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.
onlinerocker would not shop at Import Stock again.
Just don't do it, and look elsewhere.
Basic facts:
I ordered a canon flash and x2 SD cards. Yes, the prices are great. These items were in stock at my time of purchase. My email trail now sits at 17 (and some phone calls too) due to the fact of constantly chasing up to see what was happening with the order. No, some items were not in stock. I gave it a month before i gave up and requested a refund. No, the funds were not in my account within the specified timeframe and yet i have to waste my time and follow up. Shopping should not be this hard.
Granted, the service representative was great at following up, but if the item isn't in stock, don't say it is. In contrast, i ordered a lens from a different company in HK on late thursday night and received it on monday! Now that's service!
As with the other reviews on here, i would not recommend shopping here, and i won't be coming back to this site in the future.
Are you interested in joining a group that is planning to adopt a coordinated legal strategy against 'Import Stock'? There is another forum on this topic: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1830134. If you check the latest posts by 'scammedBYming' (dated 17.09.13), you will see how you can become involved. A lot of people have been affected. I urge you to join us.
Warning ** Warning **Do Not Shop Here Ordered Headsets April 2013 - Still Waiting After Many Emails And Phone Calls With Ming From Import Stock He Only Delivered Excuses And Tall Stories. Ming I Am Still Awaiting On Refund????
You Never Get The Product You Never Get Any Service You Never Get A Refund Site Should Be Removed From Australian Website Total Scam
Hi, just wondering if your case was resolved? Going through the same thing now.
Hi Jessij, unfortunately not resolved yet. But I'm not one to give up and let them get away with it. I have emailed them another reminder today for them to acknowledge my banking details for a refund. Of course still no answer - tomorrow I will call them up and remind them about fair trading in NSW. Contact for Import Stock is Tim.?
Have just been speaking to fair trading in NSW does not look good for IMPORT STOCK. I suggest everyone out of pocket needs to act now lodge your claim now online.
Well I went to their warehouse in Alexandria. And as I arrived the real estate agent was also there locking them out as they were badly behind with their rent.so you will find you won't be able to contact them at all now....
Thanks for the info, unlucky for me good for them that I am in Perth. Otherwise I would track them all down. I'm waiting to find out a little bit more regarding who and were they are etc. I have also emailed a few sites who still advertise Import Stock and advised them that their scammers.
Hi, I've been stung by these morons too. I purchased a lens from them, and they reckon they've shipped it on the 28th, but I'm currently traveling through Broome and it hasn't arrived. Will try the post office Monday morning as well, but I'm very annoyed and disheartened dealing with them. My lens crapped out on this trip around Australia which is why I bought this lens from them.
Can someone please send a link or instructions how to lodge a fair trading claim? Thanks.
HI lashi , Lodge general complaint asap, as my understanding is they have gone into liquidation http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/. go to the section general complaint and just follow the links. We may get some small amount back in the dollar. Depending how much they owe ATO. Good Luck. On the form it asks for their details which is telephone: 1300 699 890 or 02 80918071 , fax 02 - 83236090 and their address which is 7/34-36 Ralph Street, Alexandria NSW 2015 Gook Luck
I lodged my complaint with Fair Trading last week. I have been trying to get my refund for a month now. I have had all the excuses in the world from these guys. Time will tell.
I contacted my bank (Westpac), and I'm trying to get a refund from them. Maybe you guys could try the same? Of course, I'm only down $334.81, compared to some of you guys who seem to be down thousands! Of course, I'm also lodging the appropriate forms, and went to the cops today and did a stat dec.
Hi Guys did any of you go through shopping.com.au ? because when i have emailed them to advise that import stock are scammers they they said any customer that went through their site they would try and help them out?? - possibly too far gone now.
Has anyone reported these guys to the police? I'm currently in Broome, and the police said that all I can do is a Stat Dec. But it feels to me like this is a criminal matter, but I don't know what to actually report...
Are any of you interested in joining a group so we can organise a coordinated effort against 'Import Stock' (ITAP Australia Pty Limited)? If so, send me an email at genevieveburnett[at]yahoo.com.au and I will send you more details.
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.
Ordered the 5d Mark III - promised it would be delivered in 1 week...after 6 weeks still did not come in.
In the process of getting a refund, which has been going on for almost 2 weeks now.
Nice people when speaking to on the phone, but as an organisation - horrific, inept and either don't know what they are doing or just blatantly lie (I've assumed the former).
DO NOT USE THEM unless you go to their warehouse in Alexandria and literally see what you want.
How did you solve your problem with Import Stock. Henry (also victim Import Stock)
Terrible. There warehouse seems to have closed down now. No camera and $4000 out of pocket 4 weeks later. Contacting the department of fair trading and police now. Scam.
