Surprised at Adorama!

Went on their website to check an item I decided to buy and saw that their
price was the same as another usually reliable online vendor I often buy
from-- but Adorama was offering free shipping. So I put one in my cart and
start to check out-- only to see shipping charges listed. I retried the
order from the beginning and got the same result so I called them and
explained the problem.

I gave the guy the SKU number and he tells me-- no, that item doesn't have
free shipping. No I said, I'm looking right at it and your web page says
it's free. Well he says in his best New York way, maybe you're reading it
wrong or maybe they just took free shipping off that item. No problem I
say-- as long as you take the $6.95 shipping off my order.

Then he says $6.95 wasn't all that much money and he wouldn't remove it and
I said OK, if that's the way you do business now, goodbye. I hung up and did
not complete the order.

Is that just an uncooperative CSR-- or a new business model based on bait
and switch? I've made many purchases from them and other than the occasional
required "confirmation call" so they can try to sell me unwanted add-ons,
I've never had any problems.

* Sharp Dressed Man wrote :
Went on their website to check an item I decided to buy and saw that their
price was the same as another usually reliable online vendor I often buy
from-- but Adorama was offering free shipping. So I put one in my cart and
start to check out-- only to see shipping charges listed. I retried the
order from the beginning and got the same result so I called them and
explained the problem.

I gave the guy the SKU number and he tells me-- no, that item doesn't have
free shipping. No I said, I'm looking right at it and your web page says
it's free. Well he says in his best New York way, maybe you're reading it
wrong or maybe they just took free shipping off that item. No problem I
say-- as long as you take the $6.95 shipping off my order.

Then he says $6.95 wasn't all that much money and he wouldn't remove it and
I said OK, if that's the way you do business now, goodbye. I hung up and did
not complete the order.

Is that just an uncooperative CSR-- or a new business model based on bait
and switch? I've made many purchases from them and other than the occasional
required "confirmation call" so they can try to sell me unwanted add-ons,
I've never had any problems.

I've bought from them many times. Can't comment on the free
shipping deal because I'm overseas and it never applies to me,
but their service and delivery times have always been spot on in
my experience.

--
Troy Piggins

On Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:49:37 +1000, Troy Piggins
wrote:

* Sharp Dressed Man wrote :
Went on their website to check an item I decided to buy and saw that their
price was the same as another usually reliable online vendor I often buy
from-- but Adorama was offering free shipping. So I put one in my cart and
start to check out-- only to see shipping charges listed. I retried the
order from the beginning and got the same result so I called them and
explained the problem.

I gave the guy the SKU number and he tells me-- no, that item doesn't have
free shipping. No I said, I'm looking right at it and your web page says
it's free. Well he says in his best New York way, maybe you're reading it
wrong or maybe they just took free shipping off that item. No problem I
say-- as long as you take the $6.95 shipping off my order.

Then he says $6.95 wasn't all that much money and he wouldn't remove it and
I said OK, if that's the way you do business now, goodbye. I hung up and did
not complete the order.

Is that just an uncooperative CSR-- or a new business model based on bait
and switch? I've made many purchases from them and other than the occasional
required "confirmation call" so they can try to sell me unwanted add-ons,
I've never had any problems.

I've bought from them many times. Can't comment on the free
shipping deal because I'm overseas and it never applies to me,
but their service and delivery times have always been spot on in
my experience.

My son just ordered a Nikon from Adorama yesterday. Shipping was
$6-something. What was a surprise was the price, though. The website
says $599, but the price on the telephone was $509.90. They said it
would be billed at $509.90 if ordered on the web even though the web
listed price was higher.

Just to check, I went to B&H's website and the price is $599. On the
phone I was quoted $509.90.

All I can figure out is that Nikon controls what the advertised price
is, but the dealer can offer a better price. Dunno, though.

Adorama asks if you want to buy filters, spare battery, etc, but they
don't push. Very efficient people to deal with.


--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

"tony cooper" wrote in message
...


My son just ordered a Nikon from Adorama yesterday. Shipping was
$6-something. What was a surprise was the price, though. The website
says $599, but the price on the telephone was $509.90. They said it
would be billed at $509.90 if ordered on the web even though the web
listed price was higher.

Just to check, I went to B&H's website and the price is $599. On the
phone I was quoted $509.90.

All I can figure out is that Nikon controls what the advertised price
is, but the dealer can offer a better price. Dunno, though.

Tony, was that by any chance a D60?

I just bought one of those myself at about $510, with free shipping. This
was from Amazon, which wouldn't give the price in their ad (the "put it in
your cart to see the price" business). So I assume from that that Nikon's
dropped the price -- maybe closing 'em out? -- but doesn't want the lower
price advertised.


Adorama asks if you want to buy filters, spare battery, etc, but they
don't push. Very efficient people to deal with.

Yes indeed. A good place to do business. And they offer free shipping on a
lot of smaller items, cases etc., that makes them even more attractive.

On Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:38:39 -0500, "Neil Harrington"
wrote:


"tony cooper" wrote in message
.. .


My son just ordered a Nikon from Adorama yesterday. Shipping was
$6-something. What was a surprise was the price, though. The website
says $599, but the price on the telephone was $509.90. They said it
would be billed at $509.90 if ordered on the web even though the web
listed price was higher.

