From: mmr@cs.rit.edu (Margaret M Reek)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: bad experience with FotoCell
Date: 27 Jul 92 20:17:06 GMT
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Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

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For those of you who do mail order from the photo magazines, I thought
I'd just warn you of my bad experience with FotoCell recently.

I ordered a pair of binoculars on July 10. The price was about 10%
higher than the ad in Popular Photography from the previous month.
When I inquired I was told that the ad price was not guaranteed (I
should have taken the hint right then, but I had a bee in my bonet and
that price was still in line).  The order taker indicated
that they would be  shipped that day.  Late the next week I called the
customer service number (a frustration in and of itself, unless you
enjoy busy signals and/or have a heady affair going with your redial
button).  I was told that they couldn't check on it that soon after
the order was placed, "it takes 2-3 days to process the order, then
7-10 days for the shipping".  Mind you that the distance from NYC to
Rochester NY is not that great.  I called again a week later and was
assured the same pile of crap, and told "they'd be there in a day or
two".  My next call(s) were July 20.  I was told it had shipped (but I
was too steamed to think to ask for a shipping date), and that they'd
be there in a "couple more days".  Just for fun I called the order
number and checked price and availability - the price was another $10
and "in stock", but I couldn't get a clear answer on how long it would
take to recieve them ("you tell me (lady)").  I went away for a week, and today
they still had not arrived, so I called again. I had called UPS to
find out how long it should take, and they said 2 days once they
received the merchandise (about my experience).  I was told, they'd
arrive in the next few days (time which I don't have, I'm leaving
on vacation).  In exasperation I cancelled the order, which I wish I
had done over a week ago.  I asked what I should do if they arrived
while I was away.  The coupe-de-gras is that I was told "that won't be
a problem, they never left home" - which I read as they were never
shipped to begin with.  So much for honesty.  I just hope the bastards
really credit my card.  Also, this has cost me who knows how much in
long distance charges, since the customer service number is toll
number instead of an 800 number.

Needless to say I am totally disgusted with them based on this
experience.  I was lied to and lead on.  I've dealt with lots of mail
order companies, and this was the pits.  I had never dealt with this
company before, but they were on Popular Photography's "Check Rated" 
Program list, so I figured they were OK.  Never again.

Maybe some of you have had good experience with these folks, but my
one experience says "stay away".
--
Margaret Reek, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY 14623-0887
Internet:  mmr@cs.rit.edu	(716) 475-6181 	Fax (716) 475-7100
Bitnet: mmrics@ritvax
UUCP:	   {decvax,harvard,ames,rutgers}!rochester!rit!mmr
Newsgroups: rec.photo