Closeoutgenius.com

This is a formal complaint against the internet store Closeoutisland (Closeoutisland.com) aka Photo Video SuperStore. Per BBL database, the businesses are run by Closeout Genius at Avenue O, Brooklyn, NY 11204 and Closeoutisland.com at C/O Domains by Proxy N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Both stores are running the same scam. They advertise the hi-in-demand product (in my case Canon Rebel T2I camera) for an attractive price. Once you place the order, they don't ship the item till you call them. They even send you an e-mail saying that there is a problem with your order and ask you to call them back. Once you call, they say that everything is indeed okay with the order. But they start pushing other items on you: lenses, batteries, and memory cards. They both use the same straight-out-lies. They say that Canon batteries provided with the camera only last 15 minutes and therefore you should purchase one from them and pay over $100 for it.

Once you refuse all the extra items, they politely promise to ship your item within a few business days and then nothing happens. When you call them again, they simply state that the item your originally purchased (camera) is out of stock, will not be available for at least 4 to 6 weeks and therefore your order is canceled. In the meantime, the item (camera) is still advertised on their website. I checked on line and found out that other people had being scammed in the same fashion. There are tons of complains of the same scam! In my case, I actually called before placing the order and was told that the item is in stock. But after the order was placed, the same pattern happened. When I tried to reason with the sales rep, I was simply told "goodbye lady" and hung up on.

Even though they do not charge the credit card for the item, I see it as dishonest and scamming activity as they do not really sell the item, but use it as the bait. I would like other people to be advised not to use those (and such as those) merchants. I also find it highly distracting that those people have my credit card number in possession. If you can suggest where else I can file the complaint to have those people stopped and possibly punished, I will appreciate it. Thank you. I lost hours and hours of my time trying to purchase the item on line, going to 3 different sores and ending up scammed by the same people that use different names. They are also in possession of my credit card number now and I might have to cancel my cards. I demand an apology and retribution for the lost time. I also demand those people to be stopped and punished. If they found the way around the law to do this ridiculous scamming, then the law needs to be fixed.

Ordered Cannon FS100 on line. Recieved call asking if I wanted to add additional battery and memory card, and warrenty. I agreed to the battery and the memory card. They sent the items in a timely manner except they sent the wrong extra battery. The package states it fits Canon BP819. (not FS100). It does not fit the comera. I have emailed on numerous occassions and have heard NOTHING from them. I have called on numerous occassions during various times of the day and all I get is a machine telling me to call back during regular buisness hours. The camera package would have been a good deal if I had been sent the correct items. I beleive that battery cost between $70 to $80. The invoice doesn't break out the individual pieces. I feel that I have been cheated.

Ordered 2 Garmin Nuvi 765T GPS at $600, advertised at "In Stock" on 4/20/09. WebBot that referred me to Closeout Genius gave "4-star" rating. (BS)

Received e-mail confirmation stating "minimum two days" of order processing on 4/20/09.

Received another e-mail on 4/27/09 stating merchandise are on "a 2~3 week backorder".

Haven't heard update since, so researched the business reputation on 5/5/09. Discovered tons of complaints on "bait & switch" and "backorder"scam as well as it was previously known as Ontime Digital Inc, Brooklyn, NY (with tons of same complaints).

Call CS number on 5/5/09 and was told items are on backorder with no estimated shipping date. Requested order cancellation and received cancellation confirmation e-mail.

I wish I had done "due research", but was fooled by "4-star seller rating" by linked search bot. When I shop at Amazon and E-bay, those rating do mean something.

I post this in the hope of other online shoppers who may fall victems to scam sites such as "Closeout Genius".

A couple of days later I tried to review my shipment but my password would not work. My sign-on and password were correct and I confirmed via their sight. Thus, I sent a cancellation today, which is what they want anyway and I needed this documentation should I receive a bill on my credit card. I spent alot of time researching and had upgraded the shipping etc. It was to be an anniversary gift. It completely missed the anniversary.

These are scam artists and the only intent is to sell un-needed auxillary products for a lot of money. Every decline ends up on back-order.

