Fred Burton
Well-known
News release today:
ATTORNEY GENERAL ABBOTT PURSUES ENFORCEMENT ACTION
AGAINST TWO WEB-BASED ELECTRONICS RETAILERS
Broadway Photo, Starlight Camera & Video cited for deceiving purchasers
AUSTIN - Texas Attorney General Grcg Abbott today charged two online digital camera and
electronics retailers with conducting an unlawful bait-and-switch sales scheme. Today's
enforcement action seeks restitution for Texans who suffered financially because of the
defendants' unlawful conduct.
According to state investigators, Broadway Photo, L.L.C. and Starlight Camera & Video Inc.,
both of Brooklyn, N.Y., attempted to attract customers by offering the lowest retail prices on
price-comparison Web sites. Once custoroer3 selected merchandise and made credit card
purchases via the defendants' Web sites, customers were notified that their orders had been
processed. Despite the .order-processing notice, customers were subsequently asked to call a
specified telephone number to confirm their orders.
However, rather than use the calls to confirm customers orders, the defendants instead initiated
aggressive, high-pressure sales pitches promoting over-priced accessories, including memory
cards and batteries. The defendants' telemarketcrs insisted these upgraded accessories were
needed in order for the customers' confirmed merchandise to function normally.
When customers refused these offers, the defendants told the customers the confirmed
merchandise was substandard and lacked warranties. The defendants' telemarketers encouraged
customers to purchase different, more expensive products. If customers refused, the defendants
canceled the orders, claiming the products were indefinitely back-ordered. When the defendants
actually did ship orders, customers who intended to purchase new merchandise often received
used or refurbished products.
The Office of the Attorney General is seeking injunctions halting this conduct and civil penalties
of up to $20,000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
ATTORNEY GENERAL ABBOTT PURSUES ENFORCEMENT ACTION
AGAINST TWO WEB-BASED ELECTRONICS RETAILERS
Broadway Photo, Starlight Camera & Video cited for deceiving purchasers
AUSTIN - Texas Attorney General Grcg Abbott today charged two online digital camera and
electronics retailers with conducting an unlawful bait-and-switch sales scheme. Today's
enforcement action seeks restitution for Texans who suffered financially because of the
defendants' unlawful conduct.
According to state investigators, Broadway Photo, L.L.C. and Starlight Camera & Video Inc.,
both of Brooklyn, N.Y., attempted to attract customers by offering the lowest retail prices on
price-comparison Web sites. Once custoroer3 selected merchandise and made credit card
purchases via the defendants' Web sites, customers were notified that their orders had been
processed. Despite the .order-processing notice, customers were subsequently asked to call a
specified telephone number to confirm their orders.
However, rather than use the calls to confirm customers orders, the defendants instead initiated
aggressive, high-pressure sales pitches promoting over-priced accessories, including memory
cards and batteries. The defendants' telemarketcrs insisted these upgraded accessories were
needed in order for the customers' confirmed merchandise to function normally.
When customers refused these offers, the defendants told the customers the confirmed
merchandise was substandard and lacked warranties. The defendants' telemarketers encouraged
customers to purchase different, more expensive products. If customers refused, the defendants
canceled the orders, claiming the products were indefinitely back-ordered. When the defendants
actually did ship orders, customers who intended to purchase new merchandise often received
used or refurbished products.
The Office of the Attorney General is seeking injunctions halting this conduct and civil penalties
of up to $20,000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Rey
Well-known
I'm glad someone's going after them. Someone also needs to get Tristate for their bait and switch tactics also!
Bill58
Native Texan
NOW we know what Eliot Spitzer (former NY AG) should have been doing when he was diddling hookers. Maybe the TX AG needs to establish an office in NY. Go TX!
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David Murphy
Veteran
Fortunately I don't need Broadway Photo to induce me to buy camera gear - comes naturally just hanging out here (or at Nelson, APUG, or PentaxForums, etc) 
tbm
Established
If you go to the link below, you will find customers' descriptions of their experiences with nuimerous camera stores. Regarding Broadway specifically, nobody has entered an opinion in years but the entries from years ago illustrate bait and switch tactics back then even! By the way, the stores are alphabetically listed.
http://photo.net/neighbor/one-subcategory?id=2
http://photo.net/neighbor/one-subcategory?id=2
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AusDLK
Famous Photographer
As a resident of Texas (although not officially a Texan), I am proud of my state for taking this action.
When it comes to elected officials, I'm often disappointed (being the bleeding heart liberal that I am) by politicians in (and ESPECIALLY that one [claiming to be] from) Texas.
When it comes to elected officials, I'm often disappointed (being the bleeding heart liberal that I am) by politicians in (and ESPECIALLY that one [claiming to be] from) Texas.
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
The failure here lies in New York State, NOT Washington DC, or any former political figure who may or may not be from Tejas. And IIRC, the politicians in NY are your beloved liberal bleading hearts. Maybe if the former AG of NY had been doing his job instead of call girls this wouldn't be a problem...
Flame away...
Thardy
Veteran
Certainly someone, somewhere had to take some type of action against all these crooks. As they say, don't mess with Texas. It's just a shame it's been going on under New York's authority for so long.
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tbarker13
shooter of stuff
Exactly what I ran into with this company - though I'm happy to say my transaction with them ended with a hang-up, rather than me actually spending any money with them.
Nice to see someone taking action against them.
Nice to see someone taking action against them.
Platinum RF
Well-known
fotoconnection is another Broadway, how can they stay in business?
sanmich
Veteran
Maybe we could have a warning thread here (a sticky) to document clear crook behavior....
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
Crooks? Crooks?
I heard of a bigger bait-and-switch involving the Treasury. Something about saying that Death Was Imminent if we didn't hand over the money, and they would save the foreclosure crisis. Then they got the cash, and decided to spend it elsewhere.
Broadway Camera is just practicing good old tried-and-true money-grabbing strategies. Isn't that what Kapitalism is all about? Screw the little guy, consequences be d@mned? :bang: