The Great Hong Kong Camera Scam

On a recent trip to Hong Kong, a colleague related to me his perplexing experience after an attempt to purchase a camera.

“I’ve just had the most bizarre experience,” he said, clearly disturbed by the event.

My friend had attempted to purchase a particular Nikon DSLR camera from a prominent, Nathan Road camera store.

He’d done all his research and really had his heart set on this unit. He also had existing Nikon lenses he could use.

After some protracted haggling, as is the norm, he ended up with a price that was some $1000 less than the Sydney price he was quoted, plus he had a lens and sundry accessories thrown in.

Next, the assistant wanted his credit card details for an up-front payment prior to delivery of the goods. The camera, he explained, was not in stock and he needed a firm sale before he went to get it. Not entirely happy with this arrangement, my friend (wisely) insisted on sighting the goods before payment.

Hearing this exchange, a more senior assistant moved in to close the sale.

“Why do you want this camera?” he berated my friend. “It’s no good. Rubbish. You want this one,” and proceeded to extol the limitless virtue of the new Canon product.

Of course, this new Canon was a lot more money and came without the goodies he’d been promised with the Nikon.

“My staff has made a mistake,” he retorted bluntly, tearing up the order form for the Nikon. “.. and what sort of job you do?”

And here’s where things took a nasty turn.

“I’m a journalist,” my not-too-discrete friend replied, whereupon he was virtually man-handled out of the store.

The moral of the story: If the price seems too good, then it probably is. Beware!