Originally posted by Rupert Anyone that deals with internet business is destined to have some difficulty from time to time. Confusion, crossed wiring on communications, or an unsatisfactory transaction.
However, we know from experience over time who can be trusted and who can't.
Adorama is a trustworthy site, as much as B&H or Amazon and to insinuate otherwise is a disservice to those there that work hard to keep our trust.
I purchased a lot of gear at Adorama when I had my little downtown studio...as well as many prints from their most excellent printing dept. My dealings were always top notch and there was always someone there to help me when needed.
We all know that situations "vary". I submit that customers vary more than Adorama or B&H...or Amazon. Having been in a service occupation for many years I found plenty of "customer variation". Fortunately, owning my own small business, I could "vary" my services accordingly.
Regards!
For me, I'm not in the slightest saying there is something wrong with Adorama per se.
However, given the statistics of them shipping thousands and thousands of packages, and the relative small amount of transactions I do with them, it seems statistically significant that the packages I have gotten, have been packed substandard on occasion.
Am I unlucky? Is it something I am doing wrong? Do they not like me? Hardly.
It seems that Adorama also uses the Post Office for some of their deliveries, when that is not clear when ordering.
Could that be what happens, to cause the packaging to look like it's been trashed?
In contrast, you can see the things that B&H tries when it comes to their shipping.
Their use of the "little-green-custom-blown-up-padding" is an innovative solution.
Over the years you can see that B&H has multiple mechanisms of packing that are custom to what they are shipping.
I have seen a great deal of variance in how things are actually packed.
It's as if someone at B&H actually thinks about what is being packed.
I've not seen the same level of "packing innovation" from Adorama.
Hopefully, the succinct way I am describing my opinions can be taken as they are.
I like Adorama. I order from them, and they are a vendor I use.
However, knowing they are both based in New York, have essentially the same inventory, and their prices are comparable, why *do* I use B&H more?
It comes down to the little things that B&H seems to care *more* about.
I won't trash Adorama, but they have some issues that seem to be chronic.
They pop up now and then, and Helen is effective in dealing with it.