chmarr

Random update, because this story is too funny to be left untold.

I decided that my current pocket digital camera, a Pentax Optio S, is getting a little long in the tooth (and, besides, I can't find it), so I decide that I really want that Optio S6 that Costco had. So, I got one today. $300 plus tax, but includes the belt pouch and a memory card. I decided to see what kind of deals were to be had on-line.

A quick Google search for pentax optio 6s returned me this link to digital saver. it's not the site I normally go to for price comparisons, but this was just an academic exercise.

The first 5 shops displayed all had prices around the $240 mark. For a few seconds, I was thinking "Oh man, even with the pouch and memory card, that's a big difference." But then I remembered that those really shady camera places in Brooklyn, NY, post these insanely cheap prices, but their gear is grey market, missing bunches of stuff, and they're really nasty to deal with. So... I do some research.

First entry: Preferred Photo. Yep, in Brooklyn.

Second entry: Prestige Camera. Brooklyn again.

Third entry: Broadway Photo. Now, their contact page didn't list their B&M address, but I decided to
dig deeper, and I checked the Better Business Bureau for information on the company, and found lots of interesting stuff.

Not only are they in Brooklyn (no surprise), and not only have they got a nice collection of complaints - not all resolved - against them (again, no surprise), but check out the list of Additional Business Names:

• A&M Photo World
  
• Digital Liquidators LLC
  
• Preferred Photo
  
• Prestige Camera
  
• Regal Camera
  

And compare that against the first five entries on the Digital Saver website:

• Preferred Photo
  
• Prestige Camera
  
• Broadway Photo
  
• A&M Photo World
  
• Digiral Liquidators
  

The first five companies listed on Digital Savers are all the same damn company. No wonder they all have a roughly $240 price tag. The next entry, if you click on Show all 11 stores, is Ritz Camera which sells the camera for a more believable $300.

So, here's some interesting things we can extrapolate from this:

• Digital Saver may very well be a front for Broadway Photo, who just happen to list a few other retailers to give it the appearance of being a legitimate comparison site.
  
• Broadway Photo may have intentionally set up exactly 5 companies, knowing that 5 entires is what it takes to 'hide' the other retailers.
  
• By listing numerous sites with the same, low low price, it gives that price the air of legitimacy. After all, if you saw 10 retailers with a $300 price, and one retailer with a $240 price, you'd have second-thoughts about going with that retailer, wouldn't you? Well, with five retailers with a $240 price, then it seems more sensible. And doubly so if you never see the more expensive prices in the reduced view.
  
• The prices between all five aren't exactly the same, so the buyer doesn't suspect that they're in collusion, or different 'fronts' for the same company.
  

What scum.