Just to check, I went to B&H's website and the price is $599. On the
phone I was quoted $509.90.

All I can figure out is that Nikon controls what the advertised price
is, but the dealer can offer a better price. Dunno, though.

Tony, was that by any chance a D60?

Nope. D40 with 18/55 and 55/200. INKD40k2A. Still shows at $596.95.



I just bought one of those myself at about $510, with free shipping. This
was from Amazon, which wouldn't give the price in their ad (the "put it in
your cart to see the price" business). So I assume from that that Nikon's
dropped the price -- maybe closing 'em out? -- but doesn't want the lower
price advertised.


Adorama asks if you want to buy filters, spare battery, etc, but they
don't push. Very efficient people to deal with.

Yes indeed. A good place to do business. And they offer free shipping on a
lot of smaller items, cases etc., that makes them even more attractive.


First order I'd placed with Adorama. I've purchased cameras from Ritz
and Abe's of Maine, but not Adorama before.



--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

"tony cooper" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:38:39 -0500, "Neil Harrington"
wrote:


"tony cooper" wrote in message
. ..


My son just ordered a Nikon from Adorama yesterday. Shipping was
$6-something. What was a surprise was the price, though. The website
says $599, but the price on the telephone was $509.90. They said it
would be billed at $509.90 if ordered on the web even though the web
listed price was higher.

Just to check, I went to B&H's website and the price is $599. On the
phone I was quoted $509.90.

All I can figure out is that Nikon controls what the advertised price
is, but the dealer can offer a better price. Dunno, though.

Tony, was that by any chance a D60?

Nope. D40 with 18/55 and 55/200. INKD40k2A. Still shows at $596.95.

Wow, with both lenses that was a fantastic price!




I just bought one of those myself at about $510, with free shipping. This
was from Amazon, which wouldn't give the price in their ad (the "put it in
your cart to see the price" business). So I assume from that that Nikon's
dropped the price -- maybe closing 'em out? -- but doesn't want the lower
price advertised.


Adorama asks if you want to buy filters, spare battery, etc, but they
don't push. Very efficient people to deal with.

Yes indeed. A good place to do business. And they offer free shipping on a
lot of smaller items, cases etc., that makes them even more attractive.


First order I'd placed with Adorama. I've purchased cameras from Ritz
and Abe's of Maine, but not Adorama before.

Other places I've found extremely reliable are Amazon.com, BuyDig.com and
BeachCamera.com. I don't think there's any one place that *always* has the
best price, so I shop around. You certainly did well on that D40.

On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:48:39 -0500, Sharp Dressed Man wrote:

Went on their website to check an item I decided to buy and saw that
their price was the same as another usually reliable online vendor I
often buy from-- but Adorama was offering free shipping. So I put one in
my cart and start to check out-- only to see shipping charges listed. I
retried the order from the beginning and got the same result so I called
them and explained the problem.

I gave the guy the SKU number and he tells me-- no, that item doesn't
have free shipping. No I said, I'm looking right at it and your web page
says it's free. Well he says in his best New York way, maybe you're
reading it wrong or maybe they just took free shipping off that item. No
problem I say-- as long as you take the $6.95 shipping off my order.

Then he says $6.95 wasn't all that much money and he wouldn't remove it
and I said OK, if that's the way you do business now, goodbye. I hung up
and did not complete the order.

Is that just an uncooperative CSR-- or a new business model based on
bait and switch? I've made many purchases from them and other than the
occasional required "confirmation call" so they can try to sell me
unwanted add-ons, I've never had any problems.

That is a very old business model - in the UK we call it FRAUD.



--

Neil
reverse ra and delete l
Linux user 335851

"Neil Ellwood" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:48:39 -0500, Sharp Dressed Man wrote:

Went on their website to check an item I decided to buy and saw that
their price was the same as another usually reliable online vendor I
often buy from-- but Adorama was offering free shipping. So I put one in
my cart and start to check out-- only to see shipping charges listed. I
retried the order from the beginning and got the same result so I called
them and explained the problem.

I gave the guy the SKU number and he tells me-- no, that item doesn't
have free shipping. No I said, I'm looking right at it and your web page
says it's free. Well he says in his best New York way, maybe you're
reading it wrong or maybe they just took free shipping off that item. No
problem I say-- as long as you take the $6.95 shipping off my order.

Then he says $6.95 wasn't all that much money and he wouldn't remove it
and I said OK, if that's the way you do business now, goodbye. I hung up
and did not complete the order.

Is that just an uncooperative CSR-- or a new business model based on
bait and switch? I've made many purchases from them and other than the
occasional required "confirmation call" so they can try to sell me
unwanted add-ons, I've never had any problems.

That is a very old business model - in the UK we call it FRAUD.

Adorama does not defraud its customers. There are a number of small stores
that do (usually advertising under a variety of names; see the Don Wiss
archives), but Adorama is 100% reputable.

Sharp Dressed Man wrote:
Went on their website to check an item....

What I find interesting is that despite Adoramas courteous response, the
OP, "Sharp Dressed Man" has not returned.