ExpressCameras.com: A Disappointing Experience

THE PRODUCT I WAS LOOKING FOR
In my search for a digital camera, I came across numerous websites. I decided to purchase a Fuji Finepix camera based on a number of recommendations from websites, friends and family. While searching for retailers on Pricescan.com, I came across Expresscameras.com. When I reviewed the ratings on Pricescan.com, I did note that the company's rating was not high, but the price sounded like a good deal.

The Expresscameras.com website quoted a price of $279.00 and shipping at $12.56 for a total of $291.56. When I reviewed the website afterwards, I did not see any information as to what was included in the package. The website mentioned that all items are brand new and include a full U.S. warranty. I ended up placing a call to the retailer for more information.

CALLING THE COMPANY
I placed a call to the company in the evening prior to closing. I inquired if the item was in stock. The phone representative said "yes". During the conversation, I confirmed that the product came with a free case, tripod and cleaning system as advertised. At that point, I felt I had enough information to decide whether or not to purchase.

PLACING THE ORDER
The order was placed online. I clicked on the product to place it into a cart. I entered my contact information and credit card data. Once the information was entered, a confirmation page appeared. I was given the option to print out the page for my records. There were no problems to report during the ordering process.

AFTER THE ORDER
I received an email immediately after placing my order. The email specified that I needed to call to confirm the order. I placed the call and reached a representative within three minutes. The representative took my order number and asked if I wanted to add-on any items. I declined each one of the offers. Once the upsell process was completed, I was told that the order would arrive in three to four weeks.

I asked the representative why the product would take that long if it was in stock. I proceeded to tell the representative about my call the prior evening. He explained that the product in stock was probably an "American" version. I inquired about the definition of "American". I was told that the product I ordered came with a 30-day warranty rather than a one year warranty. The representative proceeded to tell me about the "American" version, which came with a higher price was comparable to other retailers I researched. By this time, I was frustrated with the whole situation. After listening to the representative's explanation, I asked to cancel the order. The representative told me it was canceled immediately.

I was glad that I cancelled the order. I purchased my camera from Best Buy instead.