Everything you wanted to know about Adorama Camera........but didn't know who to ask!

Want to win a Canon 7D OR a Nikon 300s from Adorama?

2012-01-23T14:01:00.000-05:00

Your Best Shot 2011 Contest

Contest Details – Please Read Carefully!

How to enter:

1. You must be a facebook fan of Adoramapix.com and post your one image onto our wall.

2. You must then submit same image – high resolution to : events@adoramapix.com

3. You Must do Both to be entered to win!

4. Image must have been captured in the year 2011.

The Prizes:

1. Grand Prize (1 winner): Estimated Value: $1700.00

- Your Choice either a Canon 7D OR a Nikon 300s

2. Top 12 Runner Ups: Estimated Value: $25.00

- Each top 12 Runner Up will win an 8x8” -14 page Adoramapix photo book with the winning entries displayed

Dates to Know:

The Deadline: February 29, 2012

A team of Adoramapix Judges will then choose the top 25 images based on technical and artistic ability.

The Vote: March 5-March 12th, 2012

The top 25 images will be posted on the Adoramapix Blog. Adoramapix members will then pick their favorites from the 25 images posted. The top 12 images that receive the most votes will be awarded the Best of 2011 8x8” -14 page Adoramapix Photo Book.

The Winner Announced: March 15

A team of Adoramapix Judges will choose the Grand Prize Winner out of the top 12 Best of 2011 winners.

Official Rules: All general Adoramapix Contest Rules Apply

If you are not a fan of these contests, please don’t participate. We’ll continue to try to find new contests and new prizes that will make it fun and interesting to be a part of the Adoramapix community. Thank you for your support.

Seeing is Believing! Amazing Photo Book offer from AdoramaPix

2012-01-15T04:20:00.000-05:00

Seeing is Believing! 14-page 8x8 photo books are now only $11.95. Code: BELIEVE Expires 01.31.2012 [Prepaids and Leather-Lux Albums not included]. http://blog.adoramapix.com/2012/01/13/seeing-is-believing/

Win a Canon 7d or a Nikon 300s camera body!!

2012-01-12T03:52:00.000-05:00

Want to win a Canon 7d or a Nikon 300s camera body? Better keep an eye on my Tweets!

Details to be announced, shortly............

http://twitter.com/HelenOster

@HelenOster

Helen@adorama.com

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

Adorama Camera, Olympus & WFAN Radio contest

2011-11-22T11:14:00.000-05:00

Win one of 20 Olympus Pen E-PM1 Camera Kits with Adorama Camera, Olympus & WFAN Radio!

Adorama Camera is giving away a Olympus Pen E-PM1 Camera Kit every weekday for the next 3 weeks to a total of 20 people!

(http://www.adorama.com/IOMEPM1WHS.html)

We’ll have cool and simple contests going out over Adorama's Twitter and Facebook channels - and you can enter every day.

Share the info with your fans and followers, and give more people the opportunity to join - and hopefully you'll be an Adorama winner,

Keep an eye on the Adorama Camera Facebook and Twitter feed for the daily announcement of each day's contest and the previous day's winner!

http://twitter.com/#!/adorama
https://www.facebook.com/Adorama

Good Luck!

The kindest people I've Never met

2011-11-15T03:18:00.002-05:00

The title of this blog may be confusing, but no, it isn't a typo!

I want to tell you a story about a very special couple that neither I nor the little boy at the center of the story have ever met, and yet I want their spontaneous act of kindness to be recognized. It is a reminder that in this cynical world there are kindnesses that can never be repaid, because they touch our hearts. And you simply can't buy that!

For the past 18 months, Alex has been running a pet care business in his small town in Israel. He gets up an hour early to walk dogs and feed cats for people who are away from home, and still get to school on time. He charges $1 an hour and has a client list that many would be amazed at – but he is only just 12-years old. (There’s a Richard Branson / Warren Buffet in the making!)

He wanted to buy a camera (which is where I come in) and having read great reviews about Adorama Camera he decided to buy a Canon refurb point-and-shoot. So far so good. But the shipping costs meant that he’d have to put off his purchase while he continued to save so he came up with a plan.
Friends of Alex’s parents were going to be visiting the US so he arranged with them that the camera would be shipped to their hotel, the Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn a "Cape Cod bed and breakfast" in Massachusetts (http://www.platinumpebble.com/)

Unfortunately, the camera arrived at the hotel a day after the friends had checked out and were already on their way back to Israel.

Asking around her friends Alex’s Mum found someone who would be travelling to the US within 6 weeks, but sadly not close enough to the Platinum Pebble Inn to be able to collect it. She sent an email to the hotel owners, Simon and Annabelle Hunton to explain the situation, and naturally, Alex’s Mum asked them to bill her credit card for the shipping costs and their time.

3 days later she received the following email:

Hi

The package has been sent today to your friend. I would guess it'll be with them on Wed/Thur of this week.

Don't worry about the costs!

Kind regards
Simon

So, a little boy in Israel is finally going to get his camera from Adorama. If I were going to be travelling to the Cape Cod area there is no doubt that I’d make the Platinum Pebble my first stop! But I’m not. I'll have to content myself with reading their blog: http://www.capecodinns.com/blog/

So all I can do is thank Simon & Annabelle, on Alex’s behalf, for their generosity. I guess it's unusual to find that there really are still people who consider kindness and compassion to others to be more important than commercial opportunity.

I hope this story inspires you as it did me, and wish you a life filled with blessings, kind deeds and acts of loving kindness.

$5,000 REWARD FOR INFO LEADING TO RECOVERY of stolen EPIC-M

2011-11-03T11:24:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone,

Sad news for Adorama Rental Co. Our 1st EPIC-M was stolen from a client of ours last night. If anyone has any info, or comes across the body (#892) please contact me here or by email: Helen@adorama.com

We sincerely hope no one has to go through what we're going through right now.

Thanks guys.

**WE ARE OFFERING A $5,000 REWARD FOR RETURN**

Adorama 'phone sales department opening times during the current holiday

2011-10-16T03:01:00.000-04:00

The current holiday schedule for the Adorama phone-sales department can be found here: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=contactus: (The store, however, is closed).

• 9:30 — 5:00 Wednesday, October 12
• Closed Thursday, October 13
• Closed Friday, October 14
• 9:30 — 5:00 Sunday, October 16
• 9:30 — 5:00 Monday, October 17
• 9:30 — 5:00 Tuesday, October 18
• 9:30 — 5:00 Wednesday, October 19
• Closed Thursday, October 20
• Closed Friday, October 21

I hope this helps - and I'm also only an email away for advice or after-sales support with any order from Adorama:Helen@adorama.com

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

If you enjoyed reading my blog today, we'd love to hear about it on Twitter
http://twitter.com/HelenOster
@HelenOster

Adorama Camera upcoming Fall holiday closure times

2011-09-22T04:24:00.001-04:00

Is it really that time of year again?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosh_Hashanah

Jewish homes the world over are anticipating the holiday that is bursting with honey, apples & pomegranates - and for some, gifts will be exchanged.

As friendships deepen I've realized that we spend more and more time with the same people over the holiday period. Traditionally whenever we’re invited out we'll take a cake, candies, a bottle of wine or a salad, but at this time of year I like to include a beautiful cake plate, candy dish or salad bowl as a keepsake.

If MY kitchen cabinets are anything to go by, those of my friends and family must also be bursting at the seams with plates and dishes! So this year I'm giving everyone fab water jugs. Inside each one I've included a bag of re-usable fruit-shaped plastic ice makers, and added a co-ordinating pack of paper napkins. All wrapped up in shiny cellophane with a huge bow and decorated with a little ornamental apple.

Provided none of my friends read my blog, it should be a refreshing surprise!

Here is the Adorama holiday schedule:

http://cot.ag/nfsgly

As we will be closed for a total of 9 business days, so please plan accordingly. When we return to business as usual on Sunday 23rd October, we'll be working extra hard to catch up and take care of all your photography needs.

L’shanah tovah tikatevu – “May you be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for a good year."

How is Adorama closed on Saturdays? It makes me mad!

