VIPCamera.com USAPhotonation.com ripoff, illegal, extremely dishonest, fraud Internet Internet

I placed an order with VIPCamera.com on December 23rd. According to their site all their products are brand new and factory fresh. I found what looked like a good price on a Canon S410 digital camera and decided to buy it from them. I got an order confirmation, then another email that said I should call to "expedite" the order.

I called the 1-800 number provided in the email sent to me on December 28th, 2004, to check on my order. Here's how it went:

Me: Hi, I placed an order and would like to check the status of it.
Clerk: (a man) Okay, may I have your order number please?
Me: *gives it*
Clerk: Okay...the Canon S410...would you like the 2 hour battery or the 4 hour battery?
Me: ...Does that cost extra?
Clerk: Yes...the Canon only comes with a 20 minute battery.
Me: *suspicious* How much is the 2 hour?
Clerk: It is normally $69.99 but I will give it to you for $29.99
Me: Sorry, I don't want it. I just want to know if my order has shipped.
Clerk: Are you sure? It will be much more expensive in the future.
Me: YES. I just want to know the status of my order.
Clerk: Wow, geez, okay...*verifies some billing information*...It is in processing...would you like to buy the cable and software too?
Me: ....It doesn't come with that?
Clerk: No it doesn't.
Me: It should come with that.
Clerk: Well, it doesn't.
Me: ....Okay, please cancel my order. I was under the impression by your site tha--
Clerk: OKAY! Fine, fine! You don't have to go through your whole spiel. I will cancel it.
Me: ....Okay, thanks, bye.

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After that I received an order cancellation notice. I then did some research on the internet and found a site that lists complaints against this "company" and USAPhotonation.com, supposedly run by the same scam artists.

Obviously this has happened to many other people. They must be stopped from committing this fraud.

Ashlie
Squaw Valley, California
U.S.A.