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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Adorama Trades - Total Scam
John Middlebrook, Photographer
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Frederick | MD | US | Posted: 8:05 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> Bring it on, I know the firestorm this will create but others need to know of the consequences of trying to sell used gear. First off, I looked here for any comments about selling gear and found nothing.
So I had two newer generation 2.8 lenses to sell/trade in, a 70-200 VRI and a 28-70. The 28-70 in great condition and sharp, just old. The 70-200, used heavily but still good. So I emailed and was told the trade values were $1800 and $900. I knew these were high and I would not fetch these prices but sent them along anyway.
The quotes they came back with were horrible, $1020 for the pair. My how things change. The person on the phone was always professional and sound like a robot in his responses. We haggled a bit but at the end of the t call i decided to have them shipped back to me, I would ship off to Nikon for "freshening" and then sell them online. he continued to push and try to persuade me sell to them but I said no and that I would like them back. Lastly Jack Gold said he would "check with his boss and see if they could do any better", if not ,they would be in the mail tomorrow.
That night I got an email that a package shipped from Adorama. I also got an email that they were sending me a check for $700. I was a little perplexed considering the last conversation was that I wanted them both back. Two days later I get a box from them on my front porch. I ripped open the box in anticipation and was shocked to see my 28-70 all alone at the bottom. I immediately called Adorama and spoke to Jack. At this point his tone changed a bit and he said that I told him I would take $700 for my 70-200. Are you kidding me? I said I would take $1200 and no less than $700 for the 28-70! He immediately piped up with "I have the entire conversation on tape", which if that was the case, not good for Adorama considering it is illegal in MD to record calls and I was NEVER informed that he was doing so. I explained that that is not how I left the call and that he was truly mistaken.
Now, in his defense he backed off the whole recording thing when I asked him to play it back for me and then agreed to cancel the check and send me my 70-200. So, tomorrow or Friday I hope to get back my 70-200 and a cancelled check too.
Bottom line, I just want others that try and unload with Adorama, B&H or any of the online companies, just be very careful with how you deal with them and ask for EVERYTHING in writing over emails. |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 8:55 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> Yikes, sounds like a small nightmare.
You lose way to much money trading it in, they do have to make a profit I understand that.
Did you check the serials to make sure they were your lenses? |
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Mike Nelson, Photographer
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Puyallup | WA | | Posted: 9:05 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> John,
Sorry to hear about your experience with Adorama. Hopefully you'll get your gear back.
I will say that I think it's garbage to list B&H in your rant however. Stay focused. They had nothing to due with your experience.
Just my two cents.
Mike |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 9:05 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> I don't know what transpired over the phone so I can't say one way or another. Clearly when trading equipment, they are going to offer you about half of what it's worth and then, depending on condition, may offer you less than half if the gear is well used.
If what you're saying is reasonably accurate, they should have just shipped the items back and thanked you for opportunity to do business. |
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John Middlebrook, Photographer
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Frederick | MD | US | Posted: 9:20 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> Mike,
The only reason I mentioned B&H is that they do trade/sales too and now I am totally jaded to working with these companies. |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 9:41 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> John,
Sorry you had a bad experience. I had a good experience unloading some old gear with them last year. I went through their pro rep, Jeff Snyder, who lives in your neck of the woods, who arranged the shipping labels and all for me.
I'll be honest and say that years and years ago I had a bad experience buying something from Adorama and did not buy from them for more than two decades, until Jeff, a friend, moved from his old job to Adorama. I have not bought much from them, though, for various other reasons, not Jeff as his work is always stellar. |
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Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
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Boise | ID | US | Posted: 9:45 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> I've always hated Adorama... No one else has ever screamed at me when I'm trying to buy something from them.
But them having Jeff there has made me consider them; he's been a great guy whenever I ordered things from him. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 10:37 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> It seems as though you're just really inexperienced when it comes to the value of second hand camera gear and that you needed to vent your frustration somewhere, so you've done it here.
"I knew these were high and I would not fetch these prices but sent them along anyway."
You knew that it was a high-ball offer so you must have expected something a lot lower. As a simple rule of thumb you can figure on getting about 50% of the new price of an item if it's in really good condition and is current stock. Camera stores have to make a profit (usually a 50-100% mark up on s/h gear) and they usually have to offer some sort of guarantee. Dem's da facts, Jack.
Your conversation with whomever at Adorama may or may not be a matter of record (While you are in MD they are in NY and the laws there may be different. Is there a Federal statute that applies?) but you should have been firm and clear and, if you thought that there was any uncertainty, asked to speak to a supervisor.
It seems that they're willing to make matters right.
Now. You say that you've had a bad experience with Adorama. For one thing, why attempt to paint B&H with the same broad brush?
I've had dealings (many thousands of dollars) over the past 20+ years with both places and I've never had ANY problems with either Adorama or B&H. Maybe it's because I take a mature attitude towards my dealings with both houses. I've taken advantage of both store's buy-and-return policies and have had no problems. I don't expect to get a lot of hand-holding when I make my purchases, I call 'em, order what I want and a few days later I get what I've ordered. If It doesn't do what I think it should do I return it and continue with my life.
Just sell your stuff on Ebay and deal with all of the problems that THAT involves. |
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Steven Limentani, Photographer
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Charlotte | NC | United States | Posted: 10:47 PM on 10.27.10 |
| ->> Jim, I agree with your comments. I have purchased countless thousands from both B & H and Adorama. More from Adorama because of the relationship that I have developed with Ray Garcia. Quick, courteous, informative etc. I recently sold my Mark III and old 70-200. Had to decide whether to do it privately or through Adorama. I had the opposite experience of the OP. Reasonable price, quick and easy. Worth the few hundred less that I made compared to a private sale. |
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Steve Ueckert, Photographer
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Houston | TX | | Posted: 11:20 PM on 10.27.10 |
->> I hope your lens is returned to your satisfaction.