2011-07-17T09:01:00.000-04:00

At Adorama we do appreciate that our closing times can be inconvenient to some of our potential customers.
Adorama's owner is an observant orthodox Jewish gentleman, whose beliefs prohibit him - his family and his business - from operating on the Sabbath and on many of the religious holidays (which all begin an hour prior to sunset the evening before the day of the holiday, which is why we close early on Fridays).

We can't employ non-Jews here during those days, because to do so would involve the company conducting business - which is forbidden in Jewish Law.

Most holidays are actually only one or two days; two are week-long holidays. We do try to minimize inconvenience to our customers, by publicizing our closing dates well in advance.
After the holiday(s) end(s), we do reopen our sales and shipping departments as soon as possible in order to deal with the inevitable backlog of orders.
We would also take on add additional staff in the customer service, sales and shipping departments if necessary to help reduce backlogs and speed up the service to our customers.

In this era of 24-hour commerce, I guess it's unusual to find that there really are still people who consider their spiritual duty to be more important than squeezing money out of our customers at every opportunity. I receive frequent emails from customers who state that in this day and age it is comforting to know there are people around who do not place money before all else.

Many businesses in the US and elsewhere in the world force employees to work on holidays when the time is better spent with their friends and families - or just relaxing by themselves.

We are grateful for the understanding of our customers that this is an important element of our owner's value system. Perhaps the following links to articles in the Washington Post & the New York Times will help to make some sense of our closure policies:

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB109269113906892796-IVjg4NnlaJ3o5yubXSHaK6Jm4.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/09/technology/09ecom.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

I hope this helps

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen@adoramacamera.com
http://twitter.com/HelenOster
@HelenOster

www.adoramacamera.com

Making a Photobook? SO easy, a child can do it!

2011-05-15T17:03:00.000-04:00

My father-in-law will turn 80 at the beginning of June, so amongst his children and grandchildren came the inevitable - "what can we buy him - he's got everything!"

Well, in many ways, he does.
He has my mother-in-law - no jokes, please, she's an amazing bundle of energy who makes all the rest of us look like we are only able to work in reverse....

He also has 12 grandchildren (+ 2 grandchildren-in-law) and one great granddaughter.

With the family spread across 3 continents – in the UK, USA and Israel – how were we ever going to find something we could all agree on?
The others may have been stumped, but not me.
When I suggested a Photo Book from AdoramaPix, there was pretty unanimous agreement. However, making the book didn’t turn out quite how I’d imagined……..

I sent every family member a link to the AdoramaPix website, but after 2 weeks it was clear that nobody had even looked at it; I’d hoped for feedback on which design to use, but realized I’d be waiting forever! So my 11-year old son chose a template, and decided on a 76-page, 8x12 book, in strong spring colors, with a cute butterfly design across the pages.

I sent the link and log-in details out to all the family, but after hearing nothing back from any of them over the next 2 weeks figured I’d better make a start on the book myself. The problem was, this was during the weeks leading up to Passover; always a busy time, but made worse because my cleaner had broken her foot while climbing onto my table to clean the light fittings (she broke the table, too, but that’s another story…..)

I was starting to panic – NO WAY could I get it done on my own! Which is where my son came in.
He spent maybe 30 hours going through all our stored digital pictures, organizing and selecting. Then he sorted through all the old prints, scanning and uploading them.
Some of the UK-based clan, (after a number of calls and emails), finally uploaded some pictures, and family in Israel sent us a memory stick and a CD with their contribution.

But it was my little boy who poured all his free time and his love into that Photo Book. He asked every family member to write a dedication which he matched to the pictures; he scattered memorable quotations about grandfathers throughout the book, and when he discovered the ‘stickers’, used them at every opportunity.

Finally it was ready to send to AdoramaPix, and we waited patiently for the finished book to arrive……..

It totally surpassed all of our expectations. OK, one of my nieces had lost part of her head (!) and I noticed some dodgy punctuation in one of the dedications, but I’ll bet I’m the only one to notice.

Every page I turned brought back so many happy memories of my children growing up, and great times spent with in-laws, out-laws, nieces and nephews. I’ll even admit to having a tear in my eye.

My father-in-law is going to be blown away when he sees it, I know. We’ll have to make sure we capture his expression when he opens it up. It’ll be priceless – and maybe we’ll include it when we make a book for my mother-in-law for her 80th!

What’s the point of my blog? To thank my wonderful, amazing son for all his hard work – and to let you know: if you’ve wanted to make an AdoramaPix Photo Book but been a bit unsure, it’s so simple, an 11-year-old can do it!!

http://www.adoramapix.com/products/books

BTW. There’s 20% off all 8x8 books thru 5-24…….so what are you waiting for??!!

Adorama Camera: Passover opening / closing times

2011-04-10T10:00:00.001-04:00

Now would be a good time to remind you that next week is Passover. Our Store and offices will be closed from Monday, April 18th at 1pm thru Tuesday, April 26th. There will be website order availability April 21st from 10-5, April 22nd and April 24th from 10-3pm; all other departments will be closed.

All order placed by 4/18 12:00 PM will ship before the holiday (subject to verification delays); orders placed after 12:00 on the April 18th thru April 24th at 11.00 will be guaranteed to be delivered by Friday April 29th. *Please note, this guarantee does not apply for orders with the free shipping option selected and it excludes PayPal, BML, Amazon & Google orders. Customers will be notified of this during checkout and will be advised to use different payments method to qualify.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Rebate or Rip-Off? Canon price rises explained!

2011-02-21T05:08:00.000-05:00

When Canon raises the prices to retailers, rebates are generally offered for the first few months to delay the price-change for customers. We don't raise prices on our existing stock to match the new prices, which often means that customer prices drop initially; however within a week or two, when we've sold out of almost every Canon unit that has a rebate on it, as well as a few that don't - we have to pay the increased prices when we re-stock.

At the same time if Canon decides to enforce their MAP program more aggressively, it leaves us no choice but to offer the renewed inventory at Canon “estimated retail prices”.

Manufacturers usually require retailers to meet MAP restrictions in order to participate in a rebate offer program, and many of Adorama’s regular list prices are frequently too low to be able to offer the rebates. If we don’t comply, we’ll lose our Authorized Dealership Status

When a manufacturer or US importer changes MAP parameters and enforces them vigorously, retailers are left with no option. Therefore when our inventory is exhausted, prices have to go up to reflect the new MAP. Nevertheless, prices at Adorama will at no time be raised above MSRP.

MAP restrictions mean that when the rebated lenses are marked up to the Canon "estimated price," the cost of the unit with the rebate applied will in some cases either be equal to, or in some case greater than the regular discounted price that we were selling them for before the instant rebate program went into effect!

The reason that you may find units pre-price rise at a smaller or independent retailer while prices at the bigger retailers have already increased, is simply a matter of scale; stores that carry & sell on from a larger inventory, will deplete stocks bought in at the pre-price rise prices far more quickly than smaller stores with a slower turnover.

Also, the price at smaller retailers is rarely as variable as at larger outlets, because they are generally unable to offer the same level of deep discounting due to their smaller purchasing power, so price increases are not as great.

As retailers who care passionately about the products we sell, I can promise you that we don't like it any more than our customers do.

Helen Oster ☺
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
HelenO@adorama.com

http://twitter.com/HelenOster

6 Secrets of Excellence in Online Customer Service

2011-02-03T07:55:00.000-05:00

1. Maintain a Positive Attitude - All customer issues offer an opportunity to learn and grow

2. Listen with Empathy - Put yourself in the customer's shoes and communicate clearly that you appreciate his/her concerns

3. Take Ownership - Don't make excuses; apologize and take responsibility for what happened

4. Communicate Your Plan of Action - Let the customer know what you're going to do to take care of the problem. Clarify what you can’t do

5. Take Action - Deliver speedily on what you promised (even better, deliver more)

6. Confirm Customer Importance - Ensure the customer hears that he/she is valued and that you want to retain his/her business.

Helen Oster ☺
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
HelenO@adorama.com

http://twitter.com/HelenOster

You must have a very nice camera!

