Adorama.com!! Complete B^*£$&ds.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/21/2004 06:00:17 AM · #1

Excuse my language but i am getting really angry with these people. They told me a while ago that i would need copies of my card and statements to process an order so i cancelled and received confirmation of the cancel. Since then, they have billed me. I have written 3 more e-mails over a week, used their live chat and been told to e-mail again and phoned. I am seriously considering legal action now.

I recommend staying well away from them.

Jacko

Canon EOS-20D

06/21/2004 06:12:54 AM · #2

I have had nothing but good experiences with Adorama. I'm sorry you've had a bad experience. What you need to do is call you credit card company; they'll sort it out for you.

BooZon

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/21/2004 06:57:35 AM · #3

You are not alone biohazard. I personally know three people who have dealt with Adorama and two of them had a bad experience. One had the same thing happen as you have, it took a while to get the money back. The first thing I say to people when they are looking at lenses and things online is... "Don't use Adorama!".

Beagleboy

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

06/21/2004 07:16:11 AM · #4

Originally posted by biohazard:

What's the deal with having copies of your card and statements? That is sooo unprofessional. That's asking for an accident to happen. The best thing to do is to call your credit card company and tell them to hold off paying these guys. I had to do the same once and it wasn't a problem.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

06/21/2004 07:26:26 AM · #5

Originally posted by Beagleboy:

Originally posted by biohazard:
Excuse my language but i am getting really angry with these people. They told me a while ago that i would need copies of my card and statements to process an order so i cancelled and received confirmation of the cancel. Since then, they have billed me. I have written 3 more e-mails over a week, used their live chat and been told to e-mail again and phoned. I am seriously considering legal action now.

I recommend staying well away from them.

What's the deal with having copies of your card and statements? That is sooo unprofessional. That's asking for an accident to happen. The best thing to do is to call your credit card company and tell them to hold off paying these guys. I had to do the same once and it wasn't a problem.

I quite agree, B&H also want copies if you are outside US. I am very surprised anyone would ask for this. It is dangerous and the banks and police recommend that you don't do it ever!

The money has already been paid from my card so i have to wait for a refund.

loz1

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

06/21/2004 08:05:54 AM · #6

I am not sure if it was the same site or not (since I can't remember), but I went to a place that asked me for my statements too it even asked for a copy of all of my photo id. It definitely seemed really dodgy. I ended up emailing them and cancelling it. Although I got a call from my credit card company a week later, asking me to confirm details for them. I had accidently given them my old billing address originially and if I had given them the new one I would have also been charged. It seems they forgot to tell the credit card company that it had been cancelled. So I got lucky.

I would never use a company again that asked for that info. I ended up finding the same item on ebay and paid with paypal. It just seemed far more trusted.

It sucks that so many of the American sites do ask for statements and extra info. There is always a risk with credit cards on the net, but when they did that to me it scared me a bit. They didn't need all of the info they wanted. They even asked for it in an email I think, which really didn't seem right. Who knows who is reading that email and what they would do with the info. It defintely isn't secure.

I do hope you get your money back. I am sure you can contact your credit card company about it. If you have any proof in emails or even emails that you have sent them, it might help. Good luck.

06/21/2004 08:09:00 AM · #7

Thanks loz, I'm waiting for them to open in a few hours then i'll give 'em hell over the phone. If they don't sort it today, i'll fly over there and put a large slug in the managers shoes :)

jab119

06/21/2004 08:22:59 AM · #8

I have ordered from them 5 times and have had no problems what so ever.

James

Beagleboy

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

06/21/2004 08:32:03 AM · #9

Originally posted by jab119:

I have ordered from them 5 times and have had no problems what so ever.

James

Thats cuz u live in the USA, my friend. Adorrama ain't so friendly to people outside North America. As if we North Americans are the only ones with good credit!

Message edited by author 2004-06-21 08:33:32.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/21/2004 11:57:52 AM · #10

Just spoken to them now and they claim to have paid the money back already. It takes a few days so i'll have to wait and see.

Nice of them to e-mail and let me know though isn't it!

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

06/21/2004 12:05:22 PM · #11

You do not have to ask for a refund from Adorama. Just call the credit card company and "dispute" the charge. You will never have to pay it to the credit card company in the first place. And they will sort it out with Adorama.

Nikon AF DC Nikkor 135mm f/2.0D

06/24/2004 05:42:01 PM · #12

Really? I didn't know that. I'll give it a go. Ta!

DJLuba

Nikon D2Xs

06/24/2004 05:51:29 PM · #13

I was at their store on 18th st. the other day, and saved $100.00 on two filters and a step ring. They are solid people, so I'm guessing your issue was International in nature.

