no one likes adorama?? just wondering

a.black

a.black

viva la Swiss
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well i just spend some time watching the fishes in the bay (no i'm not fishing ;-) ) and spotted 3 black M4-Ps from Adorama, with reasonable ratings and a starting price of $799

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-M4-P-35mm...543298309QQcategoryZ30030QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem.

don't get me wrong, maybe 799 is too much to ask for them from the start (other auctions end much higher, the ones i saw). All 3 have only one day left and no bider yet for any of them :confused: . Other Adorama-auctions had also merely one poor soul who wants their stuff.
Is there something wrong with them, even with their 100day-warranty, maybe they stink, I don't know??

My inner resistance and consience are getting weaker every minute I see them for that price. :bang:
 
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A low starting bid does encourage browsers to bid, and once bidding starts it is easier for bidding to continue... we KNOW that someone who has bid will "win" the item. Adorama is making it tough for bidding to begin, I think. But they're a fine vendor, a sponsor of this forum, and I've bought film from them and a new Bronica RF645 kit.
 
Adorama is a good company run by reputable people or was it a reputable company run by good people. I recently acquired a beautiful 35mm screw mount Summaron f2.8 from them for under $450. It was better than anticipated.
 
I do not know about used equipment but the new stuff is sort of hit or miss buying from them. I have personally had to cancel three previous orders from them because of non-delivery. These were not little orders and they were not listed on the website as being out of stock. Right now I have a M grip on backorder with them since July 9th. I am just going to let the order sit there and see how long they take. I have had stuff sit on back order for three months before canceling but this time I am going to let it sit there to see what I can get the record to.

Moral of the story is, if they say it's on backorder then cancel and find it from someone else.
 
I have had only one transaction with them, my Canon P bought on ebay. The camera is excellent, as described. Packaging was below par, with minimum padding. Delivery time as expected. Their handling/delivery charge was high (compared with other purchases from the US), and their refusal to use other than UPS was annoying. (Especially as importing to Australia via UPS guarantees maximum Australian government customs duty and taxes, and additional UPS handling charges.) I don't think I was ripped off, but it was very much "if you don't want to do it our way, don't deal with us". For purely economic reasons I now shop elsewhere.
 
I have dealt with them twice; some impossible to find F2 accessories longout of production, new old stock items. All but two items were delivered, and they tried to get the last two. After a month, they issued a credit for the two items when it was determined they could not get them. I did not ask for the credit, it was simply given.
 
my adorama experience

my adorama experience

I have bought LOTS of stuff from them over the last few years, not through ebay, but just from their web site. Camera lens, film, and other stuff. I never had any problem with the stuff I purchased. Their prices are compatible with B&H. The one thing I did not like is their web site is not linked to their inventory, so you may order something and it is back ordered. However, I had not had to wait long (maybe a month at most) for the back ordered items. If you are impatient, then cancel it if it is back ordered.
 
With B&H around in the US, and Robert White in the UK, why would anyone bother with Adorama? B&H and Robert White both run the most reputable business models around. I am loathe to chance my luck (and money) on Adorama, given their less than spectacular Ebay rating (as well various unreassuring stories around photo.net).
 
I have dealt with them 3 or 4 times in the recent past, and had problems with every one of them. These include non-delivery, and shipment of wrong items. I have only ordered items not available on B&H (or not shipped by B&H like certain chemicals) because their s/h charges are much higher.

My main complaint is that it is so difficult to communicate with them - emails go unanswered, and wait times to get someone on the phone are too long.

I am sure others have had good experience with Adorama, but now I just order from (B&H and) Freestyle.
 
A few months back I had a less than pleasant/perfect experience with them and swore never to give them any of my money ever again.
Then I made a purchase on ebay from a seller named "topcameras". Imagine my dismay and surprise when the email and invoice came from Adorama.
I will state for the record the transaction went just fine but I will never again send them any money.
 
The starting bid is higher than final sale prices for other M4-P bodies I've seen in the same condition.

I have dealt with Adorama three times; the third time convinced me I should not deal with them. First time their site failed to let me know the lens was "backordered"; the second time, I called, the "sales" person was extremely rude, I didn't hang up on him because I really wanted that Tri-X deal. The third time, I put an order online on Monday...I didn't get my order until Wednesday of the next week (no holidays in between); shipping costs are very high compared to B&H. I only deal with B&H now. Their prices are virtually the same, and their customer service is superior.

My twopence.
 
The only transaction I have had involving them was for two pro-packs of Plus-X film in 120 format. I was sent 9 individually boxed rolls of Plus-X and 1 of Tri-X. Thier attention to detail is ... less than some others I'll simply say.

William
 
I only had one encounter with them, when I got some used Bronica stuff, that B&H/KEH didn't have. Went perfect the same way it did when I got numerous shipments from B&H. It's surley easier when you live right in the area and can actually go there and buy or complain, than having only e-mails or the phone to do business.

It's good to hear the other side of it, though you normally hear more about the negative side than the good, expected side.

But thanks for your thoughts on that. Explains things (...but 799 still looks good ;-) )
 
I've never dealt with them mail order but my in store experiences were always pleasant. When B&H were in their old digs on 17th street (some of you may remember how that store was like) walking into Adorama's shop a block away was a peaceful respite...
 
I have bought a lot of stuff from Adorama and also from B&H, and I've never had a problem with either. As someone mentioned Adorama's shipping & handling can be higher.

However everything I have bought from them both has been new, I wouldn't buy anything used from either. Too much "really well used" photo equipment in NYC. ;)

 
saxshooter said:
I've never dealt with them mail order but my in store experiences were always pleasant. When B&H were in their old digs on 17th street (some of you may remember how that store was like) walking into Adorama's shop a block away was a peaceful respite...
Click to expand...
For the record B&H's old digs on 17th St were taken over by Cambridge Camera (now defunct as a store) and after a year or so being vacant the digs are now occupied by an upscale furniture store. I have only dealt with Adorama in person being a resident of the Big Apple and have always been satisfied. Very nice folks in sometimes hectic circumstances.
Kurt M.
 
I've ordered film from Adorama several times and never had any problems. I haven't purchased any equipment there, however, so I can't rate them in that area.
 
I've purchased some used Bronica equipment that was in less-than-advertised condition (lens seperation is never "good" condition). I have purchased film and found it in the box all smashed up because it was improperly packed. Never had those problems with B&H. I believe Adorama is honest - unlike most NYC mail-order photo outfits other than B&H, but I think they're a bit uncaring how they come across via mail order. A little attention to detail would make a lot of difference. I get that difference from B&H. Just my 2 cents.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
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