I have never sold anything to one of the big NYC stores, so I won't comment.
I have sold to KEH and feel they dealt fairly with me. The phone conversations were professional and courteous and the transactions following their hands-on evaluations were quick. They didn't high ball me during the initial phone call nor did they unreasonably low ball me during their evaluation. When the offer call came there was no negotiating, merely them saying what they would pay in cash and what they would allow in trade. I still buy from KEH. |
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Mike Nelson, Photographer
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Puyallup | WA | | Posted: 12:07 AM on 10.28.10 |
->> "The only reason I mentioned B&H is that they do trade/sales too and now I am totally jaded to working with these companies."
Why not list all companies that sell used equipment?
Your story had much more merrit prior to that last sentence.
Now I'm up to 4 cents.
Mike |
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David Seelig, Photographer
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Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 12:56 AM on 10.28.10 |
| ->> I WOULD FIRST use our buy and sell boards the time to call ship and pack and then go through more phone calls compared to take a photo put on board take a few emails and then pack for me is a no brainer. But second that deal with the people that sponsor us and yes that means go through Jeff Snyder at adorama or preferably Jody at Roberts or Louis at Samy's. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Denver | CO | USA | Posted: 10:00 AM on 10.28.10 |
->> A few years ago when I did my Canon to Nikon switch, I contacted Adorama to sell some gear. They were interested in what I had, so I sent a bunch of stuff to them for valuation.
They were professional, courteous, and extremely low with their offers. I asked them to return most of the gear (a couple of items they valued close to what I wanted), and it arrived in a few days properly packed none worse for the journey. They gave me the money for the gear we agreed on, and I sold the rest of the gear elsewhere.
Given the pricing they gave me, I'd probably never try to sell something to them again. But I would not categorize the experience as a "scam" or anything negative. They offered a price, I didn't accept their price, they returned my gear unharmed. They have their business to run, and if that's the number they can afford, I respect that.
My Adorama used gear experience wasn't a scam. It was a perfect example of the free market working the way it should. |
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Jeff Loy, Photographer
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Hurst | TX | USA | Posted: 10:56 AM on 10.28.10 |
->> Several year ago, the studio I worked for at the time asked me to look into selling off some of the old equipment we hadn't used in years. We decided to try selling it all together as a lot and being a happy Adorama customer, I included them along with other companies in the bidding process.
Although I never felt cheated or scammed at any time, they did seem to be much more difficult to work with than other companies.
As I said, to this day I'm an extremely satisfied customer of the retail and print sides of Adorama. Maybe it was just the personalities of the people we were working with. |
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John Middlebrook, Photographer
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Frederick | MD | US | Posted: 3:05 PM on 10.31.10 |
->> I just wanted to close this with a comment about what has transpired since my last post. I have heard from customer service through Twitter, Facebook and a personal email. I have to say that I am very impressed with their follow up. I also received a personal call and apology from Mr. Gold today as well, explaining that he was sorry for the misunderstanding.
Conclusion now, just be very detailed and get all quotes in email/writing so that none of this "misunderstanding" happens to you. |
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Mark Loundy, Photo Editor
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San Jose | CA | USA | Posted: 6:51 PM on 10.31.10 |
->> Clearly Adorama understands that reputations are perishable and that things can go south in a real hurry on a professional message board like this one.
What surprises me is that they didn't have Jeff post here personally.
--Mark |
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Kirby Yau, Photographer, Assistant
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 7:16 PM on 10.31.10 |
->> I would have to agree with john, get everything in writing.
http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=37023
I'm still waiting for Jack Gold to credit me the extra $100 for my 24-70. Its been three weeks. NO emails or calls.
I'm very disappointed. Since they have my lens, they don't care how I feel anymore. They really don't care about customer happiness, even though in our last correspondence he said "he wants to make me happy". Just BS.
Sorry Jeff, this might be my last transaction with Adorama. |
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Jeff Snyder, Photographer
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Metro DC Region | MD | USA | Posted: 9:37 PM on 10.31.10 |
->> Kirby-
I'm very sorry that this happened, and will be looked into tomorrow morning & you will be contacted.
Mark-
Helen Oster, or customer service ambassador handles an issue such as this.
Jeff Snyder/Adorama |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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SLC | UT | USA | Posted: 11:30 PM on 10.31.10 |
->> I think this thread exposes an interesting point about brick and mortar businesses.
This thread started on 10/27 and it will be looked at the right person on 11/1.
How much reputation damage between this thread and the other one started earlier this month has been done.
I know personally, I won't sell used gear through Adorama - not unless I see a pretty detailed explanation of what happened and what is going to be done to prevent it from happening again.
How many hundreds of thousands of views did these two threads receive before there was a response from Adorama - and just a we'll check on it response, not a real answer.
It shows how tough brand management is in the digital world.
I have bought glass from Jeff before, and wouldn't hesitate to do so, but as far as selling, I'll stick to the Sportsshooter classifieds. |
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Kirby Yau, Photographer, Assistant
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 10:58 PM on 11.02.10 |
->> Thanks Jeff, I appreciate you spending the time to read and respond to this thread. and thank you for speaking to the right people. Its great to know you've looking out for us.
Jack Gold gave me a call Monday and the issue has been resolved today. |
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