I am writing this guide so people who are buying these SVP cameras have a clear understanding of what they are purchasing and are not shocked when they receive their camera.
Just a little background on how I became another one of SVP's victims. I was browsing the digital camera section of EBay a couple of weeks ago and had seen a Ten Megapixel camera that only had ten minutes left in the auction and that was in my price range. Trusting the information that I had read on the description page I decided to put in the winning bid and won an advertised ten megapixel camera for just under sixty dollars with free shipping. After I had paid for the camera through Pay Pal which is EBay’s sister company for those who do not know, I assumed if I did not like the camera I could return it within seven days as specified on their page. So four days later the so called ten mega pixel camera arrives in my mailbox. I was excited but once I opened up the box I knew I had been scammed. What I got was a 5 mega pixel camera! The scam is that they advertise these cameras for ten and twelve megapixel, but the catch is that it’s interpolated. Being a beginner with cameras I looked up what interpolated means, basically what the camera does is take a five mega pixel shot and then there is some type of program that guesses where the extra mega pixels should be which cause the picture to lose its original format.
Buyers beware I went through this experience so you don't have to. Currently I am in the middle of a claim with Pay Pal against these guys. Personally I believe the only reason EBay lets SVP continue to operate is because they receive a chunk of the revenue. From what I understand this company calls themselves Silicon Valley P something or another, but my belief is that they are making these for cents on the dollar in sweatshops in China and importing them to California so they can have in country whole seller and you believe your buying an American made camera. This whole rip-off has caused me to lose trust in the sellers on EBay and it’s a shame that this company is still operating. If you look at the seller who sold me my camera for example he has high positive feedback. But once you go into his history you will see the same complaints which usually is item not as described.
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