2011-01-18T09:15:00.000-05:00

A photographer went to a dinner party where he showed the hostess and the other guests many of his photographs. The hostess commented, "those are very nice pictures, you must have a great camera."

The photographer shrugged, but didn't respond.

The next day he called to thank his hostess: "The meal was very nice, you must have great pots and pans."

Time for something funny.......

2011-01-11T14:10:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine who teaches film-making at a well-known school was approached by a noted brain surgeon who asked that he be given a two-week crash course in film-making because of a film he wanted to produce. “Okay,” my friend said, but I won’t charge you for the course if you’ll swap me a two-week course in brain surgery.

That’s something I’ve always wanted to do.

From the 'Professional Photographer's Survival Guide' by Charles E. Rotkin

Adorama Camera would love your vote in the Shorty Award for Customer Service!

2011-01-10T05:32:00.004-05:00

We would really love your vote for @adorama for a Shorty Award in C ustomer Service because:

We are not afraid to open up conversations with our customers on photographic websites, shopping sites, in public forums, and on Twitter and Facebook.

We are proud to be offering numerous open lines of communication into our company, because we want to be able to listen to your opinions and respond to them, as well as to solve problems.

We are committed to supporting all our staff to be able to take personal responsibility for getting all of your issues resolved fully, and to ensure that you are satisfied with the overall experience of purchasing from Adorama.

We challenge ourselves constantly with these questions: What would I want if I were the customer? What level of service would I expect? - when dealing with even the most complex situation.

We always take time to thank you for visting our website and our store, to let you know that we appreciate not just your business but also your feedback - even when it's critical!

Vote here: http://shortyawards.com/adorama

Helen Oster ☺
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

HelenO@adorama.com

http://twitter.com/HelenOster

One extra degree in Customer Care at Adorama Camera makes all the difference!

2010-11-18T08:50:00.001-05:00

At 211 degrees...water is hot.
At 212 degrees...it boils.
And with boiling water, comes steam.

Steam can power a locomotive -

and -

it's that one extra degree that makes all the difference!

That's what we're about at Adorama Camera. Pushing back the barriers and aiming to provide our customers with a vast selection of everything photographic and more and the very best in competitive pricing plus speedy shipping, all wrapped up in unbeatable customer service.

What does a 'Customer Service Ambassador' do, exactly?

2010-11-18T05:42:00.000-05:00

A question posed today by a member of an Internet forum......

"What does a 'Customer Service Ambassador' do, exactly?"

I'm signed up to many hundreds of photography forums, websites, Flickr groups, shopping sites etc, plus websites which are not really about photography, but which have a photography section. There are paintballers, skiiers, cyclists, train enthusiasts, skateboarders, anglers, deer hunters, campers, 'plane enthusiasts,pistol shooters, mums with babies, sailors - and more - who all share a passion for photography.
Wherever Adorama is mentioned, I try to drop in to make certain that any of our customers who may need advice or after-sales support, know that I'm available and how to contact me.

My brief is to search for Internet postings which refer to Adorama, in order to give advice and information, as well as to investigate and resolve complaints and concerns that posters have been unable to address through regular customer service channels.

I alert the Adorama Senior Management Team to customer feedback concerning company policies - with recommendations for change, and provide a rapid response for customers.

Any customer with an enquiry, query or complaint regarding an order - or any aspect of service from Adorama, is most welcome to contact me directly: HelenO@adorama.com

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
http://helenoster.blogspot.com

HelenO@adorama.com

http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/helen.oster?v=info

http://www.flickr.com/people/22264746@N07/

http://www.linkedin.com/myprofile?trk=hb_tab_pro

Adorama's customer-centred service - or on-line reputation management?

2010-11-02T05:14:00.000-04:00

I believe that as with any business providing a service to customers, at Adorama Camera we need to re-examine constantly not only what we are doing for our customers, but how we are doing it.
For on-line retailers, building relationships with customers must be the driver in terms of customer service.

It's been said many times, but customer service is a philosophy, not a department. It affects our ability to supply our customers' wants and needs and is the lifeblood of our business. Promotions and price cuts will bring in new customers, but to ensure long-term profitability and growth, those customers need to want to return to us to make further purchases.
Excellent Customer-centred Service is the ability to constantly and consistently exceed customer expectations, forming and maintaining relationships that each individual customer wants to pursue.

At Adorama Camera, we want customers to feel that they have a voice, that we are listening; the goals we set at Adorama could equally apply to all on-line retailers.

1. To develop and maintain clarity of purpose: understanding the goals of the service we are providing, and how and where these goals overlap with the needs of customers – and where customer needs may conflict with the needs of the business.

2. To create and manage relationships: to develop a holistic approach which encourages employees in all departments - whether senior management, sales agents, buyers, the warehouse, IT, marketing etc - to connect with each customer's situation, and then work to tie perceived ‘wants’ together with identified needs so that the two are one and the same.

3. To appreciate that while customers may not always be correct, every customer is entitled to his or her point of view; as a retailer it is our job to listen, understand and do the best to fit responses to meet customers’ requests rather than expect customers to ‘take it or leave it’.

4. To recognize that no two people are exactly alike, therefore it is essential to build as much flexibility into company policies and procedures as possible to try to meet the needs of each and every customer. Just because what we’ve been doing or the way we’ve been doing it works for 99.9999999% of our customers, as a committed retailer we will work to find a solution for even the single customer who needs something done differently. Until we’ve exhausted every avenue, we can’t expect our customers to compromise. After all, we need our customers to make us their number one choice!

5. To thank our customers: for their purchases, for their suggestions for improvements, for their recommendations us to others. A company’s best advocates are existing, satisfied customers!

6. To become personally involved with customers through the use of social media:
not only by communicating regularly on Twitter and Facebook, but by using social media such as photography forums, photo-sharing sites, customer blogs and shopping sites actively as it provides us with a fast, effective, relatively low cost channel to communicate with our customers, and gives our customers a forum to feed back about the elements of our service that they do – or don’t – like.

7. To benchmark our successes: to take what works - as well as what doesn’t - learning from it and improving on it. For example, back in 2006, Adorama feedback on resellerratings.com was a miserable 5.55 / 10, with a total of 243 reviews. In 2010, we are delighted to see that our feedback is up to 9.03 / 10, with 4,467 reviews. We still have a way to go to get that ‘perfect 10’, but we are headed in the right direction.

8. To add value or a unique selling point: for example, our photo lab, AdoramaPix, which produces high quality photo books and prints; Adorama Rentals providing photographic equipment at a fraction of the cost of buying new, our used department which currently holds over 25,000 units and pieces of equipment, and Adorama’s Learning Center.
The Learning Center produces a weekly op-ed digest of what's most interesting and significant in the photo world; buying guides which are refreshed regularly to ensure that they always represent current on-shelf merchandise; how-to articles covering a variety of subjects for different experience levels, and broadcast Adorama TV, regular instructional videos covering every aspect of photography.

9. To maintain honesty, humility and integrity: being upfront about what can be done and what can’t; doing what we say we will do – and never failing to apologize when we mess up.

10. To remember that genuine empathy as the key to every engagement. Where an in-depth apology and/or is needed as a result of either an error on our part, or a genuine misunderstanding, the starting point may not necessarily be that the customer is correct, but that the customer believes he is correct - whether as a result of previous experiences with the retailer in question, other retailers or life issues that may be completely disconnected from online purchasing or photography.

Whether on Twitter, a photography forum, a blog or shopping site, where I need to post a response, I always address the customer as an individual, although I know that my posting could be read by 70, 80 or 90,000 people!

Customer-centred service, or reputation management? You decide!

PS I'm always only an email away for advice or after-sales support with any order from Adorama Camera: HelenO@adorama.com

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

Why is Adorama Camera closed?

2010-09-27T14:27:00.002-04:00

Why is Adorama Camera closed?

