Member Recommended Vendors.

FPP wrote in post #11306062
I would agree with B&H, Adorama, Amazon, Ebay (if you're careful). For those in the midwest I would like to mention 2 others: Robert's Photo (robertsimaging.com) in Indianapolis and Norman Camera (normancamera.com) in Michigan - Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.

I've used Roberts Imaging twice and would definitely recommend them.

OUTDOOR PHOTO GEAR!!!!


After placing three separate orders with Outdoor Photo Gear, I just have to share how positive my experience has been overall. Firstly, the have great prices and free shipping on every order. If you subscribe to their newsletter they also offer frequent coupon codes, around 10% off. Almost always, they have or match the cheapest prices I can find on items period. That's including Amazon. Secondly, they have a great selection of products for whatever type of photography you do, not just outdoors. Thirdly, their staff is friendly. I called in today, Sunday afternoon, and asked a few questions about products I was interested in and got great answers from a professional photographer, learned a lot. Seriously, on a Sunday??! There are obviously a lot of options to get your photo equipment but you should not hesitate one second, especially with coupon code in hand, to purchase from Outdoor Photo Gear.

Adorama is fabulous on my list. Bought my camera from there. Shipping took kind of long, but of course there was a snow storm going on at the time. Not really their fault.
Porters is also a big one on my list, though I've never actually ordered from them. Just gone into the store.

http://www.porters.com​/

Ordering from KEH sometime in the next month or so, I'll have to update then!

Jimbow1098 wrote in post #7079090
B&H is been very good to me as well.

Thank you, and everyone else here kind enough to compliment us.

I will always, for now anyways, recommend the following:

B&H
Adorama
Amazon

Short story: I purchased the 1D4 on 5/11, and within one day, and before I even received the camera (5/12), B&H dropped the price back down to MSRP. I was, needless to say, not happy. I called B&H this morning (5/13) and they agreed to refund the $500 difference. How about that for customer service. I can imagine all the other calls they will probably get. Btw, I will be really happy when I see the $500 though. Also, I notice they have dropped the prices of other gear back to MSRP; sometimes you have to be a leader and not a follower.

Hey Helen, are you'll checking the prices out there of your competitors?

Adorama and Amazon has always been good to me, too.

Take care

Methodical wrote in post #12402022
I will always, for now anyways, recommend the following:

B&H
Adorama
Amazon

Hey Helen, are you'll checking the prices out there of your competitors?

We have always done our best to price match to equally reliable competitors (unit cost as well as shipping - you only have to drop me an email). However, the problems in Japan are making it harder for us right at this time.

Not counting Amazon (as they're not a specialist photographic retailer as such) we always match to our biggest competitor, provided they actually have the item in question in stock.

I'll keep than in mind Helen

Is there a master list?

For me

AllensCamera (for personal service)
Adorama (because of Helen)
B&H

Hello Helen I have a curiosity question for you.

Below is a quote from your blog. The sentence highlighted in red raised my eyebrow because I see Adorama's prices do exceed Canon's MSRP as listed on their site, such as the 1D4, 7D. Did Adorama change its policy? I ask because as you may be aware, B&H dropped its prices back to MSRP, Allens Camera and some other outlets have prices below MSRP. Just Curious as to why Adorama did what they did. Thanks.


"When a manufacturer or US importer changes MAP parameters and enforces them vigorously, retailers are left with no option. Therefore when our inventory is exhausted, prices have to go up to reflect the new MAP. Nevertheless, prices at Adorama will at no time be raised above MSRP."

HelenOster wrote in post #12402583
...We have always done our best to price match to equally reliable competitors (unit cost as well as shipping - you only have to drop me an email). However, the problems in Japan are making it harder for us right at this time...

Methodical wrote in post #12409636
Hello Helen I have a curiosity question for you.

Below is a quote from your blog. The sentence highlighted in red raised my eyebrow because I see Adorama's prices do exceed Canon's MSRP as listed on their site, such as the 1D4, 7D. Did Adorama change its policy? I ask because as you may be aware, B&H dropped its prices back to MSRP, Allens Camera and some other outlets have prices below MSRP. Just Curious as to why Adorama did what they did. Thanks.


"When a manufacturer or US importer changes MAP parameters and enforces them vigorously, retailers are left with no option. Therefore when our inventory is exhausted, prices have to go up to reflect the new MAP. Nevertheless, prices at Adorama will at no time be raised above MSRP.

My first thought is that if the items are not currently in stock then we aren't going to be selling them at all - at MSRP or otherwise. We will always price match to B&H in any case, provided they actually have an item in stock.
With back-ordered items, we've always maintained a commitment to holding the price at which a customer has placed an order, even if we have to pay more to the distributor when an order finally arrives into our warehouse. So - with the current shortage of equipment from Japan, I would imagine that the buying department are playing safe re: what the MSRP will be when we get them back in.

I strongly recommend Adorama. Helen and her team can provide great online shopping experience as well as very personalized customer service that bigger online competitor can't.
This was my first time returning item for exchange, so I was not sure what to expect from Adorama.
Helen and her team stepped up and provided excellent customer service even though it was on Sunday 4am EST!
I have been buying big sticker photo gears from Amazon and am a prime member, but now I will be shopping all my photo gear from Adorama for sure.

andytaro wrote in post #12420656
I strongly recommend Adorama. Helen and her team can provide great online shopping experience as well as very personalized customer service that bigger online competitor can't.
This was my first time returning item for exchange, so I was not sure what to expect from Adorama.
Helen and her team stepped up and provided excellent customer service even though it was on Sunday 4am EST!
I have been buying big sticker photo gears from Amazon and am a prime member, but now I will be shopping all my photo gear from Adorama for sure.

Thank you SO much for the great feedback!

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