Frustration with Adorama shipping UPS and USPS

Peter2516 wrote in post #18779444
Well count me in for another frustrated customer of Adorama. Ordered a lens thru CPW send me a link where to order my lens that was on Dec 26, the item comes with cleaning kit and some kind cover leash string and guest what they did a partial shipping and the one they shipped first is the cleaning kit and who cares about that they shipped the accessories but not the main item I ordered? That item will arrive according to UPS is on Thursday And I am after Canon promo of free Canon care pak drop and spill warranty that ends on January 5 and they mentioned that in the link where I put my order. I just can not believe that they will send the freebies and not the main item first. Until now it is sitting being process for shipping...Wow I would not this be concerned if they sent the main item first. I called customer service and the lady said they are not supposed to do a partially shipping in bundled item but the did.

So sorry to see this - unfortunately I'm unable to ID your order from the info above. But if you email me: Helen@adorama.com with your order number I will do my best to help.

ozziepuppy wrote in post #18781332
. On the other hand, maybe it was just randomly stolen--that just seems unlikely, but you never know. .

In this case I would actually find it much more plausible that a theft occurred than a UPS driver that picked up a package from you without a pickup request and no UPS label on the box. These drivers see packages sitting on porches all the time, so to randomly pick one with no reason at all seems more unlikely than someone swiping it.

carpenter wrote in post #18782733
In this case I would actually find it much more plausible that a theft occurred than a UPS driver that picked up a package from you without a pickup request and no UPS label on the box. These drivers see packages sitting on porches all the time, so to randomly pick one with no reason at all seems more unlikely than someone swiping it.

That may be true, but interestingly, both packages (the one delivered and the one that disappeared) looked almost identical: both were "soft" green plastic (the kind of package you get clothing in when you order it online) and both had the standard-sized computer-generated label that almost all companies seem to use these days. And to be fair, there was a large sticky note on the one that said "To be returned to *******[name of store]" on it, temporarily affixed to the label. Of course, the UPS guy should not have picked it up (if he did, indeed, pick it up) without a notification from the company to pick it up, but it was right before the holidays and he may have been one of the temp workers who do not have the training or knowledge that the regular employees have. I guess I will never know what really happened. Makes me want to get one of those porch cameras though.

Given my past frustrating experiences with Adorama, specifically with its policy of not allowing the UPS to re-route the shipment to a local UPS store for safer pick up, I decided not to shop at Adorama except as a last resort. When I recently saw the sale for the Flashpoint Xplor 600, however, which I've been eyeing to get for awhile and because it's only sold through Adorama, I decided to place an order BUT this time with a note sent to the store instructing, i.e., permitting, to re-route to a local UPS store nearest to me. While Adorama doesn't allow me to change the shipment to a different location within the UPS website, I found out that I can get around this by simply informing Adorama of the new shipment address upon ordering.

A customer care associate named "Blair D" was prompt in responding to my request. In the email I received from her, she asked to review the invoice to make sure the revised info is correct. When I reviewed the invoice, I found an error. She had my home address as the shipment destination in spite of the request to change it to a local UPS Store with its address given to her. So I sent her notifying the error and told her that the shipment address should be to my local UPS Store. She then responded with "corrected" invoice with a note asking me to verify its info. When I looked at the "corrected" invoice info, I found to my horror that the shipment address and the "bill to" address were the same, i.e., The UPS Store. So, I sent her another email informing her that the "bill to" address should be my home address and the shipment address is The UPS Store. At this point, I'm thinking whether she's on drugs while on the job or what. I was tempted to mention what had transpired on this thread, but I decided to just keep my mouth shut. People do make mistakes and perhaps Blair was having a lousy day at work.

Today, I received a phone call from my local UPS Store. The staff member said he doesn't know whether the package is for me or what, but he's calling because of the phone number in the shipping info. When I walk into the UPS Store to inquire as to what happened, I was told that the package arrived with no name. The store manager had to open the box to look for the receiver's name. There was no name, only the phone number.