I've come across a number of Internet blogs and posts over the past few days from customers who are confused about our current closure for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. I hope this will help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkot

At Adorama we do appreciate that our closing times can be inconvenient to some of our potential customers.
Adorama's owner is an observant orthodox Jewish gentleman, whose beliefs prohibit him - his family and his business - from operating on the Sabbath and on many of the religious holidays (which all begin an hour prior to sunset the evening before the day of the holiday, which is why we close early on Fridays).

We can't employ non-Jews here during those days, because to do so would involve the company conducting business - which is forbidden in Jewish Law.

Most holidays are actually only one or two days; two are week-long holidays. We do try to minimize inconvenience to our customers, by publicizing our closing dates well in advance.
After the holiday(s) end(s), we do reopen our sales and shipping departments as soon as possible in order to deal with the inevitable backlog of orders.
We would also take on add additional staff in the customer service, sales and shipping departments if necessary to help reduce backlogs and speed up the service to our customers.

In this era of 24-hour commerce which seems to take for granted that we all sleep with our i-phones under our pillows and work a relentless 60 or 70 hours a week, this is a special time for us to be with family and friends.

I guess it's unusual to find that there really are still people who consider their spiritual duty to be more important than making an honest buck out of our customers at every opportunity. I receive frequent emails from customers who state that in this day and age it is comforting to know there are people around who do not place money before all else.

Many businesses in the US and elsewhere in the world force employees to work on holidays when the time is better spent with their friends and families - or just relaxing by themselves

We are grateful for the understanding of our customers that this is an important element of our owner's value system. Perhaps the following links to articles in the Washington Post & the New York Times will help to make some sense of our closure policies:

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/...XSHaK6Jm4.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/09/te...=1&oref=slogin

BTW I'm only an email away for advice and / or after-sales support with any order from Adorama Camera.

Adorama NYC Retail Store will reopen on Sunday October 3 at 9:30 am

Adorama ‘phone-sales department will be open:
9:00 - 5:00 Sunday, Sep 26 thru Tuesday, Sep 28
9:00 - 3:00 Wednesday, Sep 29

Orders submitted to Adorama during the Sukkot Holiday (Wednesday, September 22 at 12:00pm thru Thursday evening September 30 at 6:00pm) will be delivered to you on the week of October 3. Where necessary, the shipping method will be upgraded at Adorama’s expense*
Orders Submitted Thursday evening September 30 after 6:00pm Thru October 2 when the Holiday ends will ship Monday October 4.
* This assurance is not applicable for orders with free shipping. These orders will ship October 4 but with no free upgrade assurance.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

HelenO@adorama.com

Would you like an AdoramaPix credit for a photo book?

2010-09-01T18:54:00.000-04:00

Ingrid Spangler from AdoramaPix joins Jack Howard and Mason Resnick for PhotoZAP critiques that begin being posted to the Adorama Learning Center from Wed Sep 01.

Participants get an AdoramaPix credit for a photo book during this period.

So what are you waiting for??? Get on over to the Adorama Learning Center....http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/PhotoZAP-AdoramaPIX-Summer-2010-Fling

What I really wish for from Adorama.......

2010-09-01T07:46:00.000-04:00

"What I really wish for from Adorama would be to implement a dynamic inventory system. I'm weary of the "sorry it's out of stock" speech when I call a day or two after it's supposed to ship"

Since we advertise via many portals - buy.com, Amazon, Ebay, shopping.com etc it isn't always easy to predict accurately how much merchandise to put up on each portal. If we have 100 units we can't tell each portal that we have 100....or we could potentially 'sell' 500 units, ie oversell 400.
We also don't want to short ourselves and advertise only 20 on each portal.

The second explanation is that if a customer places a order just as / immediately after a delivery is re-stocked our website will show the units as being in stock, and an automated confirmation that the order has been received is sent out.
If an item is heavily back-ordered (because we don't charge until an order actually ships), the back-orders need to be filled, with the units being removed from the shelves by our warehouse team and packaged for shipping.

At the exact moment that the final back-ordered unit is removed from the
shelf, any customers with unfulfilled orders would again receive an
automated email this time indicating that the unit is now again on back order.

Our website also does not update in real time, to allow for order cancellations -the bulk of which typically occur within the first 30 - 45 minutes of placing an order eg because a customer has had a change of heart - or because his wife has just walked into the room!

That would explain why it could appear from the site that there are still
units in stock, when in fact they have already been allocated to customers who had placed their back-orders during the past weeks.

Items will show as being in stock right up until the last one is picked off the shelf. So, for example, if we have 300 delivered, and 295 pre-orders there are actually only 5 available for sale. When the 295th unit is picked from the shelf, the next 5 orders that come in (and there is no way that this can be over-ridden) will be picked and allocated in strict order of receipt.

It's also entirely possible that we could receive 50 orders within the space of a couple of minutes - from the 'phones, the store, the website and from our partners such as Amazon and buy.com.

I really like the opening words of the email from this customer.

What do YOU really wish for from Adorama? What could we be doing better to improve your shopping experience?
We may not be able to grant all your wishes - as the saying goes, 'we can now do the impossible, but miracles take a little longer'.
What I do have is a coupon code for $25 against your next purchase of $75 or over from Adorama. I'm going to give it to the best new suggestion for improving our services.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

HelenO@adorama.com

What is a refurbished item? What is the warranty?

2010-07-29T07:42:00.001-04:00

All refurbished units sold by Adorama Camera are factory refurbished by the manufacturer, for example, Canon cameras are refurbished at their manufacturing plant in Newport News, VA.; the room that houses Canon’s entire refurb process is said to be completely dust-free, and with every employee working in there being required to wear special booties.
Refurbs can have simply been pulled from the production line if something appears faulty, or if it hasn't passed the final inspection. Most of the time it is a very minor issue that needs correcting, nevertheless, once it is pulled from the normal flow of production, it gets flagged as a refurbished model, so you may get a unit straight from the factory that has never been used.

A refurb may also be an ex-store demo, possibly used in field tests or sales displays, or it may have been ordered in error and returned to the retailer (who can't then sell it as 'new' so it has to be sent back to the manufacturer for refurbishment).

All refurbished items will have been checked over by the manufacturer by hand, inspected very thoroughly, diagnosed, and calibrated by experienced technicians, and could therefore turn out to be more dependable than a new item - which will only have been checked by a process of systematic quality control protocol (ie by random sampling as it comes off the conveyor belt).

All Canon refurbished products from Adorama come with a 1 year return-to-Adorama warranty; the warranty we give covers anything the manufacturers warranty covers for a new unit, including shutter defects.
All other refurbs sold by Adorama come with a 90-day return-to-manufacturer warranty.
In addition, Refurbs come into us with the firmware updates and latest fixes which were carried out at whatever stage it was at when we took delivery.

If you need additional firmware updates you can download them, but for any hardware fixes the unit would have to be sent to Canon.
[By the way, if you send a camera (any camera) to Canon for any hardware work, they will always update the firmware].

As to the individual history of a single item, the honest answer is we have no way of knowing. Refurbished equipment is not like new inventory; the manufacturers contact us when they have a batch to sell, and the availability is unpredictable. However, if you were to ask my personal opinion on whether the equipment that Adorama offers as refurbished is typically less than a year old, based on the regularity with which we receive batches, I'd be inclined to think it is all relatively new.

I am SO angry - Why on earth can't I collect my package from UPS???

2010-04-28T08:53:00.000-04:00

"I will never buy anything from you again because of your policy that stops customers from collecting their packages from UPS. I've never before been told by UPS that a retailer wouldn't let me pick up a package".

Sounds like some mis-communication from UPS, unfortunately.

We absolutely DO allow customers to collect their orders from UPS, if they are unable to be at home to receive a delivery!!

The procedure is as follows; when you have missed the first UPS delivery attempt, please contact our customer service department by 'phone or email - or if you prefer, you can email me directly: helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

We will then arrange a brief ID verification procedure and you'll be good to go!

I have been told so many times that our policy doesn't make any sense, and that it can't possibly help in unauthorized collection of goods by fraudsters that I'd almost believe it - if the facts didn't tell me otherwise.
At the end of the day, if we have to cover the cost of theft - because that is what was happening before we introduced this procedure - we have 2 choices: to put up our prices or to get rid of some of our staff!
Well, the latter suggestion doesn't sound like a good one to me, and the first one? Well, our honest customers would certainly have something to complain about if they were being penalized because our security procedures weren't as good as they could be.........

