Stay Away from These Companies!

[cdcollura]

Good day all,

Yes...and stop advertising in legitimate magazines like Videomaker.

LOL ... I remember you sent me one of those "leads" you found in one of those magazines and (oh boy) what a disaster (details in link below)...

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5670

I hope they managed to pull these companies' ads out of those magazines!

It was just too "believable".

 

[Jason Foster]

Good day all,



LOL ... I remember you sent me one of those "leads" you found in one of those magazines and (oh boy) what a disaster (details in link below)...

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5670

I hope they managed to pull these companies' ads out of those magazines!

It was just too "believable".

Yeah....it shows that I just took the fact it was in a reliable magazine that it wouldn't be such a scam company. Boy was I wrong. I've so learned since then.

 

[Jason Foster]

This isn't necessarily a stay away from...more of a ???

Got a message via YT from a Global Stringers asking to gain my business. HOWEVER, a few things didn't add up.

First, it was a company that just started. Inc. papers in California say it was inc. (via legalzoom) on 10/5/2010.

Second, check the Beverly Hills address (which didn't match the California Inc. address...but that's not that unusual). The street view of the building show a rather vacant building with lots of space available signs.

Third...the YT channel only showed 6 videos with almost no views to the videos.

Fourth, the TOS notes on the site seems rather mixed a befuttled. I didn't pay much attention after I noticed the 50% fee.

I guess I'm just throwing it out there in case someone else hears from them...that might want to not jump in right-away.

What I did do was ask for a list of clients, customers, other stringers and references.

 

[Dennis Dennison]

Avoid CableOne for internet service-THEY SUCK-all that I can say

 

[dhodges]

There is a company on the internet that sells wireless alarms for your home and car that go by the name American Bull Dog Security and also under the name AAS that operate out of New York. My advice is to stay very clear of this company. Their products are very cheaply made and DO NOT hold up,also there is no manufacture label of identification on the products that they sell.
I experienced all of the above with that company. To make matters worse, After they told me to send back the defective item for a replacement, they refused to answer any of my phone calls nor did they ever sent a replacement back to me!!!!!!!

 

[STexan]

AVOID ENID OVERNIGHT STAYS ...

Can't find an appropriate place to post this but will post here FWIW

Following the Saturday chase (April 14, 2012) I ended up looking for a room in Enid, OK. I'm OK with staying in a small, independent, old, not-so-nice motel as long as the price is in line with the room/amenities offered (or lack thereof)

I began with a tiny motel across from the southside Sonic in Enid, appeared they were maybe 30% occupied, they wanted $69.95 for a single, I walked and they had no problem with it. I expected to pay perhaps $44-49

drove down to another "cheap hotel" but perhaps one notch up, they wanted $75.00, appeared maybe they were at about 70% occupancy. I walked, and again, they could care less. There was a "nice" Best Western, and I assumed from what I was learning they would run about $95

So, I went to the Days Inn and expected to pay $70 for a "decent room". Well, the rate was $74 with taxes, but the room was awful ... as bad as any motel I'd stayed at in decades and I've stayed in many-many roach motels as an OTR truck driver. I would have expected to pay $35 for such a room.

In summary, try and avoid staying overnight in Enid, OK if you want a decent room and to stay for less than $60. I really don't know where they get off charging those sorts of rates for what they had to offer. They must cater to workers whose employers will pay any price. I've never seen such ridiculous prices for very cheap, nasty rooms. (obviously some sort of organized price-fixing going on there)

Also, I'm not sure what has happened with the Days Inn chain but their standards have been reduced to non-existent based on a number of stays over the last few years. (But their rates are still in the upper middle-class range)

 

[cdcollura]

Good day all,

AVOID ENID OVERNIGHT STAYS ...

Mods ... Feel free to revise this most as needed.

I noticed the same type of 'gouging' with some chains. For example, Super 8 was never more than $50 plus taxes, now it's always at least $79+tax (crappy or not).

I had the best luck with Motel 6 ... Consistantly, so try that. The small "mom and pop" places are hit or miss, but I found really nice rooms for $39+tax, sometimes less in the small towns!

Try to AVOID these smaller places in large cities, though ... That is in cities large enough to have a "bad" area!

 

[MClarkson]

I recently purchased a point and shoot camera from Nikon. It broke almost immediately, after only a couple weeks(without ever having come in contact with hostile elements). Their customer service was hostile, unhelpful, and refused to repair or replace the unit. I was surprised, because I figured Nikon was a large and respectable electronics firm. Guess not.

 

[Steve Miller]

Would like to revive this thread. What are some companies you have dealt with lately that others should avoid?

 

[ELY M.]

This may be abit off-topic but it have to do with getting your stuff.
I would avoid USPS as possible! USPS lost 5 of my mails and packages. I ask sellers/companies to use UPS and FedEx from now on.

 

[Warren Faidley]

The other problem with USPS is their insurance process. They rarely pay claims. I purchased a lens a few years ago and they refused insurance because they claimed the lens was not packed correctly, although it was in the original box with an exterior box filled with packing.