RANT: Abe's of Maine

This is just a rant about a call I just received from them for an order I placed. I have done business with them twice before and didn't really recall getting a upsell call.

I remember years ago I bought a point and shoot from one of those online scam sites where they did the same ordeal. I was more naive back then and when they told me the camera didn't come with a "canon" battery I went ahead and paid the extra $30 for a battery and bought a SD card from them as well because they were hounding me.

Someone called and left a message saying there's an issue with my order and I need to call them back. I give them a call and the gentleman verifies my name and puts me on hold for about 10 minutes. He then picks back up to ask me what I ordered. Tries to sell me a cheap 77mm filter telling me that if I use the lens I'll need their $20 filter or else it won't take clear pictures (I told him my friend is giving me one later so he'd leave me alone), then a lens bag (I told him this lens already comes with a bag), then he tries selling me a warranty uplift. After I refused all those he tells me "so you just want the lens by itself"? After I said "yes" he just said it'll be there in 10 business days and hangs up. Makes me feel like there's no box or papers with this....

I didn't think they ran a shop like that, I've dealt with a whole bunch of online retailers in the past and haven't gotten an upsell call.

resellerratings.com is probably a good place to copy your post...

So, now the scam camera stores are in Maine? When did they move out of New York?

thomascanty wrote in post #9769550
So, now the scam camera stores are in Maine? When did they move out of New York?

Abe's of Maine started out in Maine, moved to NYC in the 80's, and is now located in New Jersey.

Same thing happened to me when I got my Sigmalux this past week. I ordered online, next day had a voicemail from Abes of Maine telling me to call them regarding my order. I did and they tried to sell me a filter and when I declined then tried to sell a warranty. I declined both and they shipped it out later that day.
Funny thing is when I called they put me on hold, after 5 minutes I called using my other phone and got straight through and they laid the sales pitch on me. I ended the call and was on hold for a total of 13 minutes on the first call before he got back to me (same guy that put me on hold and answered my second call).

Well I know who not to order from now... I think that is going to hurt them quickly if that is the norm for them.

I wouldn't discredit them completely, this was just my experience today (they have a pretty good reseller rating). Vitacura's experience does however indicate a possible trend in their sales dept. I'll definitely post once my product arrives. Until then I'll wait.

I think they are trying to push some items now that Sigma has a 10% off coupon. I got mine, and although I need to send it to Sigma for calibration, they shipped it off within hours of the phone call. Might be worth the hassle of a phone call to get a great deal!

Abe's of Maine has pretty much always been a scummy dealer. Cancel your order and post your review on reseller-ratings.

I've dealt and bought some items from them without any problem. Although I still get some of their junk emails.

I've purchased from them and have zero problems.

anyone doing this will never see an order from me, there was someone that posted a similar experience a few weeks ago as well

Always appreciate a candid review of an etailer. I haven't bought any of my 5 digital cameras locally always the net. I've been lucky so far. Each buy has been different I'll just scratch Abe off. Adorama so far has been a winner.
Sam

They pulled the same stunt on me. I'll never buy from them again.

Eugene,

Thanks for posting this! After it arrives, I would post this on www.resellerratings.co​m and give them the rating they deserve.

It sounds like Abes of Maine is changing their business model. I for one will never buy from a place like that. I don't want to be bothered. I want to pull the trigger online and retrieve it from my porch a few days later...

Bryan