Be aware if anyone planning to buy anything from Dirt Cheap Cameras

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Dirt Cheap Cameras

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  Trueno on 15/12/2013 - 00:09

  Well this is on there website…

  http://www.dirtcheapcameras.com.au/australian-guarantee

  • 

    DW on 16/12/2013 - 13:49

    Don't you think it is misleading? Also, that would be very helpful if you can find anything about you may not receive your product as a full package on their website.

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  Domingo on 15/12/2013 - 00:25

  It doesn't really say that covered by manufacturer warranty on the site, only that there is an Australian warranty…

  • 

    DW on 16/12/2013 - 13:35

    True,but when you ask they will tell you they are Australian stock. When you find out and argue with them, they deny everything they said and turn things against you.plus, the price they charge are not cheaper than local stock with manufacturer's warranty. Furthermore,their website didn't mention anything about missing user's manual and warranty card.

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  garetz on 15/12/2013 - 01:15

  Nice to know, thats why you always pay with a credit card, so you can reverse the transaction as it is not a product claimed to be sold. Not having manufacturers warranty is deal breaker imo.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 15/12/2013 - 15:11

    Can you really do that without returning the camera!? Wouldn't they pursue you somehow legally?

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  BobD on 15/12/2013 - 08:00

  Not too cheap either. I bought a Panasonic DMC-TZ30 (now superseded) sometime back from HN for considerably less than what they are charging.

  • 

    DW on 16/12/2013 - 13:55

    Not cheap at all. If it was a lot cheaper than other stores, I would realise that they might not be local stock.

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  [Deactivated] on 15/12/2013 - 15:16

  Come to think of it I remember them being grey importers from reading Whirlpool years ago. Admittedly they should be more upfront about it.

  • 

    DW on 16/12/2013 - 13:37

    If you read the reviews on product review about them you will see how many unhappy customers they have and how dodgy they are.

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  Roney on 15/12/2013 - 15:55

  Wow I'm about to buy a replacement camera from online sellers including the Dirt Cheap seller. I'm with you as this DC guys needs to be blitzed hard to show example for others that we consumers aren't to be flicked off. Keep us posted!

  • 

    DW on 16/12/2013 - 13:44

    When you walk into a local store you assume the products they sell are Australian stock. Plus, what they charge has no big difference than other store's. It is like you buy something and find out it is fake afterwards, so you bring it back asking for a refund. Then they say too bad you didn't ask me if they are genuine at the first place.

  • 

    DW on 16/12/2013 - 14:17

    Also,check product review, you will see what they would do if you by any chance need to claim warranty service.

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  Mikinoz on 15/12/2013 - 16:08

  doggy or dodgy?

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  ilostnemo on 16/12/2013 - 14:47

  It looks like the OP has done all their research after the sale.

  Yes maybe the warranty wording misled you, that is when you ask the relevant questions.

  It looks to me, as you've changed your mind (for various reasons) but unfortunately change of mind isn't a reason for the merchant to refund.

  Good Luck with it, you may need it.

  • 

    DW on 16/12/2013 - 21:48

    It sounds like exactly what the sales person said in DCC. I really hope you have no connection with the dodgy retailer.

    The research has really been done to prevent other people from being cheated.

    I didn't read the warranty wording beforehand, but asked the question about if the camera is Australian stock in front their face and they said yes. That is where I took it from.

    However, if you have no relation with them and had positive experience with them before, just keep putting your money in their pocket. That is fine by me.

    This post is to help other people who may consider buying anything from them to be careful when dealing with them.

    Having said that, why would I change my mind by asking for the Australian stock? If they could provide Australian stock as what they said in the store and provide the product as a full package instead of missing items, I would take it instead of asking for a refund.

    Also, here is the logic. I bought the camera from them first, 30mins later I noticed there was no user's manual and warranty card in the box, so rang them and they said that is normal without those things. I doubted and rang Nikon Australia and was informed the camera is grey import stock, so I brought it back asking for a refund which they refused to give with the fact that they admitted that the camera is grey import stock and being lack of user's manual and warranty card in the box.

    Therefore, from where you sensed I asked for a refund because of change of mind?

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  ilostnemo on 16/12/2013 - 23:15

  I have no connection, to the retailer.

  I empathize with you, but with so many grey importers out there it's tough, even JB Hi-Fi sell some grey imports. (but they also inform the customers)

  You said in one of your replies, you assume the stock is new, that isn't the case anymore, usually when a price is cheaper than usual it's either a parallel import or a grey import.

  Maybe the ACCC should enforce retailers put a sticker on the products which are grey imports, and impose fines to the shops that don't.

  I can see grey imports growing and growing.

  • 

    DW on 17/12/2013 - 09:54

    Exactly right.

    I have no issue buying grey import products, but when you buy you know they are grey import and you pay for what you get (cheaper than local stock).

    However, in this case, they said the products are Australian stock and the price they charged was not cheaper than others.

    That would be another issue when you are misled to believe they are local stock with local manufacturer's warranty and you are charged premium for that.