As is the way when there are two or more competing retailers in the same area, customers frequently hold up "the other" as better / more flexible / more reasonable etc - but as it says on the website of another very large photographic retailer in NYC: "Packages can not be rerouted or picked up from UPS".

Our policies may often seem silly and irritating; and sometimes we get it wrong.

The best thing to do if you are unhappy with one of our policies or procedures is to contact me directly: helen.oster@adoramacamera.com, and let us know what we could be doing better. We’re always happy to listen!

Making a photobook at AdoramaPix - it's easier than you think!

2010-04-27T09:55:00.001-04:00

I've heard great things about the photobooks from AdoramaPix, and I really want to pull the trigger and place an order - but how do I really know what the quality will be like?
I guess I'd feel easier if you had samples of photobooks in your store to see and touch. If so, I'd be in like a shot!!

We absolutely have samples in the store.

Our PixPublisher is web-based and easy to use; we have templates and backgrounds for you to choose from, but it's equally easy to design your own layout, just drag and drop the images and resize.

We do not use outside vendors, all the printing and binding is done right here in the tradition of great AdoramaPix quality. If you love our prints, you'll love our books, it's as easy as that. We do NOT have any kind of a logo in the books at this time. Give it a try and please do let us know what you think. We are constantly trying to improve the book creation program and really do want to hear what features you like and features you would like to see.
If you take a look here:

http://blog.photoshelter.com/2009/09/making-an-awesome-photo-book-p.html
you can see how easy it is!

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

http://helenoster.blogspot.com
helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

If I buy used camera equipment from Adorama, what happens if it turns out to have been stolen?

2010-04-23T01:38:00.000-04:00

Helen, does a Used Camera Retailer make any effort to determine if the equipment they are purchasing is not stolen?

AND perhpas more importantly, what if it was stolen, sold to Joe Retail Establishment's Used Camera Department, who then sold it to an unsuspecting purchaser (like me). When does the chain of responsibility (legal or moral) to return stolen property get broken?

Excellent points, and I will do my best to clarify:
The Adorama Camera used team are experienced in buying in equipment, and are trained to be alert for certain indications that property might be stolen. Full details are collected from sellers (which goes some way to explaining the often irritating delays while equipment value is assessed - the team may be checking out the seller’s credentials, as well!)

We receive regular emails and calls from individuals whose equipment has been stolen (we urge you to let us know if this ever happens to you), and this information is shared by Adorama with other retailers who deal in used equipment. Of course, we also co-operate as required with the law enforcement agencies in the sharing of such information where necessary.

If after selling equipment on to a customer it is found to have been stolen, Adorama Camera would take full responsibility and do whatever we can to ensure that stolen equipment is returned to the rightful owner, while taking care that anyone who has purchased stolen equipment from us is not out-of-pocket.
If there are subsequent court proceedings then we will attempt to recover our losses.
We have taken unrecoverable losses in the past, but the main point for our customers to remember, is that Adorama will never knowingly sell stolen equipment, and we will ensure that our customers are never penalized

Why do I have to put an item in my shopping cart on your website to see the actual price?

2010-04-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

“I’m really, really annoyed at Adorama; you are clearly pulling some kind of scam. Why is it that I see a price, but when I put it in my cart the price drops?
You should be honest about your pricing”.

I guess sounds strange……….when you put a chosen item into your cart the price DROPS! If we were pulling a scam, wouldn’t the price go up?? Here’s why:

Many of the manufacturers we represent have a Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP) policy, which does not allow us advertise their products on our website below a specific price.

While in the past there has been considerable disagreement in the past regarding what part of an online Store represents an advertisement and which part is actually a commercial transaction, the US Circuit Courts and FTC rulings both agree that MAP agreements do not apply to a customer’s shopping cart on a website, as this forms part of an offer to buy - and is therefore a commercial transaction.

Within the limitations of Adorama’s agreements with the manufacturers who supply to us, there is no way that we are able to display the lower (in many cases MUCH LOWER!) pricing in the open on our website.

However, once you have placed an item into your online shopping cart it becomes a “commercial transaction”; you are no longer responding to an advertisement, and are therefore able to view the actual discounted price that you would be charged.

MAP regulations also affect printed advertising materials, therefore it is entirely possible that an item in one of our sale flyers may appear to be at a higher price than an item on the website; again, you would need to enter the SKU number of the item into your basket to see the correct LOWER Adorama Camera price!

You are probably aware that we offer a number of camera bodies and lenses etc as kits; these are covered by slightly different regulations – but again, once added to the basket the true discounted cost will be revealed.

We appreciate that this isn’t ideal; we do understand that it can be frustrating, as we try to meet our legal obligations alongside our contractual obligations to our suppliers - and of course, provide the lowest possible cost to our customers.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you ever have any questions regarding our MAP pricing policy.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

Nikon instant rebates from Adorama Camera.

2010-04-14T07:14:00.000-04:00

Below please find all possible combination for the new Nikon instant rebates from Adorama Camera.

Combination D300s body D300s w/18-200 D700 body D700 w/24-120
70-2000 ($400) available N/A available N/A

24-70 ($300) available N/A available N/A

24-120 ($200) available N/A available N/A
18-200 ($250) N/A available N/A N/A
10-24 ($300) available available N/A N/A
16-35 ($300) available available available available
SB-900 ($100) available available available available

24-70/70-200
($700) available N/A available N/A
24-70/SB900
($400) available N/A available N/A
70-200/SB900
($500) available N/A available N/A
24-120/SB900
($300) available N/A see D700 Kit N/A
24-70/70-200/SB900
($800) available N/A available N/A
70-300
($200) available available available available

$200 rebate on the 70-300mm lens is also available with the D5000 & D90 bodies:
 D5000 body
 D5000 w/18-55
 D90 body
 D90 18-105
Due to 'MAP' restrictions, you may have to add the item(s) to your cart to see the final price.

These rebates will expire on May 1st, 2010.

If you have any queries, pleae do contact me.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
http://helenoster.blogspot.com

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

Jack Howard and Mason Resnick of the Adorama Learning Center answer listener questions about anything and everything related to photography

2010-03-15T06:34:00.000-04:00

Jack Howard and Mason Resnick of the Adorama Learning Center answer listener questions about anything and everything related to photography: making great photos, picking the right gear, software tips and tricks, and more.

Have a question? Send it to us at Ask@adorama.com!

Episode #11: DSLRs versus the "Two-Thirds" system? Jack and Mason take on a confusing question about different camera formats in this episode!

Episode #10: Superzoom vs. Ultrawide; when to use Neutral Density filters, and more! Jack and Mason talk about the differences between superzooms and ultrawides, when and why to use ND filters, and why grad filters aren't the only game in town any more in this episode.

Episode #9: Setting up a camera system, wedding photography and more! Jack and Mason talk about setting up a camera system for today and tomorrow in light of HD video, micro four thirds, pancake lenses and a whole lot more, along with what to think about for a wedding business, and tips for turning off the flash if you're in the stands for the big game.

Episode #8: Studio on a Shoestring, Indoor Sports, slide duping and more Jack and Mason answer more listener questions ranging from home studio on a tight budget, making the most of indoor sports, ways to dupe slides, and why your telephoto lens has a tripod collar

Episode #7: SLR 101, Nikon Capture NX2, and more! Jack and Mason tackle the SLR exposure triad, talk about Nikon Capture NX2, monitor calibration and much more in our first episode for 2010!

Episode #6: RAW revisited, model trains, 2010 predictions and more! Jack and Mason revisit RAW to talk about picture styles and hard versus soft settings, along with tips for making realistic images of scale model trains. A bonus segment includes predictions and resolutions for 2010 and beyond!

Episode #5: HD video under $300, holiday shots and more! Jack and Mason tackle camcorders and HD-capable still cameras on a $300 budget, tips for making great holiday shots and talk about serious cameras for teens and tweens in this episode!

