Beware of Pixels n Shutter (SLS) - from tourist

[JerryBear]

hi. i'm jerry from the philippines. i'm kinda new with photography. i got tricked/OVERcharged by pixels n shutter at sim lim (although i will admit that it's also my big fault :embrass

i went to singapore for vacation last week. usually i research about any stuff i plan to buy and also search for blacklisted establishments and modus operandis of different people/companies and i avoided so many scams already. only this time i didn't. and my girlfriend already told me not to spend on things i don't really need.

i went to sim lim on my 2nd to the last day of my vacation in singapore. i was just roaming around then i passed by pixels n shutter and asked for a filter for my 50mm lens and cleaning kit. then he started offering me other stuff like battery for my 550D and extender 0.45x. that's $28 for filter, $80+ for battery, $15 for small cleaning kit, $180+ for extender (he said it's promo price lol from $850 to $350 to smaller) so total of $320 but he didn't write the prices of each item on the receipt.. just the total amount.

I exchanged the extender to digieye pro320 tripod because the extender produces crappy image quality and he told me that he forgot to mention that it's only for auto settings. the filter i bought also got stuck on the lens when he used the extender and he can't remove it. (i wonder why i didnt complain) he asked for around $240 for the tripod. so total of $370+ now. well i don't know what happened to my mind but i bought them... maybe i got hypnotized or i lost my focus from the very start..

i went back to the hotel and researched, saw this forum about bad experiences with this shop and the price of the tripod on other site then i told my girlfriend i was overcharged then she got mad at me saying i'm stupid lol and it ruined our vacation.. i went back to the store and complained. they just gave me a nikon bag. i didn't want to waste more time because vacation time is short.

i deserve it and call me dumb if you want hehe but i just charged it to experience. next time i'll be more careful. i should've just bought myself a new PS3 to replace my YLOD one.

*their style is when you're trying to look for an item they will recommend another item and then another one and some overcharged. then ask why i am hesitating and forcing me to tell my reason like insufficient funds or other purposes but he will counter it with more hypnotizing sales talk. they also use words like "singaporeans are not scammers, we are professional photographers, we want long term business and recommend us to your friends, etc." he also uses full auto mode for test shots and tells me not to use any manual mode lol. i know this style of scamming and i avoided that here in the philippines several times but i don't really know what happened to me in that particular time at PnS.

attached is his picture. his name is samuel.

 

[bayusuputra]

you should have turned on the IS on the lens.. it's quite blurry with handshake..

jokes aside.. SLS again.. can't say anything other than just move on.. you've learned your lesson and kind enough to (again) remind others about SLS..

cheers!

 

[Rocky78]

And yet another case. ! ! ! :angry: :sticktong

Always do your home work first before you buy anything from SLS. Best to buy elsewhere.

If you didn't do any homework, you should at visit at least 3 shops to get different quotes BEFORE you buy. There is no reason why you cannot do this.

SLS =>>> :thumbsd::thumbsd::thumbsd:

 

[Zac03]

Sorry to hear about that. I bought a video camera battery from pixels and shutter before before.. didn't have much problem, he even allowed an exchange of product for me when i returned..but the funniest thing abt that shop was the person serving me; a bald man of about mid 40s who kept looking over my shoulder and glancing over his, and sweating and mumbling and he appear to be REALLY HIGH on something.

 

[ovaltinemilo]

Glad tt u moved on. Start shooting and forget about this...;p

 

[JerryBear]

you should have turned on the IS on the lens.. it's quite blurry with handshake..

jokes aside.. SLS again.. can't say anything other than just move on.. you've learned your lesson and kind enough to (again) remind others about SLS..

cheers!

Hehe yeah actually i shot this using the extender he tried to sell me. Without it the shots are so much better.

And when i think about this i just laugh it off now hehe but still warning people about this store.

I'm glad i found this site. Very kind people here

 

[bayusuputra]

i hope all going well now with your GF! good to know you can learn from it and move on!

 

[chillicutter]

I feel sorry for you , my friend..

 

[Tonistein]

And yet another case. ! ! ! :angry: :sticktong

Always do your home work first before you buy anything from SLS. Best to buy elsewhere.

SLS =>>> :thumbsd::thumbsd::thumbsd:

Just because of one shop or a couple of bad experiences, don't badmouthed the entire complex(SLS). There are quite a lot of reputable & professional shops there like Alan Photo & Hai Chew. The thumb of rule when shopping for electronic or computer equipment at SLS or anywhere - don't buy at the first shop even though the price seems to be fair. Don't ask too many questions at the shop - do your research online or from friends who knows about the product & don't haggle over the price if you are not intending to buy - asking for trouble.