I came home to open the box. The Xplor 600 is quite heavy and it's an electronic item. There was not a single layer of foam or bubble to protect the delicate box inside. If someone decided to handle it roughly during the shipping process, that could have easily damaged the unit. With this frustration vented, now I'm going to thoroughly test the flash to see nothing's broken for the next hour. Unless Adorama pays me to shop at its store, this is it for me.

This is not about Adorama, it is just another delivery story. Last week I got a FedEx delivery. It was delivered by a guy who was not in uniform, and who was driving one of those tiny little orange & white U-Haul trucks (not a FedEx truck). Strange.

SYS wrote in post #18786713
Given my past frustrating experiences with Adorama, specifically with its policy of not allowing the UPS to re-route the shipment to a local UPS store for safer pick up, ....

I always let the online store ship the item and then call UPS (or Fed-ex) and request them to hold the item at the store since I'll be "out-of-town". Then I just pick it up at my convenience. Never yet had an issue with this MO.

RhodyPhotos wrote in post #18786779
I always let the online store ship the item and then call UPS (or Fed-ex) and request them to hold the item at the store since I'll be "out-of-town". Then I just pick it up at my convenience. Never yet had an issue with this MO.

Apparently, you haven't tried that with Adorama. You don't have to call UPS to do this. You can do that in their website, and I do that with Amazon, BH and other orders EXCEPT Adorama. Adorama doesn't allow you to do that, and that's been my frustration with them for a long time. Like I stated earlier, you can get around that issue by using a different address at the time of ordering. I thought I did that, but when I clicked on the order button, it somehow reverted back to my home address, and that's when I contacted Adorama with the request that they change the shipping address. A. VERY. SIMPLE. TASK. THAT. EVEN. A. 2ND. GRADER. CAN. PERFORM. Nope. Don't need this kind of hassle just to give them a business.

SYS wrote in post #18786832
Apparently, you haven't tried that with Adorama. You don't have to call UPS to do this. You can do that in their website, ....

I have done it with adorama as well. But you will have to call in (to UPS and ask to speak to a supervisor) to get it done. Can't do it from the website.

RhodyPhotos wrote in post #18786843
I have done it with adorama as well. But you will have to call in (to UPS and ask to speak to a supervisor) to get it done. Can't do it from the website.

I can do it from the UPS website for all orders placed at Amazon, BH and any other places. I've already discussed this with Adorama, and according to them it's THEIR policy not to allow the UPS to do it, NOT the UPS, so I don't know how you got past the Adorama's policy regarding this. Even if I can do it only by calling the UPS, well, forget it. Adorama doesn't have anything unique -- other than Flashpoint -- that I can't get elsewhere, so why should anyone have to go through the hassle of calling for a supervisor or whoever at UPS? I'm just going to order all my photography stuff elsewhere.

SYS wrote in post #18786856
I can do it from the UPS website for all orders placed at Amazon, BH and any other places. I've already discussed this with Adorama, and according to them it's THEIR policy not to allow the UPS to do it, NOT the UPS, .....

Ah, i see what you are saying. Seems like a strange policy. I've just gotten into the habit of calling in for all my online orders, so it didn't seem like a hassle to me. But, I guess if you get used to click-it-and-done, then it could get frustrating.

But, I don't understand the rationale behind their policy. It doesn't seem to make any sense.

The explor 600 box holds a padded case that has the stobe, the product box doesnt need protection. Seriously... you wanted the product box padded for its own protection? You could drop kick the adorama packaging and not hurt the strobe. I ordered one too and there was absolutely nothing wrong with how the packaging was done.

ozziepuppy wrote in post #18786721
This is not about Adorama, it is just another delivery story. Last week I got a FedEx delivery. It was delivered by a guy who was not in uniform, and who was driving one of those tiny little orange & white U-Haul trucks (not a FedEx truck). Strange.

