Adorama customer service.......

[Bill58]

Has anyone else had trouble w/ those guys? I can't get them to answer any (3) emails about a couple of used hoods.

Bill

 

[XAos]

I've never gotten a response from email about used merchandise. But I have gotten satisfaction when orders have gone wrong and I've needed to talk to people. I think they just don't like to answer a lot of questions about used merchandise because it doesn't really fit in a script or come from a manufacturer's blurb - it takes a more highly trained monkey than it does to fill orders and deal with UPS's trained monkeys.

 

[wrenhunter]

I've had good & quick replies to questions about orders -- they cheerfully cancelled an item that was backordered.

 

[Ariya]

My wife tried unsuccessfully to order three lenses for me from Adorama. They told her they were in stock and 5 weeks later they still had not shipped. I am not allowed to buy from them now, so I don't know if they have improved. There was another thread on this recently and the general agreement was that you should look elsewhere if possible.

Peter

 

[kbg32]

I've always found Adorama to be great, but I live here and have never dealt with them for mail order.

 

[StuartR]

I find adorama better to deal with in person than through email. Also, be sure to check what they are charging for shipping. I have had several instances where they sold something for less than B&H, but their shipping charge was significantly higher, effectively making them more expensive. I have not ordered much used stuff from them, but I think in general it is better to call them and talk to them than it is to use email. Personally, I leaved the used stuff to KEH or Camera West unless I can check it out in person.

But again, I have had extremely good contact with Adorama in person. They were really nice. They actually stayed late on a Friday for me (when they have to be home before sunset) so that they could find something back in stock. They were really nice about it and even though they had closed up the whole store, they kept telling me: "Oy, don't worry about it. We have to stick around a bit anyway."

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

their website update system and Ebay record are notoriously lacking ...

B&H, KEH are the only guys I deal with (with confidence)

 

[KoNickon]

I've had generally good luck with them on eBay purchases, though I have been waiting for several weeks for a refund check. It could have slipped through the cracks, but I have gotten refunds from them before and they don't exactly move very quickly to issue those.

 

[pesphoto]

Ive orderd a couple things form ebay with no problem. For major purchase would always go with B&H or Calumet.

 

[lmd91343]

Dealing with Adorama is a mixed bag. I have purchased several hundred dollars of stuff from them. I have almost always used phone orders.

First and foremost they are honest and try to make the customer happy.

Second, their grading system is poor. An exc+ lens from them is like a bargain from KEH. I've received several items in worse shape than described.

Third, their tracking and paper work is horrible. on one order (Canon FD lenses almost 10 years ago) I ordered Canon brand 400mm, 24/2.8, and 20/2.8 lenses. I returned the 20 (edge separation) and the 24 (lens was mis-graded). They credited me for the 400 and the 20. That was an error of hundereds and hundreds of dollars. It took me 2 phone calls to fix it. I was sorely tempted to pocket the difference while waiting for them to get their act together.

In the end I have purchased several fine lenses from them and would use them again. I just need to be extra careful in checking the merchandise and paperwork.

 

[XAos]

Dealing with Adorama is a mixed bag. ...
Second, their grading system is poor. An exc+ lens from them is like a bargain from KEH. I've received several items in worse shape than described.

Third, their tracking and paper work is horrible.

I just bought a Sunpak 120j from them, used. It was listed as Excellent, Would've probably been KEH Bargain, but the reflector had been squished. It's still useable, doesn't affect the pattern but it has been uglified. But the detents hold firm, which is more than can be said for a lot of them.

tracking and paperwork - you said it. And they seem to try to make it up in shipping. (Although KEH is high on shipping - they currently have like a $12 minimum shipping price which makes small items impractical to buy there. I would've already scarfed some Wein slaves from them if they'd just put em in an envelope and mail em.) I tend to buy my chemicals from Adorama, because B&H won't ship a lot of stuff.

Used equipment I'd ALWAYS take a KEH item over anybody else's similarly graded item. They just haven't had any 120j's in bargain condition and the EX+ ones they've had weren't enough cheaper than new to spring for it.

 

[jtzordon]

Here's hoping my 24mm I just bought is tryuly exc+!

The only other experience I had was ordering film. They were backordered when I ordered it online, but there was no such indication. When I received my film, I was missing about half the rolls, which I needed two days later. I called and was told it would be here on Tuesday, three days after I needed it. I cancelled the order and spent more $ for it locally.

I'm anxiously awaiting my lens for inspection, hoping all is well. I'm much more at ease with B&H and KEH, but they didn't have the lens I wanted this time.

 

[Kyle]

I hate Adorama. Tried to buy something once, it was a terrible experience. The person on the phone was extremely rude, pushy, and tried selling me filters, bags, hoods, and lots of other crap I didn't need. I'll never deal with them again.

 

[Paulbe]

I've had nothing but excellent success with Adorama. Hope to visit them in person in December.
Paul

 

[Finder]

I went to their store once and the sales person was so rude I never went back. I use B&H.

 

[Scarpia]

I have dealt with them many times in person and have never found any of their sales staff to be rude. I was there twice in the last ten days. I have dealt with most but not all of their sales staff.
Kurt M.

 

[egpj]

I usually buy from Adorama unless they do not have the item in stock. If it goes to backorder then I cancel immediately and try to find the item elsewhere. Never had a backorder item filled by Adorama. Just for fun I have left a Leica handgrip on backorder with them for the past year and half. Wonder how long it will go.

B&H is even worse service wise IMHO. Will not go into it here but the security measures are poorly understood by staff there. Your lucky if the persons manning the phone speak passable english and even then if you can understand them through the thick accents. I have never used them again since the run around I went through there. All I can say is too bad for them, That happened just before I started building my kit. They missed out on $40,000+ in business.

 

[Bill58]

I give up--they just don't reply to enquiries about USED stuff. They're not on my bookmarked list anymore.

 

[Oh Two]

Adorama Rules (not rules!)

Adorama Rules (not rules!)

1.) Always talk to a human.
2.) They are often late with backorders but they do get it out.
3.) When they do get it out you will be stuck for the extra shipping, but you can try complaining.
4.) Even though they enjoy a huge niche business NEVER forget that they are Orthodox and that they observe all Jewish holidays and they close for them. So, if you ain't Jewish and you deal with them you had better get a proper calendar for your desk top.
5.) They're great people!

 

[jtzordon]

I received my lens and it was in really great shape. I don't know if I would call it excellent+ by KEH standards, but I am pleased with my purchase there.