 Willie |
Online Photography Store?? Can anyone recommend a good online photography store? I'm looking for a site with good ratings, customer service, fast shipping, good prices. Where do you purchase your supplies and accessories? Thanks in advance.
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Rhonda L. Tolar |
I have always used B and H Photo, and never have had a problem with their service. I have had to return things (my fault, I ordered the wrong thing), and not had any problems. They are in New York, I am in Louisiana, and my merchandise is usually at my house, 3 days after I order. Just do a search for B&H Photo.
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John P. Sandstedt |
I use Adorama.com. The search engine is very good and user-friendly. I've found Adorama as cheap or cheaper than B and H, although I've also used B&H. Abe's of Maine is also very good. I'm very wary of the online merchants that push "camera kits." Their prices seem good, almost too good to be true. When I tried to purchase a kit for my son's Christmas present several years ago, there was an out-of-stock issue. Never faced that with Adorama, B&H or Abe's. If you need help, Adorama's people (accessible by Chat Room or telephone) are very helpful. In fact, when I ordered my Canon EOS3 body, they called because I hadn't ordered a lens or other accessory. They were just checking and put no pressure on to buy more "stuff."
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Michelle Ross |
I have used Adorama and I have also used Ritz Camera. They both have offered great service and fast shipping and I feel they have a nice selection of things to choose from. On Filters Ritz Camera seems to be quite a bit cheaper because they often offer a discount withe purchase of 3 filters. If you go on ebay at all Cameta Camera is reputable and offer new and used items both.
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Michelle Ross |
I have used Adorama and I have also used Ritz Camera. They both have offered great service and fast shipping and I feel they have a nice selection of things to choose from. On Filters Ritz Camera seems to be quite a bit cheaper because they often offer a discount withe purchase of 3 filters. If you go on ebay at all Cameta Camera is reputable and offer new and used items both.
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Amy Anderson |
I also use Adorama.Com. *****! Great selection and prices; items are shipped quickly; they return e-mails with great speed; and returns/ exchanges are no problem!
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paulina michaud |
Hi Willie, I have found that even though Adorama is cheaper, its shipping charge is almost double that B&H, so if you are going to order film, for example, you may end up paying more than if you have ordered from BH. Watch that.
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Ben Mora |
I have used 17th street photo, they are exellent! I ordered, and within 3 days I got my order! I live in California, and there based in NY. I only paid $30 shipping on a new camera body and 2 lenses! great to work with. www.17photo.com
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Scott Pedersen |
B and H sends out catalogs and I checked for the fun of it once and b and H seemed cheaper on shipping too. I have no idea how I got on their mailing list.
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Phillip A. Flusche |
I recently purchased a D70 through Buydig. Good service and not pushy trying to sell a bunch of add-ons. Also bought some Nikon stuff from Cameta.com. Also good service and not pushy. For battery chargers and batterys I always use www.thomas-distributing.com. I have also bought through digitaletailer.com.
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Mellanie |
I've purchased from both b&h and buydig...both are great. Buydig.com usually has some good prices and they are not pushy like the other 'cheaper' stores.
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Mark O'Brien |
Adorama, B&H and Freestyle Camera!
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member |
Smile Photo (http://www.smilephotovideo.com/) is also good: comparable prices/products as B&H Photo, w/very similar ease and use of searching. (i've never mail-ordered, since I live right here in nyc where they're located).
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Bunny Snow |
I had always used B&H and have been very happy with them, both with receiving and returning merchandise. They have always been prompt and helpful. Recently, I ordered a RC-1 remote control from Adorama. And while this company was also very helpful in taking my order, and shipping it to me. There has been a problem with the return. The problem is not with customer service, who has been wonderful. The problem has been with either the receiving/return department. I have all pertinent invoices, customer service numbers and shipped my purchase back via Fed-X. According to Fed-X, the return was signed for. Yet, it is now two months later and I have yet to receive credit to my VISA or the wanted exchange. I suspect I'm not alone in having this problem with Adorama, as their shipping prices have risen considerably. Yet, I still haven't received credit or an exchange and I have paid VISA for the order. Adorama has my money and I don't have my purchase.
