42nd Street Photo
reviews and complaints

Bait & switch! I ordered a Canon import lens. I received a telephone call from “Anthony” wanting to make sure I wanted the import model. He said the import model has a plastic mount and USA model has a metal mount. He convinced me to pay $500 more for the USA lens, which is the regular price for this lens. When the lens arrived, it was the import lens. It came with no warranty card, and no manual written in English. I called the company back and they insisted it was the USA model, which is a total lie. They were extremely rude on the telephone and hung up on me and wouldn’t take any of my further calls. These people are scam artists. Stay far away from Willoughy Camera and 43nd St camera. They will rip you off!

This company is a total scam! I was so excited to order a Canon 5D Mark III in new condition from their website. But then, a few days later, I got a call from a salesperson who told me that I had actually ordered an international version and that I needed to upgrade to the US version for a few hundred dollars more.

I was in the middle of something and didn't want to make a decision over the phone, but the salesperson kept pushing me and getting more and more agitated. Eventually, I caved and agreed to the upgrade.

When the camera arrived, it was clearly used and had no original packaging or user manuals. And to make matters worse, when I checked the settings, it was still the international version! I had paid hundreds of dollars more for a used camera that wasn't even what I had originally ordered.

I wish I had done more research before ordering from 42nd Street Photo. If I had, I would have seen all the stories about their bait and switch tactics and avoided this whole mess. Don't make the same mistake I did!

I had a similar experience as another reviewer. I decided to order a camera from 42nd Street Photo's website. The next day, I received an email asking me to call them. When I called, they informed me that the camera I ordered was a European model and wouldn't work in the US. They said I would need to pay an additional $250 to get the US model. I was frustrated because nowhere on their website did it mention that the camera was a European model.

I decided to cancel the order for now, but they told me they would charge me $50 to cancel because that's what they get charged by the credit card company. I was suspicious of this and hung up. I immediately called my bank to see if they had charged me yet. Luckily, they hadn't, and I was able to put a hold on all online charges on my bank card.

I was disappointed with Jack's attitude during the call. It seemed like they were trying to pull a fast one on me. I don't think I would want to do business with them again. It's important for companies to be transparent about their products and not try to charge customers extra fees without warning.

Overall, I feel like I dodged a bullet with 42nd Street Photo. I hope this is the last time I have to deal with them.

I recently had an experience with 42nd Street Photo that left me feeling quite frustrated. I ordered a camera from their website, but when it arrived, I was told that it was an international version and wouldn't work properly in the United States. They offered to switch me to the USA version, but charged me an extra $250 on top of the original price.

After doing some research, I discovered that the only difference between the international and USA versions was the warranty. They had charged me an extra $250 for a basic extended warranty that didn't even cover "drop and spill" accidents. I found out that I could have purchased the same camera from the Canon website for the same price, and with a better warranty that included "drop and spill" coverage.

When I called 42nd Street Photo to cancel my order, they refused and said that it had already been shipped. I planned to return the camera as soon as I received it, but they told me that I would be charged a 20% restocking fee. I felt like they were trying to scam me out of my money.

After doing more research, I found out that this is a common practice for 42nd Street Photo. They have been using this trick to scam people for years. I would advise anyone to stay away from this store and find a more reputable retailer.

I recently had a terrible experience with 42nd Street Photo (42photo.com) and I would strongly advise against buying anything from them. It's a complete scam! I was ripped off and they sent me a used camera instead of the new one I ordered from their Parkavevideo.com website. When I tried to cancel my order, they refused to refund me and even wanted to take 20% off the price. When I called them to complain, they put me on hold and then hung up on me. It's clear that they are nothing but thieves!

If you take a closer look at their website, you'll see that they cross out the price to make it look like you're getting a discount, but in reality, they're charging you the same price. I purchased a Sony A9 camera from them for $2879 and after 6 days without any updates, I called them to ask about my order. The person on the phone told me that it was a display model, even though I specifically ordered a new one. I told them that nowhere on the website did it say that it was a display model and that it was listed as "condition new". They promised that I would receive the camera the next day, but I knew I had been scammed.