 

[spree86]

Just because of one shop or a couple of bad experiences, don't badmouthed the entire complex(SLS). There are quite a lot of reputable & professional shops there like Alan Photo & Hai Chew. The thumb of rule when shopping for electronic or computer equipment at SLS or anywhere - don't buy at the first shop even though the price seems to be fair. Don't ask too many questions at the shop - do your research online or from friends who knows about the product & don't haggle over the price if you are not intending to buy - asking for trouble.

Despite reputable shops such as Orient Photo being in SLS, I would still discourage my friend from buying from SLS if he/she is not familiar with the price or product. Sometimes just by asking for the price and walking away you might also receive abusive comments from the shops. SLS is simply not a safe place for a newbie or foreigner to shop in as the number of chopper shops are higher in number than reputable stores for photography products.

 

[Deathegg]

Just because of one shop or a couple of bad experiences, don't badmouthed the entire complex(SLS). There are quite a lot of reputable & professional shops there like Alan Photo & Hai Chew. The thumb of rule when shopping for electronic or computer equipment at SLS or anywhere - don't buy at the first shop even though the price seems to be fair. Don't ask too many questions at the shop - do your research online or from friends who knows about the product & don't haggle over the price if you are not intending to buy - asking for trouble.

My friend had problem with AP in SLS and the AP at Funan also tried to treat me like a carrot.

 

[spree86]

Just because of one shop or a couple of bad experiences, don't badmouthed the entire complex(SLS). There are quite a lot of reputable & professional shops there like Alan Photo & Hai Chew. The thumb of rule when shopping for electronic or computer equipment at SLS or anywhere - don't buy at the first shop even though the price seems to be fair. Don't ask too many questions at the shop - do your research online or from friends who knows about the product & don't haggle over the price if you are not intending to buy - asking for trouble.

Despite reputable shops such as Orient Photo being in SLS, I would still discourage my friend from buying from SLS if he/she is not familiar with the price or product. Sometimes just by asking for the price and walking away you might also receive abusive comments from the shops. SLS is simply not a safe place for a newbie or foreigner to shop in as the number of chopper shops are higher in number than reputable stores for photography products.

 

[ssmith]

Hey Man... Oddly enough I was at SLS today and I had seen the Canon s95 and was convinced to buy it. I initially saw it being offered for 590 at the ground floor. The first shop I walked into was Pixel and Shutter and this guy offers me it at 550 (pre tax). Which i later found out was the general price everywhere incl a SD Card and case.

As i Lay down my money me Samuel over there jumps into the picture and says to me I will show u a better camera but maintains its your choice, your the boss... yada yada. And convinces me to buy a slightly cheaper model at 530 (with tax) and this included a case and a sd card. Getting home I decided to read about my Powershot A2200 which I find out is a 199$ camera. And I have paid 534$ for this.

So i get back, not very pleased demanding a refund, and he says that it is not their policy but will offer me the S95 for 620$, with a card and case. I find this quite ridiculous as other shops sell it for 550 with the card/case.
I tell him that I will complain to case, and the "boss" tells me that CASE cant do anything, so its no point. And says that what they have done is not a "criminal offence", its an offence in my mind nonetheless
I really dont mind the extra fifty bucks, but think about all the other unsuspecting people they are having a go at. And that i paid 530 bucks for a 200 dollar camera. Man... furious.

Shasti

 

[betta01]

Generally SLS is the place to avoid, hope that the good shops in SLS re-alocate to another place, so that the lousy shops there can be left to rot due to poor sales!!

 

[JerryBear]

Hey Man... Oddly enough I was at SLS today and I had seen the Canon s95 and was convinced to buy it. I initially saw it being offered for 590 at the ground floor. The first shop I walked into was Pixel and Shutter and this guy offers me it at 550 (pre tax). Which i later found out was the general price everywhere incl a SD Card and case.

As i Lay down my money me Samuel over there jumps into the picture and says to me I will show u a better camera but maintains its your choice, your the boss... yada yada. And convinces me to buy a slightly cheaper model at 530 (with tax) and this included a case and a sd card. Getting home I decided to read about my Powershot A2200 which I find out is a 199$ camera. And I have paid 534$ for this.

So i get back, not very pleased demanding a refund, and he says that it is not their policy but will offer me the S95 for 620$, with a card and case. I find this quite ridiculous as other shops sell it for 550 with the card/case.
I tell him that I will complain to case, and the "boss" tells me that CASE cant do anything, so its no point. And says that what they have done is not a "criminal offence", its an offence in my mind nonetheless
I really dont mind the extra fifty bucks, but think about all the other unsuspecting people they are having a go at. And that i paid 530 bucks for a 200 dollar camera. Man... furious.