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
I see this is an old thread, and so maybe things have changed over time... I recently ordered a tripod & ballhead from Adorama, based on the positive feedback I'd read here at BP. I ordered the two items specifically for a trip abroad I'm taking in mid-May, and placed the order 4 weeks in advance of my trip... Online, both items did not indicate "out of stock." I ordered, and several hours later, received an email saying the items were backordered. I've sent 3 emails (over several days) to their Service address, none of which have been answered. I've called Customer Service, only to get a recording saying the call traffic is so high, they don't want me to wait, and I should call back later, or email Service. (See above ;) Yesterday, I get email confirmation that the ballhead alone has been shipped to me. If the legs can't arrive in time, I'd need to cancel the whole order (but now, apparently deal with returning the head---no idea why they shipped it, as it is useless without the legs, and I wasn't offered a choice of "wait for full shipment" vs. "partial shipment".) Has anyone else had recent issues with Adorama that might suggest a downturn in their level of service? Note: I finally did get through to Customer Service on the phone, after many attempts, and the woman indicated she would email the tripod manufacturer, to try and find out their status, then email me back with that info---I almost feel like it isn't worth holding my breath that I'll hear back, but I guess I've ultimately got the recourse of cancelling the remaining order, and/or disputing the Visa charge, if it comes down to that! (I'll update this thread one way or another, by the time of my trip!)
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Debby A. Tabb |
I have ordered much of my equiptment through this A+ Ebay store, and they are VERY FAST: http://stores.ebay.com/Cameta-Camera_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
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John P. Sandstedt |
Not sure, exactly, when you ordered Chris - you may have gotten caught up in the Passover store closing scenario. Essentially all the New York camera stores close for about 10 days during Passover. One other thing - Adorama receently opened a new, huge warehouse in Elizabeth, New Jersey. I observed what might be described as "growing pains" while the warehouse got "up-and-running." I've seen the report that B&H's shipping charges are higher than Adorama's in several threads. If one looks at the B&H ads in Pop Photo or any other major photo magazine, the prices are quoted on "per pound" basis. An important point, the ad doesn't always fully explain the price variations associated with the distances a package is shipped. My exprience over more than 25 years is that both ship via UPS or US Mail [basic] and, accordingly, it's the UPS shipping charges one must pay. There are premium charges for overnight shipments [sometimes through FedEx,] these vary with and are set by the carrier. For we New Jersey folks, Adorama's warehouse location means they must charge us the NJ sales tax. From this perspective, B&H total charge might be cheaper. However, whenever I buy something I always check Amazon.com, B&H and Adorama - for the best price. Often the item offered by Amazon ships from Abe's of Maine; at other times an item ships from other stores, Adorama being the one I see mmst often. I've purchased from Abe's of Maine occasionally - never had a bad experience. Working through Amazon - no sales tax, no shipping charge if the order is large enough. The sales tax relief may end by Act of Congress. Most recently, when I purchased my CAnon 30D, I got it from Hunt's Photo in Boston. Essentially same base prices as B&H and Adorama. Hunt's has camera club specials and is a sponsor of the New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs [of which I'm a volunteer staffer.] My experience was truly great and I've recommended Hunt's to a number of personal friends. Everyone will have his/her favorite store. Follow the recommendations of a friend you trust. THe stores mentioned in this thread are, in general, the ones recommended most often - primarily be cause of their reliability. In my opinion, Chris, your recent experience is an aberration. But one thing is certainly true. If a reseller's prices are to good to be true - that's probably correct. Shop elsewhere.
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Marianne Fortin |
I use B+H and find their customer service excellent. I have returned a couple of things (changed my mind) and the returns process was easy and efficient. They seem to be accurate as to whether something is in stock or not and their prices are pretty competitive. The only slight problem I have is that their packing could be better.