Episode #4: In-camera RAW and JPG scaling, light tripods and more! Hosts Jack Howard and Mason Resnick tackle tripods that'll fit in a backpack and untangle in-camera processing questions.

Episode #3: Flavors of Photoshop, filters, split screens, and more! We tackle more great reader questions in this episode including what version of Adobe Photoshop is right for you, why so few compact cameras have filter threads, what happened to split focusing screens, and what to do to keep humidity and condensation from ruining your photo shoots.

Episode #2: What's in the bag? And what bag is it in? We talk about previsualization for different types of shoots, and discuss different breeds of camera bags for hauling and shooting.

Episode #1 We answer questions about aerial photography, cold- and wet-weather cameras, ND filters and lots more in this first episode.

Ask Adorama 11

2010-03-08T08:27:00.000-05:00

Jack Howard & Mason Resnick from the Adorama Learning Center have been doing a series of podcasts where they answer reader questions about gear, various photography techniques etc etc.

Here's their most recent podcast.....Ask Adorama #11
http://ow.ly/1eJob

You can send queries to ask@adorama.com: any Questioners selected for the podcast receive a small participation gift: eg a small camera bag/a book/a small gift certificate etc.

Adorama DSLRs versus Two-Thirds compacts?

2010-03-08T04:08:00.000-05:00

http://ow.ly/1eJob

Adorama DSLRs versus Two-Thirds compacts? Jack and Mason tackle a confusing question in the newest #AskAdorama podcast! This was a fun one for Mason and Jack to take and run with!

They talk noise, image circles, optical viewfinders, HD video, flangebacks, and more in this episode all about current camera formats.

This was an interesting episode, as the reader's question opened a whole lot of doors and rabbit holes about the differences between the micro four-thirds system, DSLRs, and more.

Enjoy!

Lexar 32GB Pro 300x UDMA CF Card 2-Pack

2010-03-02T13:31:00.001-05:00

We regret most sincerely that this item was inadvertently listed on our website as it should not have been.
As you can imagine we received many thousands of orders - at a time when our offices were actually closed overnight so we were unaware of this issue until this morning.
We do appreciate any disappointment; however, we hope and trust that all our customers who were affected by this error will understand that this was a genuine mistake, and that you will accept our deep apology that we are unable to accept any orders for the cards.

While we try and ensure that all listings on our website are accurate, with the thousands of items available on our website, errors may occur, (please see our terms and conditions), and we are extremely grateful for the understanding of our customers.

In accordance with our Terms and Conditions of Web Site Use and our Pricing and Availability Policy, we are left with no choice but to cancel all affected orders.

Any other items ordered at the same time will be processed and shipped out; if anyone would prefer us to cancel the entire order, we would understand, but please do let us know as quickly as possible in order that the changes can be made.
If you have any questions arising from this, please do contact our Customer Service at service@adorama.com, who will answer any additional questions you may have.

New TechTock Podcast with Syl Arena

2010-03-01T07:03:00.000-05:00

Adorama Camera is the nationwide sponsor for Syl Arena's Speedliters Intensive tour, and he is coming to NYC for a workshop on 3/14.

Syl will be doing another workshop with Jeff Snyder down in Orlando, immediately following Photoshop World later in March.

Why did I receive a confirmation email from Adorama? - the T2i is out of stock!!!!

2010-02-25T01:56:00.000-05:00

When a delivery arrives the units are booked in, so the website will show the units as being in stock. Anyone who places an order at this time will receive an automated confirmation that the order has been received.

However, when an item is heavily back-ordered (because we don't charge until an
order actually ships), all the back-orders have to be filled first, and the
units are removed from the shelves by our warehouse team, and packaged for shipping.

At the exact moment that the final back-ordered unit is removed from stock, any customers with unfulfilled orders will receive an automated email indicating that the unit is on back order.

Our website does not update in real time, to allow for order cancellations - the bulk of which typically occur within the first 30 - 45 minutes of placing an order eg because a customer has had a change of heart, or because his wife walks into the room at the exact moment that he places his order......... :)

This explains why, when you place an order, it could appear from the site that there are still units in stock - when in fact they have already been allocated to customers who placed their orders during the previous week or two.

We operate a very strict procedure which ensures that orders are fulfilled in the order in which they are received.

Knowing how heavily back-ordered new releases can be,(and that I don't think any manufacturer ever sends sufficient units to fulfil all of a retailer's back orders immediately, pre-ordering is the most reliable way to ensure that you are in line for early allocation.

Remember, Adorama does NOT charge your cc until we actually ship your order. So you can order with confidence - and if you find the item somewhere else sooner, a quick call to our friendly CS team, or an email to me: helen.oster@adoramacamera.com, and your order can be cancelled immediately!

Adorama News Desk covers latest news from CES

2010-01-07T07:46:00.000-05:00

Did you know Adorama has a daily-updated News Desk http://www.adorama.com/alc/newsdesk that provides the latest photo industry news?

This week I'm working overtime covering the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which is taking place now at the Las Vegas, Nevada Convention Center. Visit the News Desk now and you'll find dozens of stories about the latest new digital cameras and camcorders.

The big trends so far: HD Video recording is now a standard feature in compact digital cameras, and more models are showing up with touch-screen control. A less-welcome trend is the growing number cameras with really small 14MP sensors...as I've written many times, cameras with that much pixel density actually lose overall image quality, and 14MP is overkill if your goal is to make 4x6-inch prints.

The biggest news of the show so far is the Samsung NX-10, the first compact interchangeable-lens camera with an APS sensor. It's the first, but I'm certain it won't be the last. Read all about it http://www.adorama.com/alc/news/Samsung-unveils-NX10-worlds-first-compact-APS-sensor-camera!

With thanks to Mason Resnick, our editor at the Adorama Learning Center for this hot news from Las Vegas!

Adorama News Desk
www.adorama.com/alc

"Why don't you answer my emails immediately?"

2010-01-04T12:08:00.000-05:00

"Why don't you answer my emails immediately?"

Some days I turn on the computer to find 70+ emails and alerts that have come in overnight (due to the worldwide, multi-time zone customer base). Another 50 - 100 may come in through the day.

Some I can deal with immediately. Others need to be forwarded on to another department for information / updates / advice.

"But you should have someone send me something so I know you've received my email"

I don't have an auto-response set up as I answer each and every enquiry myself, individually. My hope is always that I'm only going to need to send a single response to a customer - preferably the same day. It falls apart if I'm waiting on a colleague or manufacturer to come back to me - if one of us goes into a meeting or gets caught up in something that just can't wait - like our DDOS attack a few weeks ago.

"So how do I know that you've even seen my query? Or that you are going to do anything about it?"

I can promise that I read every single email I receive and respond as quickly as I possibly can.

"120 - 150 emails a day isn't so many. Some of them are probably junk, anyway!"

Good point! However, I do have to check my SPAM box thoroughly every day - to make sure I don't 'bin' something important from a customer.....

Responding to emails isn't actually the main part of my job......I spend the greater part of my day checking and responding on Internet forums, blog posts, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, shopping sites etc. In fact, anywhere and everywhere that Adorama Camera or AdoramaPix might be mentioned.
At the last count I estimated that I've posted in over 500 places (with 1000+ Twitter postings alone).

It never ceases to amaze me where postings about Adorama Camera turn up. I find photographers who ski and skateboard; shoot handguns and own pit bull terriers; drive Volkswagens & Mustangs. Then there are the railway enthusiasts, Lotus owners, bird watchers, scrap bookers, and Disney fans who also take photographs - and many more besides.
You name a camera manufacturer, and there is a forum dedicated to the aficionados who follow it, avidly. Many individual models also have their own Flickr groups or forums.

"Why don't you use alerts & RSS feeds?"

I do! But even with the complex system of alerts and search tools that I have set up, I can miss an individual posting - or an entire thread. As clever as the 'spiders' may be, they aren't infallible. On some forums I'm a regular visitor, and I feel as though I know the members like old friends. I'm always grateful when a member flags up a thread that needs my intervention.

