Comments on: Camera Shop Scams

By: Conned -

Conned - — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:07:51 +0000

I was scammed by three very convincing con-men in Playa Blanca in a camera shop that goes by the name of Image. don’t trust any of them. It’s about time the authorities got to grips with these unscrupulous shops, it will deter many people going on holiday to Playa Blanca

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:25:58 +0000

I just have bought a Yashica Europe X-5 (HD Cam corder), 16 MP, 5 x optical Lens in Tenerife at the 20th of Dec 2011, at The Swami photo shop in Playa de las Americas. Now home in Denamrk I realize, that they have been sheeting on me!

I cannot find a similar Yashica product at the web…(:-(

Rgds. Jan

By: admin

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:24:12 +0000

The following was received via email today – another awful experience for a Lanzarote visitor. Published with Permission. Elle xxx
“I have just come back from Puerto del Carmen – stayed in Hotel las Costas – I bought a pair of sunglasses from the electric junction which is an electrical shop across the road from the aloe vera shop not far from
the hotel in the direction of old town puerto de carmen.
I noticed when giving my credit card the sales person looked at me while I was putting in my number – foolishly enough I didn`t cover my hand – and then he took the machine with my card away – another sales person stood with him – blocked my view and I thought there was something fishy – foolishly enough – I let it go – only to discover that E189 has been taken out of my account as well as the E40 for the glasses – so what he did was – put my card in a second time and put in my number – I have contacted my bank but
they have stopped transactions on my card but can’t stop that one as they had the number and the transactions have gone through – I just thought I`d let you know this and the shop itself – I have been foolish – but perhaps other people can now be aware – I am hoping to try and contact the spanish authorities to see can something be done about this.
It`s a pity I didn`t check all there was said about the camera shops before I went to Lanzarote – other than this – my stay was pleasant and I will not be so trusting again???”

By: Niels

Niels — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:35:34 +0000

Hello again, so I think that there is not one electronics store on the walking street that I would trust in Playa Blanka. They all seam to have the exact same products and same strong arm tactics. I later heard from a German expat that the shops are all owned by the same person. I did hear good things about the 2 that you mentioned before. I did not have a chance to go there as I had to go back to Denmark for a family emergency. I did find out that there is an authorized Canon dealer in Gran Canaria. I believe in Las Palmas. But I did not get the name. Being as I am in Denmark I have chosen to just get the camera here from a store I know here in Copenhagen. It might cause a little more, but I know what I am getting. I guess that might be the lesson in this, you might think you are saving some Euros by buying the items in Lanzarote, but once you get the fake, refurbished or wrong item and have to buy it again at home you have spent more than if you just purchased it before you left.

Anyway, thanks again,
Niels

By: admin

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:45:41 +0000

You’re welcome. Work has been mental recently, but your message came through during a quiet enough time for me to whip out a response. Glad you didn’t put any money down!!! Good luck – and let us know how you get on.
I’ve just spoken to Alan about Amazon… and he said that it’s only books & DVDs they’ll ship out here. Apparently when it comes to camera goods, it’s down to the individual sellers whether they’ll deliver to the Canaries, and can be expensive. I’d take a trip up to Puerto del Carmen or Arrecife and see what they say. Remembering though that Arrecife is closed during the afternoons.
Elle x

By: Niels

Niels — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:36:59 +0000

Hello Elle, thank you for the fast response. I was out earlier today and went in to many of the stores here in town. Almost all of them said they could get the camera. But they also all wanted large deposits. Having been scamed in the past I was not willing to put down any money. Then I came home and found this site and was so very happy I did not put any money down. Thank you for the names of some good places. I mean, they can’t all be bad… Right? Anyway, thanks again!

Niels

By: admin

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:11:45 +0000

Hello NIels. Go and speak to Vnish in Puerto del Carmen – he may be able to help. The shop is in the Centro Atlantico area of the Avenida. I believe that Visanta in Arrecife has a good reputation also.

But… Amazon deliver to Lanzarote too – so worth having a look online.

Good luck!

Elle xx

By: Niels

Niels — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:01:59 +0000

Hello all and sorry about your bad experiences. I have just moved toPlaya Blanka and will be here for a year or more. I can see that there are quite a few stores to stay out of, but are there any good stores? I need to replace my canon 5d mk ii rather quickly as itis quite dead and I need it for work. Any info would be great. There must be reputable places to go on the island. Thanks, Niels

By: admin

admin — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:59:45 +0000

Thanks for sharing your story Staffan!
Elle xx
PS: Nice website by the way! xx

By: Staffan

Staffan — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:29:58 +0000

We visited Playa Blanca in Lanzarote in March 2010 when we were there I thought I’d check the price of a Panasonic camera TZ7 in the apparently notorious affair Microtech.
They reported a relatively low price so I got interested and paid, which I never would have made, when payment was made they tried to run the trick with a cheap Olympus camera, they claimed that it was much better but I was not interested.
They tried to sell all sorts of junk to me unsuccessfully, after about two hours discussing, they gave up and packed down my camera along with all accessories, I would have been screaming about the camera and threatened with police for a long time, probably they may not insert any new customers as long as someone is standing and screaming in the store.
But then I would have had to pay more, the final price was a bit below what it cost at home and the camera works fine.
But I have never before experienced such a rude and intimidating staff and ugly technology to try to blow people, it is strange that the Spanish people allow these thugs to pollute the Canary Islands’ reputation!