Adorama and the infinite let down.

[Paulbe]

Good point, Ben. But KEH doesn't always deal with the savvyiest seller. They come to a big local camera shop and say--"we'll be at location "X"--bring us your gear." And folks show up and sell their gear at KEH's asking price. And then they will buy out entire camera shops. They are pretty shrewd business folks to have been around since the 70s--and they are still excellent to deal with--a lesson for us all.

 

[Range-rover]

I've purchased used from all three mentioned above, Adorama B&H and KEH,
like with all used you have to check it out. I did get a great deal on a Nikon S3
from Adorama online it was I think poor condition and they listed all the
problems so for $300.00 dollars with a 50mm lens went for it. It was as
described but I fixed it up and takes great pictures, it's just you have to
know what to look for.

Range

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

Yeah, never buy anything used from Adorama unless you are picking it up in person, and even then you need to be more cautious than with other dealers. This is just with USED gear, though.

I lived in NYC for 20+ years and had some not good experiences with them. I got suckered on a rolleiflex, per-internet and I knew not enough about them.... Went to pick up a Leica r lens and was handed a very different version than was listed.... That sort of thing. But, what always strikes me is the way the used goods are stored and handled. Not sure about what they're doing most recently, but in the past, all the gear was just sorta piled up in glass cabinets. Dusty, dirty, uncleaned.... There was just no care. And that was in the cabinets behind the counter, in full view of customers. God knows how they're treated behind the scenes.

Again,just for used stuff. With new goods, they're fine and I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them. In fact, I bought my latest iMac 27" with SSD from them exactly a year ago. Great price, great buying experience. Shipped lickedy split to LA.

For used, b&h definitely is better. Keh is better still. But also, look at PhotoVillage.com. In NYC. Great stuff, sold by really good folks.

 

[bushwick1234]

I agree with B-9. And I don't want to rant either. However, I bought online a Leica D-Lux rated E(xcellent) and was all beaten up. Return was made easy at the store and the same day I bought a brand new D-Lux - the refund for the E-rated camera still on its way to my account. When I was sitting in a cafe around the corner of Adorama to inspect the camera it didn't work. Yes, Adorama took the brand new camera back, refunded the money for a second time that day to my card, which takes several days to show in my account but I had to pay again for a third camera that day. What made me wonder is that Adorama never got the words sorry or we apologize or similar balm over their lips. B&H is since then my store of choice. 🙂 And I am not ranting, just sharing my personal experience.

 

[brusby]

As I noted above; photographs can be supplied upon request - always best to email me: Helen@adorama.com. I can also put you in contact with someone from the used department if you need to ask specific questions about a unit.

Thank you Helen.

Just to reiterate, I've had nothing but very good experiences on those occasions that I've decided to make a purchase. And I really appreciate your efforts to make it a comfortable buying experience for potential customers.

 

[HelenOster]

.....they all allow easy returns and full refunds.
It's so much cheaper to do that than actually inspect, describe and photograph each item before the sale.......
B+H and Adorama never achieved a high degree of accuracy in evaluating used gear.
That's not a priority for them because it's such a small percentage of their overall sales volume.

Actually, every item is evaluated by at least 2 technicians as part of the purchasing process!
Grading, whether as 1,2,3 or E+, E E-, G, F, can only be a personal view. you are correct that we make it easy to return goods - within the first 30 days, if an item is really not as described, we'll send a pre-paid label for return.

 

[Vics]

Try http://classic.keh.com for the old web site; same inventory.

Thanks SO MUCH for this link!

 

[HelenOster]

I wish I had known about Helen a couple days ago:

I recently (finally, excitedly) ordered a Mamiya 7 and 65mm f/4 lens from Adorama. Apparently by the time the order went through, the lens had already sold (sigh), and the order was "on hold" because of this. I had no idea how long the system would wait to figure that out (until another identical lens shows up? Never, since each item is a separate catalog no.?) so I called, was sent to about 3 different people on the phone, tried to find out if they might have another one, but the system said no so the answer must be no, and finally just had the lens cancelled from the order.

Can you please email me: Helen@adorama.com with your order number? We do need to investigate this - and ensure nothing like this can happen again.
Thank you

 

[analogangler]

Update:

I had an e-mail from Adorama asking for pictures of the (incorrect) battery case about a week ago, and I responded the same day with photos of the item. Five days passed and I had not heard anything so I sent another e-mail (yesterday) and they responded by calling and e-mailing that they had called today. I missed the initial call but when I called back the agent I talked to was very apologetic and as they no longer had the item I wanted in stock, refunded the money and did not require a return of the item they sent. They also said I could contact him directly if I needed to make a purchase in the future.

Helen - I didn't see your post until just now but I had copied you on an e-mail to customer service anyway so I hope you received it.

I'm a little bummed about the whole experience as I wished I'd been able to get everything I ordered the first time(s). At the same time, like others, I have never had problems with ordering new items (mostly film), and I realize there is an inherent complexity to ordering used items. Adorama has at least tried their best to rectify the situation.

So I guess I haven't given up on them yet.

 

[JChrome]

I'll never buy anything from Adorama again. Their salespeople and managers are terrible.