Realizing that I had been duped, I immediately sent an email to cancel my order. They responded by sending me a UPS link to return the camera, but when I tried to call them to discuss the situation, they put me on hold and then hung up on me. A few days later, I received the camera, but it didn't come in the original box and instead, they gave me a small protective pouch to try and make up for it. When I checked the camera counter, I saw that it had over 12,580 photos already on it. This was clearly not a new camera!

I tried to find a solution with them, but they refused to cooperate and even hung up on my lawyer when he tried to contact them. I refuse to be ripped off like this, especially since I saved up for a long time to buy this camera. I plan on reporting them to the fraud and consumer protection departments and filing a scam complaint. Please don't make the same mistake I did and avoid 42nd Street Photo at all costs!

I recently made an online purchase from 42nd Street Photo for a Nikon D750 and a lens. I placed my order on a Saturday morning and was surprised to not receive any confirmation of my purchase. I decided to call the company on Sunday to inquire about my order. The man who answered the phone had a strong accent, which made it difficult for me to understand him. He informed me that my order had been received, but asked if I had intentionally ordered the European version of the camera. I was confused and frustrated because nothing on their website indicated that I was ordering a foreign product.

To make matters worse, the man told me that the European version of the camera did not have wifi and that the American version was priced at $1849.00. This was significantly more expensive than the $1449.00 price listed on their website. He then informed me that the camera I had ordered was on backorder. I was angry and felt like I was being given the runaround. I demanded that he cancel my order, but he refused, stating that it was already being processed and that I needed to call back on Monday.

I suspected that the company was waiting for my payment to clear before shipping the product, and I was worried that I would have difficulty obtaining a refund if I decided to return the item. I regretted not researching the company more thoroughly before making my purchase. It seemed that many others had experienced similar issues with 42nd Street Photo.

I decided to contact my bank to report the company as scammers. I was determined not to let them take my money. Whether or not they cancel my order, I will not be doing business with them again. It is shocking to me that they are still in business despite their shady practices. I urge others to be cautious when considering purchasing from 42nd Street Photo.

I had some trouble with 42nd St Photo, but I'm happy to say that they were able to resolve the issue for me.

Today, on October 6th, 2018, I got a call from a representative at 42nd St Photo. They were really sorry about the problem I had with my camera, and they offered to give me a refund and a label to return the defective camera. I was really impressed by how sincere they were, and it made me feel like they really cared about their customers.

After offering to give me a refund, the representative went on to say that they wanted to earn my business back since I had used them before. They offered to personally send me a new camera, and they even gave me a financial incentive. I thought that was really generous of them, and it showed that they were serious about making things right.

I know that everyone makes mistakes, even companies, but it's how they handle those mistakes that really matters. When someone in authority at 42nd St Photo found out about my problem, they took care of it in a way that was professional and respectful.

I'm really happy with how everything turned out, and I would definitely recommend 42nd St Photo to anyone looking for a good camera. My wife is a professional photographer, so we know what good service looks like, and I think 42nd St Photo did a great job.

If you ever have a problem with a company, my advice is to go straight to someone in charge and explain your issue clearly. If the first person you talk to isn't helpful, keep going until you find someone who cares about the company's reputation.

I'm glad I found someone at 42nd St Photo who cared, and I'm grateful that they were able to restore my confidence in their company.

I recently had an experience with 42nd Street Photo and let me tell you, it was not a good one. I saw a deal on their website that seemed too good to be true, but I decided to give it a shot. I upgraded to 2-day shipping and waited for my order to arrive. However, instead of shipping it out, they called me and requested that I call them back. I was confused and frustrated, but I called back a few days later and spoke with a man named Adam.

