I should have known better.... I used a price search engine for Cordless Headsets (Sony RF4000F) and then Import Stock came out the winner many times. I decided to go with them but 4 weeks later when nothing had arrived (and no emails) I called their 1300 number to find out it is an IT solutions company that sells consumer items part time. Short summary…lots of promises on dates…eventually the two sets arrived but with UK plugs (which are integrated into the power converter so we have to use plug adapters with the very heavy UK plugs). What a complete waste of time and effort by me. I hope their IT business gets more focus and accuracy around what Customer Service is ! Avoid.
The Nigerian scam victim experience – except you get your money back after approximately 7 weeks.
Import Stock Pty Ltd in a nutshell: The Nigerian scam victim experience – except you get your money back after approximately 7 weeks.
I read some good reviews of Import Stock and even called their local number to sus them out before taking the plunge and purchasing a Canon C300 which retails here for $15K - call me crazy for spending so much online but they were selling it for $11K.
Over the 7 weeks I exchanged over 70 emails with Tommy, their Hong Kong dispatch guy/ salesman, to chase up the camera’s whereabouts, that I was told at the time of sale, was meant to take 7 - 10 working days to reach me.
I never realized the process of procurement could be so dramatic. The plots and subplots presented to me by Tommy over the 7 week period narrated the camera’s journey across air and stormy seas (I kid you not) - to get from a Canon factory to the Import Stock warehouse – had a story arch that would make Herman Melville turn in his grave and me turn in my bed, for many, many nights.
So why stick out for 7 weeks?
Well, after you commit 2 to 3 weeks to one shady company who’s to say the other overseas online companies are any better. So what’s another week or two? I thought that if I chose another company, maybe this long arduous process would start over again.
But 7 weeks is a long time. It cost me a month of shooting. In retrospect, I believe my loyalty to Import Stock Pty Ltd (despite the obvious signs) was born out of a mild attachment to the guy who took my money hostage – probably somewhat similar to what Stockholm syndrome sufferers go through.
Tommy, seemed to me to do whatever he could to get me the camera despite the immense shortcomings of Import Stock Pty Ltd. From coming in to work sick, to trying to source my camera from Taiwan to accepting a diverted call from his bed at 4am / 5am HK time to speak to me (without me realizing I was being diverted to him, I must add).
His perseverance despite the insurmountable challenged he faced – with his company promising to sell something they could not realistically obtain.
Tommy’s honesty challenged my customer-is-always-right values and transformed my feeling from anger and frustration to guilt, shame, patience and understanding. So much so, that when Tommy asked me whether I could read any other language, because they couldn't configure the camera menu to English, I contemplated learning another language.
After 6 weeks, when my wife pointed out to me that I was duped, that my money was gone and never to return but that it was ok (she is very understanding) I found myself not defending my ego (which was crushed at this point) but instead defending Tommy – arguing that I knew him and believed in him and that it would be out of character for him to do something like that (and quietly conceding that if he did steal my money, he truly deserved it anyway).
Eventually, Tommy conceded that he could not give me the camera I wanted as I had expected it (with an English menu and proper firmware). I asked for a full refund and it took nearly two weeks to receive it in full!!! (This I felt, added real insult to injury)
Import Stock Pty Ltd. stock took my money, promised to get me something they never could get and after 5.5 weeks of waiting It took nearly 2 weeks receive my full refund.
I think Tommy is wasted talent in Import Stock. Despite all the issues, and lost sleep, he still sends me the occasional email to ask about the Camera I now had ordered from ebay (and received within 2 days in perfect condition).
Maybe others have had good experiences but I wouldn't recommend buying from Import Stock Pty Ltd to my worst enemies.
