Focus Camera

Ratings:Top:Astronomy:Places To Buy:Focus Camera

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Name:Focus Camera
Web Site:http://www.focuscamera.com/astro.htm
Address:4419 13th Avenue

Bklyn, NY 11219
Phone:
Orders:800-221-0828 (71
Inquiries:718-437-8899
Fax:800-863-6287 (71
Other:
Types of Stuff:
checked Telescopeschecked Eyepieceschecked Binoculars
un-checked Tripods/Mountschecked Accessorieschecked Books
un-checked ATM Materials
Methods of Purchase:
un-checked Storechecked Phonechecked Web(checked Secure)
Methods of Payment:
checked Visachecked MasterCardchecked Discover
checked American Expressun-checked Checkun-checked Money Order
un-checked CODun-checked Financing 
Description:
Vote Highlights Vote
Focus Camera
Although they may have great prices, be sure to get a quote on shipping cost, as they do make up for low profit margins by charging higher than usual shipping & handling rates. These charges can sometimes be so significant that they can offset their seemingly great price.

Usually deal with a guy named Izzy. He knows little, speaks fast, places you on hold several times during an order and is generally not a friendly person to deal with. He likes to repeat the phrase "...anything else?" when you place an order.

Payed for new Fujinon 10x70 binos, received them in a lightly scoofed-up condition, dirty lenses, indicative of a floor model or return. Collimation was also off. What can I say? Decided to keep them to avoid a conflict, as I recalled a horrible past experience trying to return something to them.

Adormama Camera is another New York, rock-bottom priced camera/astro gear dealer to contact. Similar prices to Focus, perhaps a little better service. They compliment each other and you should get quotes from both before deciding to purchase. Again, caution with those shipping & handling charges!

I recall that one of these vendors, or perhaps both, are the way to go for Televue EP purchases such as Panoptics and Naglers. Call to get their "real" price, which is lower than their website and advertised price. No other dealers appear to deviate from list pricing.

Overall Rating: 6
Price:9 Service:4
Weight: 20 (Notable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=167212

Focus Camera
I recently ordered a Nagler 3-6 mm Zoom lens from Focus Camera and I must say, they were on par with many of the better vendors. I received my lens in perfect condition, in a timely manner and at a competitive price. I would consider them to be a bit above average...at least for this one transaction.

Overall Rating: 8
Price:8 Service:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=323629

Focus Camera
Know what you want, know what it costs, and be specific - and they will be a good value. They are "box movers" not astronomers.

Overall Rating: 7
Price:9 Service:3
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=68662

Focus Camera
They are rude, lie about items being in stock, lie about shipping, do not answer customer service calls, and do not answer emails. There are lots of companies out there that should be supported. Focus isn't one of them.

Overall Rating: 1
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44934

Focus Camera
I purchased a digital camera and some accessories. Their prices were the best on the web, and to my surprise, they even followed up on my email request for a minor substitution in the order. They called to confirm shipping (and probably to prevent any credit card rip-off). The sales girl was polite, with a direct, no-nonsense attitude (this is New York after all). She made a point of saying "Thank you", and hoped I'd be a satisfied customer. I was.

The secret of dealing with them is to know what you want when you order, and don't expect a neighborly, back-porch chat.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44933

Focus Camera
The service was... rude. i felt rushed to give up my infomation. you don't have any time to ask these people about the product, so if you buy from them just know what you want... exactly what you want. My telescope did arrive 3 days after i called in my order. However, They promised a free barlow lens on the web site; this barlow didn't come in with my main order. I called back and after 10 minutes or so of being on hold, the operator asking where i saw this free barlow, the part number (which i didn't know) and him looking on the computer i did finally get the barlow, again in 3 days (by the way, not worth it). The prices where awesome! The nexstar 8 was 1399 and 75 for shipping. that's 100 bucks cheaper for the scope and 25 bucks cheaper for shipping than other places i looked. I give focus a 8 because of the great prices, and I got a brand new scope that was completely intact. I wouldn't buy a scope from these people again, but maybe eyepieces or such. if you do buy from them, just be as no nonsense as they are. word of advice; have everything ready, know what you wnat and you won't have a problem.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44931

Focus Camera
I called to order my scope from these guys, new EXACTLY what I wanted, and

I hung up wondering what I ordered...

Once you have ordered from a more reputable company, there is really no comparision. They are frequently the cheapest, but you will pay astronomical shipping fees. These tend to bring the price back up to what you would have paid anywhere else.

I wont order from them again.

On the plus side, it did arrive in a timely manner, and was what I thought I ordered, but the sales people were a huge put off.

Overall Rating: 6
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44929

Focus Camera
They are the bait-and-switch kings. Their high handling charges cancelled out any savings to their quoted prices. they quoted me one price on the phone and charged me $20 more on my credit card. Since I didn't record my phone call, I couldn't prove anything. I was hung up on several times trying to get the "free lens cleaning kit with every order". I still never got it. I will never order from them again.

Overall Rating: 0
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44928

Focus Camera
Extremely rude people the sales person actually hanged up for just asking a mere question.If you order from this company make sure you know what you want and don't ask anymore question.

Overall Rating: 1
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44927

Focus Camera
Cheap! Ordered Canon IS 10x30 binoculars from them for $399; $100 cheaper than other places. They probably make some of that up from their S&H costs ($15 for UPS ground shipping), but still pretty good. Salesmen are pretty straight and to the point and not altogether helpful. Be sure you know what you want BEFORE you call. Package was double boxed, shipped day after the order, and took 1 week from time of order to get from NY to CA.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44926

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