Just Ripped Abe's of Maine a New ....

Let me preface this by saying that I do not usually order things so close to when I need them. However, I have two photo shoots this week: one on Friday which is casual, and a big shoot on Saturday. So earlier this week I ordered a Lexar 16gb 600x cf card with expedited shipping from Amazon.com which was sold through them by Abe's of Maine. Ive heard of Abe's but had never used them before... now I know. Trust = lost.

Card came in tonight, wrecked. The memory card's retail packaging is crushed and damaged, the seal was already broken, the case is broken and wont stay closed, the card is scratched up and dirty (yes actual dirt/lint), there are visible fingerprints on the case and card... RAGE. I was sent a damaged, used item. You would think that when someone orders a "professional" grade high dollar memory card AND expedited shipping that they would at least send a new item. Nope, this thing looks like they pulled it out of the trash, wiped it on their jeans and shipped it to me.

I called Amazon and although the guy apologized, he said that I need to contact Abe's and that there is nothing that they can do. I called Abe's and they are closed. The recording says that they are open tomorrow from 10am to 2:30pm. They are closed Saturday and Sunday.

I just want what I paid for, a new Lexar 16gb 600x cf for my shoots this week.

So I sent Abe's a love note...

Here are some pictures I took with my cell phone. If I had a card Id take them with my 7d!

_______________

Minor Update: I ended up calling Amazon again to see if there was any way that they could get me a card for Saturday. The rep was able to order me a new card at the same price of $90 (it is $127.43 sold through Amazon), and add on $8.06 one day shipping. It is coming from Amazon's warehouse in Tennessee. He assured me that it will be here tomorrow (Friday) in time for my shoot Saturday. We shall see. He was really nice though and the first rep did not offer this option to me. So Im glad that I called back. I really hope that it gets here in time. Its kind of annoying though to have both charges on my card. He said that until Abe's issues me a refund that's how it is.

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You need to add: PS: I frequent many photography forums and they are all going to know what a piece of **** you are!

Sorry to hear. Another reason why I only buy items sold by and/or fulfilled by Amazon - their return policy is second to none!

I've never ordered from Abe's, but I've read many good things about them. I'd hope yours is an isolated situation because this is not the reputation I've read about.

Pretty good sale going on @ Adorama now:
http://www.adorama.com​/ILXPCF60016G.html

not sure how fast they can get this card to you though...

Wow.. sorry to hear. Hope you get this sorted out.

DiMAn0684 wrote in post #13415849
Pretty good sale going on @ Adorama now:
http://www.adorama.com​/ILXPCF60016G.html

not sure how fast they can get this card to you though...

Yeah that is actually a really good deal for this card. They are usually $125. I got the one I bought for $90 and then the expedited shipping was $13.23.

Minor Update: I ended up calling Amazon again to see if there was any way that they could get me a card for Saturday. The rep was able to order me a new card at the same price of $90 (it is $127.43 sold through Amazon), and add on $8.06 one day shipping. It is coming from Amazon's warehouse in Tennessee. He assured me that it will be here tomorrow (Friday) in time for my shoot Saturday. We shall see. He was really nice though and the first rep did not offer this option to me. So Im glad that I called back. I really hope that it gets here in time. Its kind of annoying though to have both charges on my card. He said that until Abe's issues me a refund that's how it is.

This sucks, my Girlfriend almost ordered my 5D mkII she go me for christmas last year from Abes but she read some reviews and decided to order it elsewhere. That sucks that a company would do that and send you something in such horrible condition. Im curious why you didn't get it elsewhere. B&H has it for less money and they have top notch service.

gotaudi wrote in post #13416025
This sucks, my Girlfriend almost ordered my 5D mkII she go me for christmas last year from Abes but she read some reviews and decided to order it elsewhere. That sucks that a company would do that and send you something in such horrible condition. Im curious why you didn't get it elsewhere. B&H has it for less money and they have top notch service.

I had a $76.00 gift card for Amazon from my birthday in July that I hadnt used yet. Ive ordered from Amazon directly before with no issues. This time it was Amazon but Abe's was the seller via the Amazon marketplace. I had heard of Abe's before and they have 99% positive feedback supposedly. I trust Amazon direct, BH and Adorama for purchasing gear. Im just glad it wasnt a lens or camera that I purchased!

what about the packaging brown box itself?

