Genius Camera

[brotski]

I'm looking to buy the Canon 20D. I noticed that GENIUS CAMERA online has some good deals. They offer the camera body in various packages w/ lenses. Are these considered "grey market" packages?? Has anyone bought anything from GENIUS?

Thanks in advance....

Brotski

[wolvie3421]

i've had a really bad experience with them. check out my post a few posts down and also the royal camera post. they seem to share the same employees/ business model. i can vouch for cameta cameras though.

I'm looking to buy the Canon 20D. I noticed that GENIUS CAMERA online has some good deals. They offer the camera body in various packages w/ lenses. Are these considered "grey market" packages?? Has anyone bought anything from GENIUS?

Thanks in advance....

Brotski

[CranxOC]

This company is horrendous. They sold me an item (an extended life battery) that flat out did not exist. When I received the camera, I called Canon because the battery seemed to be the same one every camera came with and, guess what, it was. Canon advised me that they manufacture no such thing and also advised that this is a common scheme for this particular company. In addition, they did not itemize any of the purchases on the invoice thus making it exponentially more difficult to get refunds for any one item. Even though you know how much you paid for something, it's not in black and white so it's more difficult to prove.

Fortunately I used my AMEX card and they're taking care of this but, at any rate, do not purchase from these guys, they're rip off artists...period.

[jessicaadams]

I'm looking to buy the Canon 20D. I noticed that GENIUS CAMERA online has some good deals. They offer the camera body in various packages w/ lenses. Are these considered "grey market" packages?? Has anyone bought anything from GENIUS?

Thanks in advance....

Brotski

Don't buy from them! I have had the most exasperating experience with them. I ordered a replacement body....didn't need lenses, memory, battery...etc. I ordered in July....still haven't seen it and their customer service stinks. If you don't want to pay extra for the stuff you don't need to make up for the "savings" then you won't get what you want. STAY AWAY!

good luck on finding what you need!

Jessica

[alytwo]

I ordered Nikon D70s body in July, DId not purchase "extras". Haven't recceived camera event though they are advertising on their site. Sure wish I had found this board before dealing with them. Stay away from them!!

[bikershrink]

Wow, I think I checked this a little late too...
This is embarrassing, but here goes...
I ordered a Canon 28-135mm IS USM for under $400 from Genius Camera website on Tuesday. I quickly received an e-mail asking me to call and confirm my order for security purposes. Dialing the 1-800 number, I got through quickly. A nice, helpful man asked me if I was going to use it on a digital or a film camera, and I said both. Then he asked me what type of subjects I was shooting, and I told him it was varied. He then told me that no one who knew anything about Canon cameras was using that lens. He then wanted to know if I knew anything about the "magnification factor" and I told him I was aware of lens focal length needing to multiplied by 1.6 with the Rebel XT and 20D.
Nice man said the carried a brand new Sigma 18-125 DC with special new low dispersion glass. He told me where to go on their site to see this great new lens that everyone who knew anything was using. It was priced at $836, but their prices were the lowest on every Canon camera or lens I had looked at. Then he told me a lens hood was $147 and a set of filters was $247, but for an even thousand, he'd include the cleaning kit and other assorted goodies, and get it right out in 2 day mail. Being late for a meeting by this time, I agreed. Right after my meeting, I got back and searched for the Sigms 18-125 lens. Amazon and everyone else had it for $250 or so.
Calling back, I was on hold forever and passed through 3 or 4 people until I finally got to Mr. original Bait & Switch. He told me they were a special distributor for Sigma, and that special glass lens was too new to be out in reviews or for sale anywhere else yet. And besides, he said, just take pictures with it when I get it and send it back if I'm not totally blown away by it.
Now I'm wondering what would happen if I sent it back, and if there really is a darn Sigma that's priced just about in the "L" series lens range.
I said it was embarrassing, but I guess I may have really been "took."
Should I call my credit card, and what could I say?
What recourses might I have?


Someone please tell me there's a great new Sigma lens out that's going to list for about $1200.00.