I would recommend, but I myself go with B & H if going through the mail.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

06/24/2004 09:42:18 PM · #14

Originally posted by biohazard:

The money has already been paid from my card so i have to wait for a refund.

I believe (within the USA) the card is not supposed to be billed until the item has shipped.

ChrisW123

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

06/25/2004 01:09:53 AM · #15

Originally posted by biohazard:

They told me a while ago that i would need copies of my card and statements to process an order so i cancelled and received confirmation of the cancel. Since then, they have billed me. I have written 3 more e-mails over a week, used their live chat and been told to e-mail again and phoned.

What did they want copies of your card and statements for? To verify that you are the actual card holder? If that was the reason, just do it. They are simply looking out for you to prevent fraud. If they were up to no good, why would they want a photo of your card when they already have the Card Number, Name, and Exp Date?

I know it's annoying to have to do, and I might also get pissed off by it, but I would think to myself that they are just protecting the consumer against fraud. I wonder why you had so much trouble? I've never had an online site ask for all of this. You must have been suspicious to them for some reason. :)

However you DO have the right to cancel your order and NOT BE CHARGED. It's your choice, and I would rasie absolute hell with them over that (being charged anyway). I've had this happen to me several times, you have you to hammer them with phone calls and (when appropriate) threatin them with legal action, report them to your state governing authories, etc., to get it resolved. The only thing they will understand is when you become so much of a bother and drain/liability to them, that they will give in. Depending on the amount they will usually give in when you become a major thorn in their foot. :) To me, I don't care about the value of the loss no matter how small, it's the principal and you should not let them get away with it no matter how small it may be.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

06/25/2004 05:59:26 AM · #16

Originally posted by ChrisW123:

Originally posted by biohazard:
They told me a while ago that i would need copies of my card and statements to process an order so i cancelled and received confirmation of the cancel. Since then, they have billed me. I have written 3 more e-mails over a week, used their live chat and been told to e-mail again and phoned.

What did they want copies of your card and statements for? To verify that you are the actual card holder? If that was the reason, just do it. They are simply looking out for you to prevent fraud. If they were up to no good, why would they want a photo of your card when they already have the Card Number, Name, and Exp Date?

I know it's annoying to have to do, and I might also get pissed off by it, but I would think to myself that they are just protecting the consumer against fraud. I wonder why you had so much trouble? I've never had an online site ask for all of this. You must have been suspicious to them for some reason. :)

However you DO have the right to cancel your order and NOT BE CHARGED. It's your choice, and I would rasie absolute hell with them over that (being charged anyway). I've had this happen to me several times, you have you to hammer them with phone calls and (when appropriate) threatin them with legal action, report them to your state governing authories, etc., to get it resolved. The only thing they will understand is when you become so much of a bother and drain/liability to them, that they will give in. Depending on the amount they will usually give in when you become a major thorn in their foot. :) To me, I don't care about the value of the loss no matter how small, it's the principal and you should not let them get away with it no matter how small it may be.

Chris, the thing is, you should never send these kind of details. I'm not worried about them ripping me off, i'm worried about the information being intercepted. This is why they have secure encrypted credit card payment sites. Sending this info over e-mail, phone or fax is stupid. I work in IT and i know how possible (and easy) it is to intercept this kind of thing. If someone did get this info, they have everything they need to rinse your card.

DJLuba, unfortunately, B7H also require the same for cards billed outside the US.

It just surprises me that 2 large companies cannot get this sorted, others do. They lost my business and i'm sure more people have gone elsewhere instead as well. I would not run my business like that, it seems very foolish.

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

06/25/2004 06:03:02 AM · #17

Originally posted by biohazard:

It just surprises me that 2 large companies cannot get this sorted, others do. They lost my business and i'm sure more people have gone elsewhere instead as well. I would not run my business like that, it seems very foolish.

Look at it from Adorama or B&H's point of view - they're sending you over a thousand dollars worth of camera equipment, and they're just supposed to take that on face value??

I would never email credit card details, but I faxed my Amex to B&H, which I have reasonable trust in being statistically secure enough.

Edit: The way I look at it is this -- I'm saving HUNDREDS of pounds by ordering abroad, so I think it's only fair I play their game.

Message edited by author 2004-06-25 06:07:11.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

06/25/2004 06:12:20 AM · #18

Nope, i just went elsewhere and got the same price - no hassle. There are alternatives so why take the risk?

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

06/25/2004 06:21:59 AM · #19

I guess for a 300D (I believe?) that's reasonably easy. I've used B&H in the past because they stock fairly spurious items..