Do not buy from Joy's Electromart at Funan #02-02A

[Yaabadabadoo]

Salesperson took advantage of the fact that I didn't know much about filters and convinced me to buy a top quality Vitacon UV filter 82mm at $140 and even claimed to have given me a huge discount from the original price of >$200 since I bought a lens from him.

I tried to find out more about this brand after that but realised that it doesn't have a website and the reputable shops in Funan were not even selling it. Some of the salespersons I called told me that this brand is definitely not better than the respectable brands like B+W or Hoya which was at about the same price, if not even cheaper.

Although they offered me a $20 discount from the TK Photo price of a Tamron lens, this type of dishonest behaviour is despicable.

 

[eleveninth]

Salesperson took advantage of the fact that I didn't know much about filters and convinced me to buy a top quality Vitacon UV filter 82mm at $140 and even claimed to have given me a huge discount from the original price of >$200 since I bought a lens from him.

I tried to find out more about this brand after that but realised that it doesn't have a website and the reputable shops in Funan were not even selling it. Some of the salespersons I called told me that this brand is definitely not better than the respectable brands like B+W or Hoya which was at about the same price, if not even cheaper.

Although they offered me a $20 discount from the TK Photo price of a Tamron lens, this type of dishonest behaviour is despicable.

That's why you should always research first.

 

[ZoomZ]

Thought this has always been the standard salesman tactics, be it Funan, Sim Lim or even other places/countries?

Since you have walked around to compare price of TKfoto on your Tamron lens, you should have checked price of filters as well. The price difference is quite huge for filters - even if it is same brand, same type. It could sometimes be as different in price by double (just walk around and check Hoya HD filter prices for e.g.)

Salesperson took advantage of the fact that I didn't know much about filters and convinced me to buy a top quality Vitacon UV filter 82mm at $140 and even claimed to have given me a huge discount from the original price of >$200 since I bought a lens from him.

I tried to find out more about this brand after that but realised that it doesn't have a website and the reputable shops in Funan were not even selling it. Some of the salespersons I called told me that this brand is definitely not better than the respectable brands like B+W or Hoya which was at about the same price, if not even cheaper.

Although they offered me a $20 discount from the TK Photo price of a Tamron lens, this type of dishonest behaviour is despicable.

 

[rhino123]

Salesperson took advantage of the fact that I didn't know much about filters and convinced me to buy a top quality Vitacon UV filter 82mm at $140 and even claimed to have given me a huge discount from the original price of >$200 since I bought a lens from him.

I tried to find out more about this brand after that but realised that it doesn't have a website and the reputable shops in Funan were not even selling it. Some of the salespersons I called told me that this brand is definitely not better than the respectable brands like B+W or Hoya which was at about the same price, if not even cheaper.

Although they offered me a $20 discount from the TK Photo price of a Tamron lens, this type of dishonest behaviour is despicable.

Thank you for the warning.

I would also urge any reader here to buy what you have researched. If you want a lens and do research only on the lens, then buy that lens only, do not go into a shopping spree and bought filter, cleaning kit or whatever the salesperson try to talk you into buying, until you have the time to do proper research on those add on accessories.

 

[rhino123]

Oh... and one more thing, do understand the difference between grey set and local set. If a reputable shop is giving you X price, and another unheard of shop decided to give you a 20~30% discount from that price... the product bought might be a grey set and a grey set don't have local warranty meaning you might not receive free service from the brand's service center. Do take note of that.

So... as the saying goes,

"If it is too good to be true, it probably ain't true."

 

[edutilos-]

This is the usual tactic...

You should just stick to trusted shops. In my view, out of the commonly recommended shops in CS, the better ones are: TK Foto, Orient Photo and SLR Revolution. But you still should do your homework, because even if you can get back your money later on, it is likely to be a tedious, painful exercise. Better to take the trouble to read up a bit more, make a few phone calls (so convenient nowadays) to the various shops to ask for a quote, before you make the buy. It's really not that hard.

 

[donut88]

Salesperson took advantage of the fact that I didn't know much about filters and convinced me to buy a top quality Vitacon UV filter 82mm at $140 and even claimed to have given me a huge discount from the original price of >$200 since I bought a lens from him.

I tried to find out more about this brand after that but realised that it doesn't have a website and the reputable shops in Funan were not even selling it. Some of the salespersons I called told me that this brand is definitely not better than the respectable brands like B+W or Hoya which was at about the same price, if not even cheaper.

Although they offered me a $20 discount from the TK Photo price of a Tamron lens, this type of dishonest behaviour is despicable.

I wonder why u bother to buy from this shop and not from those trusted shops in funan.

U even can mention "TK Foto" and "reputable shops", means u not ignorant

 

[shierwin]

You guys don't be too harsh to a young lady... She paid her tuition fees.

 

[richiemccaw1]

Decent fee for a lesson in life I must say. Could have been a lot worse.

 

[Blur Shadow]

So the salesperson saw an opportunity and went for it. If you had willingly purchased it, why would that be despicable?

