Adorama Sales Dept is Horrible!

Yesterday I placed an order for a Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L USM II lens. Well this morning I checked my email and received an email from Adorama that the item has been backordered!

I called Sales Dept. this morning and asked them to check on why they are showing item is in stock thru their website as well as Amazon. Sales agent checked inventory and told me that they were clearly out of stock and asked me if I had any other items to order besides the lens. Once I told him that I didn't he asked me to have a great day and hung up!

Is this normal customer service from Adorama? Based on that incident I will never purchase another item from them again. Please review the screenshot of items clearly showing items are in stock.

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EGNICA wrote in post #8864734
Is this normal customer service from Adorama? Based on that incident I will never purchase another item from them again. Please review the screenshot of items clearly showing items are in stock.

Want some cheese with that whine?

Perhaps it's just an issue with their website or inventory reporting? I know that seems impossible, because computers are always perfect, but it's worth considering.

What does Amazon have to do with Adorama? Does Admorama sell through them?

Regardless, unfortunately websites are not real time, especially when it comes to inventory. It could have been showing "in stock" with 1 unit remaining, someone else purchases one, and then you purchase one before the site is updated, and now it's out of stock. It happens, and as Tim has said, PC's are not always 100% accurate.

If it was crucial that the lens be in stock and ship immediately then I would recommend calling to confirm inventory prior to ordering. From your side of the story the service provided by the phone sales agent doesn't seem stellar, but there are two sides to every story.

Hope it all works out for you - perhaps cancel your order and try another vendor if you are in a hurry for the item?

Cheers.

timnosenzo wrote in post #8864787
Want some cheese with that whine?

Perhaps it's just an issue with their website or inventory reporting? I know that seems impossible, because computers are always perfect, but it's worth considering.

No cheese needed...just a lens!

I am not upset about the lens being backordered, I'm upset about the lack of customer service and rudeness on the phone.

Funny timing of your post as just yesterday I emailed Helen about that
(she works at Adorama and can be found here). I like them a lot, but they do
have a problem with real time stock/back order reporting on their website.
Some items are shown "not in stock", but most are shown in stock even if they aren't.
And when I enquire about the estimate time of arrival, I can't get any information.
But this is typical, Amazon also gives some crazy long wait time and then ships
something right away...

Dorman wrote in post #8864824
What does Amazon have to do with Adorama? Does Admorama sell through them?

Regardless, unfortunately websites are not real time, especially when it comes to inventory. It could have been showing "in stock" with 1 unit remaining, someone else purchases one, and then you purchase one before the site is updated, and now it's out of stock. It happens, and as Tim has said, PC's are not always 100% accurate.

If it was crucial that the lens be in stock and ship immediately then I would recommend calling to confirm inventory prior to ordering. From your side of the story the service provided by the phone sales agent doesn't seem stellar, but there are two sides to every story.

Hope it all works out for you - perhaps cancel your order and try another vendor if you are in a hurry for the item?

Cheers.

Yes, Amazon does sell Adorama items thru their website. I know computers aren't always correct, but I have been tracking this lens for two weeks straight in the morning and before I go to bed. It finally showed up yesterday and placed order to find out it was still out of stock.

I'm in no hurry, I just wanted to vent this morning because of the lack of C/S and companies being rude to customers these days.

Cancel your order and get it from someplace else?

EmmaRose wrote in post #8864914
Cancel your order and get it from someplace else?

it's not easy, that lens is impossible to find. So if somebody is reporting it in stock,
it shoud be in stock

snowboarder wrote in post #8864929
it's not easy, that lens is impossible to find. So if somebody is reporting it in stock,
it shoud be in stock

Oh I didnt know that, I agree they should have it available to you if it says so on the website. Call back and make then give you a gift certificate or discount code.

EGNICA wrote in post #8864911
Yes, Amazon does sell Adorama items thru their website. ...

Just a tip.
Sometimes a better deal can be had by using Adorama direct rather than buying from Adorama via Amazon.
For example, sometimes there is free shipping at Adorama direct but not on Amazon.

I like Adorama, B&H, and Amazon for photographic items.
I tend to get the large ticket items from B&H.

Tks.

It happens sometimes that there is lag between any store and the web cart.. Amazon likes to do this with my company every now and again too... I end up spending my day calling my customers and apologizing profusely. Don't let it annoy you too much from that aspect.

I WOULD be a bit pissed off about being hung up on, but that too could just be a misunderstanding. I would first see if I could find it elsewhere, then call back and tell a manager the story, including the hang up. If they won't at the very least waive your shipping and upgrade it to overnight for the unexpected delay I'd go with the other company instead.

Customer Service is what companies live and die by, PERIOD. Customer Retention is paramount because it takes you 10+ One-Time customers to make up for the loss of ONE Repeat-Customer.

timnosenzo wrote in post #8864787
Want some cheese with that whine?

Perhaps it's just an issue with their website or inventory reporting? I know that seems impossible, because computers are always perfect, but it's worth considering.

Or we could not be a wise ass and answer his question without being a phallus.

AudibleSilence wrote in post #8864969
It happens sometimes that there is lag between any store and the web cart.. Amazon likes to do this with my company every now and again too... I end up spending my day calling my customers and apologizing profusely. Don't let it annoy you too much from that aspect.

I WOULD be a bit pissed off about being hung up on, but that too could just be a misunderstanding. I would first see if I could find it elsewhere, then call back and tell a manager the story, including the hang up. If they won't at the very least waive your shipping and upgrade it to overnight for the unexpected delay I'd go with the other company instead.

Customer Service is what companies live and die by, PERIOD. Customer Retention is paramount because it takes you 10+ One-Time customers to make up for the loss of ONE Repeat-Customer.


Or we could not be a wise ass and answer his question without being a phallus.

I agree with you and some people enjoy being a wise ass early in the morning.

Thank you and have a great day!

EGNICA wrote in post #8864911
Yes, Amazon does sell Adorama items thru their website. I know computers aren't always correct, but I have been tracking this lens for two weeks straight in the morning and before I go to bed. It finally showed up yesterday and placed order to find out it was still out of stock.

I'm in no hurry, I just wanted to vent this morning because of the lack of C/S and companies being rude to customers these days.

I'd be in a hurry for that lens, mmmmm!

AudibleSilence wrote in post #8864969
Or we could not be a wise ass and answer his question without being a phallus.

We could do without name calling, no?

EGNICA wrote in post #8864911
I'm in no hurry, I just wanted to vent this morning because of the lack of C/S and companies being rude to customers these days.

Rude is getting a phone call from BofA informing you that the debt you hold ($16k) is being defaulted to 28% or they are willing to sell the loan at a lower interest rate to a credit consolidation firm even though you never missed a payment. They screw themselves and then demand their customers to make it right. An out of stock lens or snappy sales clerk?