I can't guarantee that I can give a same day response - 'though I will always try to do so.
What I can guarantee, however, is that as the Customer Service Ambassador for Adorama Camera, you - the customer - are central to everything I do.

My main concern is that no Adorama Camera customer with a query or concern should ever feel that they have nowhere to turn, nobody to ask or no one to listen.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

I need advice on camera gear .......

2009-12-31T06:54:00.000-05:00

Jack Howard & Mason Resnick from the Adorama Learning Center have been doing a series of podcasts where they answer reader questions about gear, various photography techniques etc etc.

Here's their most recent podcast.....
http://www.adorama.com/alc/blogarticle/Ask-Adorama-6

You can send queries to ask@adorama.com: any Questioners selected for the podcast receive a small participation gift: eg a small camera bag/a book/a small gift certificate etc.

Adorama Camera & Bing Cashback

2009-12-07T05:57:00.000-05:00

At the moment, responding to queries about Bing cash back seems to be taking up more of my time than almost anything else.

So, what exactly is Bing, and why is it generating so much interest?

Bing is the name of Microsoft's new search engine, launched about 6 months ago, replacing its Live Search / Windows Live Search / MSN Search services. There's an excellent description of it here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bing

So far, so good; but what is Bing cash back; how does the consumer get it - who pays it, when and how?

Bing cash back is part of Microsoft's strategy to encourage us to use the Bing search engine, instead of Google, and replacing Yahoo. It's a program which gives you money back when you buy goods from Bing shopping.

Adorama currently pays Microsoft 3% for bing cash back purchases as a referral fee, ie, advertising (although this is subject to change at any time). Microsoft made a strategic decision to return the referral fee to consumers in the form of a discount, in order to encourage them to use the bing search engine in preference to Google etc in the future. (Some other places with cash back (like fatwallet.com) offer to split the referral fees with the purchaser. So Adorama might pay them 3%, and they will subsequently offer 1 or 2% to the buyer and keep the difference.

To be eligible, you must be a US citizen, and at least 18 years old with a valid mailing address in the United States. You will also need a valid Windows Live ID, (if you use Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging, you may already have this).

When you search on Bing shopping for the product(s) you want to buy, you should see listed all the shops that sell it/them, in price order, after Bing cash back has been deducted.
Then you just click on the link, pay for the item, and Bing will email you to confirm that you've earned cash back. After a 30-90 day waiting period (to allow for customer returns), your Bing cash back account will be credited.

Bing Cashback is a different beast from Bing shopping. The Cashback on any item can -and does - change on a daily basis. The real complications seem to arise for customers who go into the Adorama site from Bing Cashback to purchase an item that they have noted is eligible for, say, 10% Cashback. However, this doesn't mean that everything purchased on that occasion is also eligible for 10%.

Some customers have got lucky and found that all the items they've selected are indeed eligible for a higher level of Cashback. Others are disappointed to find that only the original item is eligible for 10%, while other items are eligible for only 3 or 4% - or for no Cashback at all.

The FAQ section, should be able to answer all of your questions:

http://www.bing.com/shopping/pages/faq.aspx?FORM=R5FD3#

Points to be aware of:
You cannot use any coupons, discounts, gift cards, or gift certificates with your purchases through Bing cash back, (including cell phones as part of certain new service plans).

If you have a PayPal or Amazon Payments account to link to, you should receive your cash back faster than if you are reliant upon bank transfers or paper checks, which can take up to 3 additional weeks to process.

If you use a PayPal account you will be eligible for Bing's quick cash back program from some stores, which will enable you to avoid the usual waiting period.

Bing cash back does not work if you are using private browsing features for example in Private Browsing in Internet Explorer 8.

You may experience problems when new tabs or windows are opened, so it is important to stay on the page while you are shopping through Bing.

When a purchase is made by an Adorama customer, you will not receive an immediate email from Bing. This is because we do not charge your card until the item actually ships; the sale is, however, reported to Bing within 72 hours of shipment.

Bing then sends a confirmation email out to the Adorama customer, confirming the
purchase.
Within the email are links that allow the customer to sign up for an account and receive their cash back. (I have included a sample below).

Customer funds will show PENDING for 30 days, representing a bit beyond our return policy, after which those funds become available

If the orders were all placed through Bing then you will get your cash back on all of them; it's fully automated.

The one thing that we can't see is if your order was actually placed via Bing or not; that question would be for Bing.

SAMPLE:
From: cashback@microsoft.com
To: gmobile@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 22:25:02 -0700
Subject: You've earned cashback from Bing

Hello, XXX!

Thanks for searching, shopping and saving with Bing cash back, the search that pays you back!

From your recent purchases, you have earned cash back savings!

To view the details for this purchase or your other Bing cash back transactions, sign into your cash back account. We'll let you know when you can request your cashback reward!

You earned $1.36 from your Deep Discount purchase on 6/10/2009:

Details
cash back

Deep Discount
Unit price: $33.99
Quantity: 1
$1.36

For more information about Bing cash back, see the cash back FAQ or contact us.

Thanks,
The Bing cashback team

For more information on the BING program, please visit their website at: http://help.live.com/help.aspx?mkt=en-us&project=tou&querytype=topic&query=TOU_CONC_WLSearchCashback.htm

If you have any questions for Bing Customer Service, please use the following link:

https://support.cashback.discoverbing.com/Default.aspx?mkt=en-us

to describe any problems you have with your order information; someone from Microsoft should contact you within 2-3 business days. You will be required to email your order confirmation email or screen shot of the receipt. (They will work directly with us, so you don't have to do anything further).

I have read postings by consumers suggesting that retailers may benefit from cancelling a cash back order. That is not the case; Microsoft uses the referral payments from Adorama to fund the cash back - therefore if Adorama were to state that an order wasn't eligible for cash back some reason, then Microsoft would benefit, not Adorama!

With thanks to Scott Brown from the Customer Service Department at Adorama Camera, for helping me to put this informative piece together.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

DDoS attack,(distributed denial-of-service)

2009-10-27T18:54:00.000-04:00

So far behind with my blog; the Jewish holidays came and went, and I don't think I've fully caught up!!

I'd like to write about some of my recent customer service experiences, however, right now I need to post this message:

Many Adorama customers have been in contact with us due to the periodic unavailability of our website over the past few days. We have ascertained that the Adorama website is currently under DDoS attack (distributed denial-of-service)

As if the New York drizzle wasn't enough to put up with, we have been made aware that there has been an explicit, deliberate attempt to disrupt our business - and the lives of our customers - by very experienced, aggressive attackers who have been able to overpower our servers and make the Adorama website unavailable, although we are unsure at this point whether the motives of these cyber vandals are extortion or revenge.

[It has been suggested by one of my colleagues that it is a cunning plan to get me off the forums.....how mean is that?]

Seriously, we want to stress that there has been no penetration into our system security, and that no data has been compromised.

Our IT team has been working ceaselessly to defend against this attack; we hope the worst is over ....... and I'm still here!

So, if you were planning to order from Adorama and were about to change your mind due to the problems we've been experiencing, we would be extremely grateful if you can bear with us just a little bit longer.

If you are able to wait until we are back on our feet, and are interested in finding out more about how systems can be overwhelmed in this way, you may want to take a look at what linuxsecurity.com & gizmodo.com say about DDoS attacks.
There is also a heap of info available on You Tube.

In the meantime, our friendly sales team can still take your 'phone orders on 212 741 0052 - 'though you may be waiting a little longer than usual for us to answer your calls.

Thank you for your patience and understanding

Price fixing v the Consumer is King! (or Queen....)

2009-09-17T08:35:00.001-04:00

For a short time I was helping out as the CS rep for Adorama's underwater division, LeisurePro. While there are nowhere near as many message boards and blogs associated with scuba as there are with photography, a recurring question posed by a number of posters has been about LeisurePro's status as an independent supplier of scuba gear.
For one reason or another, whenever this arises, the on-board interaction can be, to say the least, vociferous - and lengthy.
While those consumers who buy from LP are quite content to 'live and let live', those in opposition appear to be anything but!