I live near L.A. and FedEx has been doing this for some time now, using independent delivery companies. Although I have not seen a U Haul being used.

Perfectly Frank wrote in post #18786921
I live near L.A. and FedEx has been doing this for some time now, using independent delivery companies. Although I have not seen a U Haul being used.

That particular order was in two boxes, and one did not show up. I finally called the company yesterday and they said it definitely would be here today. It did not show up today, so I called the company again tonight. They said the second box had gone from Texas to Kansas, and was currently back in Texas. They are re-shipping that part of the order and it is supposed to be here Thursday. I have no idea why it was shipped back to Texas instead of being delivered to my house. Frustrating.

SYS wrote in post #18786713
Given my past frustrating experiences with Adorama, specifically with its policy of not allowing the UPS to re-route the shipment to a local UPS store for safer pick up, I decided not to shop at Adorama except as a last resort. When I recently saw the sale for the Flashpoint Xplor 600, however, which I've been eyeing to get for awhile and because it's only sold through Adorama, I decided to place an order BUT this time with a note sent to the store instructing, i.e., permitting, to re-route to a local UPS store nearest to me. While Adorama doesn't allow me to change the shipment to a different location within the UPS website, I found out that I can get around this by simply informing Adorama of the new shipment address upon ordering.

A customer care associate named "Blair D" was prompt in responding to my request. In the email I received from her, she asked to review the invoice to make sure the revised info is correct. When I reviewed the invoice, I found an error. She had my home address as the shipment destination in spite of the request to change it to a local UPS Store with its address given to her. So I sent her notifying the error and told her that the shipment address should be to my local UPS Store. She then responded with "corrected" invoice with a note asking me to verify its info. When I looked at the "corrected" invoice info, I found to my horror that the shipment address and the "bill to" address were the same, i.e., The UPS Store. So, I sent her another email informing her that the "bill to" address should be my home address and the shipment address is The UPS Store. At this point, I'm thinking whether she's on drugs while on the job or what. I was tempted to mention what had transpired on this thread, but I decided to just keep my mouth shut. People do make mistakes and perhaps Blair was having a lousy day at work.

Today, I received a phone call from my local UPS Store. The staff member said he doesn't know whether the package is for me or what, but he's calling because of the phone number in the shipping info. When I walk into the UPS Store to inquire as to what happened, I was told that the package arrived with no name. The store manager had to open the box to look for the receiver's name. There was no name, only the phone number.

I came home to open the box. The Xplor 600 is quite heavy and it's an electronic item. There was not a single layer of foam or bubble to protect the delicate box inside. If someone decided to handle it roughly during the shipping process, that could have easily damaged the unit. With this frustration vented, now I'm going to thoroughly test the flash to see nothing's broken for the next hour. Unless Adorama pays me to shop at its store, this is it for me.

Can you please email me; Helen@adorama.com with your order number, so I can follow up on your complaint.

SYS wrote in post #18786832
Apparently, you haven't tried that with Adorama. You don't have to call UPS to do this. You can do that in their website, and I do that with Amazon, BH and other orders EXCEPT Adorama. Adorama doesn't allow you to do that, and that's been my frustration with them for a long time. Like I stated earlier, you can get around that issue by using a different address at the time of ordering. I thought I did that, but when I clicked on the order button, it somehow reverted back to my home address, and that's when I contacted Adorama with the request that they change the shipping address. A. VERY. SIMPLE. TASK. THAT. EVEN. A. 2ND. GRADER. CAN. PERFORM. Nope. Don't need this kind of hassle just to give them a business.

It will revert to your billing address if you are paying by PayPal

SYS wrote in post #18786832
......and that's when I contacted Adorama with the request that they change the shipping address. A. VERY. SIMPLE. TASK. THAT. EVEN. A. 2ND. GRADER. CAN. PERFORM. Nope. Don't need this kind of hassle just to give them a business.

I appreciate your frustration, however, errors and misunderstandings can occur in the best run businesses and in the hands of the most highly qualified people.