Stay Away From Royal Camera

[MitchN]

I just had a similar experience with Royal Camera, and now I am concerned. I called them up to make a simple order of the Nikon D70 package which included the Nikor lens. This rude sales person immediately told me that, “Lots of people are returning the camera with this lens because it is so cheap, not made in Japan, but we have other lenses, better than those that we can sell you.” I told him I appreciated it, but I was interested in the Nikor lens, but thanks for suggesting it anyway.

He then said something I couldn’t believe. He said, “Yeah, I can tell you appreciate it even though you’re staying with the Nikor lens. Can I ask you why wouldn’t you want to buy the camera with the other lens even though I just told you people are retuning the Nikor lens? You know it only works on the digital camera and no other camera, but these other lenses work with all the cameras” I said, I just want the Nikor lens, thanks anyway.

He then told me that the battery that comes with the camera is very small and that for $199 I can buy a bigger battery and charger. I told him no. He then said what kind of a CF do you want to buy? He sold me a 512 Mb CF for $149, which at the time I thought was a bit expensive, but I just went with it.

He took my info and said thanks. I said, “Wait a minute…I want to know when these things ship, so I will need a UPS tracking number.” He sounded like I was just a big pain to him. So he said, “OK let me have your email address”.

I finally hung up with this dude, and realized no more than 10 minutes later that the prices of the CFs have come down a lot just in the past week, and that I could get a 512 Mb for $49. So I immediately called back, had to wait for some reason for the same sales person, which was interesting (intimidation factor I think is part of their sales methodology), so I waited until the same rude guy came back on.

I explained that I realized I had lots of CFs and I want to cancel the order for the CF. He said, “Can’t do that. It’s already in the UPS system and we can’t take it back.” I said, "That is the fastest system I have ever experienced”, sarcastically. He said, “Well, just don’t accept the package, UPS will return it and we’ll refund your money”

Anyway, I am concerned that you can’t even check the status of your order on the web. But overall, I can’t say that they didn’t deliver, since they told me it takes 7 – 14 days before shipping (huh? What can possibly take that long? Either it is IN stock or NOT), and then another 5 days to receive it.


In conclusion, I have once before used the Better Business Bureau to complain about a company. Tthey actually wrote to that company within a week, and the company sent me their product within a few days of that call, UPS, 2nd day, when they told me it wasn’t going to be in stock for another eight weeks. Funny how you can put a fire under them if you need to. So if this company doesn’t deliver, I would say all of us should write to the BBB and make a complaint. It’s easy, and the more we have them listed in the BBB files, the quicker they either improve or hey will go out of business. For me, it’s wait and see.

[ravenwood]

We too, ordered a camera from Royal camera.We had to call them to confirm the order and got thru to "Larry" Probably the ridiculously rude arabic accent mentioned in a previous tag. He told us that the camera need an extra $99.00 of gear to make it work we said just send the camera. He got irate and told us he was giving us a great deal and if we didn't like anything he sent we could return it. We told him to just send us the camera as advertised. The camera came late, 4 days late. When we opened the box itwas just the camera and the 4 batteries, strap and 16mb data card, as advertised. The invoice was for $200.00 more than advertised though. They lied and tried to bully my wife into buying more than she wanted and then still had the gall to charge more than the advertised price. STAY AWAY from these jokers.

[FH|Eric]

Holy frigging crap I can't believe this. I ordered a camera on December 22nd. Its 1/3/2005 - camera didnt ship. I call them - I forgot my order number - this rude dude yellls at me and says in these words "why the hell did you call us without an order number"

He finds the number says camera is blah blah - u want batteries, flash card etc. But he doesn't tell me tthey're extra until im like so whats teh total and its liek 12341234234 more than advertised.

FInally he quickly said you'll get ur camera in a month enjoy and I'm like wtf? I live in NYC - i said can I go pick it up .. NO GOOD BYE and stop calling us - click

Finally I call and say I wanna cancel and he goes yes we'll cancel it ass bye