Digital Camera Repair Blog

The Better Business Bureau has been around for decades, and most people know the name. The problem is people think the BBB is a government agency or has actual power to assist them with a dispute with a company.

You don’t have to agree with what I say, but I ask you to prove me wrong! Watch this video by the ABC News show “20/20″ on Youtube, just search for “BBB 20/20 investigation” on Youtube and you will find it easily; here is a link:

ABC News 20/20 BBB Investigation – Youtube.com

I have actually been told that I faked the video above and that it’s not real by someone that has never done business with us before. It’s amazing the things people will say to you through email if they don’t have to say it to your face. Did I fake ABC News? I don’t think so, sorry.

Let’s be clear about one thing: the BBB is a BUSINESS, they are NOT operated by the government, nor are they given any power by the government to assist you. The BBB is a business out to make money, just like every other business out there.

Don’t tell me they are a “non-profit” and don’t do it for money. The top execs at the BBB get paid over $100,000/yr. Why do they need so much money? Where do you think that money comes from? If they were “non-profit” why do they pay themselves so much?

The BBB charges other businesses to be “Accredited” with them, and then consumers can go onto the BBB website and file complaints about the business in question. Nowhere can a happy customer relate a positive experience with a business, it’s negatives only please.

If you do not pay your yearly dues to the BBB you cannot be “accredited” and your rating GOES DOWN. Paying for membership increases your rating… why is that fair? Is a company better because they gave the BBB money?

Here are some BBB ratings for YOU to check out yourself. Don’t take my word for it, go to www.bbb.org and search on your own:

- Wolfgang Puck – “F, not accredited”

http://www.la.bbb.org/business-reviews/Kitchenware-Retail-By-Direct-Selling/Wolfgang-Puck-in-Beverly-Hills-CA-100048262

- Ritz Carlton Hotel – “F, not accredited”

http://www.bbb.org/atlanta/business-reviews/hotels/the-ritz-carlton-hotel-company-in-atlanta-ga-6004182

- Canon Repair Department “F, not accredited”

http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/photographic-equipment-repair/canon-repair-department-in-elk-grove-village-il-88364386

The BBB has ACKNOWLEDGED that this is true, that if you pay you get a better grade, and has just now said they will stop connecting their rating to paying for membership. After DECADES of shady practices they are starting to take steps to improve their image only because of pressure from the public to do so.

I paid for a BBB membership for one year, the cost was $600 per year to join. They told me the cost is based on your business size, so imagine how much a huge company would have to pay! The thing is, most big companies DON’T CARE what the BBB has to say, because they know that the BBB is just a place to register complaints and nothing more.

When my BBB membership expired I was told I would have to pay my dues, plus meet with them and explain to them why I was getting complaints and basically beg them to take me back as  a member. I refused to do it because there was no reason for me to pay them, they did nothing for me so why would I give them my money?

My rating went from an “A, Accredited” to “F, Non-Accredited” in a very short time. Yes I had complaints, and yes I responded to all complaints about me and I resolved each and every one of them with the customer.

Why would  I pay them $600 again when I did everything the same without paying for membership as I was doing when I did pay for membership?

I’m tired of being told by people that have never done business with us that we are scammers and thieves because we have an “F” BBB rating.

We have thousands of happy customers, we have repaired thousands of cameras and shipped repair parts around the world. I’ve been running this website since 2006, and one of my repair techs has been with me for 6 years! He was my first employee and he’s still here doing repairs and shipping.

If you want to do business with us we would be happy to help you with your repair part or repairing your camera for you. If you don’t want to do business with us that’s fine, but it doesn’t give you the right to email me and call me a scammer, or post libelous comments online saying that I am.

Our address is clearly listed on every page of our website; if you have any doubt we are a real business then I invite you to come here and see for yourself. I realize this isn’t always possible, but if we were anything other than legit would we have our address on the website and have customers come here to drop off their cameras or buy parts from us?

Just because you read something on the internet about a person or a company doesn’t make it true. Anybody can post anything online anonymously. You want to call me a scammer online? Do so on our Facebook page so the world can see your real name and I will be happy to address any concerns you may have.

www.facebook.com/darntoothysam

Thomas Drayton
Owner, Darntoothysam.com

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