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Camera shop woes
Forgive me for this rant, but this camera shop is driving me up the wall.
I can't deny that The Classic Camera in London has good stock or rangefinder gear, particularly Zeiss ZM lens. However, their customer service leaves a lot to be desired and is downright wrong if you ask me.
Back in the beginning in April, I had called to ask about the Zeiss Biogon 35/2, they informed me that they were due to take delivery of the lens that very afternoon, I had asked them to put the lens on hold for me. The sales assistant asked for me to put a deposit down on the lens as there had been a lot of interest in this lens, especially as they were in short supply. I was hesitant to do this, but I did so in the end knowing full well that I was certain to buy the lens. I gave my details to them and told them I would come by in the afternoon to collect the lens.
I got there after work, rushing to make sure I would before they closed, and much to my annoyance, even though they said they would have the lens in stock, they didn't. But they assured me that it would be in stock in two days as they had just chased this up with the Zeiss rep.
I came in two days later, and still there was no sign of the lens being in stock. As I was due to go to Sicily the next day, I explored other options and in the end (and much to my satisfaction) I purchased the Zeiss C-Biogon 35/2,8 and requested my deposit refunded as I no longer needed the other lens.
Fast forward one month, and I received a call to let me know that the Zeiss 35/2 was now in store for collection. This was a surprise to me as I thought, but then I thought they probably had my name on the list for the lens. Anyway, I got curious so I checked my statement. And I discovered that they not only didn't refund the deposit I put down on the lens, but that they had charged for the full value of the lens, on I didn't have and wouldn't have had for at least one month, along with the interest charged to my card for this purchase.
I called them up on this and they said that was normal policy, but then I had asked for the order to be cancelled as I purchased a different lens from them, they didn't seem to put two and two together. I was going to ask for a refund then and there, but then I also knew I wanted to purchase the Zeiss Sonnar 1,5/50, and they said they would move my deposit over to that lens and call me when it would be in stock. I asked when this would be, and they said they didn't know, they're chasing this up with Zeiss but there are issues with stock. And in a moment of madness, I was fine with this and left.
However, on getting home, I realised the error of my ways and have since called them for a refund on my deposit as I didn't feel I should pay the full amount for a lens that they are not sure will be in stock. This is outrageous behavior and poor business. They are now giving me grief on issuing the refund, on account that it's a special order item. But it's not, at no place on their site do they state this is a special order item. So now I'll have to fight with them to get my money back.
This will be the last time I deal with the company, no matter how good their stock and how much better their prices are, it's just not worth the hassle.
OK, rant over!
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