Adam tried to sell me extra stuff with the camera, like batteries and memory cards, and then told me that it didn't come with any of the original manufacturer accessories, even though their website said it did. He was very rude and kept trying to pressure me into buying more things. He used sales tactics that made me feel uncomfortable, like telling me I would feel "ashamed" and "guilty" if I didn't go with them. He was condescending and just an all-around jerk.

The only good thing that came out of this experience was that my order was eventually cancelled. However, I will never use this company again. As I read more reviews, I realized that I was not alone in my experience. Many others have had similar issues with this company.

One thing I noticed is that the deals they offer are not even that good. I was able to find the same camera, with free expedited shipping, from a reputable company called Adorama for the same price. Adorama even included all of the accessories and a warranty. It just goes to show that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Overall, I would not recommend 42nd Street Photo to anyone. They are not worth the hassle or the money. Save yourself the trouble and go with a more reputable company.

This store, 42nd Street Photo, was a real disappointment. I ordered a Tamron 18-400mm lens on March 31, 2022, for $599. It was the only option available for that make and model on their website. However, shortly after placing my order, I received a call from a store representative who used a bait-and-switch technique to increase the price. They claimed that I had ordered the "International" version of the lens, which had a plastic mount (which is not true), and that it had no warranty (which is also not true, as all new lenses come with a 6-year limited warranty). Since I didn't have time to research, I reluctantly agreed to what appeared to be outright lies about their product and price. They added an in-store extended warranty to the product and increased the price to $699! They also said they would send a revised customer order before shipping, which I never received. Additionally, they asked if I wanted a customer signature required for UPS delivery, which I did, but it was never on the shipping order, and the lens was left on my front porch.

I tried emailing them several times to cancel my order before shipping, but I received no response. They went ahead and shipped the lens anyway, and I received it on April 3, 2022. I haven't opened the box since it's a birthday gift for someone in my household, so I'm unsure of the lens's condition or what was included in the box. After receiving the lens, I reached out to request a return and was provided a return authorization, but it carried a 20% restocking fee, which would ultimately negate any original savings.

Because of their poor customer service and lack of transparency in their sales tactics, I just wanted the extended warranty charge removed and to let the matter go. However, they have not responded to my requests. I strongly advise others to heed this warning and avoid purchasing from 42nd Street Photo. I will never buy from them again.

I recently made a purchase from 42nd Street Photo (42photo.com) and unfortunately, my experience was not a positive one. On Tuesday 8/09/2022, I decided to purchase a Canon 90D Camera (body only) as advertised for $1,099.00 along with a $219.99 Total Protection 3 year warranty. I thought I was getting a good deal, as the price was only $100 cheaper than a semi-local camera store here in Florida, which was an hour away from me. However, the store was out of stock and didn't know when they would be getting more, so I decided to buy from 42nd Street Photo instead.

During the checkout process, I received a pop-up notification that my warranty had been upgraded to 5 years at no additional cost. I was thrilled with this unexpected bonus and entered my payment information and submitted my order. However, my excitement was short-lived. The very next morning, Wednesday 8/10/2022, I received a phone call from the "shipping" department informing me that the model I had ordered was actually a European model and would be programmed in a different language. They told me that if I wanted the US model, it would cost an additional $300. I was taken aback by this news, as there was no indication of this on the website listing.

I was busy with someone in my office at the time of the call, so I couldn't address the issue right away. However, something just didn't feel right about the call and being told I had ordered a different model. I decided to investigate further and went online to check the website listing. To my dismay, I discovered that I had fallen victim to their bait and switch scam, just like so many others. I tried to reach out to them multiple times via phone call, but no one answered. I also messaged them through their "Contact Us" page on their website, explaining my dissatisfaction with their bait and switch tactics and requesting a refund of at least 1/2 the $300 upcharge. Alternatively, I suggested that they send me the lens, as the same camera with an 18-135mm lens was only $80 more.

