How the Simply Electronics website looked earlier this year
A message posted on the firm’s website states:
‘We regret to inform you that we are no longer processing orders. If you have any transactional enquiries or an existing order that has not been delivered, please contact your card issuer to file for a chargeback.’
The firm adds: ‘Under these unfortunate circumstances, you are very likely be [sic] protected by your card issuer to apply a claim against the order for the full value. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.’
The statement does not make clear why the company has stopped sales.
AP understands that a meeting of creditors was due to take place in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, on 9 August.
Simply Electronics could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.
The message to customers posted on the website of Simply Electronics, which is based in Hong Kong
• Earlier this year, Simply Electronics refunded UK photographer Tristan Findley, who said he had unwittingly bought a counterfeit Canon EOS 7D digital SLR in 2010. It wasn’t until he had used it for nearly a year that he discovered its serial number had been tampered with.
Simply Electronics refunded Tristan’s money after he presented the firm with an affidavit he had obtained from Canon.
At the time, Simply Electronics said: ‘We only buy from registered businesses that have sizeable presence in their respective countries and they, like ourselves, will be liable for fraud and prosecution if, indeed, goods are counterfeit.’ The firm said it carries out ‘stringent tests’ on stocks for authenticity.
There is no suggestion that Simply Electronics’ recent move to halt sales is related to this incident.
Tristan took part in an Amateur Photographer survey about counterfeit kit, launched in conjunction with BBC consumer rights show Fake Britain.
The BBC Fake Britain programme on counterfeit cameras, broadcast on 2 September 2016, is now available to view on BBC iPlayer. The item starts about 27 minutes into the show. See the link below:
