Adorama sent me expired film

[noblebeast]

I've never exactly had a problem with the items I've received from Adorama in the past, but began to resent that the least expensive shipping option is UPS 3 Day Select, which wouldn't be a problem but for the fact that Adorama takes up to 5 business days to fill the orders - even when everything is in stock - so it takes over a week for my stuff to arrive. Not a very good investment of my "3 Day" shipping dollars.

Now I get all my photo supply needs met through (in order of preference) J&C, Freestyle, Calumet, and most of my chemicals from Photographer's Formulary. All of the aforementioned give great service and treat me like they actually want my business. I say here "thank you" to all of them.

Joe

 

[fhovie]

My first order with Adorama was damaged due to poor packaging - It took a month for them to get it to me and then another month to replace it. They had a "don't really need your business" attitude - It was my first and last experience with them. OTOH - B&H has always been great - I received a damaged item from them and had a replacement in 3 days. They even let me keep the damaged item (which I was able to repair and use) Very good service - I'll bet I spend 150 a month with them for supplies. (which I let Adorama know when I was trying to get them to fill the order I paid for - again - they didn't need my business)

 

[geraldatwork]

I just sent via email a link of this discussion to the service department at Adorama and included my 2c.If everyone reading this discussion did the same I think it would have some affect. I included a link below. Go to "contact us" on the left column and find where to email.
Dead Link Removed

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

Just to add another thing about B&H: I once ordered a Nikon MD-4 motor drive from them that was rated an 8 out of 10. The motor drive I received had been literally 'hand painted' black, obviously to cover up paint chips. I don't know what rating system they use, but no rating system I know of has a grade for how well something is 'hand painted'. When I asked for a refund I ended up having to pay for shipping back. They stood by their rating and said I was returning it because I didn't want it. His name was Eli. I'll never do business with the New York photo shops again. In my experience and the experience of a few others, Calumet is the most reliable. My 2 cents.
Ara

 

[Flotsam]

For used equipment, I've heard nothing but good things about Keh, who is an APUG sponsor. Their conservative grading system is well known.

 

[Mongo]

As a follow up to Neal's comment regarding KEH:

I recently purchased a 90mm lens for my Contax G1 from KEH. The lens was graded "Bargain", and the price was outstanding. When the lens arrived, I expected some wear and tear. It took me five minutes (a real five minutes, not an exaggerated five minutes) to find out why they'd graded it bargain: there was a tiny mark on the very front of the barrel of the lens. No bigger than the head of a pin. Not a "filter ring dent", not missing paint...just a tiny little mark. The lens otherwise looks and functions like it's brand new.

KEH gets more of my equipment business with every passing month.

 

[jcausey]

I will second the positive comments about KEH.

I purchased a 135mm lens for my Minolta MF 35mm kit a couple of years back that was graded "Bargain", and I could literally not find a thing wrong with it. I would not hesitate to spend money again with KEH.

 

[jcausey]

I just sent via email a link of this discussion to the service department at Adorama and included my 2c.If everyone reading this discussion did the same I think it would have some affect.

What exactly do we gain by this? I'd much rather spend my time, and money, with the companies that have already proven that that they want my business, rather than struggling to reform companies that have abused us time and time again.

 

[mark]

KEH rocks. Their bargain rated equipment has been better than others' rating of 9. I got a luna pro from BH listed as a 9 and the glass over the reflector part of the meter was broken. When I tried to return it they said I did it and would not take it back. Keh had one for cheaper listed as bargain and it is very nice with very little visible wear.

KEH get's all of my used business outside of Ebay.

 

[fhovie]

I have bough a lot from KEH - Most of the time it is better and cheaper than e-bay. But I have received a few that were pretty ugly and were happy to sell them later on. My definition of ugly is probably different than some. - If it works good - I don't care what it looks like - I received a lens that had a badly bent filter ring and a Bronica system that was so intermittant electrically - I was also happy to sell it off in pieces. Overall though - I am happy with them and will use them again but will probablly want to talk to someone about items listed that are bargain or ugly before ordering.

 

[david b]

This is getting really pathetic/funny.

I just got home and found a note on the door from UPS. It is a call tag from Adorama and it is addressed to a "Mr Berko".

NOT EVEN CLOSE TO MY NAME....

Again, they suck.

 

[jim appleyard]

The call tag is for you to box the film up and send it back to them at ADORAMA's expense. Sounds to me like an honest attempt is being made to fix a mistake.

 

[david b]

I partially agree.

How about a little communication that this was going to happen?

How about an email or a phone call saying sorry and let us correct this?

 

[david b]

Can I change my APUG ID to "Mr Berko" ?

 

[Dave Parker]

boy, this has turned out to be an interesting thread.

David I do have to ask, did you tell them when you talked them what would make you a satisfied customer?

I have delt with Adorama, on and off for over 20 years now, and have had a few problems, but percentage wise, 99% of my experiance has been good with them

Often times when a customer calls with a problem, it is very difficult to acceratain how to solve the problem, because of course the customer is irritated, but most of us as manufactures or distributers do really care about our customers, and want nothing more than them to be happy..

I do hope your able to solve your situation with them, and the results are satisfactory to all involved.

Dave Parker
Satin Snow Ground Glass

 

[david b]

When I spoke to the manager, his first suggestion was a 25 cent credit per roll. I told him that the person I spoke to BEFORE him offered a 50 cent credit.

He apologized and then offered the same. Here in Santa Fe and most shops I've been to, expired film is normally half off. I suggested 1.25 per roll.