Yea, what kind of packaging did the card come in? Box or padded envelope?

I ordered from Abes of Maine. Ordered a D7000 at the beginning of the year. It was backordered and was told I would have it in 2 weeks. 2 weeks came and gone. I constantly checked and the date kept getting pushed back. Found out a friend ordered back in September 2010 and his never arrived. We both ended up canceling our order and I placed both our order else where.

I did however order my grip from them. Cheapest price out of all the places and I applied a coupon to get it even cheaper. They shipped quick and arrived safely in a brown box but they like to call you to see if you want memory card, battery, warranty or unnecessary accessories.

HyperYagami wrote in post #13416122
what about the packaging brown box itself?

iazybandit wrote in post #13416142
Yea, what kind of packaging did the card come in? Box or padded envelope?

They shipped it in a padded brown envelope. The envelope doesn't look very good it is a bit crinkled but not too bad. It looks as though it was not handled gently, but I do not think that it is the cause of the damage. It doesn't explain the dirt and dust in the memory card, why the seal at the bottom was broken, why the case and card are dirty, scratched and scuffed up, etc.

The upper seal on the retail box looks like it was opened and resealed a few times. It has lint and dust stuck to it between the seal and package. You can see multiple circular residue sticky tape marks from where it was opened and closed several times.

The lower seal was cut through and there is tape (office style scotch tape) on the bottom of the box over the circular seal but it was not stuck down. The tape has acrylic clear looking fuzz on it.

If you turn the clear plastic case or the shiny gloss foil of the memory card itself to catch the light or look closely, they both have many finger prints on them. Even my thumb prints are smaller than the prints. The memory card has dust in it and there is a thin smear of dirt (possibly from a dirty finger?) on the plastic case. There is also a deep but not very long scratch on the case, as well as many scuff marks.

The packing slip paper that came folded inside the package doesnt have the same dents in it that the box does.

I have Sherlock Holmes'd this card and I deduct that it was used and not a case of damage by shipping carrier.

Note to self - avoid Abe's.

Not a great situation but great to see you drag Abes through the mud over such a transaction without even waiting to see how they will help resolve it.

To date I have placed a hand full of orders with Abes (including 3 lenses) and every time they came through admirably.

Also it seems a little odd you have a 7D and yet no card to take a picture with (according to your post). I have a 7D and more than 160gb of cards for it.

Sorry to see such a problem but equally sorry to see another Shoot first/public execution of a decent company before they are given any opportunity to react.

Hopefully they show you a little more courtesy than you have extended them with this smear thread.

for what it is worth - if I were closer I would gladly give you a loaner card to help you through the weekend. Perhaps someone closer might step up.

Justaddwata wrote in post #13416438
Not a great situation but great to see you drag Abes through the mud over such a transaction without even waiting to see how they will help resolve it.

To date I have placed a hand full of orders with Abes (including 3 lenses) and every time they came through admirably.

Also it seems a little odd you have a 7D and yet no card to take a picture with (according to your post). I have a 7D and more than 160gb of cards for it.

Sorry to see such a problem but equally sorry to see another Shoot first/public execution of a decent company before they are given any opportunity to react.

Hopefully they show you a little more courtesy than you have extended them with this smear thread.

for what it is worth - if I were closer I would gladly give you a loaner card to help you through the weekend. Perhaps someone closer might step up.

I agree that it seems odd to have a 7D and what sounds like an important and paying gig and no memory cards. Even stranger to wait until the last minute to order one card (seems like you'd need at least one back up?).

Beyond that, stuff happens. I'm not defending Abe's (I don't think they are as reputable as B&H or Adorama), but if you set yourself up to order a must have item at the last minute you are asking for Mr Murphy to stop by and screw things up for you. I've had B&H ship me the wrong item; Amazon ship me defective items, and items get damaged in shipping. It happens.

Not sure what kind of acceptable excuse Abe's can come up with for this, but at the end of the day any retailer can screw up. If they promptly "make things right" it's hard for me to kill them over something.

I bought a card from them a few years ago, box came the same way as yours and the card was a mess. i called them right up and they shipped me a new one the next day. I was not pleased with the card I got, but was happy with the quick resolution.