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  daydream on 17/12/2013 - 01:27

  I sympathise but I also think we as customers need to take responsibility and learn from situations like this.
  If they were clearly asked "Is it a parallel/grey import" and said no then sure it's misleading but we also need to have it in writing or ask them to show proof if it's supplied by the official local distributor (They shouldn't have an issue if it's the case). If you take a salesman's word it's sadly worthless as evidence as you found out. Asking if a product is "Australian stock" may possibly be open for interpretation as being stocked locally with an AU plug (if relevant) and offered for local sale with an Australian supported warranty (Let's face it all our cameras are imported now).

  Having said that it's probably made in the same factory as "official stock", you have a local warranty and once that period is over you are in the same boat as anyone who got "official stock". So I wouldn't fret. They could have handled the situation better but bad service isn't a breach of law. Salespeople are allowed to be jerks sadly.

  Grey importers don't have to sell it for less than "official stock" (It's a free market, retailers can charge what they like and we can buy from anyone we want). Official local distributors in some cases don't do any more than the grey importers (ie, can be same product technically). Many products don't have a full "paper" manual/warranty in the box these days. A warranty has to be provided by the retailer but not necessarily by the original manufacturer (who is overseas).

  Grey imports work in the consumers favor to help keep prices down. If anything if official importers want to charge us a premium then they could put stickers on their products to show it is "officially imported and has a manufacturers warranty" as a sales point/price justification. That would be better/easier.

  • 

    DW on 17/12/2013 - 10:25

    Our responsibility as consumers?

    If we, as consumers, need to do so many things to make sure the products we buy (and the premium we pay) in local stores are genuine local stock and covered by manufacturers warranty, that would be so pathetic and sad as consumers.

    If we don't even feel safe and confident to buy in local, there is definitely something that our society and relevant departments need to do with it urgently.

    Not only the fairness, also the trust between people will be the issue if that is the case.

    Having said that, we, as consumers, really should take some responsibilities for the situation because we have been tolerant to this kind of business too long and too much and we have kind of used to accept being ripped off by listening too much like 'it is normal', 'just take it', 'save the trouble'…

    Consumer Rights probably have been forgotten by some people for a while.

    Like 'ilostnemo' said, you may even buy grey import products from JB HiFi, but you will be informed. That is the point. As consumers, we have rights to know what we paid for at least.

    If we, as consumers, don't protect and stand by our rights, who would do?

    • 

      daydream on 17/12/2013 - 14:41

      By all means stand by your rights (take it to Fair Trading) and they may have lied (we've all suffered and learned hard lessons that without proof it's one persons word vs another, only the lawyers win). It's good to know how the store chose to handle the situation (thanks for that information) but again bad service isn't a breach of law. We can (and should) spend our money with a competitor instead which is usually the most efficient and effective penalty for us in these situations.

      My point was sure we can hope, want and expect government and retailers do the right thing but it's our money and we have to make the call in the end how we choose to part with it (responsibility to ourselves as consumers!). There will always be dodgy retailers as long as there are dodgy people. Get angry with government departments for not doing enough to protect consumers. More info is always a good thing.

      Consumer rights might be great to argue a case and try and get your money back but it's best to do our homework before going in and have something in writing if it's important to us. At least then a consumer will have evidence to support a claim for a refund against a dodgy retailer.

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  ilostnemo on 17/12/2013 - 15:35

  Having been in second hand sales, for about 15 years, things have changed incredibly with peoples' mindset.

  When I was first selling stereos/brown goods every customer would turn the product around to see where it was made, customers haven't done this for about 9 years now, they just don't care, they only care about the savings.

  The reason JB Hifi would be selling grey imports, is because they can't compete, and probably get tired of people coming in saying, "will you price match this"

  You are probably most upset with yourself, as a ozbargainer, you would of bought from the cheapest guy, and in this instance, it hasn't gone to plan.

  The consumer has demanded lower prices or they will take their business elsewhere.

  Just for future reference, when buying goods, sometimes its better to pay a little more, the big shops are more likely to give you a refund, just to keep you happy. ie if Myer has a product for $799, and Dodgey Joes Laptops is selling the same model for $769, Myer will get my money.

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    daydream on 17/12/2013 - 16:16

    Yes, which country a product is made in is less of an indicator of quality than before (and more people now understand that). The best and worst of a product can be made in the same country for example or even the same factory (for different brands, price points). Also products have shorter lifespans and are more likely to to be replaced by the consumer than fixed eg. 3 new cheapo lawn mowers for the price of a better longer lasting one.

    I agree people need to understand what's important to them and shop accordingly. The person shopping for a PC at MSY has different expectations to the the person buying one at Harvey Norman. Expect something cheap at HN or personal service at MSY and you'll be sadly disappointed with both ;-) They both have picked their places in the retail market.

    Local companies (incl. JB Hi Fi) explain some reasons why they use "grey" imports:
    http://www.cnet.com.au/australian-game-retailers-speak-out-o…
    http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/01/eb-discusses-its-decision-t…

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  chrisscross on 20/05/2015 - 14:18

  i was going to buy a product and i asked them about their return policy. i was told there there was none.
  unless the product was defective. but there is no 15 day or any for that matter change of mind policy.

  being an online shop i cannot really touch and feel the product..and if i don't like it, i won't be able to return it…

  not sure if i should buy from them or not…seeing too may negative reviews about this shop….