[tullyrhasta]

I just had my first and last dealing with www.geniuscameras.com. I can promise you they are NOT the people to go to. Everything they told me was a lie. Availability and delivery times were misrepresented. Bold lies. The hard sell is a turn off. Insurance. Discount this and discount that. You need this. I can do this. When I call to complain and cancel the "manager" was put on the phone and couldn't even supply my with a UPS tracking number. He told me that, "I did not want to use a tone with him, he was the wrong person to make made." What in the world is that about?

DO NOT USE THEM!

[Lucidreamr]

I too have been cheated by Genius. Once I called to "confirm" my order the sales person tried to sell me a battery and charger which I declined. He then really pushed to sell me a warranty. I asked if I could buy a warranty through a third party later on and he said no. He told me the Canon Rebel Xt only came with 90day warranty, which was a lie it has a one year warranty. He said if anything happens to it, if you drop it etc, after 90 days it won't be covered. Then I asked him if I were to drop my camera off a roof and it broke would he replace it. He said yes and I was sold.
Some how my total went from $624 to $924 even though it was only a $200 warranty and he said this was because of tax and shipping. The warranty is completly bunk and doesn't cover anything. When I asked for my money back they mocked me and said "With all due respect, the salesman did not tell you that the camera will be repaired if you drop it off a roof.
He also did not claim that the camera will be repaired if you set it on fire, submerge it in tomato soup, or any other form of abuse different than the way the manufacturer intended the product to be used."
These people are total crooks and I really regret not looking up a review sooner. Does anyone know of any leagal action one could take in this situation? I've read so many bad reviews the company should be shut down!

[bikershrink]

I've shipped my lens, filters, and other assorted stuff back to them in the same box they sent it to me in. Get this, they also wanted a copy of the receipt (like they don't have it), a letter stating why I want to make the return, and a check payable to Genius Camera for the $80.00 they charged me for "shipping, handling, and insurance."

They said if I didn't include the check to them for the $80 in the box, they would just turn right around and ship it all back to me, charging me again for shipping.

I was on the phone with my credit card company, and they never heard of such a thing as requiring the separate check for the $80, rather than just returning $920 of my $1,000 cause they do get to stick me for the shipping.

I did write on the back of the check that cashing or depositing acknowledges receipt of returned goods and crediting my card back the full amount of charge.

So far, the check has not been cashed, and there has been no return to my charge account, but I do have my receipt for mailing the return "Signature Confirmation" so if I don't soon seen the credit charge returned, I will call my card company and attempt to get a "charge back" done. The card company talked like this should not be much trouble once I no longer have goods in my posession, having sent them back.

Now the worst that can happen is that they rip me off for another $80 on top of the original insult, but if anything like that should happen I would persue any legal remedy available, and a few others as well. Not that there is probably any storefront in Edison NJ, but I do have a list of their umbrella corp and many of the other names they do business under, obtained from another post on this site.

[Flash_1]

These guys are Crooks! They Scam, they flat out LIE, and just give you Huge Headaches. The best thing to do is just STAY AWAY.
I wish there was a way to put a great big red X across the front of there web site..... And the thing is they continue to do the same deceitful things over and over and over to countless consumers.

Here is a portion of my story...... http://www.resellerratings.com/seller8519.html

[DawnB]

Whoa....thank you to everyone for the feedback on Genius Camera. After weeks of research and deliberation, I was ready to purchase from them, and stumbled across this forum. I did wonder why the prices were so much lower. Thanks to all who posted their opinions! Now I'm considering Amazon.com - does anyone have any good, or bad, to post about them?
DawnB

[shades_edge]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank YOU!! I was so close to ordering from them. It sounds like they are similar to a company called CameraPros.com I had a very similar experience with them, ordered a Canon 20d, same MO, received an email, can't process because we are SO busy, please call. Well the call ended up in an Up Sell, which I called back with in 5 minutes to cancel, sticking with my original order, only for it to never show. A call back to them...... Oh, it will be 3-4 weeks, it is on back order, but their web site shows it is in stock......same as Genius. Probably owned by the same people. Thanks again, and for those looking at CameraPros.com, stay away from them as well!!

