TL;DR (Brutally Honest)
BuyDirectNY.com is a scam operation. They ignored six of my emails, sent me a $10 filter kit instead of the $1,729 Canon lens I ordered, and then tried to trick my bank with false shipping documents. They are dishonest, unresponsive, and intentionally deceptive. Do not shop there. If you see their prices and think “this seems too good to be true,” you’re right — it is.
The Backstory
On June 1, 2025, I purchased a Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L lens — a professional-grade lens retailing for over $2,000 at most vendors. The price listed at BuyDirectNY.com was enticingly low. I took the bait.
Immediately after the order, red flags appeared:
When it did, it was obvious fraud. The shipping label claimed “3 lbs,” but the package weighed less than 1 lb. Inside? Not the lens I paid for, but a Zeikos 72mm filter kit worth about $9.99 .
The Scam Tactic
This is a textbook scam move:
They weren’t just ignoring me — they were trying to actively deceive CitiBank into thinking I got what I paid for.
The Battle With Citi
Dealing with CitiBank was almost as frustrating as the scammer.
It felt like I was being silenced and forced to jump through hoops, all while the scammer was rewarded for their fraud.
After sending multiple rebuttals and resubmitting documents (because Citi once said my files were “illegible” ), they finally reversed their decision. On September 9, 2025, I got confirmation that the $1,729.61 credit is permanent .
What I Learned
Banks aren’t flawless. Citi eventually did the right thing, but their process is confusing, outdated, and heavily favors the vendor at first. As a cardholder, I was excluded from critical steps of the review.
If it looks too good to be true, it is. Don’t trust online retailers you can’t verify.
Scammers prey on trust. This vendor knowingly tried to steal and deceive not just me, but my bank.
Final Word
BuyDirectNY.com is not a trustworthy business — it’s a scam. They cost me months of stress, attempted theft of nearly $2,000, and a mountain of paperwork.
To anyone reading: don’t give them your money. If you see their ads or deals, run the other way.
And to Citi: protecting your customers means listening to them , not rewarding fraudsters. Update your dispute process so people like me don’t have to fight this hard to prove the obvious.
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