A photographer who spent $3,000 on a Sony camera was shocked to discover nothing but an empty box and mysterious bags of white powder when it arrived.
Jakub Sokolowski of Edinburgh ordered a £2,400 Sony a7 IV from Jessops, Britain’s leading retailer of photographic equipment, for delivery by DPD. However, on November 25 of last year, when he received the package and opened the box, he said that it contained nothing but bags containing some kind of white powder, possibly to weigh the package to avoid suspicion.
Sokolowski has experienced significant difficulties both without the camera he ordered and when trying to remedy the situation, despite speaking to Police Scotland, the DPD, Jessops and the Citizens Advice Office :
I bought a camera online from a reputable source, which is Jessops and DPD is the courier. I never got a camera instead of a device. I found white powder in my parcel. The worst part of this situation is that no company is willing to help nor reimburse me for the money I lost… it’s considered an investment for work and put your work. I reached new heights. I saved £1,000 over a year to buy it, and now, not only have I lost money on my camera, but also money from jobs I had to cancel because it never came.
Sokolowski went on to say the situation has caused significant stress, resulting in difficulty sleeping and difficulties in his personal relationships. It also had an impact on his financial situation:
I’ve lost £1,000 in my upfront payment, but I still need to pay the rest. Otherwise, it will affect my credit score. It’s outrageous.
Thankfully, the DPD recently said it is investigating the incident and plans to refund Sokolowski in the coming days.