Shasti

darn another victim. i'm sorry to hear that. he has no conscience.

 

[daredevil123]

Hey Man... Oddly enough I was at SLS today and I had seen the Canon s95 and was convinced to buy it. I initially saw it being offered for 590 at the ground floor. The first shop I walked into was Pixel and Shutter and this guy offers me it at 550 (pre tax). Which i later found out was the general price everywhere incl a SD Card and case.

As i Lay down my money me Samuel over there jumps into the picture and says to me I will show u a better camera but maintains its your choice, your the boss... yada yada. And convinces me to buy a slightly cheaper model at 530 (with tax) and this included a case and a sd card. Getting home I decided to read about my Powershot A2200 which I find out is a 199$ camera. And I have paid 534$ for this.

So i get back, not very pleased demanding a refund, and he says that it is not their policy but will offer me the S95 for 620$, with a card and case. I find this quite ridiculous as other shops sell it for 550 with the card/case.
I tell him that I will complain to case, and the "boss" tells me that CASE cant do anything, so its no point. And says that what they have done is not a "criminal offence", its an offence in my mind nonetheless
I really dont mind the extra fifty bucks, but think about all the other unsuspecting people they are having a go at. And that i paid 530 bucks for a 200 dollar camera. Man... furious.

Shasti

I feel sorry for you that you fell for the bait and switch tactic. Just treat it as a lesson learnt.

 

[lenechar]

I feel sorry for you that you fell for the bait and switch tactic. Just treat it as a lesson learnt.

This is a very expensive and insulting for a lesson to learn...
I just don't understand why these type of cheating still continue and will continue, yet no actions taken...
We symhatize on what happened to them, got cheated in SG, but are the people here would not do anything? Are we good only on telling them to move on, learn your lesson, etc
Are these shops UNTOUCHABLES?
How many tourists, honest customers this type of shops will going to victimize, today, tomorrow, in future?
Are still we going to tell them to move on, learn from that lesson?
How do you fell if you go other countries and you got cheated like this?????

 

[geraldkhoo]

I feel sorry for those who have been cheated. Every time I read something like that, it makes me angry that they take advantage of others for their own profit and gain... and truly, CASE can do nothing about it. One of my friend's mom got cheated by paying $600+ for a wide angle adapter (which cost about $100+) at SLS when she was looking for a wide angle lense for her daughter's birthday gift. Needless to say... the gift turned sour... and after going through all the proper channels, nothing ever got through... and these guys continue to do what they have been doing. The only comfort for me is knowing that what goes around comes around.

 

[gumby]

Just make sure you do your homework before you go on your purchasing trip. If you are not sure, don't buy. If the sales people offer you an alternative and you're not sure about the price or the model, don't buy. If they are good, they will still offer the price later - after you've had time to check it out online , if not, don't buy. You get the idea.

The best thing to do is once you're ready to buy, stick with your decision, don't let the sales people sway your decision because they don't know your needs and consequently if you do fall for their tactics, you'll be questioning yourself about your purchase.

 

[Rashkae]

Hey Man... Oddly enough I was at SLS today and I had seen the Canon s95 and was convinced to buy it. I initially saw it being offered for 590 at the ground floor. The first shop I walked into was Pixel and Shutter and this guy offers me it at 550 (pre tax). Which i later found out was the general price everywhere incl a SD Card and case.

As i Lay down my money me Samuel over there jumps into the picture and says to me I will show u a better camera but maintains its your choice, your the boss... yada yada. And convinces me to buy a slightly cheaper model at 530 (with tax) and this included a case and a sd card. Getting home I decided to read about my Powershot A2200 which I find out is a 199$ camera. And I have paid 534$ for this.

So i get back, not very pleased demanding a refund, and he says that it is not their policy but will offer me the S95 for 620$, with a card and case. I find this quite ridiculous as other shops sell it for 550 with the card/case.
I tell him that I will complain to case, and the "boss" tells me that CASE cant do anything, so its no point. And says that what they have done is not a "criminal offence", its an offence in my mind nonetheless
I really dont mind the extra fifty bucks, but think about all the other unsuspecting people they are having a go at. And that i paid 530 bucks for a 200 dollar camera. Man... furious.

Shasti

You have 2 options:

1. File a complaint with CASE. If what he charged you is above Canon's RRP, you definitely have a case against them.
2. File a complaint with Canon too. If they are a Canon reseller and overcharge like that beyond RRP, Canon can withdraw their reseller license.