A tale of 4 Online Retailers: Adorama, B+H, Sigma4Less, and The Imaging World

I ordered a whole raft of stuff from these guys, to be delivered to Australia, around 4 weeks ago. Here's the results:

Adorama and B+H: Received the items in 7 days of ordering

Sigma4Less: Recieved the items in around 10 days, one item defective. Contacted the company, asked them to hold a replacement for me, then returned it via the most expensive post ($50) so that they wouldn't be put out. They failed to hold the item for me, so that when they received the defective lens within 3 days of my shipping it they couldn't replace it. Agreed to have the 10-22 replaced with a 10-20 and another lens they showed in stock, free of shipping. Lady agreed, but they 28/2.8 is maybe not in stock, so my order is in limbo. Customer service is courteous, but why do I get the feeling that I'g get my lenses in a couple of years if I sat back and took a passive role in this?

The Imaging World Placed the order at the same time as the others. Store was clsed for a holiday for 2 days the week after I placed the order, but it still took them 7 days to get to the post office. Seller shipped via USPS, who has registered the item as sitting in the post office in Brooklyn and not moving for 9 days now. I contacted the seller, who told me this happens all the time. Question- then why use USPS and not UPS? So, after paying for rapid postage, I still don't have this lens 3 weeks after I ordered it, and a full 2 weeks after I received the goods from the other three retailers.

Well, I guess I know who I'll be ordering from in the future.

Interesting on the Sigma $ Less as resellerratings.com shows them to be pretty well regarded.

The Imaging World isn't listed but your description makes them sound like one private individual rather than a business.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #5754425
Interesting on the Sigma $ Less as resellerratings.com shows them to be pretty well regarded.

The Imaging World isn't listed but your description makes them sound like one private individual rather than a business.

Imaging World has a store front shop. Sigma4Less has been fine, but it would have been nice if they had held the lens for me. I'd consider ordering from the again, if it was a really good deal.

Sigma 4 Less has processed the two lenses, so that's ok, and assured me that they'll get the stuff to me ASAP.

With USPS, you have no idea where it is. The delivery confirmation is not a tracking number, I deal with that all the time.

Why use USPS? Because 1) paypal integrates with USPS and 2) the shipping label works with the brothers label printer and 3) there are tons of boxes around and little usps stations and 4) free shipping supplies.

UPS is not as integrated and is harder to find a drop box, at least in these here parts! This is my take as a daily shipper.

Sorry to hear about the problems with Sigma4Less. I've been using them for a few years and adore their service and have never had a faulty product, thank goodness! And to get to me in outer Whoop-whoop nothing has taken more than 9 days...which is faster than most things arrive from the East Coast of Australia to us LOL

BH always rocks

Sigma 4 Less has fixed the problem adequately, and have been courteous and helpful on the phone. I wish they'd saved another 10-22 for me, but otherwise they've been fine.

I do business with The Imaging World, even got my 1D3 from them, and my experiences have been nothing but good.

jr_senator wrote in post #5758705
I do business with The Imaging World, even got my 1D3 from them, and my experiences have been nothing but good.

I have been known to be unlucky with these things. I certainly wouldn't condemn a business on my recommendation. Unlucky's not the right word- cursed is better LOL

There you have it.

The_Camera_Poser wrote in post #5754384
I ordered a whole raft of stuff from these guys, to be delivered to Australia, around 4 weeks ago. Here's the results:

The Imaging World Placed the order at the same time as the others. Store was clsed for a holiday for 2 days the week after I placed the order, but it still took them 7 days to get to the post office. Seller shipped via USPS, who has registered the item as sitting in the post office in Brooklyn and not moving for 9 days now. I contacted the seller, who told me this happens all the time. Question- then why use USPS and not UPS? So, after paying for rapid postage, I still don't have this lens 3 weeks after I ordered it, and a full 2 weeks after I received the goods from the other three retailers.

Well, I guess I know who I'll be ordering from in the future.

I ordered a 5D Mark II From the Imaging World on last Thursday. They had a message that they would be closed for Passover til Friday, April 17. I called on Friday several times and it went to voicemail stating they were closed til Friday April 17th. Same thing happened on Saturday.

Fast forward to Sunday, April 19th, he said he'd have it shipped on April 20th. On the next day he called me to tell me it wasn't in stock and they would have it Thurs or Friday. I called today and he said he did not get it in and he will ship it tomorrow when they get it. I told him it shows "Availability: In Stock" on the website and he replied, it doesn't mean anything.

The reason why I ordered thru them in the first place was Live.com offered 6% cashback (which I'm not sure I'll receive at this point), they are an authorized dealer, and their reviews on Resellerratings.com were good. Sigh.

I have bought many thousands of dollars in gear from them. They sometimes have problems but they are good people and less expensive than the others.

How did you find this thread to revive it after almost a year?

jr_senator wrote in post #7790952
I have bought many thousands of dollars in gear from them. They sometimes have problems but they are good people and less expensive than the others.

How did you find this thread to revive it after almost a year?

Searched for "Imaging". I thought it would be better to add to this thread rather than create a new one (less clutter).

They might be good people but they are not accurate of what they have in stock. I would've liked to have the camera already and would not of ordered it if I knew it really was not in stock. We'll see if they ship it tomorrow.

Still no call or email from The Imaging World but they charged my credit card today. Hopefully it shipped. If I had ordered thru Adorama/B&H the item would have shipped the next day.

I just purchased a 70-300 IS USM from Imaging World last night via ebay with live cashback back up to 14%. This afternoon, I received an email from them with the Fedex tracking number, and Fedex shows that it has arrived at their facility in Maspeth with an expected delivery of April 30 (I live in So Cal). Don't have it yet, but so far it looks good.