AdoramaReviews 480

I have a verified student account with Adorama. I talked with them about trading in my Sony A72 with lens and was offered $500. However, another company offered me $745. Then Adorama offered me 600, then 650 and finally told me they would match the other company's offer. However, when I sent it in they claimed there was a scratch on the camera screen and only offered me 600. I know for a fact that the camera was in mint condition and there were no scratches on it or on the lens. When I complained, he offered me another $50. I felt really disrespected and will not do business with them again. Beware of this behavior, especially if you are trying to trade. This is not a good way to treat customers. I understand they want to make a profit but they shouldn't insult their customers to do it.

Beware! I am in the middle of the worst customer support experience of my life. I will never, ever, ever purchase another product from Adorama and will actively steer other customers away from them. I've never said that about any other company in my life. Companies like B&H Photo and Sweetwater can get you the same thing, at the same price, usually in the same time, and their team actually cares about you as a customer. Adorama does not. They just want your money and then they want you to go away.

Adorama may be a generally respected vendor, and everything may be fine when they get the order right, but their customer care is an absolute nightmare. Over the course of the last week, I have dealt with at least 8 different customer care associates through exactly 44 emails (so far), multiple chats, and my initial phone call. They simply do not care about me as a customer enough to fix THEIR ERROR in a timely manner.

It's not a complicated issue. I purchased a Clearsonic drum lid kit that was supposed to come with 6 pieces. Two of those pieces did not arrive. All they have to do is either locate the missing box and send it or refund me for the value of the missing items ($190). That's it. But for an entire week, I have been getting emails telling me that they are trying to get hold of their warehouse, but are getting no response. It's constantly, "Please give us 1-2 business days". Well, it's been a week at this point. I keep getting passed off from one person to another. They can't simply contact their warehouse and locate the box. Or, it's not that they can't, it's that they don't care to.

It has become clear to me that this is a greedy company that does not care at all about their customers after the sale. Their customer support department has been outsourced to another country, so the associates have no investment in the company or motivation to truly help. They have no interest in resolving my problem, but it seems they plan to just sit around and try to wait me out until I give up. That's not going to happen.

Unfortunately, they have me at a disadvantage because I can neither make them contact the warehouse nor make them refund the value of the missing items. I just have to sit here and wait on them…

Do not, do not, do not purchase from Adorama unless you really enjoy ending up in "Customer Care" sinkholes like the one I am in at the moment.

I had been a loyal Adorama customer for years dating back to the 1990's in NY. I decided I would trade in my old gear and buy new from them. But this time, it all went downhill fast.

First, they messed up my order online and overcharged me. After correcting the mistake, I went through the process three times and had to wait almost 2 weeks for delivery. This is after I became a VIP member with a promised 2 day delivery window.

Since I had already shipped my old gear, I had nothing to film with and had to delay a client for 2 weeks to begin filming so I lost money on that. A few days later, I finally get a call on my old gear and they try to undersell me by over $1,000.00 off the quoted price. My camera was in great condition and I could have sold it for much more, but after an hour of wasting time on the phone we finally settled in the middle and I took a $500 loss.

Now once my new gear arrived I was happy, but I had a slight problem on set with the new Ronin gimbal as one of the motors seemed to have a hiccup at about 70% movement.

Adorama told me to send it in and they would offer an expedited service to replace it. I figure I am going to be down a gimbal a day or two and I'd make it up. 2 days pass and I hear nothing, even though I was promised a replacement. I call back and they tell me they are sending it today. Another day passes and nothing. I call and get online again, and they tell me it is being sent. Again, nothing comes. Now it's a week later and I'm trying to explain to my client why there's no gimbal.

I call Adorama for a 5th time and the customer service rep tells me there is none in stock and they have no date to ship. They will offer me a $350 credit when a new gimbal costs $499 plus tax. After all the excuses they spit at me, it's 8 days later and I have no replacement.

Finally today, I was told that they would ship a replacement and make this right.

Stay away from Adorama if you would like to purchase an item and have them send it to the address you need to ship it to as a birthday present! I ordered a stereo system to be shipped to a relative for a birthday present early on Friday 1/15/2021 to be delivered to the relative's house.

I get an email late the next day that stated they were putting the sale on hold to shortly cancel it because of some verification issue. I wrote back an email to let me know ASAP how to clear up the verification so this item could be shipped ASAP and arrive before the birthdate.

I got a follow-up email that stated they could only ship it personally. I just a knee replaced am not able to walk yet, let alone carry the box with home electronics to a UPS Store. So if you buy at Adorama, they will not ship where you need it delivered, but expect you to incur the charge personally to ship it to where you need it delivered.

NOWHERE ON THEIR WEBSITE IN THE SHIPPING SESSION DOES IT MENTION THEY REFUSE TO SHIP IT OTHER THAN TO YOUR BILLING ADDRESS. I GUESS THAT ALSO COVERS IF YOU ARE ON A BUSINESS TRIP, YOU CAN'T ORDER SOMETHING AND HAVE IT DELIVERED TO YOU.

I was on hold for about 15 minutes before I could speak with a representative. When I finally got him on the phone, I explained my situation. I ordered two separate items. One was on back order indefinitely, and the second item was in stock. Because of the indefinite backordered item, the second item had not been shipped (I've waited over a week at this point). This shipping policy was not stated at the time I ordered said products. When I discussed this with the representative, the representative made excuses and explained Adorama's shipping policies to me instead of working towards finding a solution. I'd already wasted 15 minutes on hold, I don't need to waste more time listening to excuses as to why things are the way they are. When I expressed my frustration with the representative and tried to start working towards finding a solution, the representative muted his end of the call without warning. I stayed on the line for an additional 5 minutes for the representative to come back. The representative then hung up the phone. I had to call back again and wait another 15 minutes on hold prior to speaking with another representative that could solve my problem.

Why would a company hold on to a product that a customer had ordered because a second item is indefinitely on backorder? Wouldn't it create a better customer experience to get the customer products as soon as possible? If you're looking to purchase products online, go elsewhere. Adorama customer support is pretty awful and their policies do not serve the customer. Take your business to a company that serves the customer better.

I made an order 2 months ago with the amount of $318.97, the shipment took 1 month to reach my country and other 2 weeks held by the customs, I contacted the carrier company and Adorma themselves dozens of time with no decent replay, finally the carrier company after 2 other weeks update the tracking information and says (Unable to deliver shipment, returned to shipper.
Recommended action: No action is required. The package is being returned to the shipper.)
I contacted FEDEX asking why? They replied (the customs refused the shipment and there was no fees and nothing paid) although I contacted my local custom office and he said we didn't refused any shipment!
However, after a dozen of emails between me and Adorma with no results, only a robot replay each time, they said the shipment returned and you have to pay a total of $439.76 including import fees!
Why? Because you refused to receive the shipment (the shipment I didn't even received)!

And FEDEX says no fees was paid?! So how Adorma said I have to pay?!

The worst online experience ever
I highly recommend to avoid this store
No customer service, you're totally speaking to yourself
Working with the worst carrier company ever
And above all that, they are a bunch of THIEVES!

I didn't get my shipment nor my money and yet I have to pay extra amount of money!