I was then told that adorama pays $2 a roll and that expired film is sent back to the manufacturer. REALLY???

So, receiving a call tag unexpectedly does not help the situation. The film was not boxed up nor did I ask for this. To me, this is another rude attempt to have things their way.

Also, I did not feel it was necessary at the time to mention this, but the first customer service (hahaha) person spoke down to me. Almost like, how dare I question adorama.

So, I will chalk this one up to experience. But from reading all seven pages (so far) of this thread, I can see I am not the only "stupid" photographer on the planet who had a problem with adorama.

 

[david b]

One more thing...

If adorama does pay $2 a roll for Ilford Pan F+, and I paid $2.49, they just got a truck load of bad publicity for a grand profit total of $12.50.

Now that sucks.

 

[Dave Parker]

The biggest problem I see, is Adorama is well know for pursuing situtaitons like this in legal manners, and I don't want to see cause problems for Sean, which it could, which would be a real shame over about film...you have made your setiment very well known and it is not really accomplishing much more, you have made your opinon clear and probably convince others not to shop with their company anymore..

So really ask yourself, is it worth the energy your expending at this time?

I as a manufacture, feel that maybe your going a little further than it needs to go, at the worst, if you paid by credit card, call your card company and dispute the charge, based on the fact they did not deliver what was an advertised product and don't purchase from them again..

Just me and my opinon.

Dave Parker
Satin Snow Ground Glass

 

[david b]

Yes I have "aired out" my issues with the shop and it seems I am not the only one with issues.

As a member of APUG since October '03, I find this place a wealth of knowledge and of opinions that, for the most part, I agree with. I am not always a follower, but the members here are trustworthy and knowledgeable so I do tend to follow the apug "trend".

Considering the energy spent on this, to me, it was worth it. If I can save someone else the hassle of problems, then it is time and energy well spent.

As for this dilema, I have said what I needed to say and will now let it go into the archives without further comment or contribution.

 

[Dave Parker]

PM Send David, thanks for your message, and I would love to come down to Santa Fe, and will see how the schedule comes together.

Thanks agian

Dave Parker
Satin Snow Ground Glass

 

[Zach-Edwardson]

Just wanted to add my two cents on a company that has great service

Ordered some J&C Pro 100 120 rolls to feed to my Yashica-mat from J&C, get the package, and lo and behold, its 4x5 pro 100.

Email J&C, and they reply back in less then 3 hours, informing me that they have come across this error (the guy who ordered 4x5 got my 120 rolls) and they simply sent me the film I ordered and a pre-paid mailing lable to send back the 4x5.

That is service!

(I never had trouble with the other company in question, and I depend on them for some Chemicals, in fact, just mixed some DiaFine from them this evening, and will be doing some PanF in the future...

 

[rusty71]

Last month I ordered some expired Fomapan 200 from JandC at a special discount price. Their site said the film had expired in October 04. You can imagine my delight when I saw that all the boxes were fresh and did not expire until next year (06). They billed me for the discount price. With nice, professional merchants like JandC, why would you bother ordering a lens tissue from Adorama?? I never will again as I have been burned by Adorama before. Vote with your money. Calumet has always been great too.

 

[martinoc]

I was the one who spoke to this person last week, let me tell the public, we at Adorama, do not clain that we are perfect, we, as all other buisnesses will make a mistake once in a while, however, we do all we can to rectify it, yes, we sent him outdated film, he called our customer service many times, spoke to 3 or 4 different agents, gave them all a different solution, then spoke to me, WE OFFERED TO PICK IT UP, TO PAY FOR SHIPPING, WE GAVE HIM CREDIT FOR THE ORIGINAL SHIPPING CHARGE, AND OFFERED A DISCOUNT IF HE WANTS TO KEEP THE FILM, I refuse to debate him on this or any other forum, as it will dimminish the the quality of the forum, however, if this person insists to continue, I may have to post a link to the conversations he had with our company, and we will let the public decide.

 

[Ed Sukach]

I was the one who spoke to this person last week,...
.... yes, we sent him outdated film, he called our customer service many times, spoke to 3 or 4 different agents, gave them all a different solution, then spoke to me,....

I assume that the "solutions" were suggested first by your agents and a satisfactory agreement could not be reached.

Interesting. Sounds like quite a struggle. I'd guess he doesn't LIKE to struggle.

 

[Mongo]

I was the one who spoke to this person last week, let me tell the public, we at Adorama, do not clain that we are perfect, we, as all other buisnesses will make a mistake once in a while, however, we do all we can to rectify it, yes, we sent him outdated film, he called our customer service many times, spoke to 3 or 4 different agents, gave them all a different solution, then spoke to me, WE OFFERED TO PICK IT UP, TO PAY FOR SHIPPING, WE GAVE HIM CREDIT FOR THE ORIGINAL SHIPPING CHARGE, AND OFFERED A DISCOUNT IF HE WANTS TO KEEP THE FILM,

I'm going to tell my side of the story...

I refuse to debate him on this or any other forum, as it will dimminish the the quality of the forum, however, if this person insists to continue,

...but I'm not going to let him tell his side of the story...

I may have to post a link to the conversations he had with our company, and we will let the public decide.

...unless I can control how his side of the story is told.

Unless you plan to illegally post the conversations you had with the buyer on the phone (you can only legally record the phone conversations if you inform the party and they agree to be recorded, and I'm betting that if you recorded the conversations you stated that it was for "quality control purposes only", not for "retribution if you complain publicly about our service"), then you cannot tell the whole story.

Thank you for your contribution to this forum. I will never do business with Adorama again.