Focus Camera Legitimacy: A Scam Or Safe Website?

Focus Camera is a family-owned photography and consumer electronics retailer based in Brooklyn, New York, with two locations in the borough. The company has been in business since 1966 and has an online store in addition to its brick-and-mortar shops. While it has received some positive reviews for its customer service and timely shipping, there are also a number of negative reviews online describing issues with incorrect or damaged items being delivered, as well as problems with refunds.

Focus Camera's customer service

Focus Camera is a family-owned photography and consumer electronics retailer based in Brooklyn, New York. The company has been in business since 1966 and has two locations in Brooklyn: 905 Mcdonald Ave Brooklyn, NY 11218-5611 and 895 McDonald Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11218.

Focus Camera has received mixed reviews for its customer service. On Trustpilot, the company has an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with many customers praising the company's timely delivery, helpful staff, and seamless return process. Some customers, however, have complained about issues with their orders, including incorrect or missing items, delayed refunds, and poor communication from customer service.

Similar sentiments are echoed in reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, where Focus Camera has an average rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars. While some customers have praised the company's knowledgeable staff and prompt assistance with delivery issues, others have reported problems with incorrect or missing items, delayed refunds, and difficulty contacting customer service.

On Yelp, Focus Camera has an average rating of 3 out of 5 stars, with mixed reviews regarding the company's customer service. Some customers have praised the helpfulness and responsiveness of the staff, while others have complained about issues with their orders, including incorrect or missing items and delayed refunds.

Overall, while Focus Camera has received some positive feedback for its customer service, there are also a significant number of negative reviews citing issues with orders, refunds, and communication. It is important for customers to carefully consider their purchase decisions and review all available information before making a transaction.

Focus Camera's return policy

Focus Camera is a photography and imaging retailer from Brooklyn, New York, with a brick-and-mortar store and an online market. They serve millions of customers worldwide and have been in business since 1963.

Focus Camera offers a 30-day return policy for most items, with a full refund provided that the item is returned in its original manufacturer's packaging, undamaged, and unmarked. If the item is priced under $35, a 15% restocking fee will be deducted from the refund. Shipping charges are also non-refundable. During the holiday season, from November 1 to December 31, the return window is extended to 60 days.

To initiate a return, customers can log into their account on the Focus Camera website, locate the item they wish to return, and follow the prompts. For customers without an account, returns can be initiated by finding the order number and following the return process.

In the case of items damaged in transit, customers are advised to refuse delivery and notify Focus Camera immediately. Claims for missing items or damage during transit must be made within 48 hours of delivery.

The return process typically involves contacting customer service, obtaining a return merchandise authorisation (RMA) number, and following the provided instructions for shipping the item back. Some customers have reported issues with receiving refunds in a timely manner, even after successfully returning the item within the specified timeframe.

It is important to carefully review the specific return policy for "Buy with Prime" orders, as these returns can only be processed through Amazon and are subject to their eligibility criteria.

Focus Camera's reviews on Trustpilot

Focus Camera has a rating of 547 ("Great") on Trustpilot, with a detailed breakdown of customer reviews. The reviews are mixed, with some customers praising the company for its competitive prices, fast shipping, and good customer service, while others have criticised the company for issues with shipping, refunds, and product accuracy.

Positive Reviews

• "I was interested in a Sigma 150-600mm Lens for my Canon and after several hours of reviewing online prices, sellers, reading reviews and watching YouTube videos, I made the investment and purchased the lens from Focus Camera... They had the best price on the lens and offered a bundled package which made the purchase with the filters and Sigma Dock, even more attractive. The service was exceptional and extremely timely... I was able to talk and text with real people who were genuinely concerned and helpful. It was a great buying experience and I highly recommend Focus Camera."
• "Good experience overall. I ordered a Benchmade knife that was on sale and it showed up on time and legit."
• "Finally pulled the trigger on a new Miele C3 and wow... The product was just as described on the website, and shipping was QUICK. Even on Black Friday—I had the order delivered within a few days. Awesome service thanks!"
• "This was my first time ordering from Focus Camera, but it won't be the last. My order shipped very quickly, and maybe more importantly they somehow had what I needed in stock even though nearly every other store didn't."
• "Focus is a great place to buy electronics. My recent 2 purchases were great... perfect products, factory fresh, sent super fast... I've been very happy with Focus and highly recommend them. I wish other companies took the care and interest they do in their customers."
• "I made the mistake of ordering a microphone for my Birthday from Amazon... I ordered from Focus the same day and at the same price, it was in Montana in 48 hours. Next time I'll check Focus before Amazon."

