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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Don't buy from Adorama
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Showing posts 126 - 141 of 141, (reverse)
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 12/12/2008 01:16:44 AM · #126
Today I made an order @ 4:33 AM mountain time to Adorama. Two hours later I received an e-mail saying a QR plate was on backorder. I called around 11AM mountain time (the call was later because I had some things to do) and asked about when they expected more to come in. The date they expected was not to my satisfaction, so I said I'd get back to them about changes on the order. So I called up Acratech directly to order one (figured I was going to have to pay an additional shipping charge anyway unless I switched my whole order over to somewhere else, which I didn't feel like doing). Talked to Scott D, who, unless it was just a great coincidence, is likely the founder and CEO of Acratech. Talk about great service. Very, very friendly, talked with him for a bit about photography and things in general, and about the various options I had for shipping. So then I had to cancel the plate on my Adorama order. Called them up, and spoke to a different person than the first time, but all I said was that I needed to cancel a backordered item on an order and before I said anything more they said "oh yeah, the quick release plate. Yeah, I'll go ahead and get that off your order and send the rest out for you." Got my tracking number a bit later in the day.
In short, my Adorama experience was great, and my experience with Acratech was stellar as well.
 12/12/2008 10:56:30 AM · #127
Just add my .02 here. I have never had any probs with Adorama (or BH for that matter). I just purchased a new camera for my mom from Adorama, they had it the best price anywhere and I got it in 4 days after ordering it (i ordered on Thanksgiving night). I also purchased 40 of their 16x20 prints and get all my prints done there and have never had a problem with the quality. One time I had to re-order a 16x20 because the top of the head was chopped off, but that was my mistake not theirs.

Just wanted to say that they arent all bad and that I will keep doing business with them for now.
 12/14/2008 08:17:46 AM · #128
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
.......I had to cancel the plate on my Adorama order. Called them up, and spoke to a different person than the first time, but all I said was that I needed to cancel a backordered item on an order and before I said anything more they said "oh yeah, the quick release plate. Yeah, I'll go ahead and get that off your order and send the rest out for you." Got my tracking number a bit later in the day.
In short, my Adorama experience was great, and my experience with Acratech was stellar as well.


Delighted to hear that it all went so smoothly - that is the Gold Standard in service that Adorama Camera aims to give each and every customer!

Thank you for posting about your experience.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
//www.adorama.com
12/14/2008 08:19:23 AM · #129
Originally posted by gwe21:
Just add my .02 here. I have never had any probs with Adorama .......I just purchased a new camera for my mom from Adorama, they had it the best price anywhere and I got it in 4 days after ordering it (i ordered on Thanksgiving night). I also purchased 40 of their 16x20 prints and get all my prints done there and have never had a problem with the quality.

Just wanted to say that they arent all bad and that I will keep doing business with them for now.


Thank you; we really appreciate the time you have taken to post about your good experiences shopping at Adorama Camera.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
//www.adorama.com
12/29/2008 01:09:40 PM · #130
I have ordered from Adorama prints around 5 times before without problems. Like previous posters, occasionally there were a few darker prints but nothing required the entire batch to be reprinted... my experience with Adorama turned last week.

In an attempt to get an order out to my client for X-Mas, I have spent many hours challenged by Adorama's website and Customer service. I was trying to print a file with a size just a few MBs shy of the 40 MB ceiling. After figuring out a workaround myself from working on the website for 2 days (as I was unable to get through to a person on the phone), I was able to upload the picture and order in time with rush delivery. FYI - the single file upload was not working for me - the progress gets stuck at 0%, I was only able to get it to work with the FTP method. I called to alert Adorama of the problem so they can be aware and hopefully correct this for other ppl.

After all that, the prints that came did not print the custom message that my client specifically asked for.... The prints were also darker than I would have liked - I do have a calibrated monitor (with a huey) and downloaded the Adorama ICC profiles.

I am willing to work with them on the issue but the kicker is that I was met with very rude staff that cut me off, abruptly transfers the call to someone else and tried to talk me out that this was not an issue with ridiculous rebuttals. I will send Helen the details of my experience to see if this can be rectified.

