You get what you pay for, and in the case of consumer electronics this fact of life can often leave quite a sting in unsuspecting consumers who do not do their research. People planning on spending significant amounts of money are often lured in by prices that seem to good to be true. You need to know how to spot a scam before you become a victim. Especially with online purchases.
Just because a reseller has a web site does not mean they are legit. Heck, just because they have a brick & mortar store doesn’t even mean they are legit. One of the most common scams in the consumer electronics industry — especially digital photography — is the bait and switch scheme. You are lured in with extreme discounts, and then either do not receive the correct item, or are suckered into purchasing accessories at unbelievable markups.
Enough people have been burned by these crooks to inspire web sites that maintain reseller ratings. One of the most popular of these web sites is ResellerRatings.com. Before you fork over your hard-earned money to a strange merchant, find out if others have had negatives experiences.
How to Use ResellerRatings.com
Visit ResellerRatings.com and click on “Store Ratings” (direct link). Locate the form field labeled “Enter STORE name:”. Type the name of the store into this box, and press the “Find Store” button. If the store is in the ResellerRatings.com database, a page with ratings and reviews will load up.
The first thing you will see is a numerical rating on a scale of 10. This reflects how others have felt about their experiences with this store. Scroll down, and you will see comments that have been left other people regarding their dealings with the merchant.
How to interpret these ratings
Read as many ratings as you can, and consider the big picture. I do not suggest going on the advice of just one person, because bad resellers will often leave fake positive reviews to combat the voices of the customers they have cheated. Take in everyone’s opinion, and then decide whether or not you can trust the store. If there are not a lot of reviews, Google the store’s name and look for more information on message boards and social networking sites.
In the end, go with your gut
Dishonest stores have a reputation for being pushy. An honest salesman should not spend an inordinate amount of time trying to convince you to buy something you do not want. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, acts disrespectful, or becomes irate (not unheard of!), hang up and spend your money somewhere else. You cannot afford to take a chance and give them your money, especially if it is a store you have never heard about.
