Hi guys. I'm new and this is my first post. This morning, I received my usual email from the folks at Sony. In case you are not aware of my.sony.com, a person can join by registering with them and for your time, they give you a number of points. These points can be redeemed for "deep discounts" along with a monetary payment.

I have been looking for a good digital camcorder for months now, and I have always enjoyes Sony's products. They tend to have great quality. However, during my search this morning, I went to the Sony home page to see what new products that they were offering. I checked the prices and was not surprised as I don't mind paying a little extra for better quality. Well, the prices were just too high, so I signed into my mysony account to see what discounts that I could receive. I was APALLED!

The price listings on the sonystyle.com site were actually $100.00 LOWER than what was listed on the my.sony.com site.

For example: The DCR-DVD7 is listed at $699.99 on the SonyStyle site.
The DCR-DVD7 is listed at $799.99 on the MySony site.

The DCR-HC90 is listed at $999.99 on the SonyStyle site.
The DCR-HC90 is listed at $1,099.99 on the MySony site.

So it appears as Sony is trying to make their loyal customers believe that they are getting higher discounts by completing the requirements that they set for you to receive these points. Each month or so, a member is emailed a newsletter with links that they can click on. If you click on so many links, you get X number of points. I'm sure that Sony doesn't just post these links to other companies on their site for free. I'm sure that there is a "pay-per-click" clause in their contract. So they get money for each click, and in return, you receive these points.

This is such a disgrace to their customers. I have emailed them to express my discontent and have asked them what they plan to do to win back my business.

If you would like to do the same, please send an email to their customer service at: [email protected] <[email protected]>

Sorry about your troubles, but what on earth made you come to www.dvdtalk.com and post this rant as your first ever post. It's the wrong forum (since this discussion has NOTHING to do with upcoming and or previous dvd releases; if it belongs on the forums at all it would be in the store forum) and it's not the best way to say hi.

Additionally, I'm not 100% clear from your post but why not take the "monetary payment" and apply it to the cheaper site? Is there something preventing this?

Welcome to DVDtalk. Since this is more about a specific store/site it really does belong in the Store Forum.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing your rant.

How exactly is this a scam? It's really disgusting when people throw around that libelous word with no substantive support.

If you haven't purchased anything from them, you haven't been scammed.

If you do make a purchase from them, and receive the item as described, you haven't been scammed.

If you don't like their prices, don't shop there. Accuse them of being overpriced if you want, but it's not a scam.

I would assume that you can't use MySony points when ordering from Sony Style.I see where the OP is coming from with this,it is pretty lame.

This might be lame, but it's no scam. It's not even surprising!

Sonystyle.com charges more for a lot of things than authorized Sony retailers do. The only thing I've bought from any of the Sony websites are OEM parts that aren't available anywhere else.

And my.sony.com can have the occasional great deal on a DVD or older piece of equipment. Certainly they shouldn't be your first stop... but they are hardly a scam.

If "scam" is too harsh, I think the word "fraud" might be appropriate. It's definitely misleading. They tell you when you sign up for my.sony that you are eligible for special deals and discounts, but you actually pay more than if you buy directly off their sonystyle site. I was looking at a 36" TV. If you buy it through my.sony.com you pay $1650. +tax (shipping is free). If you buy it through sonystyle, it's $1499 +tax with free premium delivery and a free $279 stand.

This is truly lame. I just fired off an e-mail to them as well. Mijenki, did you ever get a reply?

It doesn't fit the legal definition of a scam or fraud, but it is misleading and pretty dishonest...but unfortunately perfectly legal for SONY to do.

When I first started getting the mysony stuff, I tried racking up some points thinking I could get a deal or two. But I pretty soon realized it was a bunch of crap as everything was outrageously overpriced and the "points" you earn did little to bring them down to normal levels.

Why is it that anytime an online etailer has bad pricing it's a scam, fraud, rip off, dishonest, etc.? Before signing up for anything, people should look at what items sell for on the site. If you don't like it, then move on. Just assuming they were going to be cheap and you were going to get a great deal is nothing more than empty wishes.

I found quite a few good deal on DVDs and electronics on My Sony. You just have to keep your eyes open. I also got free things from them as a member including 15 or so free songs from their connect store, $5 off and 10% off coupons and a free picture coffee mug.

No, its not loaded with great deals, but they do have sales from time to time if you check on it from time to time and its not in any way a scam.

Except that you can't see the prices on my.sony without signing up.

Then you roll the dice and takes your chances! Surely, a little research on google would've told you what has already been said in this thread?

Agreed - there have been several DVDs not carried by CH that I was able to get for less than any other on-line source, and does anybdy else remember that shortly after the 3-disc Black Hawk Down came out, they had it for $16 ....

P.S. - Interesting that the OP signed up for DVDTalk, made this one "contribution", and has never posted on DVDTalk again.

Why use google when there's the DVDtalk Store Forum? That's why I was looking here in the first place.

I've gotten some good deals from my.sony.com, hell it is just like any otehr part of the internet, check numerous sources first to see if you are getting a good deal. That's called shopping around for a bargain, its only a "scam" if they hypnotise you with a stellar web design into entering your address and credit card number and you mindlessly click on the complete purchase button, at which point you come out of the daze and wonder why the heck you ordered the complete Tele-tubbies collection for MSRP. but that only happens to noobs

I got some good deals too. Superbits were decent back in the day...especially witha coupon. Also, as stated...the 3-disc BHD was a great deal.

Probably a shill from BMG, they are always trying to eat Sony's Lunch