Message edited by author 2008-12-29 13:20:12.
 12/29/2008 01:13:35 PM · #131
Originally posted by sammid:
Over the last week in an attempt to get an order out to my client for X-Mas, I have spent many hours challenged by Adorama's website and Customer service. After figuring out a workaround myself from working on the website for 2 days, I was able to upload the picture and order in time with rush delivery. FYI - the single file upload was not working for me - the progress gets stuck at 0%, I was only able to get it to work with the FTP method. I called to alert Adorama of the problem so they can be aware and hopefully correct this for other ppl.

After all that, the prints that came did not print the custom message that my client specifically asked for.... The prints were also darker than I would have liked - I do have a calibrated monitor (with a huey) and downloaded the Adorama ICC profiles.

I am willing to work with them on the issue but the kicker is that I was met with very rude staff that cut me off, abruptly transfers the call to someone else and tried to talk me out that this was not an issue with ridiculous rebuttals. I will send Helen the details of my experience to see if this can be rectified.


Ahhh another satisfied customer. I was trying to order a Blackrapid camera strap this weekend and found that they were the only name I knew on the list. Rather then try and deal with them I ordered direct and would rather pay the $6.00 shipping then deal with them(BTW it was out of stock with them). Adorama had free shipping on the same item.

Matt

Edit to add and he joined this site just to join in the Adorama fun!

Message edited by author 2008-12-29 13:14:24.
 12/29/2008 01:21:43 PM · #132
Originally posted by MattO:


Edit to add and he joined this site just to join in the Adorama fun!


*waves* hello everyone!
 12/29/2008 02:10:59 PM · #133
I just want to update on my recent first hand experiences with Adorama:

Because of some visible glitches in a recent shipment from them, I was disappointed anticipating a grilling experience with their cust. service. But I must say Ms. Helen Oster came in with extraordinary patience and commitment, and took the case personally with the internal departments and found and followed every little detail and presented me with viable options.

As much as I think Adorama needs great customer facing professionals like her, I still believe they need to up-train their shipping and inventory staff because the problem I experienced had to do with -potential- faulty packaging. Helen's work is a big relief for someone who ends up with an unfortunate mistake, but all this could be saved in a lot of cases if only the packaging is done ok in the first place.

Kudos, Helen! Adorama needs more people like you.

P.S. I will update on this case more later.
 12/29/2008 04:32:45 PM · #134
Update: I got a call from Adorama to follow up on the issues and we are trying to work out a resolution. I checked my email and saw a response from Helen who was very sincere and let me know that she has contacted internal management to investigate what went wrong. Appreciate your efforts Helen, will keep you posted on the outcome. Hopefully someone else from the company is also monitoring the boards and will see the feedback that we are providing about your service (which is standing out and keeping some customers from jumping ship IMO).
 01/06/2009 03:33:48 PM · #135
Originally posted by Prash:
I just want to update on my recent first hand experiences with Adorama:

Because of some visible glitches in a recent shipment from them, I was disappointed anticipating a grilling experience with their cust. service. But I must say Ms. Helen Oster came in with extraordinary patience and commitment, and took the case personally with the internal departments and found and followed every little detail and presented me with viable options.

As much as I think Adorama needs great customer facing professionals like her, I still believe they need to up-train their shipping and inventory staff because the problem I experienced had to do with -potential- faulty packaging. Helen's work is a big relief for someone who ends up with an unfortunate mistake, but all this could be saved in a lot of cases if only the packaging is done ok in the first place.

Kudos, Helen! Adorama needs more people like you.

P.S. I will update on this case more later.


Update#2: I am now waiting for a refund on the first kit that was sent back. The second one is functioning great, except that its manual bag was slightly torn too when it came, AND it is developing hot pixels at the rate of 2 per week:-)

I will update again when the refund is credited to me.
 01/14/2009 02:17:02 PM · #136
Originally posted by Prash:
Originally posted by Prash:
I just want to update on my recent first hand experiences with Adorama:

Because of some visible glitches in a recent shipment from them, I was disappointed anticipating a grilling experience with their cust. service. But I must say Ms. Helen Oster came in with extraordinary patience and commitment, and took the case personally with the internal departments and found and followed every little detail and presented me with viable options.