Negative Reviews

• "I ordered a ADE Advanced Optics RD3-012-PRO Series Red Dot Sight... I was sent a ADE Advanced Optics RD3-012-NON-PRO Series Red Dot. These are two very different models with different designs and specifications... According to UPS tracking, the Focus Camera Wearhouse received the returned package... I did not receive a refund or hear anything back... It is important to note that the item in question was immediately removed from the Focuscamera.com website after I requested a full refund. This is unacceptable service!"
• "I'll be shopping elsewhere... [The product] arrived the next Saturday. When it did arrive, one of the items was a different size than what was ordered (scope rings) making the whole package unusable for my application until I got the right rings. I sent multiple emails to the company with zero response until after PayPal stepped in. Ended up going through PayPal buyer protection to get a refund to cover the right set of rings from another retailer. I will pass on buying from focus camera in the future."
• "Prices as well [as] item descriptions are not accurate. You paid for the item. They will ship it to you and they may cancel the delivery due to their own mistakes not caring of the customer overall satisfaction... Focus camera is a company using fake advertising methods, misleading product prices or descriptions, be aware!"
• "Ordered the Ade rd3 012 pro red dot sight and paid to have it overnighted, a couple days later I get a package but it's the wrong red dot sight. I contact customer service and was told to send it back and they will send me the correct red dot... A couple days later I get a package from them and it's the wrong sight again, not the same one I got the first time but a different wrong sight. I contact customer service and was told that they have a problem and don't really know what it is but they don't carry the sight that I ordered and that I paid for twice and that I could either keep the one they sent me or send it back and get a refund. They still show the sight on their website so if they don't actually have the product they need to take it off to save someone from wasting their time and money ordering it from them and having to ship the wrong products back. Wouldn't recommend them to anyone."

Focus Camera's reviews on BBB

Focus Cameras reviews on BBB

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has accredited Focus Camera, LLC since 6/12/2018. The company has been in business for 58 years and has two locations in Brooklyn, New York. The average customer review rating on BBB is based on 28 customer reviews.

Positive reviews on BBB mention the helpfulness and knowledgeability of the sales team, the seamless purchasing process, and the ability to speak to a real person rather than a bot. One review mentions that Focus Camera was able to provide an item that was out of stock almost everywhere else.

However, there are also several negative reviews and complaints on BBB. Many of the complaints revolve around issues with orders, such as incorrect or missing items, delays in delivery, and problems with returns and refunds. There are also some concerns about the website appearing shady and having misleading information.

> "I was in the market for a camera and came across Focus Camera online. I was delighted to find out they had a store in [location] nearby. The customer service was amazing! They helped me find my perfect camera while teaching me how to use it and take great pictures. Very glad I came by. I will definitely be shopping with them again!"

> "Ordered the Ade rd3 012 pro red dot sight and paid to have it overnighted, but a couple of days later, I got a package with the wrong red dot sight. I contacted customer service, and they told me to send it back, which I did. Then they sent me the wrong sight again. I contacted customer service again, and they said they didn't know what the problem was, but they didn't carry the sight I ordered. They said I could either keep the wrong one or get a refund. They still show the sight on their website, so they need to take it off to save others from wasting time and money."

> "I made a purchase from this company through Amazon. I bought a DJI drone for about $1,100, but when I opened the package, it was damaged. I submitted a return request, and it was approved by the seller. I returned the item, and they said I would get a refund. However, they are only refunding me $67.14 and keeping the rest as a 're-stocking fee.' This is fraudulent and deceptive business."

Focus Camera's legitimacy

Focus Camera is a family-owned photography and consumer electronics retailer based in Brooklyn, New York. The company has been in business since 1966 and has two physical store locations in Brooklyn, as well as an online store.

Focus Camera has received mixed reviews from customers. On Trustpilot, the company has an overall rating of "Great", with approximately 80% of reviewers rating their shopping experience as either "great" or "excellent". Positive reviews mention the company's excellent customer service, timely delivery, and competitive prices. Some customers also appreciated being able to talk and text with real people when they needed assistance.

However, there are also a number of negative reviews and complaints about Focus Camera on various platforms, including BBB, Reddit, and Yelp. Common issues include incorrect or missing items in orders, difficulties with returns and refunds, and poor customer service. Some customers have even gone so far as to call the company a "scam", alleging that they received used or malfunctioning products and were unable to get a satisfactory resolution from Focus Camera.

Overall, while Focus Camera does appear to be a legitimate business, there are some concerns about the quality of their products and the consistency of their customer service. It is always a good idea to exercise caution when making purchases online, especially when there are mixed reviews about a company's reliability.

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