Help - bought the wrong camera (Pentax K30) - what are my rights

DuncanP · 10 Jan 2013 at 18:58

I have spent weeks pondering over buying a DSLR and I eventually selected the Pentax K30. I tried it out with my old lenses and this was the decider. I looked at the spec and everything seemed ok but to my horror I have found that I am unable to take 3 bracketed shots unless I physically press the shutter. I take HDR shots on my Canon G9 with a tripod by selecteing AEB and setting the timer to prevent camera shake. It now appears, from reading Pentax forum posts that AEB and the timer (or remote) are mutually exclusive. Thus I cannot take the 3 raw pics for post processing.
I had originally looked at the Nikon D3200 but ruled it out because it would not do AEB and I am effectively in the same situation with the Pentax.
The camera is due to be delivered tomorrow (from UK Digital Cameras).

What do I do? I think that I have a couple of weeks when I could get a refund by law, but I do not know the details?

Should I refuse delivery, in which case the camera would be returned by the carrier, without me having to organise and pay for the return carriage?

Can I ask for a full refund or would I be fobbed off with a credit?

I have rescheduled the delivery until Monday, in order that I can talk to the company.

DuncanP · 11 Jan 2013 at 00:39

What will happen to my credit card account? Will the refund immediately come of the original transaction or will I have to wait?
I am worried that if I subsequently buy another camera, possibly from another company that I may be charged for 2 cameras before the rebate is applied.
Thanks

DuncanP · 11 Jan 2013 at 12:24

I contacted the company and they want to charge me for the delivery. I have arranged for the package to be returned to sender from the delivery depot.
They are saying that they can charge me delivery because the item was not faulty and I had merely changed my mind. I mentioned DSR and they said that I could take things up with trading standards. Things quietened down a bit after I said that I may buy from them again, later.

DuncanP · 13 Jan 2013 at 00:23

Hardly seems like the end of the world. Get a cable shuttle release, job done?

I could not find if the cable release would be treated as "Remote" in the menu and whether it would work. I posterd a question on dpreview, pentax forums, etc and nobody suggested this so I assume that it would be treated the same as the IR remote. I saw that somebody had made a metal bracket which fitted onto the hot shoe and allowed a mechanical cable release. I would assume that he would not have gone to the bother if the electrical cable release worked.

DuncanP · 13 Jan 2013 at 00:27

Pentax have increased the price of their cameras amd my camera is now £50 more expensive, so if the supplier sells the unopened camera they will make an extra £50.
Given this I do not see how they can hassle me about the delivery.

DuncanP · 13 Jan 2013 at 02:23

I instructed the carrier to return to sender, unopened.
I did not like the built in HDR and I enjoy using Photomatic. It's almost like film photography, in that you don't knw what the pic will look like until it has been processsed.
The problem with the K30 is that one menu contains the following mutually exclusive options:-
Timer
Anti shake
Remote
Bracketing

As I can only select 1 item (bracketing) I have to press the shutter by hand, which could cause camera shake and ghosting on the HDR.

DuncanP · 21 Jan 2013 at 12:26

Update
The cable release idea works, so I took delivery of the camera and package. I had changed my mind after my initial order and bought the package which cost £100 and came with 5 yr guarantee, spare battery, 32gb card and a Crumpler Jimmy Bo 400 case.
The guarantee is with the company, the case is not really me and is a bit small, the battery did not arrive, so I discussed returning the package under DSR.
They said that they would change the case and that the battery is out of stock and would be sent when new stock arrives. When I suggested returning the package (minus camera), they are wanting to deduct £45 because I have opened the packaging for the card.
I am happy with the camera but not with the package. What can I do?
Thanks
PS Really impressed with the Pentax, I can take handheld night shots, without too much noise.

DuncanP · 21 Jan 2013 at 13:15

I have just talked to them and they say that they will exchange cases and the battery will arrive in a few days, so I think that I will go along with things. I am probably over-reacting about mail order. I'm missing Jessops already!