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| - Excellent customer service. Short wait times, excellent merchandise selection. Outstanding prices, and they know how to dicker on them, too. Really nice people working there. So I thought.
I purchased a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM lens from them (MSRP: $1349.00) on October 1 from them for $750.00. Great deal, huh? Once I had the lens home, I noticed a slight fingerprint on the center of the lens. Upon cleaning it, I discovered that the fingerprint had been very carefully placed in order to hide a deep scratch in the center of the lens.
Sending the lens to Canon, I was shocked to find that the cost to repair the lens was quoted as $1106.00 plus tax and shipping. Great deal. To repair the lens, my total cost will be $2106+ for one that costs $1349 retail.
Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to take a photo of the fingerprint which was very sharp and unsmudged on the center of the Canon lens. If I find that the fingerprint belongs to a store employee, I'm likely going to press criminal fraud charges.
But my fun didn't end with that.
I also found in the store a Rokinon Cine DS DS14M-C 14mm T3.1 ED AS IF UMC Full Frame Cine Wide Angle Lens for Canon EF (MSRP: $449.00) at the store for $300.00. It wasn't until I cleaned the lens of numerous fingerprints that I found it, too, had a deep scratch in the very center of the lens. It, unfortunately, cannot be repaired and is a total loss.
Calling the store, the individual I reported my experience to simply hung up on me. Thanks.
So I lost $1050 for two worthless lenses. They might just as well have put a gun against my back and stolen my wallet in the parking lot. I'd probably feel slightly less victimized having been robbed at gunpoint. This way, I'm embarrassed to be the fool who participated in my own robbery. At least, that's the view shared by the Clark County Sheriff deputy that I spoke with on the phone while getting the information I need to file a criminal complaint against the business.
Caveat emptor. If you need me to translate, that means "Let the buyer beware."
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