Latest Adorama experience

[Flotsam]

I know that I have heard some hard knocks at Adorama in these forums and I don't blame the disgruntled for being P.O.'d but I just ordered from them again because they will ship things that B&H won't, and I have to report that I just got the order, quick, complete and the film was far within its expiration date.
Go ahead and bash them when you have problems and can't get them resolved, I have no interest in defending them. I just feel that, for the sake painting a complete and useful picture for fellow photo consumers, I should add my individual experience. I have no experience with their customer service because I have never had any problem with my orders. Just take it for what it is worth.

 

[Nick Zentena]

I don't know. I just think the service you got was what they should provide. Not something special.

My dealings with them have been fine. One small back ordered item that they finally shipped after I'd bought it locally. But mostly fine. They aren't my idea of great service but they aren't horrible either.

 

[jjstafford]

[...] and I have to report that I just got the order, quick, complete and the film was far within its expiration date. [...]

Ain't that kind of like bragging that someone isn't an ax murderer?

 

[Flotsam]

Absolutely. The absolute minimum that everyone is entitled to is trouble free transactions and fast and polite resolution of any problems that may arise. That's what we pay for. It's just that bad experiences get mentioned more than good so the overall view of a company can get skewed. Just put it all, good and bad, out there and everyone can make their own decisions. Caveat Emptor.

 

[david b]

You should also mention you live less than 50 miles from them.

 

[L Gebhardt]

I buy a lot of stuff from them because the will ship all the color chemicals that B&H won't. One time the C-41 chems had a small leak (not their fault as the box was properly packed and the inner box was sealed). I called them up and they sent me another box without compaint. I kept the original and it turned out to work just fine, even though the box was stained with developer. My only complaint is they tend to have a backordered item every order or two. B&H is much better about making the inventory for the web match the warehouse.

 

[BradS]

The only time I've ever had to talk to their customer service was when I ordered 25 rolls of Tri-X and they slipped a well used RB-67 kit in with my film. When I called and asked them to credit my account for the items that I had not oredered, they were quite friendly and even paid for return shipping. The film was all dated far into the future (more than 15 months).

I must say, other than an occasional back ordered item, I've never been disappointed with Adorama.

 

[Flotsam]

You should also mention you live less than 50 miles from them.

An excellent point. Although they seem to ship quickly and three-day UPS tends to take three days. I've lucked out on backorders but it seems to be mentioned pretty frequently here.

 

[jjstafford]

An excellent point. Although they seem to ship quickly and three-day UPS tends to take three days. [...]

Yep! You can live 50 miles away, but they send it past your door, to Atlanta (or some hub), then to another dizzy, and finally back to your door! It actually makes sense in a reciprocity-failure kinda way.

 

[Flotsam]

I just noticed that B&H uses UPS now too. Yet they seem to still indicate that if want anything liquid and haz, forget it (available in-store only). Adorama and Calumet, no problem. I wonder what's up with that.

I'm about a forty minute drive from Adorama and B&H. It is always funny to track your three day package running around your area for three days before they will drop it on your doorstep Whoever B&H used to use (Fed Ex?) would always deliver it the next day even you asked for regular service.

 

[roteague]

It is always funny to track your three day package running around your area for three days before they will drop it on your doorstep Whoever B&H used to use (Fed Ex?) would always deliver it the next day even you asked for regular service.

Funny, that is the same complaint I always make about FedEx. I guess it depends upon where you live.

 

[Menard]

I have had dealings with B&H and Adorama (mind you only only a few each) and have had good service from both. I have mostly shopped Adorama through Amazon and enjoy the convenience of being able to order from Adorama with my other orders at Amazon. If shopping directly, B&H seems to have an edge on lower shipping charges. As I have not had to deal with Adorama customer service, I cannot comment on that.

 

[PCGraflex]

My experience so far with them;

Ordered 4 items via the web on 5\10. Contacted their live help on 5\23 asking what's the holdup.That day, 2 of the 4 items shipped and I got them in three days. All was good. The remaining 2 items were still on backorder and have not shipped yet. I have been so busy that I forgot to check on this until today and the invoice still shows that it is in printed status. So, it looks like I will contact their live help again to see if that triggers a shipment of the remaining items. If not, my order will be cancelled since they had more than enough time to order and ship.

B&H I have no problems with. Orders came right away.

 

[Dimitri]

Used Adorama on two occasions and encountered no problems so far.

Last time I used them was on Friday 17/6 when I ordered a tft screen hood (for a d-%&$l camera). They shipped same day and it arrived in Greece on Tuesday 21/6. Pretty fast considering the number of postal services and countries involved.

 

[craigclu]

I just checked and a backorder (at Adorama) from 4/16/2004 is still listed. I ordered some umbrella reflectors for my Multiblitz lights. Right after I ordered them, the distributor had a price increase. They have been in stock at the distributor the whole time and Adorama isn't completing the BO. I can only guess that they don't wish to sell them at the billed price after having their cost go up. Just to see what happens, I've let it linger. It's now 14 months!

 

[PCGraflex]

I just checked and a backorder (at Adorama) from 4/16/2004 is still listed. I ordered some umbrella reflectors for my Multiblitz lights. Right after I ordered them, the distributor had a price increase. They have been in stock at the distributor the whole time and Adorama isn't completing the BO. I can only guess that they don't wish to sell them at the billed price after having their cost go up. Just to see what happens, I've let it linger. It's now 14 months!

Oh, boy that is not good! You should try and contact them. See if that wakes them up to do something. Wonder if they will then bill you for the increase. Would be interesting to see if that is indeed their plan.

 

[Flotsam]

Craigclu, You should call them and ask for a plain explanation of what is going on and what they intend to do. You are entitled to that. They are not allowed to play coy little games because their cost went up, they have a responsibility to resolve it to your satisfaction in a timely manner.

 

[Christopher Colley]

I have ordered from Adorama and B&H numerous times, each time being an order which was sort of complicated, a little of this, little of that, usually over 15 items, 4-5 dif types of film,etc...

I never had a problem with adorama messing up an order or anything of the sort.

The only thing I can say thats somewhat negative about adorama is that they seem to be a bit slow on shipping in comparison to B&H, to me, thats really not a problem because adorama sells things others dont or wont. I dont mind waiting a few days more than I would like to get a product I wouldnt be able to purchase anywhere else...

I will look to B&H first because they ship quickly in my experience and havnt messed up an order...

When I need chemicals or something that B&H doesnt carry I will goto adorama without fear and knowing I will get what I ordered eventually, maybe 2 or 3 days after I would hope to recieve it but I do get it!

Also, the one time I had to contact adorama customer service my problem was resolved quickly and without hassle.