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Buyer Beware—Moultrie camera

Knothead

Knothead

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Very disappointed in the Moultrie M-4000i camera. Moultrie markets it as "New", but it's really nothing more than the A-20i dressed up in a new case. Even the (lousy) A-20i has the cable hooks built onto it for the modem/auxiliary power cable, whereas this 4000i does not. It says it has an 80' detection span. I could not get it to pick up movement anywhere past 45'. It, like the A20i, does not provide the option to name your camera other than to select one of the pre-programmed "Camera 1"-7. Picture quality is lacking as well. Not a fan. I will be returning it.
Only advantage I have found is it's easy, simple set up.
 
Re: Buyer Beware—Moultrie camera---Update

So, more info.
I called Moultrie and explained the story----------that I tried to order a M-4000i from BPS but has been on backorder since order date of July 12. Was in the store yesterday and they had the BC-4000i on the shelf. Looked identical, so I went to customer service and was told its the same as the M-4000i. They showed me the SKU # of both, and they matched. In their defense, so did the product description and features. Got it home and found out, it isn't the same. Set it up, and that's how I came up with the poor review above.
Was in discussion this with UTGrad, and this morning, he did a little Columbo research and found out that it appears to be a bait and switch. Its advertised as one camera but sold as another, much lesser and much cheaper camera.
I called Moultrie and spoke to their sales and customer service departments , explained the issues and asked them what is up with this. They did some digging and came back with, "its the same camera, but the number difference from M-4000i to BC-4000i is because of the vendor that sells it, in this case, BassPro/Cabelas (i.e. BC)." Kept her on the line, and directed her to their website and to look at the manual for the M4000i and explained that the manual for the M4000i shows a picture of the set up screen, which looks nothing like the set up screen on the one I have. I asked her, "So, if the 2 cameras are the same, with the only difference being the number (depending on the vendor that sells it), why would the set up screens be different?"
Ended up emailing her a pic of the screen of the BC camera, then talking her in to how to find and look at the manual on-line (ON THEIR OWN WEBSITE) for the M camera. She finally agreed that 'this is misleading'. Ended up speaking to 3 different people, and am still waiting on someone to call me back for and explanation and resolution.
Appears somewhat like false marketing/advertising.
 
Knothead":12uq7hkd said:
So, more info.
I called Moultrie and explained the story----------that I tried to order a M-4000i from BPS but has been on backorder since order date of July 12. Was in the store yesterday and they had the BC-4000i on the shelf. Looked identical, so I went to customer service and was told its the same as the M-4000i. They showed me the SKU # of both, and they matched. In their defense, so did the product description and features. Got it home and found out, it isn't the same. Set it up, and that's how I came up with the poor review above.
Was in discussion this with UTGrad, and this morning, he did a little Columbo research and found out that it appears to be a bait and switch. Its advertised as one camera but sold as another, much lesser and much cheaper camera.
I called Moultrie and spoke to their sales and customer service departments , explained the issues and asked them what is up with this. They did some digging and came back with, "its the same camera, but the number difference from M-4000i to BC-4000i is because of the vendor that sells it, in this case, BassPro/Cabelas (i.e. BC)." Kept her on the line, and directed her to their website and to look at the manual for the M4000i and explained that the manual for the M4000i shows a picture of the set up screen, which looks nothing like the set up screen on the one I have. I asked her, "So, if the 2 cameras are the same, with the only difference being the number (depending on the vendor that sells it), why would the set up screens be different?"
Ended up emailing her a pic of the screen of the BC camera, then talking her in to how to find and look at the manual on-line (ON THEIR OWN WEBSITE) for the M camera. She finally agreed that 'this is misleading'. Ended up speaking to 3 different people, and am still waiting on someone to call me back for and explanation and resolution.
Appears somewhat like false marketing/advertising.
Click to expand...

Nice work Knothead and sorry for the trouble. It's clear Moultrie is selling a cheaper Bass Pro/Cabelas version of the M4000 but marketing it as a "M4000" when it's clearly not the same camera.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Browning did that with some of their cameras several years ago. Used 1-2 year old models, relabeled them with a 'C-" prefix for Cabelas, and sold them as new models but cheaper. I think the manufactures do that with overstock... they sell overstock to big box stores cheap, who in turn sell them cheaper than new models, but market them as new and make a tidy profit.
 
Glad to say, Moultrie took care of this. Allowed me to return it to them and they shipped me another, newer camera.
Bad Pro customer service is bad, but Moultrie has my vote of confidence in the customer service aspect.
 
If I can hijack: I need a couple more game cameras. Good entry-level good bang for the buck cameras you guys recommend?

Thanks,
 

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