I ordered a Garmin nuvi 660 GPS system from The Camera Professionals. I thought it was strange that it was so much cheaper at this company than any others. They were at least $100 cheaper! So naturally, I hurried and bought one. Here are the parts that I found shady:

1. The so- called "Hacker Safe" approval icons that are on their websites are fake! None but one actually are real.

2. The page where I enter my credit card information isn't even encrypted!!

3. Once I placed my order and added the extra $44 dollars for 2- day shipping, there was no estimated delivery date.

4. They sent me an email asking me to call this number to confirm that the order is legitimate. When I called them and told them my order number, the gentleman who answered the phone said, "Oh, you're Ryan. Ooookkk..." Then he asked for the three digit code on the back of the card. When I gave him the number, he said, "Ok. I'll get that order out. C ya!"

At this point, I was so confused. What the heck kind of company is this?? So I called back that night to confirm that my order was processed and that it'd be sent out. Here is how it went:

1. When I called, the gentleman who answered the phone said,
"Yeah, what do you need??"
I replied, "Uhh... well, I placed an order little while ago and I just wanted to find out when the estimated delivery date is."
"Oh. This Ryan again?"
"Uhh... yeah... Yes."
"Well, it's gonna be 4- 6 weeks."
"What?! Why? I paid for a 2- day shipping! How can you do this?"
"Dude, we can do whatever we want."
"Excuse me?"
At this point, he sighed exasperatedly and said, "You know what? Hold on."

So I was on hold for about 5 minutes.

Then "another guy" answers the phone and says, "What's your deal?"
I said, "I just want to find out what's going on. I placed an order, paid, confirmed the order, and I was told it'd be over a month before I receive the GPS I ordered and paid for the 2- day shipping!"
"Oh... well... your $#!+'s on backorder, man."
"I beg your pardon??"
"It's. On. Back. Order."
"But there was nothing on the website about this!"
"Mm hmm."
"Well, can I just cancel the order then?"
"Yeah, whatever man."

Then he hung up on me.

So I waited a day and called the customer service. After a long wait, a female answers the phone with the same discontent, bored and long- suffering sigh that seems to permeate that entire company.

"Yes?"
"Hi, I just wanted to make sure that my order was canceled. You see, I placed an order yesterday and called to confirm, the guy said that he'd get it out then hung up on me. Well, I called back to make sure and I was told that my... $#!+... was on backorder. So I told him th..."
"Order number."
"Excuse me?"
"Your order number?!"
"Uhh... it's 39---"
"Hmm. Yup. It's on backorder!"

She sounded genuinely happy that my $#!+ was going to be delivered full month and half later than was promised.

"Umm. Right. I wanted to make sure that it was canceled. So..."
"..."
"So can you make sure that it's canceled?"
"Yeah. Here's your cancellation number."
"Ok."
"It's 54--."
"... that's it? That's the whole number?"
"Yup!"
"Umm... ok. Well, thanks. Hey, look. can..."
"Yup! Thanks!"

Then she hung up on me.

Sorry for all those who read all this just to find out that I highly recommend that you DO NOT use this place. But, I had to make it anecdotal to make sure that you actually saw how the exchange went.

I wish there were negative numbers so I could rate The Camera Professionals with them. I ordered my Garmin units over 3 weeks ago and have called customer service 3 times. Each time I get the same RUDE little girl who says the units show to be on back order, she doesn't know when they will arrive and doesn't know where what company they were ordered from. There is no one who can help me with my order. This is the WORST customer service I have ever gotten. This is the SLOWEST delivery. The Camera Professionals are the most UNPROFESSIONAL and unreliable company I have ever ordered merchandise from. They simply lure you in with low prices. DO NOT USE THEM!!!

The web site baits you with a great price on a GPS, then require you to call and verify your order, at which time you are told that the GPS comes with outdated maps and without a power cord or suction cup to mount it to your windshield. All this can be updated at a cost that no longer resembles a good price. Then comes the relentless warranty pitch, which keeps dropping as you refuse it. At this point, I asked them to cancel the order. You've been warned!

I ordered a camcorder from this company on 1/21/08, with 2-day shipping. I called immediately to "verify my billing information" as instructed to do so by email. The salesman I spoke to initially tried to "confirm" my order for a less expensive camcorder with a similar product number; I corrected him, at which point he stated that he had mis-spoken, and verified the correct product number. He then attempted to sell me the battery I needed for the camera (that was supposed to be included). I assured him I would not need an extra battery, as the camera came with one. At that point, he told me the order was all set. I checked my credit card account today (1/25/08) and noted that my card had not yet been billed for the item. I called back to find out the status of my order. I was asked if I had called to confirm my order, and assured the saleswoman that I had. I was then informed that the reason the order wasn't processed was that the item was on backorder, and wouldn't be available for several weeks. I chose to cancel the order, and now have to try to find this item somewhere else ASAP, as I need it next week. I would never consider ordering from them again, as this appears to be their standard practice.

The Camera Professionals advertise Nikon D300 for $779 with Free Shipping. I called Toll Free: 800-496-0227 to find out what comes with camera and to order it. After a lengthy hold time, the person who picked up the phone said they don't have that camera, made a smart comment that I did not understand, and hung up on me when I asked him to repeat what he just said. These folks that advertise super cheap on the web are scammers and con artists. How can they possible have good ratings with Ratings Planet??? Stick with real photography store like 17th St, or B&H!!