A D500 purchased from Amazon and....

hark

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This is NOT mine--I pulled this photo from a Facebook group. The photo's caption states, When you order a Nikon D500 but there's somebody's old Canon POS in the box because they scammed Amazon on the return. It's in the FB group NRDG - Nikon REAL Discussion Group. To Amazon's credit, they sent a prepaid return label and sent a replacement out immediately.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...29101924980.2056001.1155794094&type=3&theater

Nikon D500.jpg
 

Marcel

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This is NOT mine--I pulled this photo from a Facebook group. The photo's caption states, When you order a Nikon D500 but there's somebody's old Canon POS in the box because they scammed Amazon on the return. It's in the FB group NRDG - Nikon REAL Discussion Group. To Amazon's credit, they sent a prepaid return label and sent a replacement out immediately.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...29101924980.2056001.1155794094&type=3&theater

View attachment 243885
If this is true, I wonder if Amazon can track down the previous thief that did the switch... But then I wonder how they couldn't just feel this is not right just by shaking the box and hearing there is no bubble wrap.... I have a real hard time believing this post on FB. But that's just me... maybe.
 

hark

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I don't know, Marcel. Some of the comments indicated Amazon should be able to track the original buyer. It's crazy, that's for sure.
 

nickt

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My first instinct on this was BS, but the guy who posted it seems to be a normal guy based on a quick look at his fb page. So maybe it's real. It does not surprise me that Amazon would not even open a return box. They are not known for happy and dedicated employees, so anything is possible as those boxes fly by. I bought a razor last year. A regular old-school double edge shaving razor. It came with a used blade in it! I don't think it was a sneaky return, just a return that should not have gone back on the shelf. The guy returning it probably went a little overboard in packing 'everything', including the sample blade it shipped with.

I have bought some camera equipment from Amazon over the years, but they are not my first choice. I just don't see them sending every return back to the manufacturer like they should. Even more risk with a Amazon marketplace seller. If a camera or lens went home with somebody, it's 'used'.
 

Marcel

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My first instinct on this was BS, but the guy who posted it seems to be a normal guy based on a quick look at his fb page. So maybe it's real. It does not surprise me that Amazon would not even open a return box. They are not known for happy and dedicated employees, so anything is possible as those boxes fly by. I bought a razor last year. A regular old-school double edge shaving razor. It came with a used blade in it! I don't think it was a sneaky return, just a return that should not have gone back on the shelf. The guy returning it probably went a little overboard in packing 'everything', including the sample blade it shipped with.

I have bought some camera equipment from Amazon over the years, but they are not my first choice. I just don't see them sending every return back to the manufacturer like they should. Even more risk with a Amazon marketplace seller. If a camera or lens went home with somebody, it's 'used'.
It would be so easy for me to take a Nikon box, put anything I want in it just to take a picture and post it... If I would be a dishonest person, I could even try to fool Amazon by doing this. The guy could be a regular person as much as you wish, it doesn't exclude a hoax or a scam. Wether he is the scammer or the scammed one will remain undecided as far as I'm concerned. If, on the other hand, I had seen the unboxing of this thing, then I could have believed him.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
It's hard to tell if this is fake or what. However if this is real, the person that is sending back the bogus item to Amazon is taking a hellava chance. I'm no expert on this, but this might be mail fraud which is a federal crime.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I think for a mail fraud claim to apply, it has to actually be via US Postal Service. UPS and FedEx don't count for the federal crime.

If this is true, and we will never really know, I don't think Amazon would ever prosecute. They won't prosecute because, just like us, they will never really know who did it. And just like the credit card companies, its not worth Amazon's time to investigate isolated cases of fraud. They make restitution to the customer that claims fraud and never look to back to the perpetrator unless a pattern develops.
 

hark

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I buy a lot of items from Amazon, but I've received a few used items which I always return. Some things are missing parts. The most recent was when I ordered several pairs of Champion sweatpants. Really, how much could go wrong? Three of the four pairs were fine, but one was missing the hang tags. As soon as I opened its plastic bag, it smelled like a locker room, and the lining of the pants was totally pilled (an indication of being thrown in the dryer). Books with crumbs inside (ewww) and other odds and ends of used things. So when I order electronics, I tend to order from other reliable sites like B&H or Adorama.
 

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
This is NOT mine--I pulled this photo from a Facebook group. The photo's caption states, When you order a Nikon D500 but there's somebody's old Canon POS in the box because they scammed Amazon on the return. It's in the FB group NRDG - Nikon REAL Discussion Group. To Amazon's credit, they sent a prepaid return label and sent a replacement out immediately.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...29101924980.2056001.1155794094&type=3&theater

I've searched for and don't see "NRDG - Nikon REAL Discussion Group" on FB. There is a Nikon REAL GOOD Discussion Group, though. Is that the one?

As far as whether this really happened, I'll just defer to the fact that there is really no limit to what people will try to scam people. It's just too profitable for them to quit and do things honestly.

WM
 
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hark

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I've searched for and don't see "NRDG - Nikon REAL Discussion Group" on FB. There is a Nikon REAL GOOD Discussion Group, though. Is that the one?

As far as whether this really happened, I'll just defer to the fact that there is really no limit to what people will try to scam people. It's just too profitable for them to quit and do things honestly.

WM

I have no idea whether or not it is true, but with all the return's Amazon gets, it must be possible for something to slide through.

Here is the link for the group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/nikonREALdiscussiongroup/
 

robbins.photo

Senior Member
Well can't speak for everyone of course, but if I'm buying refurbished I'll stick with an authorized Nikon dealer. If I'm buying used, most likely I'll be looking at Ebay. I can get much better deals than Amazon usually.

I do buy a few things from Amazon, mostly small stuff that's listed as new.
 

carguy

Senior Member
It's hard to tell if this is fake or what. However if this is real, the person that is sending back the bogus item to Amazon is taking a hellava chance. I'm no expert on this, but this might be mail fraud which is a federal crime.


Could be. Of course there is speculation, it's the internet LOL :)
I wonder if it was fulfilled by Amazon or a third party seller using the Amazon channel?
 

Danno

Senior Member
I struggle with this, but you know I bought a TV from Best Buy and opened it up when I got home.... (which I never do anymore), and it was all broken up with a return label on the inside of the box. Stock clerk pulled the closest one and it looked fine to them.

When I picked up the replacement we unboxed it at the service desk. Stuff happens...
 
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