FotoConnection Bait And Switch, Deceptive Business And Cancellation Policy Brooklyn New York

Placed order for Samsung 56" DLP HDTV on 8/6/07 for $1628.99 including shipping. Received e-mail a few days later to confirm order which I did and got this sales shark named Eddie Sharp who said they did this for fraud and then wanted to add all kinds of extras - extended warranty, upgraded shipping, monster cable, etc.(bait and switch)! Told him I would think about it and call him back which I did to say no and was put on hold.

I then decided to e-mail him to say no but was e-mailed back from someone else saying I had to call Eddie Sharp to confirm which I already did so obviously this confirm order is sales pressure. I then decided to e-mail to cancel on 8/13/07. Again was e-mailed back by someone saying I had to call but I would not because of the sales pressure and nowhere on their policy page did it state that you could not e-mail to cancel.

I then called American Express to block any charges from FotoConnection and they said they would, so I ignored the continued e-mails from them to call to confirm order. But then a week later they e-mailed saying they were going to charge my card and send it out truck. I called right away to cancel but they said it was to late even though I know they got my e-mail to cancel on 8/13 (I have copies).

I called the trucking co. and they said that they did not have it yet and it was not to late to cancel and to call FotoConnection back and tell them this. When I did I got this very unhelpful person in customer service who said she would not go out and move the TV off the loading dock, (couldn't she have called a warehouseman to do it?)

Called American Express and asked why they did not block charge like they said they would and this different person in customer service said they do not block charges you can only dispute them.

I Disputed Charge and refused shipment when it arrived. FotoConnection then credited my card but kept $533 for 15% restocking fee plus shipping both ways!
American Express says they accept this in dispute even though they seemed to let FotoConnection do the investigating (letting the fox do the investigating?) and charged my card the $533.

I may close my account with American Express over this matter.

Filed complaint with BBB in early November to try to come to some kind of settlement. FotoConnection did not respond to two written letters and one phone call by the BBB until March. They said they would not come to any settlement and misstated some facts in their response to the BBB.

In the eight years I have done business online I NEVER NEVER had a problem like this! They are a scam and very deceptive. With all the negative feedback about them I do not understand why American Express even does business with them.

The N.Y. Attorney General, or the FTC, or the FBI internet fraud or all of them should be notified to investigate!

David
Sarasota, Florida
U.S.A.