[noah79]

I cant begin to thank y'all enough for all the feedback you have made available, I stumbled across this forum by accidently looking for Genious camera's website.
indefinetly thankful, I will make it a habit of checking this awesome site when looking for counsel & advice please keep posting your unselfish experiences

[farukkuruz]

I had same bad experience with Camerapros.com
I ordered a Canon EOS 30d and I was so excited to receive it. I received an e-mail after two days telling me that they are so busy so I have to call to confirm.
I called once and they told me that system is down so I have to call tomorrow.
I call the next day and a rude guy answered the phone. When I said "I guess I need to confirm my order" he asked my name and after 20 secs he said "it is ok" and hanged up right away. I called again to see when it is gonna be shipped and such and same guy answered the phone and as soon as I gave him my order number he said " I just said ok why are you calling again!" and hanged up..What the...ck? I was so mad I called back. When he heard my voice again he hanged up right away. I called again and said " look I don't know what kind of business you are running there but I need to learn when am I gonna receive this camera" and he answered " tomorrow you will get it ok? " I said yeah fine that's all I needed" And again he hanged up right away.
It has been one week that I didn't receive anything. I don't even want to call them again they are soooo rude. I will call AMEX tomorrow and stop any kind of payment to those people. STAY AWAY FROM CAMERAPROS.COM !

[Jeff-slc]

I am soooo glad I joined this forum! I've had nothing but problems with these jackazzes.
First, I print an invoice thinking I've placed the order. I called them back and received not only a hard sell which I had no interest in, but I was also told that I the order was $100 more than what it states on my invoice because they gave me a price after the Canon rebate, which they've nothing to do with.
I then called yesterday to finally place the order and was told I'd receive an e-mail and a tracking number.
I called back today after no e-mail had been received to see what the hold up was. As it turns out, the Camera is on back order and will be so for 3 weeks! The rebate deal ends July 15, as well so I would be paying the full price.
These people are absolute jerks on the phone, they give a bad name to anyone from New Jersey - they reinforced my perception - and are slimy greasy lying f*cks! Not a company you'd want to hand your hard-earned money over to.

I'd only recommend GeniusCamera to an enemy.

[labfan213]

DON'T BUY from Genius Cameras!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found a great deal on a Canon Rebel XT, only to find out that the product was not in stock. Not only that, they even couldn't tell me when the product would be in stock! After waiting a month, I went to another company, and I will never return to Genius Cameras again.

I like the quote that one of you came up with--it doesn't take a genius to figure out not to buy from Genius Cameras. It fits. On the surface, it seems like they have good deals, but dealing with the company themselves is so very frustrating. They seem to "play dumb" by not directly answering any questions you have...or even sending the products on time!

[Jimpe6]

I agree with others posting on this thread ... Do not ever buy anything from Genius Camera. This business should be shut down as it runs a scam that most people would not believe.

PLEASE - DO NOT EVEN THINK OF BUYING ANYTHING FROM THIS COMPANY

Been there and done that once and the bait and switch lens and accessory scam that they run on people should be stopped somehow by our government.

Now I am asking, how does a company like this stay in business??

[amolkhedgikar]

H i guys,

You would not believe how happy I am to join the forum.
genius cameras seemed suspicious so I decided to check, found this post. Boy am I happy?
Thank you guys for the inputs.I am sure tons of others will be saved too.:thumbsup:
trying to buy a Digital rebel XTI. Now tell me where does everybody buy from. My first SLR ever.It is way out of my budget but I want to buy this one.I am a wildlife rescuer/conservationist. I come across many wonderful situations in the wild. just want to capture them. decided on the camera but not on lenses. need a wide angle and need atleast a 300mm for distant shots Where I cant go close. is there a single lens covering focal lengths from 18mm (or so) to 300mm (or close) ?this one is going to be a walkabout.
it has to be cheap too .no budget decided yet,need advise first.
thanks again