March 16, 2005
An open letter to Amazon.com
Our digital camera died recently (Nikon 5400 with the infamous "Lens error" for no apparent reason) and I was shopping around for a new camera. I found this little beauty: the Canon 350D, which is a bit out the price range I was hoping to pay (around $800-900), but I thought I might find a good deal online somewhere. I looked it up on Amazon.com and I saw that there were sellers selling it for $270. Upon further investigation, I was shocked to find out what Amazon was allowing to happen on their own site. So I wrote them this email describing my experience:
Hello Amazon,
I wanted to purchase a Canon 350D camera today and found that several z-shop sellers were selling it for far below the average $900 price tag. I emailed one of the cheaper ones "nanik_martin@yahoo.com" to confirm a US warranty on the camera and he replied that it was an "International Warranty" and that Amazon had the product and would ship it to me as soon as I paid him and he called you to ship it. Upon additional emails, I discovered that he wanted me to pay through Amazon, but that it was through Western Union but that it was at Amazon's request I do it that way (see email exchange pasted below).
I tried the cheapest one thinking that at least Amazon will make good on their A-to-Z Guarantee if I never actually receive the product. Unfortunately, during checkout, an error came up saying that there were no more of that product available. At first, I thought someone had just bought it seconds before me ($270 for a $900 camera is a deal that wouldn't ordinarily last very long), but then I tried each and every one of the other sellers with EXACTLY THE SAME RESULTS.
So that's the game? You allow these people to "sell" ficticious products (full well knowing that the transaction can't be completed through Amazon's system) and then lie in order for people to send them their money? Aren't you going to do something about this blatant fraud and thievery?
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Ron Severdia wrote:
Hi,
I saw your new Canon for sale on Amazon. Does it include the standard US warranty? How fast can you ship?
Thanks!
Ron Severdia
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On Mar 16, 2005, at 9:26 AM, nanik martin wrote:
Hello,
?
The product is band new in the box ,unopened,with 1 years international warranty,we are small company in Romania and here all products are cheaps for others countrys like US. If you are interested ,i will explain you the method : We can make the deal trough amazon. You will give me your shipping address where you want to receive the product,i will send the product to your address and after you'll receive the confirmation from Amazon,they will told you what is the next step to make the deal.The products are already at amazon,we have a contract with them.You will receive the product in 2-3 days after will get the email from Amazon. So let me know about your final decision to make this deal more fast. Please read with carefull this email and respond me as soon as possible. If you are agree just give me your full name and address to start the transaction.
?
Thank you.
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Ron Severdia wrote:
Hello,
Thanks for your response. But I don't understand one thing you wrote.
You wrote that:
"after you'll receive the confirmation from Amazon,they will told you what is the next step to make the deal."
What do you mean? What's the "next step"? Don't I just pay for it and you send it to me without any more steps?
Thanks!
Ron
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On Mar 16, 2005, at 9:40 AM, nanik martin wrote:
in that confirmation the tell you how and were to send the money and confirm you that the product have been delivery? at your name and address if you agree mail me with your full name and addres to start the transaction
have a nice day
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Ron Severdia wrote:
Tell me how and where to send the money??? Shouldn't I just pay
through Amazon?
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On Mar 16, 2005, at 10:40 AM, nanik martin wrote:
If you wanna buy the product please send me your full name and adress so i will call at Amazon to put the produt on his way to you when you will recive the confirmation from Amazon in the same mail you will have my adress and name where to pay (Amazon.com tell you the instruction of the payments) using Western Union (money order).
If you agree mail me ASAP
Best Regards
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End of email conversation. So that's the gig, eh? I'll tell Amazon to send it to you and you pay me through Western Union to Romania. HAHAHAHAHAHA.
Posted by severdia at March 16, 2005 3:50 PM
Comments
hi seller, i will like to buy a "DIGITAL CAMERA" from your store and i will like to make the transaction through e-mail not online and i will also like to know if you can post to overseas country and if you can accept "CHEQUE" for the payment of this item that i am willing to purchase. get back to me asap with the name to be written on tha CHEQUE, the address to be send it to and your phone number. I will like to hear from you soonest because, this item is needed urgently in my client's store location in "Africa". Thanks.
Posted by: akinyemi lateef at July 22, 2005 7:46 PM
