I ordered a Canon XTi from fotoconnection.com. Instead of simply shipping the unit as presented, a representative identifying himself as "Sam" contacted me this evening of shipping verification. He tried to sell me batteries that I don't need and refused to ship without selling me either a 3-year of a 5-year extended warranty, "In case you ever dropped it or anything." When I refused, he said he could not ship without the warranty. I told him I was not interested in the warrant and to either ship as advertised or cancel the order. He laughed and taunted me by saying that at that price he was doing me a favor.

Rather than waste my time, I simply canceled my order, and went somewhere else. There are more that one site doing the old "Bait and Switch" by advertising at a super price, then calling instead of shipping saying they are out of stock and pointing you to another "bargain". This outfit refused to ship without an upgrade to an extended warranty. No telling what other unscrupulous business practice they may have up their sleeve.

It may be fruitful for us to start a new category keeping track of other internet businesses engaged in unfair practices.

d