p.1 #1 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I scored a deal on A7iii that sounded very good, but not good to the extent that can't be true, on Greentoe, through Cardinal Camera in the 1st week of April 2018.
This was for my trip in end May.
Asked them for shipping info (e.g package weight, whether they can offer international shipping). Days passed. no reply.
Asked about tracking number. Weeks passed. no reply.
2 weeks later, Greentoe replied that my camera will definitely reach by end April.
Waited till end of Apr. Greentoe said unlikely to get by end of April, but definitely will reach by mid May.
Sent reminders in the meantime, radio silence again.
Today - 23rd May - they CLAIMED there is no stock available.
seriously. I just wasted 2 months of my time:
1. waiting for something that will never arrive
2. loss in FOREX fees due to the exchange rate spread
My advice: Don't BOTHER BUYING FROM GREENTOE/CARDINAL CAMERA. BUY DIRECT FROM SONY PLEASE!
p.1 #2 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
Out of curiosity, did you say you were willing to wait longer for a better price, or that you were willing to pay more for quicker availability.
At any rate, Greentoe offers discounts from MSRP. Given demand and supply shortages it’s not surprising that stores are slow to fulfill discount orders when they have full retail customers waiting...
p.1 #4 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I also ordered a A7lll from Greentoe, through Cardinal Camera early April. I got the run-around from them both. Canceled my order. I now know better than to order a new release item from them. Some people will have good luck. Some won't. The difference is those that won't will have their charge card billed for months.
p.1 #5 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I had issues with Cardinal as well buying my A7R3 and took me several calls/emails to cancel so at least in my book, they are out of the question for any future purchases.
p.1 #6 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
GabrielPhoto wrote:
I had issues with Cardinal as well buying my A7R3 and took me several calls/emails to cancel so at least in my book, they are out of the question for any future purchases.
Luis, did you deal directly with Cardinal or through Green Toe? Just curious...
p.1 #8 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I would not use Greentoe for a hot new product myself. It really comes down to a stock issue and retailers are at the mercy of the OEMs as they may ask for 100 and only get 25. It’s really out of the retailers hands. Just generally speaking , nothing to do with Cardinal. I never purchased from them
p.1 #11 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I bought a FE 24-105 through Greentoe/Cardinal Camera, had the focus issues (this was right after release before Sony acknowledged the problem and offered the repair program) and Cardinal was great about taking a return and promptly refunding me.
I also bought a GH5 last August from Cardinal direct w/ no issues and prompt shipping.
I'm sure like most retailers there are both good and bad stories out there...
I remember doing some quick research on their reputation before pulling the trigger and my recollection is that they didn't seem to be another Abe's of Maine or 42nd St Photo bait and switch, shady practices, not an authorized US retailer.
p.1 #12 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
marthagirl wrote:
I scored a deal on A7iii that sounded very good, but not good to the extent that can't be true, on Greentoe, through Cardinal Camera in the 1st week of April 2018.
This was for my trip in end May.
Asked them for shipping info (e.g package weight, whether they can offer international shipping). Days passed. no reply.
Asked about tracking number. Weeks passed. no reply.
2 weeks later, Greentoe replied that my camera will definitely reach by end April.
Waited till end of Apr. Greentoe said unlikely to get by end of April, but definitely will reach by mid May.
Sent reminders in the meantime, radio silence again.
Today - 23rd May - they CLAIMED there is no stock available.
seriously. I just wasted 2 months of my time:
1. waiting for something that will never arrive
2. loss in FOREX fees due to the exchange rate spread
My advice: Don't BOTHER BUYING FROM GREENTOE/CARDINAL CAMERA. BUY DIRECT FROM SONY PLEASE!...Show more →
Buy direct from Sony? that is horrible recommendation so never buy anything then...
p.1 #13 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I've dealt with Cardinal Camera for over 40 years. Never an issue. They are my local camera store and are great to deal with. Today, more than ever, brick and mortar stores must fill full retail sales before discount internet arrangements like Greentoe.
p.1 #14 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I think the lesson here is rather:
- Don't expect discounted prices to end up delivered first-- or necessarily fast. If it happens, bonus!
- Don't pre-order, despite what retailers say about things even partially out of their hands (availability), when timing is absolutely necessary. Even if you have a significant buffer. Things can change. Earthquakes can happen. Boats can sink.
- There's a reason why some people are willing to pay full (or above) retail in certain situations (myself included) and some people are willing to do a little dance, and play a few games, in other situations to get even a moderate discount (myself included).
Not a fun lesson for OP, but hopefully it all works out in the end.
p.1 #15 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I also had a successful Greentoe-Cardinal transaction. It was for a lens that I decided I didn't want, and I returned it unopened. The only odd wrinkle was that the return process was not well-documented on the site and I was given a phone number that turned out to be the owner's cell. It seemed like he had to approve it personally, which felt a little odd. Greentoe had asked to be advised of any return so that they could expedite it, and in fact I believe that Andrew from Greentoe did expedite the return.
I have found Greentoe an excellent way to purchase. I found Cardinal good, but a bit less customer-centric than B&H or Adorama or K&M. It is a tough business for retailers, and I think it falls to customers to behave as ethically as they wish the stores to behave. Cardinal did fine by me.
p.1 #16 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I got my Sony a7III with the kit lens from Greentoe/Cardinal on the 13th of April.
I was in no hurry, but I did go to Cardinal's web site, found their contact info and gave them a call on the 9th.
They told me I was on the first wave of shipments, and could expect it within 3 days of shipping. (on the 10th)
For me, they held up their end of the bargain.
Now if I was waiting for a month and a half like the OP did, I probably wouldn't have happy either.
I know we're in the electronic age, and no one wants to really contact and talk to people, but
I feel talking to a real person over the phone is a much better way to handle concerns than emails.
p.1 #18 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
Sorry about the OP's issues.
Regarding Cardinal, I bought my a7iii from my local Cardinal brick and mortar store, and I had a great experience (have bought other things from them with equally great results). I would definitely buy from this store without hesitation. I have not bought on line from them, and this was not a Greentoe purchase.
p.1 #19 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I don't often comment on topics like this but need to chime in that I got a fantastic deal on an A7R3 and immediate shipping using Greentoe / Cardinal. I wouldn't hesitate to use both again.
p.1 #20 · Do not buy from Cardinal Camera / Greentoe! You have been warned.
I doubt Sony's marketing is going to allow Cardinal to sell their cameras through Green toe much longer...too much publicity of how the free market works.