As much as I think Adorama needs great customer facing professionals like her, I still believe they need to up-train their shipping and inventory staff because the problem I experienced had to do with -potential- faulty packaging. Helen's work is a big relief for someone who ends up with an unfortunate mistake, but all this could be saved in a lot of cases if only the packaging is done ok in the first place.

Kudos, Helen! Adorama needs more people like you.

P.S. I will update on this case more later.


Update#2: I am now waiting for a refund on the first kit that was sent back. The second one is functioning great, except that its manual bag was slightly torn too when it came, AND it is developing hot pixels at the rate of 2 per week:-)

I will update again when the refund is credited to me.


Update#3: Part of the 2 orders has been refunded. Waiting for the second one, which should be soon. I will update about that next. All in all, Helen is still very professional, and brings credible information when asked.
 10/12/2012 01:57:01 PM · #137
This is to report an extraordinarily frustrating episode trying to get a quote from Adorama used:

After being told that they would take a maximum of 4-6 days to quote on my equipment, and after telling them I would need my equipment or a new camera on Oct. 17th, I shipped my camera on Sept 10, they acknowledged receipt on 19 Sept, confirming that they would take 4-6 days. On Oct. 10th, I was told once again that it would take "longer" I reminded them of my deadline, and asked the camera be returned. I exchanged messages and emails with Jacob Zion and Melanie Murillo, to no avail. I was told to contact Mr Gold, who didnt answer. A voice mail message was never returned. I contacted Helen Oster, the Adorama Customer Service Ambassador, who assured me either she or the used department would contact me, again to no avail. A new message to Ms Oster resulted in a forwarded email from her to Gold/Shlesinger/Greenbaum. I wrote a full summary of the events to Adorama, and was called by Ms Murillo, again informing me she had no authority to return my equipment. At my request she put me in contact with Gold who offred me a prive equal to roughly half what adorama charges for the same used equipment I sent them. I requested he send the equipment back. He stated he would. Back to wait and see.....

I would advise serious photographers to never send equipment to Adorama.
 10/12/2012 02:22:39 PM · #138
Zombies are back.... Maybe "serious photographers" should have backups? :-)
 10/12/2012 02:42:30 PM · #139
Originally posted by cwinant:
This is to report an extraordinarily frustrating episode trying to get a quote from Adorama used:

After being told that they would take a maximum of 4-6 days to quote on my equipment, and after telling them I would need my equipment or a new camera on Oct. 17th, I shipped my camera on Sept 10, they acknowledged receipt on 19 Sept, confirming that they would take 4-6 days. On Oct. 10th, I was told once again that it would take "longer" I reminded them of my deadline, and asked the camera be returned. I exchanged messages and emails with Jacob Zion and Melanie Murillo, to no avail. I was told to contact Mr Gold, who didnt answer. A voice mail message was never returned. I contacted Helen Oster, the Adorama Customer Service Ambassador, who assured me either she or the used department would contact me, again to no avail. A new message to Ms Oster resulted in a forwarded email from her to Gold/Shlesinger/Greenbaum. I wrote a full summary of the events to Adorama, and was called by Ms Murillo, again informing me she had no authority to return my equipment. At my request she put me in contact with Gold who offred me a prive equal to roughly half what adorama charges for the same used equipment I sent them. I requested he send the equipment back. He stated he would. Back to wait and see.....

I would advise serious photographers to never send equipment to Adorama.


Wow. o_O .. Certainly not the adorama I'm used to hearing about - guess I've only heard about the retail side.. Thanks for the heads-up, of course, I just always ship mine off to Canon, as they've done excellent work for me. (last one was a crushed 50D, they replaced the broken display and body panels, put a new shutter and buttons in it, and sent it home... Total cost with shipping was something around $400... And I had the camera back in 7 days)

Message edited by author 2012-10-12 14:42:44.
 10/12/2012 04:14:14 PM · #140
Interesting how someone signs up here only to post trashing a supplier that's generally pretty good. Maybe HelenOster would like to see this and verify that it's an actual situation. I have a hard time attaching any credibility to this registered user who has absolutely *zero* info or participation here. And yes, it seems to me that any serious photographer would have some backup contingency plan.....
 10/12/2012 04:20:22 PM · #141
Mods should delete this I've got a good nose for bovine fecal matter and I can hear mooing,

Any genuine photographer would have listed what they sent ie canon 7d etc.....
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