I was extremely disappointed with their false advertising and their use of the bait and switch scam tactic. It is highly unethical and deceptive, and I can't understand how people can sleep at night knowing they are lying, scamming, and ripping people off. I have since learned that many others have been scammed in this manner, and I want the full $300 refund immediately. It is unacceptable for a company to treat their customers in this way, and I hope that others will be warned about their deceptive practices.

I recently purchased a Sony NEX-VG10 from 42nd Street Photo (42photo.com). I was attracted to the price of the product and immediately placed an order. However, I was disappointed when I received a call from the shop stating that the product I ordered required special maintenance and that there would be a delay in delivery. Unfortunately, the call was cut off due to poor phone signal and I was unable to reconnect with the shop.

To my surprise, the product arrived within two to three days. However, upon opening the package, I discovered that the product was much larger than I had anticipated. I also noticed that the original price of the product was $1,989.98, which annoyed me as I felt I had paid too much for the product.

I immediately contacted the shop to request a return, but they hung up on me. I called back and was informed that the store policy did not allow for returns. However, I had read on their website that returns were possible. After some discussion, the shop agreed to refund my money but deducted $280 for expedited processing and shipping. They also refused to refund the money for the extended warranty.

Overall, I recommend being cautious when purchasing from 42nd Street Photo. While the price may be attractive, the customer service and return policy may not be satisfactory. Here is a breakdown of my purchase:

Product Qty Price
*** Sony XR Pro Shooter Accessory Package Kit 1 $199.99
*** Sony NEX-VG10 Interchangeable Lens Handycam Camcorder 1 $1,789.99

Subtotal $1,989.98
Tax $0.00
Shipping $0.00
Total $1,989.98

Description Options Quantity Unit Price Total Tracking
Sony NEX-VG10 Interchangeable Lens Handycam Camcorder Retail Package 1 $3,799.99 $3,799.99
Precision Ultra Optics 3 Piece Filter Set For Digital Camcorder (Coated) HD 1 $0.00 $0.00
Digital 5 Piece Cleaning Kit 1 $0.00 $0.00
Digital LCD Screen Protector 1 $0.00 $0.00
Precision Medium Case W/ Padding & Neck Strap 1 $0.00 $0.00
Lithium NP-FV100 6 Hour Extended Rechargeable Battery 1 $0.00 $0.00
Targus 50" Fluid Head Tripod With Case 1 $0.00 $0.00
Lithium Rapid AC-DC Charger 110-240V (Car & Home Use) 1 $0.00 $0.00
Authorized 3 Year Total Protection Extended WorldWide Warranty Accidental Valued Under $2000. 00 1 $0.00 $0.00
Digital LCD Screen Protector 1 $0.00 $0.00
Digital Speed 16GB 500X Professional High Speed Error Free (SD) Memory Card Class 10 1 $0.00 $0.00
Expedited Processing and Shipping 1 $280.00 $280.00

SubTotal: $4,079.99

Tax: $0.00

Shipping: $0.00

Total: $4,079.99

I had a terrible experience with 42nd Street Photo. They advertised a great price on their website, but after I made the purchase, they told me that I had bought a European model. They then tried to charge me significantly more for the domestic version, which was way higher than the regular price of the item. When I confronted them about this, they hung up on me and blocked my number.

I have to say that Jack, one of their employees, was extremely unprofessional. He acted like a total JACKa*** and didn't seem to care about my concerns at all.

Overall, I would not recommend 42nd Street Photo to anyone. They seem to be scammers who will try to rip you off and then treat you poorly when you call them out on it. Save yourself the trouble and go somewhere else for your photography needs.

I was on the hunt for a camera that I had my heart set on, and I stumbled upon 42nd Street Photo. I saw that they had the camera I wanted for a pretty good price, so I decided to take the plunge and place an order. After I made the purchase, I had a question that I needed to ask them. When I called them up, they told me that I needed to buy a special memory card to go with the camera. I was a bit skeptical, but I trusted them and went ahead and bought the memory card. However, it turned out that they were lying to me and I didn't actually need the special memory card after all.