Ordered a Canon camera and was told it would take 7 plus days. Received an email stating I had to confirm my order so I called and was read a list of things I needed to buy, like extra battery because the AA would leak, extra warranty, Camera card etc. Said no to all. then received mail on unavailability for several weeks.

This is such a flagrent violation of business practice that I cannot see how the state lets this company prey on consumers. There should be a class action suit against this company

I see that I'm not the only one subject to questionable trading practices of Closeoutgenius. I ordered a Canon G10 through the internet on March 22nd. I received an order confirmation stating that the camera was to be shipped in 7-12 days. On March 24th, I received a call from a sales person at Closeoutgenius asking me to buy an additional battery (he stated that the battery supplied by Canon would only work twice - no kidding). When I declined, he then asked me to buy additional warranty. I refused that too and was then told well it will take 3-5 weeks for the camera to be shipped then - and then he slammed down the phone.

A few hours later, I received an email stating that the camera was now on backorder for 2-3 weeks. It appears that their business model is to sell the camera at near cost (they are cheap), and then make their profit margins by selling add-ons (like the battery). All add-on products are MORE expensive than other sites on the internel. I guess that you get backordered if you refuse to play the game and buy their over-priced add-ons. As a result of all this, I contacted the organization immediately cancelling my order.

Purchased camera from this online scam company called Close out Genius and upon confirming order, I was informed that I would have to pay hundreds more to get the real manufactured camera that I ordered and that this International Camera does not have the features that this model camera is suppose to have. When I wouldn't agree, tried to sell me three other cheaper models. When questioned, Close Out Genius explained that there is a US model and International model and the International model is a cheaper model that does not have same features.

Close Out Genius advertised that this was a real (NOT!) manufactured model camera from the parent company and that they were a distributor for this company. Closeout Genius became very rude when I would not pay hundreds more for the camera I ordered online from there company. I had to call all day to get through and I couldn't even get a manager or owner name. Through a source, I got the manager's name at Close Out Genius, Jason, ext 212, who was exremely rude and repulsive. One needs only to type in Close out Genius reviews complaints to see what this online scam company is doing to the consumer. It is more and hundreds of the same!

Because I thought I was getting this camera, I bought all the accesories from another source that was expensive. My neighbor had put on his credit card and he had to close out his account. I lost time at work. I was so upset and I needed this camera for a job as this is my business and my business camera broke. Never got camera in time because of this company and the many days it took me to resolve. This really took a toll on me. All I want out of posting to you is I just really want the consumer to be aware of this company who goes under many many names so the same does not happen to them. Close out genius uses many web names such as SLR Genius, Plasma Genius, Cellular Genius, PC Genius, Navi Genius, Projector Genius, PC Genius, Receiver Genius to name a few.

Canon PowerShot Pro Series S5 IS 8.0MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image

The Price was: $179.00 and it was to arrive in 12 days.

They said it would ship in 12 days. When I checked the web site with my order status (number 21022-W)on March 17th, I was told that it was shipping on the 18tha dn that they would expidite the order. I checked the web site again on the 19th and saw that it was still listed as back ordered. I called again (call wait time is 10min once you get past the busy signals and connect total time to get some one on the phone is approx 20min).
just to check on the order and was told that YES it was back ordered and whoever told me that it was shipping was worng. They said that it would be at least another 3 weeks.

When I expressed my dissapointment and asked questions about options, I was hung up on. I called back and was given to another rep who did not care that I was hung up. He told me that I ordered the Japan model and why did I not order the american model that was in stock. I told him that I serched for the canon and that your price on the unit is what sold me. I also told him that the unit was listed as instock.

He said well it's not but the American version is - I asked him what the price difference was and he said 299.00. I told him to cancel my order and he was rude and told me good luck fining it for less - I cnacelled my order.

Anyhow, camera arrived...wrong battery. No response, no way to get thru on the number provided...no email response and in visiting camera websites, these guys are notorious in terms of upselling and bait and switch and non-existant customer service. I can confirm all those observations.

Spent more than I needed to. Got gypped. Cheap lesson in the long run. Not a good experience but in the general Madoff times...these are gnats of the scam world.