Shop Digital Direct.Com

For a few years, my wife had been interested in buying a digital camera to replace an old Minolta 35MM. I told her that if she was going to do it, to spend the money for a good one. This year, the company she works for gave out bonus checks for the first time in several years. We decided that this was her chance.

We shopped around a while in town to see what was out there, and to compare prices. My wife occasionally takes wedding photos, so I told her to get the best one she can with what she had. She had her heart set on the Canon Rebel XSi for just over $600. 10.2 megapixel, integrated stabilization lens, and all the bells and whistles you could shake a stick at. The next step was to compare the prices, which we did. In town, everyone was about the same.

When I got home, I did some searching on the internet, and found several places that carried the Rebel, all varying by close to $50 or more. Some had package deals to consider as well. On one particular website, ShopDigitalDirect.com, I found the best deal. This is where flag number one should have popped up. $699 with shipping and tax for the camera, plus a Canon 18-55mm IS lens, and a Canon 75-300mm IS lens, as well as carrying case, tripod, high-speed memory card to name a few goodies. Flag number 2. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

The following day, Sunday, my wife got a call from a representative at ShopDigitalDirect to confirm the order. The rep started asking some technical questions, at which time she told him that he would have to talk to her husband, and handed me the phone. I was told that the lenses that came with the camera were Vivitar lenses, and that they were plastic, and that the photos would be distorted should we stick with those. I was told that they would "upgrade" to a Canon 18-55mm IS lens, and that if I wanted the Canon 75-300mm IS lens, I would have to pay an additional $150. I told him that we were not going to do that, as we wanted to stay with the Vivitar lenses. The rep then became beligerant, and pushy. I told him again that I did not want to change the order, to which he replied, "What is the problem"? I told him that I would like to just cancel the order, and he said that he couldn't do that, and also threatened me with a $90 restocking fee.

I called ShopDigitalDirect on the following Monday morning, and asked if the camera had been shipped, and was told that the shipper had picked it up earlier in the morning. I then asked for a return authorization number, so that when the camera arrived, I could send it back immediately for a refund. The rep said that they could not do that as it was against policy. So I asked how long it would take to receive the package, and was told about 3-4 days.

By Thursday of that week, the camera had not arrived. So, I called ShopDigitalDirect and asked for a shipping tracking number. I was told that the camera had been returned to the warehouse, as they realized that they had sent out the wrong one. I then asked if they sent out the correct camera, and was told that it "most difinately went out this morning". I asked for a tracking number, and again was not able to obtain one. I was told to call back the next day and they would have one. So, Friday I called, and STILL no tracking number. Customer service said that they would have that at the close of the day when their system updates. I asked how I would get the number if they were closed for the weekend, to which I was told the tracking number would be e-mailed to me automatically that evening. Well, when I checked my e-mail that night, no tracking number.

Monday morning I called, and asked about the tracking number again, and was told that they just sent it out that morning. Now I was mad! They said I would have it on Thursday. When I got off the phone, I immediately called my wifes bank and talked with a personal banker and explained the situation to her, asking what our options were.

Thankfully, my wife used her Visa debit card. The bank told me that it wasn't a problem, and that my wife would have to stop in and fill out a fraud claim, which she did that day. Two weeks later, my wife had her $699 back in her account!

I kick myself a thousand times over this. I kept telling myself to check out ShopDigitalDirect.com with the Better Business Bureau, which I didn't do. The THIRD flag, should have been when I couldn't find any customer reviews or comments on the sellers website. All the warnings and gut feeling were there, and I didn't listen. The whole process I was sick to my stomack over it, but glad that it all worked out.

As of this writting, Shop Digital Direct has at least 22 complaints for advertising issues, selling practices, and refund issues to name a few. Only one has been resolved according the the BBB report.

Shop Digital Direct, based in Brooklyn, NY, from my experience is not a reputable company. I wonder if it's even a legitimate company at all. My suggestion to you is buyer beware! If you buy on-line, research the business BEFORE you by. Use the Better Business Bureau as a research tool. Look for customer reviews on the website, and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

I learned a very good lesson through this, and just very lucky that it all worked out!