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Jagadeesh Andrew Owens |
Calumet. Hands down the best.
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Michelle Ross |
sign off
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Adorama update: All of my order has finally arrived, and everything appears fine with the merchandise. I never did receive a reply to any of the emails I initiated to their Service address, but I did receive emails as follow-ups on the phone calls I'd placed, in the cases where I got ahold of a person. Regarding the backorder status of the tripod legs, the buyer supposedly contacted the vendor; I got an email saying the tripod would be back in Adorama stock by the end of that week. It wasn't in stock the following Monday, when I called to check. I then received an email apologizing that the vendor had let them down, so they'd let me down in turn, and my order wouldn't come in by the date they'd previously indicated. But apparently, it actually did... (Or conveniently, a matching tripod was returned?) The next day, I received an email saying it had shipped to me! (Following that email was another, asking if I'd received the "replacement parts" yet. And then a jolly email from one of the customer support folks I'd spoken to, which simply read, "IT SHIPPED!! YAY!!" :) Anyway... the situation ultimately resolved itself, and I've got everything I need for my trip. But I can't say this left me with strong confidence in their inventory tracking methods, nor their web-based customer service abilities! Once I got ahold of someone on the phone however, I had better luck, despite their internal confusions about stock status.
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D |
I use Shopzilla for my initial search. It gives me a good idea of who's selling what at what price. It also shows User ratings by their experience. Ive also used Blue Stripe Photo, B&H Photo and Prestige Photo for my most recent purchases. All p[rovided excellent customer service and professional sales/equipment recommendations. Blue Stripe Photo went the extra step in providing me a deep discount for a jajor purchase. They also threw in several 5-year warranty coverages for all my equipment, two lenses and cases for my tripods. It was a m-a-j-o-r purchase.
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- Dennis Flanagan Contact Dennis Flanagan Dennis Flanagan's Gallery |
I have never had any issues with Adorama and when I have tried ordering something out of stock, it let me know. I have also had very good luck with Amazon. I ordered a camera from Butterfly photo and received it quickly, but once the sale was made, their customer service became non-existant.
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dennis w. mcclain |
ive had the backorder situation come up with adorama once. it was poor planning on my part. and as I like to say. "poor planning on your part doesnt constitute an emergency on mine". so it wasnt there fault that the backorder caught me with my pants down. ive noticed on new items. they put them in their catalog, before they actaully stock them. but there is always a "see note" in red under the item. I like adorama, because they are freindly, helpfull, accept paypal, and I can get my prints ( good quality and cheep). they do shutdown 2 weeks for passover and 3 for yom kuppr( sorry if I misspelled that), but over all I have been very satisfied with them.
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Mike Rubin |
B&H has monthly discounts. Check out this link to another forum thread that talks about it. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=313353
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Giordano |
You may want to check at www.resellerratings.com where you can compare and take a look at feedback of different stores. I bought from beachcamera.com...no complain. Gio
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Michelle Ross |
remove
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Michelle, If you're trying to stop getting email alerts when comments are posted to this thread, do this: Go to your Member Center and click on the My Discussions / Q&A. Scroll down to the bottom and find the link for this thread. Click on the OFF over to the right to turn off your notifications for this thread. There is also a link to turn off notifications for all threads if you want. Chris A. Vedros
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Ross Throndson |
B&H Photo - Used them for years....Great Camera Store!!
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Renae Newman |
I know I am REALLY late on responding to this but I just ran across it. If anyone out there is military you can order from Ritz Camera and get 10% off your order plus shipping is free for orders over ...$50.(don't hold me to the $50, but it wasn't much) The catch is you have to go into your AAFES/Star card account online. Then go to "the mall" Ritz is listed as one of our "mall shoppes". You have to use the Ritz mall link from the AAFES site to get the 10% off. Hope this helps someone :O) B&H is good too!
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