I'm a newby on this forum, just ordered an F700BT. I received an email from the vendor mentioning some issue with billing information so I called them back to confirm. While on the phone the vendor threatened to cancel my order if I didn't immediately add a 1GB SD card for $60 or a 2GB card for $90 which was supposedly "formatted and necessary to work"

Their price on the unit was competitive but he was very harsh and would not allow me to suspend or hold the order. I got the vibe he was trying to screw me with these bait and switch tactics and wanted to consult the experienced community here.

The vendor is cameragiants.com. They have a reputation for being pushy businessmen so I decided to let them cancel the order. Is this "data card" unique or can any SD card be used with software that is available for download? Is it even an SD card or is it some Pioneer propriety hardware?

I'm a newby on this forum, just ordered an F700BT. I received an email from the vendor mentioning some issue with billing information so I called them back to confirm. While on the phone the vendor threatened to cancel my order if I didn't immediately add a 1GB SD card for $60 or a 2GB card for $90 which was supposedly "formatted and necessary to work"

 

Their price on the unit was competitive but he was very harsh and would not allow me to suspend or hold the order. I got the vibe he was trying to screw me with these bait and switch tactics and wanted to consult the experienced community here.

 

The vendor is cameragiants.com. They have a reputation for being pushy businessmen so I decided to let them cancel the order. Is this "data card" unique or can any SD card be used with software that is available for download? Is it even an SD card or is it some Pioneer propriety hardware?

There is absolutely no card that it _necessary_ for the unit to work at all. They are crooks. Do not buy anything from them.

Now, if you want to put mods on the unit, you'd need an SD card, which you can get anywhere for about 1/10th of what these people want to charge you.

Thanks for the confirmation. I just re-ordered it from somebody else. It was the same price which leads me to believe this new vendor might try something like this as well. At least I now know for the next time.

Yea, they are crooks. You have to beware a lot of camera supplier from NY and NJ area. They are notorious for being sketchy, pushy and threatening customers. It would be a good idea to watch you CC activity for a while just to make sure they didn't charge things on it.

No offense to fine people from NY and NJ areas

Thanks for the confirmation. I just re-ordered it from somebody else. It was the same price which leads me to believe this new vendor might try something like this as well. At least I now know for the next time.

You're welcome. I would use disposable card numbers with companies like that... and if they try to hit you for anything that is supposedly necessary for unit to work, cancel the order...

Hehe I didn't even mention that they were from NY/NJ but you are right. I had my gaurd up before making the call when I noticed they were not open Saturdays. Vendor 2 is also not open Saturdays. I was about to call my CC company but I hope the order cancellation email I got from vendor 1 would be sufficient.

no they are not from NJ they are from New York and it's the same shady company that goes by 60 names...

No offense to fine people from NY and NJ areas

....Jerk

Yeah,you gotta watch out with those companies. Like BlackH said there's like 60 of them and they call you the next day asking to add an overpriced item to your cart. If you decline, likely you'll get an e-mail stating the item is on backorder. Bastards.

In one of the older threads here there's a topic about one company that's selling an SD card for $600. I posted the conversation I had with him, he said it's no different than a $20 one at Office Max and he felt there was nothing wrong with selling it for so much more. Buy from a reputable place, otherwise you may end up paying more than you would have.

no they are not from NJ they are from New York and it's the same shady company that goes by 60 names...

Interesting. I am slightly worried that I may have re-ordered from the same company under the disguise of a different website. I tried to confirm by comparing addresses but the one isn't posted but the phone numbers are different. I'll keep this forum posted in the unlikely event it's a good vendor at a good price.

...but the phone numbers are different.

That doesn't necessarilly mean anything. A while back I was shopping around for rims. I called one place and the rep wasn't helpful at all and had an attitude. I found another place, called them up, and it was the same rep with the response "Didn't you just call here?". 2 different numbers, 2 different names, same place.

You're right. I just canceled order 2 and confirmed there were no charges with my CC company. Time to seek a reputable vendor. You get what you pay for.

What about buying here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... dition=new

Look at the second vendor listed. It's listed as Amazon.com . Is that reputable enough.

I'm considering buying this way.

I bought mine from 6ave on amazon, great seller, and it arrived 4 days after I bought it.

If you're in doubt about a retailer, go to www.resellerratings.com and type the name of the company. You can see what experiences other people have had with them and this will help you make your decision.

I just bought from a place called Comp-U-Plus and their rating was good over the past year but not so good over the past month. Decided to take the gamble to see if it was another bait and switch company. We'll see.

If you're looking for a reputable on line dealer for the F700, I see that Newegg.com has the unit for $399. Not the cheapest but you get piece of mind with them.

Ordered mine through Amazon.com it shipped from Discount Jungle and came very fast. No problems with the unit at all and it had the 2.0 updated on it. Never pay for extra fast shipping unless it is overnight. You usually get it the same if it is 3-5 days or 2 weeks shipping.

Amazon.com is a GREAT place to order though as you get some protection from Amazon even though they are just the middle man.

The only thing I was mad about is two weeks after I ordered mine for $409 I seen it on Amazon for $348-ish. I emailed Amazon but they would not give me the difference

Hey If it's not opened you could always send it back for credit.

Then re-order. Maybe a restocking fee though.

Good Luck.

PS. 6TH Avenue Electronics is pretty good.

Amazon is OK but most of the time you are not buying from Amazon itself.

You are actually buying from a vendor.

I know I ship for Amazon.com and 6TH Avenue too.

It's the world of drop shipping.

I shopped diligently online for a great price for the AVICF700BT and found cameragiants.com. Same as bigblue posted below, they were downright F'ing rude - even hung up on me when I refused to buy the warranty and SD card they were pushing. When I called back, Pete proceeded to tell me it was going to take 4 weeks for them to ship the item - geeez. Ended up buying from Amazon marketplace for a few more dollars than cameragiants.com. Another online retailer's webpage for the AVIC advertised an awesom price, brand new, w/ 1 year warranty. When i called to place the order he insisted that the product did not include the warranty and I could purchase the 2yr extended for $199 - despite and contrary to the webpage CLEARLY STATING NEW W/ 1 YEAR WARRANTY.

BEWARE OF DISREPUTABLE ONLINE RETAILERS. BETTER TO GO WITH REPUTABLE ONLINE RETAILERS LIKE AMAZON WHO REGULATE AND OVERSEE ONLINE RETAILER BUSINESS PRACTICES.

what sellers do alot of time is sell the unit at a really low almost too low price to be real and then hose you on the shipping or on an accessory for it. I buy from woofersetc.com whenever I need to buy any car audio and have had great service from them. I might have not got the really really low price but I get my product and it is always good. Also watch for the low price places to sell seconds and thirds defect items.

It's amazing that those places stay in business. Oh well carma is a bitch and one day they will see. I picked mine up from Online car stereo on flebay for $400 shipped. And they shipped mine out same day.