I bought the 100mm macro USM Canon L lens for something like $1200 when it came out. When I would slightly move it, there was a clanging sound inside which I thought was a defect. I took it to one guy who said they should take it back to be exchanged for another. Then I spoke to the manager. He had no idea what was going on, was rude and the only thing he said was "I'm not a Canon manufacturing expert."

After reading online, I found that that lens has a stabilizing element inside which does make a sound if the lens isn't being powered. Anyway, I still hate the way I was treated. This is just one story out a a handful where I've felt mistreated.

I spent so much money there... thousands of dollars on tripods, 5dMkiis, Canon L glass... And I've never felt more like an insignificant number than I do there.

K&M Camera is not much better. But B&H is pretty good IMHO.

 

[HelenOster]

I'll never buy anything from Adorama again. Their salespeople and managers are terrible.

....

I was so very sorry to read your feedback; from the description of your experience I'm not surprised that you feel the way you do.

At Adorama Camera our expectations of all staff members are that the utmost priority is given to excellence in Customer Service - and it sounds as though we failed you badly on this occasion.

Can I ask you to please email me directly: Helen@adorama.com with more details of exactly who served you and what date and time? I'd welcome the opportunity to try to make this up to you.

Please accept my sincere apologies, and I very much look forward to hearing from you.

 

[Addy101]

Reading these horror stories it is a wonder anybody buys anything at Adorama 😱

I bought twice from Adorama. A couple of years ago I bought a grip for my A900 that was clearly used, but was advertised as such. Recently I bought a Fuji GW690 that was better then I expected reading the description. So, I'm okay with Adorama.

 

[HelenOster]

Reading these horror stories it is a wonder anybody buys anything at Adorama 😱

I think you'll find if you 'Google' almost any business something horrid will come up, somewhere - but I do take all complaints very seriously, and we take appropriate action where required.........

I bought twice from Adorama. A couple of years ago I bought a grip for my A900 that was clearly used, but was advertised as such. Recently I bought a Fuji GW690 that was better then I expected reading the description. So, I'm okay with Adorama.

Thank you! 🙂

 

[mfunnell]

It's nice to be in the circumstance where the vast, vast, majority of transactions proceed smoothly - and that is so unremarkable that it goes, well, unremarked.

For what it's worth, I received an order from Adorama, in good order, last week. The 14th in my order history - and I received others I presume pre-date the recording system. I've only had one problem and that was fixed quickly and with little fuss.

I'm sure that's unremarkable, but it's pretty good.

...Mike

 

[Sparrow]

I'll never buy anything from Adorama again. Their salespeople and managers are terrible.

I bought the 100mm macro USM Canon L lens for something like $1200 when it came out. When I would slightly move it, there was a clanging sound inside which I thought was a defect. I took it to one guy who said they should take it back to be exchanged for another. Then I spoke to the manager. He had no idea what was going on, was rude and the only thing he said was "I'm not a Canon manufacturing expert."

After reading online, I found that that lens has a stabilizing element inside which does make a sound if the lens isn't being powered. Anyway, I still hate the way I was treated. This is just one story out a a handful where I've felt mistreated.

I spent so much money there... thousands of dollars on tripods, 5dMkiis, Canon L glass... And I've never felt more like an insignificant number than I do there.

K&M Camera is not much better. But B&H is pretty good IMHO.

You took back a new lens that was working normally? ... and then discovered it was

 

[helen.HH]

I do my selling of Gear here on RFf and most of my buying
I would not SELL to Adorama, B&H, KEH, simply because they give a very low rate of return $ on your used gear... Unless your desperate don't bother in selling to them
Buying is a different story 😉

On occasion I have bought new/used products and have NEVER had a problem @Adorama
If I decided it was not for me returns were done in a very Polite & Professional manner,
quite EASY in fact 😉

I agree with 'd.sge' : Simon is probably the BEST salesperson there.. A true gent
Andy behind the Used Gear/Selling dept is Quite Fun & Informative to talk with as well as Angel who occasionally makes his way down on the main floor

 

[JChrome]

You took back a new lens that was working normally? ... and then discovered it was

If you had bought a brand new lens and heard a clunking sound inside what would you do? And then when you ask a rep about it at the store, one tells you it's fine and the other tells you it's not?

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

I, too, am very surprised at seeing a thread with this title. My experience at Adorama has always been positive.

Adorama is one of a handful of really top shelf photo retailers with reasonable policies, great stock, and good prices. And, when something goes wrong, Helen shows up here, offering to help. I think this is pretty damn good.

I've encountered some real sleaze bags in cameras, used-car salesmen, luggage, and other retailing fields… The top-line photo retailers are doing an incredible job.

Kudos to Adorama and Helen. I won't try to list the other top-shelf photo retailers by name, but kudos to all of you as well.

 

[Calzone]

I've had to return a minty black F2AS that at home discovered had a dead meter, but I can also say that some of the sales people at Adorama are very patient with me and I consider them my friends.

Above in an earlier post I mentioned some remarkable deals that I got over the years at Adorama that I think arew/were deals of a lifetime. At times I have been disappointed, like when a remarkably clean black MR-4 meter suddenly died and I had to return it for a full refund. To me it has always been worth the risk to shop at Adorama due to their refund policy.

Cal

 

[burancap]

My only beef with Adorama is that they overpackage! Do poor Mother Nature (and your bottom line) a favor and halve (or better) it! Seriously, a ~12" square cardboard box for a hot shoe cap? 😀