Beware shopping at Adorama

Dispute the charges with your credit card company. You did not get the product you ordered. They shouldn't charge you for shipping something back to them that you did not order! However, you should talk with Helen Oster first. But disputing the charges is always an option.

Are you returning it or exchanging it?

Addicted2EOS wrote in post #11861588
Are you returning it or exchanging it?

Had to return it because the Canon mount lens will be out of stock until the end of the month.

OK. I was wondering why they were charging a shipping penalty on an exchange.

CalPiker wrote in post #11861542
Dispute the charges with your credit card company.

If you ever plan to buy anything from them again this would not be a wise move. Better to try and work things out rather then burn a bridge you might actually need to cross one day.

I've never had an issue with Adorama that wasn't taken care of to my satisfaction. Get a human on the phone, be civil but to the point.

thanks for posting. Have never ordered from them, and while this might still be resolved to your satisfaction, something like this will keep me from ordering from them having had great service elsewhere

I have been a long time customer with Adorama. Haven't had any major issues so far. But yes, their return policy could be better.

It's one thing to ask you to pay for return shipping (which they shouldn't if it's their fault), but they should NOT have charged you for the original shipping upon the return. I don't think that's fair!

Below might be off topic, but maybe I could share this general feedback as well:

My telecons with sales reps were a mixed bag. I do recall reps coming across rudely but that was years back. Recent telecons were pleasant. The reps did appear as if they were restricted with lack of basic empowerment (and system limitations in some cases). For Ex. Recently I wanted to buy a camera body and few lenses together to get the instant rebates on the lenses. They did not have a package in the system with all the lenses that I wanted so I called in. The rep said he will need to check with his manager on whether they could extend the rebates on the additional (and I don't mean two of the same SKU) lenses (even though the manufacturer rebate program clearly states that those specific lenses were eligible for rebates with that specific body that I wanted across all authorized dealers). Clearly a system/process limitation with lack of basic empowerment (which might put off the reps as well as I am sure they wouldn't want to disconnect a call without closure as that would possibly mean losing that business for good!)

No complaints overall though and I wouldn't hesitate to shop at Adorama at all (In fact I just got a couple of lenses and odds from them), but they are not always my first choice, especially for large orders, mostly due to their system/process limitations and return processing policies.

I just recently ordered a memory card from Adorama and received a package of 4 batteries. One phone call and they have sent me a memory card and I have sent back the batteries after they sent me a return shipping label. I think they had a system error messing around with their order fulfillment process.

It looks like you posted this same complaint on Miranda and Helen asked you to contact her at 7:58 on 17 Feb to resolve the problem. A lot of these posts are after that. Have you contacted her?

Not sure there is so much cause for alarm to alert members to "Beware" shopping at Adorama. They still are on my short list of respected retailers. It is not like they are slugging you a 25% restock like some feel entitled to.

Return shipping is often the cost of doing business online. To me it is much cheaper than my time and gas driving 45 minutes to a store (and no store will reimburse you gas money). Even the times when something needs to be returned - you still are ahead vs shopping most retailers

Posting complaints like this on the internet with the sole intent of darkening a company's image should be illegal and punishable with large fines and jail time.

Justaddwata wrote in post #11862178
Return shipping is often the cost of doing business online.

Not if the retailers mistake!

But If it's the buyers mistake/change of mind, then of course buyer pays return shipping, but the buyer should not be charged for original shipping in addition to the return shipping if the original shipping was advertised as free!

Regardless, as you said, they are a reliable shop to me and are on my list of reputed retailers as well and I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them for the most part except when I have special needs around order fulfillment/Shipping.

JakAHearts wrote in post #11862375
with the sole intent of darkening a company's image

It all depends on what one draws, which btw, may not always be what is presented! -

davidcoelho wrote in post #11860502
I did not have solid proof that it was their ordering system's fault.

I emailed myself the link for the lens from work. That weekend I clicked on the link and ordered the Canon mount. I checked the link again and it still read Canon mount but now it was out of stock.

Somewhere in the process, the order was switched to a Pentax mount lens. Their system must have read Pentax and that I was full of S.

I asked them and the customer service rep said their is nothing they can do and I have to pay for the shipping but the exchange would be shipped free (too bad they did not have the right lens in stock anymore). I know I would not be able to ever prove that it was their error and not mine so I paid the shipping and asked for a refund.

It is absurd that they reduced my credit by the amount the shipping cost of the first lens.

Basically I ended up paying $25 for absolutely nothing.

I doubt anyone switched the order. Most likely the person who fulfilled your order pulled the wrong mount. Happens all the time in warehousing operation. Not sayin that it is right though *L*