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

On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:42:56 -0800 (PST), Helen Oster
wrote:

On Jan 28, 9:48*pm, "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 was extremely concerned to read your posting, and at this point can
only apologize that you have been so inconvenienced.

Could you please contact me directly, with the details of the item you
wanted to order, the date and time of your call, plus the number you
called from. I'd like to listen to the tapes of the call and find out
who spoke to you in this way - and why!

Adorama absolutely forbids any kind of bait and switch approach to
selling; the chances are it was a website error - nevertheless, the
sales associate should certainly not have addressed you in the way you
describe, and I would have expected an error of this kind to be
honored.

I do look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

www.adorama.com

I posted my comment about Adorama before reading this. I dealt with
Michael at extension 2276 yesterday in getting a price for my son to
buy a D40. Michael was very professional, very helpful.

You can send me a Nikkor 70-300 VR for my camera for the plug. Make
sure it's the VR.


--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

* tony cooper wrote :
* Helen Oster wrote:
* Sharp Dressed Man wrote:
snip /

I was extremely concerned to read your posting, and at this point can
only apologize that you have been so inconvenienced.

Could you please contact me directly, with the details of the item you
wanted to order, the date and time of your call, plus the number you
called from. I'd like to listen to the tapes of the call and find out
who spoke to you in this way - and why!

Adorama absolutely forbids any kind of bait and switch approach to
selling; the chances are it was a website error - nevertheless, the
sales associate should certainly not have addressed you in the way you
describe, and I would have expected an error of this kind to be
honored.

I do look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

www.adorama.com

I posted my comment about Adorama before reading this. I dealt with
Michael at extension 2276 yesterday in getting a price for my son to
buy a D40. Michael was very professional, very helpful.

You can send me a Nikkor 70-300 VR for my camera for the plug. Make
sure it's the VR.

Hey! I posted nice compliments first! What do *I* get?

--
Troy Piggins

On Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:29:26 +1000, Troy Piggins
wrote:

* tony cooper wrote :
* Helen Oster wrote:
* Sharp Dressed Man wrote:
snip /

I was extremely concerned to read your posting, and at this point can
only apologize that you have been so inconvenienced.

Could you please contact me directly, with the details of the item you
wanted to order, the date and time of your call, plus the number you
called from. I'd like to listen to the tapes of the call and find out
who spoke to you in this way - and why!

Adorama absolutely forbids any kind of bait and switch approach to
selling; the chances are it was a website error - nevertheless, the
sales associate should certainly not have addressed you in the way you
describe, and I would have expected an error of this kind to be
honored.

I do look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

www.adorama.com

I posted my comment about Adorama before reading this. I dealt with
Michael at extension 2276 yesterday in getting a price for my son to
buy a D40. Michael was very professional, very helpful.

You can send me a Nikkor 70-300 VR for my camera for the plug. Make
sure it's the VR.

Hey! I posted nice compliments first! What do *I* get?

While it's a myth that he actually said it, Gen Nathan Bedford
Forrest, a Confederate cavalry officer known for his quick strikes and
successful forays, is quoted as saying "Git thar fustest with the
mostest". I asked fust, so I should get the mostest.


--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:00:14 -0500, tony cooper wrote:

Hey! I posted nice compliments first! What do *I* get?

While it's a myth that he actually said it, Gen Nathan Bedford
Forrest, a Confederate cavalry officer known for his quick strikes and
successful forays, is quoted as saying "Git thar fustest with the
mostest". I asked fust, so I should get the mostest.

Wrong interpretation. If you follow Gen. Nathan Bedford's advice
you should ask fust and have the mostest questions. That won't
guarantee success but it'll git'cha a good chance t'win the mostest.

On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:29:46 -0500, ASAAR wrote:

On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:00:14 -0500, tony cooper wrote:

Hey! I posted nice compliments first! What do *I* get?

While it's a myth that he actually said it, Gen Nathan Bedford
Forrest, a Confederate cavalry officer known for his quick strikes and
successful forays, is quoted as saying "Git thar fustest with the
mostest". I asked fust, so I should get the mostest.

Wrong interpretation. If you follow Gen. Nathan Bedford's advice
you should ask fust and have the mostest questions. That won't
guarantee success but it'll git'cha a good chance t'win the mostest.

If you ask too many questions, you may be saying what that great
military genius of the Okefenokee swamp once said: "We have met the
enemy and they is us".
--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:57:57 -0800, Savageduck
wrote:

On 2009-01-28 17:42:08 -0800, tony cooper said:

On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:29:46 -0500, ASAAR wrote:

On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:00:14 -0500, tony cooper wrote:

Hey! I posted nice compliments first! What do *I* get?

While it's a myth that he actually said it, Gen Nathan Bedford
Forrest, a Confederate cavalry officer known for his quick strikes and
successful forays, is quoted as saying "Git thar fustest with the
mostest". I asked fust, so I should get the mostest.

Wrong interpretation. If you follow Gen. Nathan Bedford's advice
you should ask fust and have the mostest questions. That won't
guarantee success but it'll git'cha a good chance t'win the mostest.

If you ask too many questions, you may be saying what that great
military genius of the Okefenokee swamp once said: "We have met the
enemy and they is us".

A Pogoist!!

...and in this NG we can also find the reincarnation of Simple J
Malarkey in our MOPAR pal.

I can modestly (albeit, with false modesty) say that I have met
several celebrities in my life. I once rode down six floors on an
elevator in the Mayflower hotel in NYC with Al Capp.

I also was given a personal tour of the Mad Magazine offices in NYC by
Bill Gaines. It was arranged by an employee of mine who had gone to
school with (cartoonist) Jack Davis at Georgia. I briefly met
(cartoonist) Don Martin who autographed a book for me. When on a trip
to San Francisco, in a restaurant I sat three tables over from Robert
Crumb. We did not speak, but I know he wanted to.

I also shook hands with a former (losing) Vice Presidential candidate
in O'Hare Airport. I forget his name and wasn't even sure of it at
the time.

My wife, when on Psych affiliation at Cook County Hospital, met
Liberace in a bar in Chicago. That was before I knew her. My
celebrity meetings top hers and I often remind her of this.



--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:42:08 -0500, tony cooper wrote:

Wrong interpretation. If you follow Gen. Nathan Bedford's advice
you should ask fust and have the mostest questions. That won't
guarantee success but it'll git'cha a good chance t'win the mostest.

If you ask too many questions, you may be saying what that great
military genius of the Okefenokee swamp once said: "We have met the
enemy and they is us".

I go Pogo too.

http://www.whiterose.org/dr.elmo/blo...es/000641.html