Beware shopping at Adorama

I find it kind of humorous that people (not only on these forums) seem to think there really is such a thing as "free shipping"! Especially on the B&S forums, some seem to think the seller just takes their stuff down to UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc. and requests the "free shipping service" from them.

There is no such thing as "free shipping" ... shipping charges are built into the profit margin for stores, or come out of somebodies pocket. If you purchase an item with "free shipping", then decide you don't want it and send it back, somebody has to pay those shipping charges invoked in getting it to you. They weren't "free", so you have to pay them.

I like the example of the free TT Backpack with lens purchase. Can't you just order the lens, return it, and keep the backpack? What if you want 3 backpacks?

hfgarris wrote in post #11879703
.....What if you want 3 backpacks?

You order 3 lenses!

mpix345 wrote in post #11879104
The only thing I'd like to see from a consumer standpoint is the "free shipping return" policy a bit more accessible. Like when an item shows "free shipping" have a nearby link saying "click here for details of free shipping". It appears that quite a few people are honestly surprised to have shipping charges deducted when they return something that is non-defective. Maybe that would save a few of these threads.

Excellent idea. For example: FREE SHIPPING*

The astrik means I will look!

Helen...may I suggest one more thing? When I received the invoice in my email it read:

SG816PXAFG Sigma 8 - 16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM AutoFocu 1 $629.00 $629.00

The most important part of this description was cut off and that is the mount description. Sure the SKU is there but those numbers generally mean nothing to me. I can see the PX in hindsight but I would have caught it initially if the description was not cut off.

Thanks

davidcoelho wrote in post #11879968
Excellent idea. For example: FREE SHIPPING*

The astrik means I will look!

There's already a button at checkout that reads:

More information on shipping methods

Clicking on it opens up quite a big new window; it might sit well in there.

I really can't understand why your confirmation was cut off; I asked for one to be sent to me and it came comnplete, so it's most odd - and not something that I've ever come across before

davidcoelho wrote in post #11879968
Excellent idea. For example: FREE SHIPPING*

The astrik means I will look!

Helen...may I suggest one more thing? When I received the invoice in my email it read:

SG816PXAFG Sigma 8 - 16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM AutoFocu 1 $629.00 $629.00

The most important part of this description was cut off and that is the mount description. Sure the SKU is there but those numbers generally mean nothing to me. I can see the PX in hindsight but I would have caught it initially if the description was not cut off.

Thanks

That is a valid concern and good suggestion. Invoices should have their char()/varchar() lengths enlarged to either show the rest of the item description, or minimally move the remainder of the item description to another line.

This is why I won't shop Amazon

https://photography-on-the.net …highlight=amazo​n+prime+7D

They were selling the 7D body for $1699.99 and claiming that it was a $900.00 savings from the MSRP!

They also don't have people like Helen

Mike R wrote in post #11880465
This is why I won't shop Amazon

https://photography-on-the.net …highlight=amazo​n+prime+7D

They were selling the 7D body for $1699.99 and claiming that it was a $900.00 savings from the MSRP!

They also don't have people like Helen

Pretty much all retailers do that. It's really nothing to get upset over.

MOkoFOko wrote in post #11880521
Pretty much all retailers do that. It's really nothing to get upset over.

There is no excuse for a retailer over inflating the MSRP so their price looks like a bargain. They should just state their price. I look at it as total disrespect for their customers.

Mike R wrote in post #11880465
This is why I won't shop Amazon

https://photography-on-the.net …highlight=amazo​n+prime+7D

They were selling the 7D body for $1699.99 and claiming that it was a $900.00 savings from the MSRP!

They also don't have people like Helen

You dredged up a thread that's a year and a half old to try and make your point?

I buy from Amazon because I get 30 days to try it and I can send it back if I don't, w/ no re-stocking fee, and on their dime.

Mk1Racer wrote in post #11880593
You dredged up a thread that's a year and a half old to try and make your point?

I buy from Amazon because I get 30 days to try it and I can send it back if I don't, w/ no re-stocking fee, and on their dime.

No, It only points out that other retailers have issues too.

Mk1Racer wrote in post #11880593
You dredged up a thread that's a year and a half old to try and make your point?

I buy from Amazon because I get 30 days to try it and I can send it back if I don't, w/ no re-stocking fee, and on their dime.

Okay, how are people getting Amazon to pay for return shipping on things they just dont want. Both times I did this (with items that were not damanged, defective or something beyond my control....I just didn't want them) I was charged return shipping. I will agree the no restocking fee is nice.

I normally have to pay return shipping but I would not get charged for the original free shipping with Amazon.

I wish everyone can be like Zappos though. Always upgrade you to next day on their free shipping and they will foot (pardon the pun) the bill on the return if the shoes don't fit. They have legendary customer service and have no risk at all ordering online through them.

I know not everyone can do that though, especially in the camera retail biz.

I am not sure who is getting free returns with Amazon. I ordered a case (having nothing to do with Photography) that was listed as a glass top. When it arrived it was a cheap plexiglass top. I returned it and was charged shipping. More than one email and phone call later- I still paid for return shipping.

davidcoelho wrote in post #11880934
I normally have to pay return shipping but I would not get charged for the original free shipping with Amazon.

I wish everyone can be like Zappos though. Always upgrade you to next day on their free shipping and they will foot (pardon the pun) the bill on the return if the shoes don't fit. They have legendary customer service and have no risk at all ordering online through them.

I know not everyone can do that though, especially in the camera retail biz.

Zappos has that built in to their pricing model, as obviously if you are trying to sell shoes online you need to overcome the issue of trying them on. That doesn't make their CS legendary; it's simply a policy that works for them.

I'd prefer that places like Adorama allocate the costs where they belong. Don't charge us all a bit extra so that people can buy and try things and return them with zero penalty. Some people will abuse those policies - I don't want to pay for it. I'm very happy to have the opportunity to try something and only be out shipping; not a re-stock fee.

Mike R wrote in post #11880648
No, It only points out that other retailers have issues too.

That was a pre-release sale ad, not something that had been out for a while, then rebates offered, etc.? That always happens with new items that are just announced, and yes, the prices were actually that high back then. $1700 was the price for body alone on the 7D, fortunately I was able to pay $1460 using all kinds of tricks back in Oct 09.