I wish I could post a glowing 'Customer Service' story from Adorama, as I recently did for Canon. Not quite though.
I searched so many places locally, but no one had the Sigma 180 macro lens that I could buy it here close to me. As I mentioned somewhere, the one that I ordered from Adorama was dead on arrival. I contacted them and they DID send me a shipping label, but for UPS ground. They promised to send the lens back to me 3 day air, but they sent it ground as well. So here I was, two and a half weeks without the new lens.
I even sent the salesman who sold me the lens an email telling him that I would love to plug him and Adorama on the photo forum that I belong to, if he helped it get back to me faster. Guess he did not care.
Anyway, I DO have the working lens now, finally, and it is great.
Hi Nathan,
I have purchased from Adorama a few times. I had one or two slight problems. I now do all my camera equipment purchases from B&H PhotoVideo. They usually ship to me the same day I place an order. They have excellent tech support and their store is a wonderful place to visit if you are ever in NYC. You'll feel like a kid in a candy store. I once purchased the wrong teleconverter for a Sigma lens, but had destroyed the original box (A very stupid thing to do). They gave me the name of the person to contact at Sigma and the name of the person who referred me to them. In 2-3 days I received a new box complete with all the inserts, even the warranty card printed with the serial number of the teleconverter I wanted to return. I shipped it back to B&H and received credit the next day.
Gene Steinberg
Andover, New Jersey
Posted by Ned Fenimore on June 2, 2006 at 10:59 AM
I pretty much stick with B&H. My last order trhough that company for a "new" lens yielded an item with no less than three nicks and scratches around the outer rim alone. They did refund my money without a problem, though..
I have purchased from Adorama a couple of times and was not terribly thrilled with the experience. I generally purchase from B&H. As long as you don't mind gruff salespeople, they are really good. I have also had good luck with Hunt's in MA.
I've ordered from Adorama a few times without any problems. But I just tracked my latest package from them and it's telling me it's already been delivered - to Edison, NJ. I live in Armstrong, Ontario, Canada. I use Adorama because sometimes I want my packages shipped to a place other than where my credit card statement goes and B&H won't do that. Otherwise I'd use B&H all the time, although I've had problems with them too.
Posted by Fred Stearns on June 7, 2006 at 10:04 PM
Ian,
I always have my packages from B+H delivered to an address other than the one that my credit card statement goes to. I did discover a problem as I have my packages delivered to a third party private mail box. After several years of using this arrangement, I used the private mail box phone number. That caused problems and I had to do some fancy talking to get them to deliver it there. What I do to get around this is to use my cell phone number as the contact number for the private mail box address. As best I can figure out, they will not deliver to these people as there have been cases where the packages have been stolen. Actually, I have a far greater problem with UPS leaving the package on my front door step. I have already had one package rifled from my door step. It was Christmas and they took one present out (large) and left the others, which they didn't see (more valuable). Anyway, use a separate shipping address and give your cell phone as the contact number and you should have no problems. I would assume that this would be the same in Canada.
I too use a separate billing and shipping address with all my vendors. My billing goes to a PO box and I have things shipped to a street adress using FedEx or UPS. The contact phone numbers are different, too. So far, I have not had any problems at all.
I use Badger Graphics, B&H, and KEH for my photo-related purchases. The service I have received from each of them has been exemplary.
I'd agree with Preston about Badger Graphics, B&H and KEH. I've used all three a lot and had no problems. I'd also include Midwest, I just recently bought another 4 X 5 view camera from them and the service was excellent.
Discussion
10 repliesI wish I could post a glowing 'Customer Service' story from Adorama, as I recently did for Canon. Not quite though.
I searched so many places locally, but no one had the Sigma 180 macro lens that I could buy it here close to me. As I mentioned somewhere, the one that I ordered from Adorama was dead on arrival. I contacted them and they DID send me a shipping label, but for UPS ground. They promised to send the lens back to me 3 day air, but they sent it ground as well. So here I was, two and a half weeks without the new lens.
I even sent the salesman who sold me the lens an email telling him that I would love to plug him and Adorama on the photo forum that I belong to, if he helped it get back to me faster. Guess he did not care.
Anyway, I DO have the working lens now, finally, and it is great.
Nathan
After two separate orders and the lack of service, I'll never purchase equipment through Adorama again.
Hope to see you in the Macro forum more with that new lens!
I have purchased from Adorama a few times. I had one or two slight problems. I now do all my camera equipment purchases from B&H PhotoVideo. They usually ship to me the same day I place an order. They have excellent tech support and their store is a wonderful place to visit if you are ever in NYC. You'll feel like a kid in a candy store. I once purchased the wrong teleconverter for a Sigma lens, but had destroyed the original box (A very stupid thing to do). They gave me the name of the person to contact at Sigma and the name of the person who referred me to them. In 2-3 days I received a new box complete with all the inserts, even the warranty card printed with the serial number of the teleconverter I wanted to return. I shipped it back to B&H and received credit the next day.
Gene Steinberg
Andover, New Jersey
Ian: OUCH! I hope you get your package soon!
Nathan
I always have my packages from B+H delivered to an address other than the one that my credit card statement goes to. I did discover a problem as I have my packages delivered to a third party private mail box. After several years of using this arrangement, I used the private mail box phone number. That caused problems and I had to do some fancy talking to get them to deliver it there. What I do to get around this is to use my cell phone number as the contact number for the private mail box address. As best I can figure out, they will not deliver to these people as there have been cases where the packages have been stolen. Actually, I have a far greater problem with UPS leaving the package on my front door step. I have already had one package rifled from my door step. It was Christmas and they took one present out (large) and left the others, which they didn't see (more valuable). Anyway, use a separate shipping address and give your cell phone as the contact number and you should have no problems. I would assume that this would be the same in Canada.
I use Badger Graphics, B&H, and KEH for my photo-related purchases. The service I have received from each of them has been exemplary.
-PB
Still waiting to hear from Adorama.....