Generates Complaints Nationwide

By Joseph S. Enoch
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 6, 2006

Wawa 295 Avenue O, Brooklyn • Consumer Complaints • Brooklyn Camera Store Generates Complaints Nationwide

Many consumers who purchased cameras at incredibly discounted rates from WawaDigital.com or StargatePhoto.com discovered that the prices really were too good to be true and that in some cases, they were buying not just a camera but also a threat.

According to hundreds of consumer complaints filed with ConsumerAffairs.com, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and technology forums such as Epinions.com and Cnet, this company, which has multiple aliases, uses a practice known as "bait and hook."

Bait and hook means they lure consumers in with fantastic deals, then trick or threaten the consumer into buying more.

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For all these complaints, the story is usually the same:

"They list cameras for the lowest prices out there and then after you give them all your credit card information will not sell you the camera unless you purchase inflated and unnecessary accessories to go with it," wrote Kristin of Troy, Mich.

"When I told them I didn't want to purchase anything else, just the camera that they advertised, the representative yelled at me, spoke belligerently and told me that if I didn't buy the extra accessories he would cancel my order and charge my credit card a 20% restocking fee," Kristin said.

One blogger recounted the frightening experience one of his coworkers had. After refusing to purchase accessories, a representative left this message on the coworker's answering machine:

"You better not pick up, b****. I'm gonna to come down there and break your god**** neck. You heard me, alright? Kid, you better hear me, b****. Do you hear me, b****? Yes, you'd better believe it. You're in big trouble, my friend."

When ConsumerAffairs.com called the toll-free number on www.StargatePhoto.com, we discovered the same uncouth and threatening service.

Phillip Brown, manager, said his company does not bait and hook customers.

"They're all liars." Brown said of customers who have complained. "They're bullshit artists. Have them come and complain to my face."

Finding an actual building to go and complain may be difficult. Brown said they are located at 425 Northwood Ave., Linden, N.J. However, there isn't a Northwood Ave. in Linden.

According to a BBB report updated today, this company works out of 295 Avenue O, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Brown said StargatePhoto and WawaDigital are not the same company. However, www.stargatephoto.com and www.wawadigital.com are nearly identical and the phone numbers listed on each site take you to the same place.

ConsumerAffairs.com called the phone number two times. The second time we called and asked for Brown the man who answered the phone acted like he didn't know the name. We were then put on hold a number of times before the familiar Brooklyn accent, who identified himself as Brown, answered more questions.

Brown said he sells thousands of cameras and that he's bound to have some unhappy customers.

Many consumers say representatives from this company often get belligerent and hang up on the customer.

Brown admitted that they do hang up on customers because, "These customers call us and they don't shut up about their problems."

According to the BBB report, "Consumers report that cameras purchased from this firm are represented as U.S. models under warranty, but are in fact foreign models not covered by manufacturer warranties."

"I purchased what I believed to be a new Canon camera from WawaDigital over the Internet," wrote Diane of Bridgeport, Wash.

"When I received the camera, it did not appear to be in the original factory packaging and did not come with warranty information. I suspected at that point that the camera was refurbished. After just a few shots, the lens began sticking causing the photos to appear as if they were taken through a slot. ... I called the customer service number to return the camera and found the customer service to be rude, argumentative and short but was told I could return the camera for an exchange. I did so and an exchange camera was sent. It took a long time. I e-mailed inquiries but never got an answer and when I called to inquire about when I would receive my exchange, I was told it wasn't customer service day, call back tomorrow.

"When the camera finally arrived, I suspected the camera I had returned was returned to me. It came with the same packaging I had sent it back in and the exact same problem with the camera," Diane said.

Brown said that because he sells thousands of cameras, it is hard to keep the website updated. "Sometimes new means it's new in stock, not necessarily new," he said.

The BBB report said this company has done business under at least the following names and possibly more: Accessories Land, I.N.S. Digital World and The Camera Whiz.

New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer's office would not share any information regarding the number of complaints they have received and would not discuss the status of any investigation without a Freedom of Information Act request.

ConsumerAffairs.com has filed the request but has not received a response.

When ConsumerAffairs.com asked Brown if his company baits and hooks he gave a number of irrelevant examples before becoming belligerent and finally, you guessed it, hanging up the phone.

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