Update on Fumfie (fumfie.com)

Per my prior post (which you can read here), someone in Brooklyn posted a glowing review about Fumfie yesterday.  It seemed a bit suspicious.  So I did a bit of Googling and it looks as though people are reporting that Fumfie is engaging in some questionable activity.  Per reviews on resellerratings, they are pitching "long life" batteries and other items, or simply tacking on "insurance" charges which negate the deal you thought you were getting.  A sample of the reviews:
BEWARE!!! DECEITFUL BUSINESS...SLEAZY

1) You must confirm your order by phone which is just an excuse to let a sleazy salesman push you to buy memory cards and "upgraded batteries".
2) I was overcharged $30. After the fact they claim this to be required insurance but the shopping cart checkout makes no mention of this hidden and deceptive adder. This is classic bait an switch false advertising and a trick to show as low price in web searches. It is completely dishonest and likely illegal.
3) They swap the factory supplied battery (Canon) with a cheap knockoff despite the site claiming to sell 100% as shipped from the factory. This is definitely illegal and given that the transaction took place over state lines, it may be a federal offense. False advertising, substituting fake product, etc... I will investigate and pursue this to the full extent.
BEWARE OF THIS SELLER AND THIER DECEITFUL BUSINESS PRACTICES.
My attempts to get remedy resulted in an e-mail asking me to call them for an explanation of the invoice. They never responded to the battery change scam.

 I have never written a review before but feel compelled to let others know that this store is all smoke and mirrors. I ordered a HDC-TM700 Panasonic Camcorder from Fumfie on 10/27/10. The price was the best on the web for $729 with free shipping. I too had seen other reviews stating the tacking on of insurance charges. When I completed the order and received my email confirming my order # it did not state a final price. That same morning I received and email stating they were trying to call me to verify my order. I called them at their 866 # and spoke to a customer service agent in regards to my order. They immediately tried to sell me extras I did not want. I explained to them I was already pushing the budget for the camcorder to which he relented. He said "Ok, that comes to $794.61" to which I replied "uh, hold on, no, the camera is $729 with free shipping" he then stated that it has to be shipped with insurance since they send out "1000's" of packages with many returned for damages. I said, well, I also found the camera for $751 with free shipping and if they could match that price I would buy it. I was then transferred to a customer rep. (in the same room I bet) who said he could not match that price as the other store must have gotten a better deal than they did. So I said cancel my order for which they did and by that time I was pissed. I did receive a cancellation email for which I'll keep forever and checked my CC and the camcorder had never been placed for purchase. So as you can see I was going to be charged an additional $65.61 that was never outlined or mentioned until I called the 866 #. Stay away from this company!

This place runs a scam. The reason I went with them is that they offer cameras at much lower prices than you can find elsewhere. But, they tamper with the contents of the box and I am fairly sure I got a refurbished camera and not a new one despite the claims on the website.


When you order they ask you to call them to complete the order. Once on the phone they tell you about a huge shipping insurance cost and they give you a line about needing to buy a battery (because the one in the box "lasts only twenty minutes"). I said I want the battery that Canon ships with the camera. I didn't get that battery. I got a cheap OEM battery. They claim that everything they sell is "brand new" but they went into the "brand new" box for my camera and replaced the Canon battery with a cheap knock off. I am skeptical if this camera is even new - it most likely is a refurbished camera in the retail box, the box has wear on the seams - not something I've ever seen on a new item.

From Pricegrabber:
BEWARE...SCAMMING MERCHANT! 1) You must call to "confirm" the order which is just a trick to make you speak with a sleazy salesman pushing for memory cards and upgraded batteries. 2) I was overcharged $30 for my $339 purchase. After the fact they claim that the extra charge is for "insurance" but the shopping cart and order process make no mention of any such charge. The final invoice only shows a single charge of $369 for an item that was priced at $339. They have not responded and I am disputing thru my CC company. 3) The site claims 100% as shipped from the manufacturer. They substituted a cheap knock-off battery for the original Canon factory battery. This is completely fraudulent and criminal deceit. FumFie has not responded to my requests for remedy.
 
DO NOT buy from this company. I went to buy a camcorder there and they sent me a email to call them (4 days later). I called them they told me the battery for the camcorder was only a 30min battery and its $90 for a 4 hour battery. Then they told me its $89 for insurance for the box for shipping. I asked if they can take my UPS number and they said NO. Then I said, I will pick it up and they said NO. That is why its $150 less than everywhere else because they get you later on with batteries and shipping.
Here are some complaints on ripoffreport.com.