Photo Dynasty DOES IT AGAIN Internet

I tried purchasing the Sony HDR-SR12 from dynasty.com not knowing what their company was really like -- HUGE MISTAKE. The retail price is over $1,000 and yet they were selling it for $559, obviously something wasn't right. I saw that their site said "brand new" and they had a "14 day return policy" so I felt secure ordering from them; even if the product wasn't exactly what I wanted, I could just return it.

I ordered the item late on a Thursday night wanting it to go Next Day Air ($50 shipping fee). I waited for the confirmation email, got it that night and reviewed the legitamacy of the order and everything looked fine so I went to sleep feeling assured.

Next morning (Friday) I get on the computer to see if they processed the order -- like any other legitimate company does -- but saw nothing in my email. I then was curious about the actual seller so I 'googled' them and found countless amounts of 'scam reports', 'rip-off reports', and other various message board entries regarding the awful company known as PHOTO DYNASTY.

I should have done that PRIOR to the purchase but after reading the reports by other consumers, I had the infamous "it won't happen to me" syndrome. So, I leave it alone and think everything will be fine and that MY order will be different

Sunday rolls around, I get an email saying I now need to CALL them to 'confirm' the order. By the time I get the email the office is closed so I waited until this morning (Monday). I call, speak to some guy who IMMEDIATELY puts me hold for -- no joke -- 10 minutes. He gets back on the line and says "how can I help you". I tell him I want to confirm my order. He then asks what my name is and I say only my first name, Adam. He then uses just my first name (quite odd) and says "I see it here, hold on".....Puts me on hold AGAIN for 10 minutes.

He comes back to the line this time reviewing my purchase. I confirm what he said is what I ordered and he then proceeds to ask if I wanted the battery with the camera for $729. I stop and say, "I ordered the camera with the notion that there would be a battery included". He says no that the camera is by itself and that I would need to 'upgrade' the order to get the battery.

At this point I realize everything I read about this company is true -- SCAM -- so I cut him off and say "please just cancel my order, I will look for a different camera someplace else". I kid you not, as soon as I could say that, the guy says "okay, have a good day" and tries to hang up with me. I sat there with the phone in my hand away from my head STUNNED that this 'costumer service' existed in a economic time like we have today.

As I'm holding the phone away from my head, I hear him say something. I put the phone back to my ear and he's trying to sell me on some other camera they have that would be a better 'deal' than the Sony I wanted. He proceeds in trying to sell me on a Canon that HAS a battery, cord, etc. but that it would be more than $559 but that the Canon was better than the Sony.

I then say "no, I need to research the Canon first and will not make an impulsive decision right then and there....but just to verify, my order IS canceled?". He goes, "yea your order is canceled, have a good day" in THE MOST SARCASTIC WAY.

Unbelievable to say the least. Lesson learned though, review stores PRIOR to purchasing from them. I'm just glad I realized it before it was too late.

****PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!!****

Adam
Round Lake, Illinois
U.S.A.