I think buyers need to be responsible for their actions too.

 

[Ignatius Wang]

So the salesperson saw an opportunity and went for it. If you had willingly purchased it, why would that be despicable?

I think buyers need to be responsible for their actions too.

While it is true that buyers need to be responsible for their actions, but the fact of the matter is no one like/ want to be cheated. Slight variation in prices is acceptable. They are after all a business and trying to make as much profit as possible, but it is quite clear that the shop is dishonest. To say that the particular shop mentioned is not despicable is similar to saying that cheaters and swindlers are not despicable.

 

[shierwin]

Salesperson took advantage of the fact that I didn't know much about filters and convinced me to buy a top quality Vitacon UV filter 82mm at $140 and even claimed to have given me a huge discount from the original price of >$200 since I bought a lens from him. ...............

Although they offered me a $20 discount from the TK Photo price of a Tamron lens, this type of dishonest behaviour is despicable.

By the way, what Tamron lens did you buy that required a 82mm filter?

 

[imac]

By the way, what Tamron lens did you buy that required a 82mm filter?

I think it should be the TAMRON 24-70mm f/2.8...

 

[keithwee]

hi,

Just for own learning, there's a thread here on Vitacon filters : http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=575253

Price wise, I've no idea but B n S pricing really seems to suggest u got chopped up big time: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533926

in all, I'm sorry to hear this but for dishonest shops its really a 'u willing to buy they will use their biggest knives on u'. You can try going back to ask for a refund but I don't think it will work out easy. Take this as a lesson learnt and move on. For now, just use the Vitacon unless it gives u issues.

 

[Blur Shadow]

While it is true that buyers need to be responsible for their actions, but the fact of the matter is no one like/ want to be cheated. Slight variation in prices is acceptable. They are after all a business and trying to make as much profit as possible, but it is quite clear that the shop is dishonest. To say that the particular shop mentioned is not despicable is similar to saying that cheaters and swindlers are not despicable.

I wish I can tell my boss that the sell-side is despicable too when I am sitting on the buy-side and blotched up an M&A deal... (thankfully I haven't!!)

I think we should be thankful that our society still places certain values ahead of others, and indeed, our laws too. However, even as the ignorant gets protected, they should not be absolved of their action (or inaction).

I applaud the TS's intend to bring more attention to such practices - awareness is a good thing.

However, I think anything further adjectives are unnecessary. Just my view, of course.

 

[Blur Shadow]

hi,

Just for own learning, there's a thread here on Vitacon filters : http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=575253

Price wise, I've no idea but B n S pricing really seems to suggest u got chopped up big time: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533926

in all, I'm sorry to hear this but for dishonest shops its really a 'u willing to buy they will use their biggest knives on u'. You can try going back to ask for a refund but I don't think it will work out easy. Take this as a lesson learnt and move on. For now, just use the Vitacon unless it gives u issues.

I do not think Vitacon filters are worth anything more than S$20. The cost to the retailer is probably S$4 or so. Perhaps S$10 if they are a low-volume purchaser.

 

[keithwee]

I do not think Vitacon filters are worth anything more than S$20. The cost to the retailer is probably S$4 or so. Perhaps S$10 if they are a low-volume purchaser.

o_0 so low?! I have seen Vitacon being sold at places like Best Denki etc but have never bothered to inquire about them. No idea how much they should sell / are selling either as all i did was to just do a search for Vitacon 82mm on B n S. Then TS prob really got chopped up very finely, sigh.

Good that TS's sharing the shop for awareness too.

 

[Blur Shadow]

o_0 so low?! I have seen Vitacon being sold at places like Best Denki etc but have never bothered to inquire about them. No idea how much they should sell / are selling either as all i did was to just do a search for Vitacon 82mm on B n S. Then TS prob really got chopped up very finely, sigh.

Good that TS's sharing the shop for awareness too.

I am just making a guess! I may be wrong. But such accessories are usually really cheap.

 

[kandinsky]

At the very least, lodge a complaint with CASE.

http://www.case.org.sg/lodge_a_complaint.html

 

[blueblood]

I would also urge any reader here to buy what you have researched. If you want a lens and do research only on the lens, then buy that lens only, do not go into a shopping spree and bought filter, cleaning kit or whatever the salesperson try to talk you into buying, until you have the time to do proper research on those add on accessories.

I'd learnt my lesson by paying the fee when I purchased my filter. I'd being doing my homework when I purchased my first DSLR and lens at an IT fair (yes, I was surprised too). Got a good deal for this. However they didn't sell the filter.

Then was out shopping with family, not at Funan (who would have do it). Came across a camera shop (not Joy's Electromart) and asked for Hoya filter. They did not have this brand, but introduced me the Raydawn. Convincing me it is made in Japan and ultra slim. Charged me for $50 or $55, after discount of $65. As I do not have time to go Funan, took the offer.

After some days, I googled this brand, but not much mentioned. Most are cheapo models. Well, it is a cheap price to pay.