Hello I ordered a Nikon D5200 for 7-8 weeks ago, and untill now I got nothing from them. What happened with them? I hope they will refund all my payment or I'll lodge a complain to that local police.
If anyone wants to contact me re forming a group so we can organise a coordinated effort against 'Import Stock' (ITAP Australia Pty Limited), then, send me an email (genevieveburnett[at]yahoo.com.au) and I will send you more details.
I am currently in contact with a criminal investigation detective in regards to this company and Tim Hung, he has asked me if i know of anyone else, i also have another person who has contacted me with her information. So if anyone else would like to join their story to this investigation then feel free to contact me. The more of us there are the better the outcome is likely to be. My email is {contact removed for safety and privacy}. I have am also working with Fair Tradings, have lodged a complaint with ACCC and the ATO.
I'm very happy to give you any help. Your contact details have been dropped though.
Yep, it looks like I'm in trouble with these guys. Still waiting on my lens (paid for 5 weeks ago). Website now advising not taking any more orders and they're having 'problems' with email. Phones also not answering! I'm contactable at ozbloke04@gmail.com.
Hello, Guys. I've paid $3000 for Nikon D800E body on the 6-th of August. The same stuff happened. My e-mail is tachechena at gmail.com If you need any help, just let me know....
I think you guys should talk to your bank about getting the money back. I did a direct deposit, but I've lodged a complaint with my bank and I'm trying to get money back through them. Also, I put in a general complaint to the NSW Fair Trading people.
Some of you have sent me an email. I'll try and get back to all of you ASAP. Maybe we should create some sort of google group? Email and internet is hard for me because I'm traveling around Australia at the moment, so my connectivity is intermittent...
For some reason i cannot post on my previous posting so i have started a new one to give everyone up to date info on this company.
In regards to the distribution centre Tim has not paid rent and the real estate agenthas locked him out and said there was no new stock in it and they were just fixing old computers there. I have let the fair trading lady know this and as there have been a few complaints piling up on this guy they are looking into him. They are also looking into the fact that he was registered in australia but lives in Hong Kong which is illegal.
I have had so many people contact me and say that he has taken their money and they have not been able to contact him at all after. The real estate agent also said that Tim told her he is in Hong Kong, she only ever spoke to him over the phone.
The fair trading lady said for everyone to make their own complaint online and it should all get allocated together. Also make a complaint to the ATO, ACC and to your local police station which i think will have to refer it on to the redfern police as this was the local police to where the distribution centre is and where his business is registered.
There have been so many people and i cannot respond to everyone individually so i hope this helps everyone, i will post any new info. I am seeking legal advice and have an app next week.
I actually bought a $650 camera from import stock at the beginning of this year. I chose to pick at the alexadria warehouse. It only took me one week to get my camera. that make me trusted them a lot. I purchased $3500 this time and got nothing after one month. very frustrated. I bought them for my friends. and now i have no money to pay them back.
Could everyone who has lost money please read through the link below and start emailing the suggested places, the more complaints that are made, the better our chances for a resolution!!
And speaking palpable, what will happen with Tim if he will get? Because if he will going to jail, I don't think if somebody will be happier.I know you are trying to help us and thank you but maybe somebody knows if is there a chance to obtain money back or not if Tim is found.
anyone has any news to update? I lodged a complaint to NSW Fair trading office, but no one replies me yet. I called my bank, they recorded what happened and promised investigating it and gave me a file number. That's all. Anything else I missed?
Spoke to a solicitor today. Tim has done this previously in 2009 and because it is a company it is legally a separate entity to Tim. I dont know if the police can find him or not as i dont think any of them have actually tried looking yet. I did a search and he hasnt filed for insolvency yet and Fair Trading QLD has closed the case as they are unable to contact him. The only option left for us is to continue to report him to Fair Trading NSW, the police, ACCC an take him to court.
Whirlpool has a group started which is taking this to the Hong Kong police and others so it is advisable to join this action as well. Other than these things taking Tim to court is my next step.
Hi everyone, I too am waiting on a lens ordered several weeks ago. Wanting to know if it's worth contacting fairtrading. Happy to add my name to whatever action to get get refund
It is clear that a lot of people have been affected by nefarious activities of 'Import Stock'. There are more detailed postings at another forum: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1830134. We are currently trying to get as many people as possible together so we can approach the 'Import Stock' issue as a group. If you are interested, see the latest entries at: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1830134 and register your interest. In that forum, I am 'angrypinkdog'. Check my post there to see how I think we should approach this.
If anyone wants to contact me re forming a group so we can organise a coordinated effort against 'Import Stock' (ITAP Australia Pty Limited), then, send me an email (genevieveburnett[at]yahoo.com.au) and I will send you more details.
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.