To make matters worse, they also told me that the camera didn't come with a US warranty. I was a bit taken aback by this, as it wasn't mentioned anywhere on their website. However, they conveniently had two cameras left that did come with a US warranty, but they were $100 more expensive. I started to feel like I was being taken advantage of, so I decided to cancel my order altogether.

Overall, I wasn't too impressed with my experience with 42nd Street Photo. While they did have the camera I wanted for a good price, their customer service left a lot to be desired. I felt like they were trying to upsell me on things that I didn't need, and I didn't appreciate that. If you're looking to buy a camera from them, just be aware that you might need to do some extra research to make sure you're getting the best deal possible.

So, I had a bit of a situation with 42nd Street Photo. They told me that I accidentally ordered the European version of the camera and lens that I wanted, and that I would have to pay an extra $500 for the US version. I believed them, and paid the extra money. But then, I found out that there is actually only one version of the camera and lens, and that I had been tricked into paying more than I needed to.

I was pretty upset about this, and I tried to get them to credit me the $500 that I had overpaid. But they refused to do so, and I was left feeling frustrated and angry.

However, I recently had a bit of a breakthrough. On December 23rd, 2015, I posted a negative review of 42nd Street Photo online. And to my surprise, someone from the organization actually reached out to me. His name was Jack, and he agreed to credit me the full amount that I had overpaid.

I have to say, I was pretty impressed with this. It's not often that a company will go out of their way to make things right after a customer has had a bad experience. But 42nd Street Photo did just that, and I really appreciate it.

Overall, I would say that my experience with 42nd Street Photo was a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, I was frustrated by the initial situation and the fact that I had to fight to get my money back. But on the other hand, I was impressed by the fact that they ultimately did the right thing and credited me the full amount.

So, if you're thinking about buying from 42nd Street Photo, I would say that it's worth considering. Just be aware that there may be some bumps in the road along the way.

I recently checked out 42nd Street Photo's website and I gotta say, their prices are pretty sweet. I decided to take the plunge and place an order for a camera that was priced at around $1500. But then, I got an email from them saying they needed to talk to me about my order. I was a bit confused, but I figured it was just a routine thing.

Turns out, they were calling to let me know that the camera I ordered was the "International Version" and didn't come with a warranty. They said I could upgrade to the US version for an extra $500. I was a bit annoyed, but I really wanted the camera so I went ahead and paid the extra money.

Later on, I decided to send them an email asking about SD cards. I wasn't actually planning on buying one, I just wanted to ask a question. But then, I noticed that they had charged me $200 for an SD card without my permission! I was pretty upset about that, especially since they had stored my credit card information without my consent.

Overall, I think 42nd Street Photo has a great selection and they ship pretty fast. But, you really need to be careful about how they do business. They might try to upsell you on things you don't need, and they might charge you for things without your permission. So, just be aware of that before you decide to buy from them.

I had a really bad experience with 42nd Street Photo. They sell gray market Canon products that can't be registered for Canon warranty. When I bought online, the next day he called me and asked if I knew that I was buying an international model. Of course, I didn't know because nowhere on his website does it say that. He then offered me a US model for a couple hundred more dollars. I was so confused and didn't know what to do, so I agreed (smh). But guess what? He still sent me the gray model that can't be registered with Canon.

To make things worse, he threw in a useless extended warranty from a company that gets worse reviews than he does. I mean, come on! He has a line of BS a mile long. I imagine he has been getting away with this for a long time. So, I just want to warn everyone out there to BEWARE of 42nd Street Photo.

I really regret buying from them and I wish I had read the reviews before making my purchase. I hope this review helps someone else avoid the same mistake.

This website is a total rip off! I will never order from them again! I ordered a Canon Rebel T2i/T3i/T4i Starter Accessory Kit for $79.99 online. A sales person called me and convinced me to upgrade my kit for a larger memory card and an extended life battery for just another $70. I thought it was a good deal, so I agreed. However, what I got for an extra $70 was a 4GB card instead of a 2GB. I found out that you can buy the 4GB cards online for less money than the 2GB. The so-called extended life battery can be purchased along with a charger and 2 extended life batteries for only $22.99 at Amazon.

I was really disappointed with my purchase from 42nd Street Photo. I felt like I was taken advantage of by the sales person. I thought I was getting a good deal, but it turned out to be a complete rip off. I would not recommend this website to anyone. They are not honest and do not provide good customer service.

I wish I had done more research before making my purchase. I should have checked other websites to compare prices and read reviews from other customers. I learned my lesson and will be more careful in the future. I hope others can learn from my mistake and avoid ordering from 42nd Street Photo.

I recently ordered a Sony A7RIVA from 42nd Street Photo, and I have to say, I was quite disappointed with my experience. I knew going in that it was a grey market camera with no warranty, but what I didn't expect was the poor customer service I received.

First off, I spoke with a representative named Matthew who informed me that the camera was cheap because it was in Chinese and had no wifi. While I appreciate the honesty, I was under the impression that grey market cameras were supposed to be the same as USA cameras, just without the warranty. So, this was a bit confusing to me.

To make matters worse, I paid extra to have the camera overnighted to me, but Matthew informed me that UPS doesn't deliver on Fridays or weekends. I found this to be a bit odd, but I was willing to work with them. However, when I asked to cancel my order, Matthew hung up on me. I was shocked and frustrated by this behavior.

After trying to call back, I realized that I was dealing with an unethical business. As someone who has been a photographer for 50 years, I know the scams and tricks that some businesses use to take advantage of their customers. I will not be using 42nd Street Photo again, and I caution anyone who is considering using them to be very aware of their dishonest practices.

In conclusion, while 42nd Street Photo may have been a good store in the past, my recent experience has left a bad taste in my mouth. I hope that they can improve their customer service and be more transparent with their customers in the future.

I recently made a purchase on 42nd Street Photo's website for a Nikon D850 camera. I was excited to find it listed for $1,929.00 as an import version. However, the next day I received a call from a representative at 42nd Street Photo. They questioned why I had chosen the import version instead of the domestic version, which was $500.00 more expensive. The representative went on to explain that the import version was a "European" version and would not work in the USA. I was taken aback by this information and felt like I was being baited into spending more money.

I expressed my frustration to the representative, telling them that I believed they were attempting a bait-and-switch. This seemed to anger the representative, who then hung up on me after I asked them to cancel my order twice. I was disappointed by this experience and left wondering why they would list a camera as an import version if it wouldn't work in the USA.

I do want to note that I have a Nikon D750 that is an import version and it works perfectly fine. So, I am not sure why the representative was so insistent that the Nikon D850 import version wouldn't work in the USA. Overall, I was disappointed by my experience with 42nd Street Photo and would caution others to be wary of their sales tactics.

I recently had an experience with 42nd Street Photo (42photo.com) that left me feeling frustrated and disappointed. After reading some reviews on BBB and seeing that they listed cameras on their site at much lower prices than other stores, I decided to give them a try.

I placed an order for a camera and eagerly awaited its arrival. However, when I received an email from the company stating that I had ordered the international version of the camera (which was not indicated on the site) and that it wouldn't work properly, I was taken aback. They then offered me an upgrade to the domestic version for an additional $300, which was $100 more than other stores were charging.

Feeling misled and frustrated, I decided to cancel my order. However, when I spoke to a representative from the company, he informed me that there would be a 5% charge for cancelling. I was not happy about this and told him that I would dispute the charge.

In the end, no charge was made at all, which left me feeling like the company was just trying to waste my time and make money by scamming and lying to people without being caught by banks or other authorities.

Overall, I would advise others to avoid the headaches and not support this company. While they may offer lower prices on their site, the potential for being misled and scammed is not worth it in my opinion.