I am now bowing out from my time on the LP boards, and resuming my full concentration on our Adorama Camera customers, however, while Adorama carries a very small selection of direct import goods, the issue does comes up from time-to-time.

Are 'grey' goods justified? Is a retailer who does not buy from an authorized dealer bad or a crook, or simply providing an alternative in the best interests of consumers? The word 'grey' does have negative connotations, but so does price fixing.....

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/The-Slippery-Slope-of-Price-Fixing-65960.html?wlc=1253167303

When the free market does not control price, consumers are confronted with deflated product lines in narrow price ranges. Suppressed competitive pricing policies eliminate variety from product offerings. Bid suppression, bid rotation and market division are all tactics used to control availability and diversity of product lines. Regulating price limits innovation because companies are no longer motivated to continue to improve upon or develop new products. Price regulations discourage new, creative companies from entering into the marketplace.

[I had posted this piece on one of the boards, but it was removed; too close to the truth, I wonder?]

WalMart is hated by many people, but it is an example of a store that took on the manufacturers in the best interests of the consumer and reduced the grip of manufacturers who have had to revise their policies in order to be more consumer-friendly.

Along came the Internet, and now we have Amazon - which changed the buying power of the consumer and made the world of retail much more competitive.

We will always need dive shops, so the smart LDS owner actually goes out of his way to support a customer of LP - who will then be more likely to choose the personal service that only the LDS can offer the next time he makes a purchase. The dive shop owner who is angry, may refuse to help - and the customer becomes more loyal to LP.

Manufacturers' warranties are effectively 'insurance premiums' - if the smart consumer weighs the cost of that 'premium' payable on all the equipment that he buys and calculates that with the money he saves he can pay for servicing and repairs if he chooses, the need to return the items to the place of purchase becomes irrelevant.

"Grey market" refers to products imported directly into the US, rather than through the manufacturer's authorized agents / distributors. It is perfectly legal to directly import & sell these products in the US; the term "grey market" was coined by manufacturer's authorized distributors who wanted to discourage consumers from buying these (less costly) goods.

With no factory authorized middle-man involved in the import of these products, costs are lower, so the price is lower to customers. Also, many items which are in short supply or not imported at all by the manufacturer's authorized distributors are available in direct import.

There is no difference in the actual products as they are produced under identical conditions, by the same workers and the same machines in the same factories, as units distributed by authorized distributors, and the warranty from LP in every case is either identical - or better.

So, I am left to ponder why my post was removed from the scuba site........I'd welcome any comments!!

Customer Service Conundrum

2009-09-15T03:28:00.000-04:00

The Internet is a powerful tool, and nobody could disagree that it has revolutionized the way we live; the way we seek and give information. The benefits are huge for those buying, selling or earning a living; for keeping in touch or making new connections, for managing our finances, recreation and keeping abreast of current events.

It also plays a part for those whose primary intent is to disrupt online discussions in chat rooms, blogs or message boards in order to provoke other users into an emotional response. Commonly known as 'trolls' they delight in posting controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages.

Way back in February 2008, I'd been with Adorama just 2 months, and was still finding my way around the message boards and forums.

A 'delightful' character known as 'Rita Berkowitz' took it into his head (apparently, 'Rita' is indeed a man - 'though in my experience, not much of a gentleman....) that I was not who I claimed to be and posted a 'scam warning' about me on one of the boards. The responses from other forum members came thick and fast:

"Is nobody else seeing the irony of the fictitious Rita character
questioning Helen Oster's credentials?"

"Put up or (preferably and) shut up, 'Berkowitz'."

"'She' called someone an idiot earlier as well. It's been
a tough day for Irony Meters all around."

'Rita' has an interesting style; he changes his name frequently and prefers to post anything contentious on boards where he can ensure that his postings are removed within a short time - He also appears to antagonize people on a regular basis.....

"So Rita (aka Digital Soft Paw on flickr) is indeed a liar. The type
who stoops low in any attempt to discredit."

"Your reputation dumbo ...is that of a loud mouthed braggart with a
habit of yelling down anyone who disagrees with you. Hardly something
you can tarnish."

"We all know your a liar and a troll Rita, but if you must keep proving this
in the other groups why not start your own shit fight there instead of
hijacking other threads in a childish attempt to discredit Mark and anyone
else who see's through your bullshit and lies."

In his latest incarnation as 'Larry Thong', he took me to task for responding in a forum to a customer's legitimate concerns about an aspect of Adorama service:

"Funny how the 'Customer Service Ambassador' comes out of the woodwork when
there's a publicly posted complaint about Adorama's business practices.
This practice of public apology is commonplace with politician and criminals
such as Michael Vick that only apologize when they get busted. Your
apologies only mean you're sorry you got caught. What about the other souls
that didn't complain in public? A hint, instead of trolling the internet
for complaints, simply adjust your business practices and level of ethics so
that damage control and false apologies wouldn't be needed."

As many of our customers know, I don't just respond online to complaints, I also thank our satisfied customers for their feedback and recommendations.
I also respond to complaints well out of the public eye, if that seems more appropriate in the circumstances.

But, I began to wonder; what is Customer Service?
Customers and managers frequently discuss what good customer service is (and isn't); I like this definition which I believe sums it up: "excellent customer service (is) the ability of an organization to constantly and consistently exceed the customer's expectations."

Good customer service means thinking laterally about customer service; in order to exceed customers' expectations consistently, first we have to recognize that every aspect of our business has an impact on customer service, not just those aspects of our business that involve face-to-face customer contact.
Over time, good customer service attracts - and retains - more new customers than promotions and price slashing. A satisfied customer will return to buy more, and will recommend new customers - a customer whose complaint is not addressed, won't.

I addressed the complaint that brought 'Larry Thong' out of the woodwork - BUT - I didn't address HIS complaint, that I exist at all!

Who am I here to serve....? My employer? The customers whose complaints & queries I resolve? Or actually myself, because I'm paid for what I do - and in truth, I really enjoy being able to turn a dissatisfied customer into a customer who will come back to Adorama again and again, not only for our extensive inventory, our competitive prices and speedy shipping, but also because the customer service they will receive is so special.

As it says in our Mission Statement: NOBODY DOES IT BETTER

Adorama Camera Mission Statement

2009-08-18T05:34:00.000-04:00

Adorama Camera's Mission Statement

The Company has a number of clear goals, aims and objectives which shape its policy and style of management. These are:

To provide an unrivalled selection of high quality photographic media and astronomy products and services

To ensure competitive pricing and reliable delivery times

To deliver superior customer experience, education, advice and support to meet the needs of photographers and media enthusiasts worldwide

To establish a Company culture in which mutual co-operation, mutual trust, innovation, creativity and imagination are valued

To further develop a Company whose success is a reflection of the satisfaction of its customers' needs

NOBODY DOES IT BETTER

Helen OsterAdorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

What is the history of my used / refurbished Canon gear?

2009-08-13T12:42:00.000-04:00

Canon EOS products usually have the date codes stamped onto them. They are separate from the numeric serial number and are usually hidden away somewhere often inside the film chamber or on the underside of the lens, on the black light baffle

However, not all EOS products have this code; for example if Taiwan-built units have them at all, it is printed in almost illegible black ink.
If the code looks like ON1105, the first letter represents the name of the factory at which the product was made - often O for the Oita factory (cameras) or U for the factory in Utsonomiya (lenses).
The second letter is the date code; A represents the year 1986 and N is 1999. The next two digits are the month of manufacture, in this case November.
The last two digits are Canon internal codes.
Therefore the camera with the code ON1105 was built in Oita in November 1999.
Unfortunately, the date code doesn’t necessarily tell you very much about the actual condition of an item. An old lens that has been stored away in a box could be in perfect condition but an almost new lens might have been treated badly.
The following links give some great additional information that should help you understand a lot more about the age and origins of your Canon equipment.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-Lens-Aging.aspx

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/

AdoramaPix photo books

2009-08-04T16:06:00.000-04:00

I recently picked up the following comment on a blog, which was showcasing the results of a comparison between a number of companies who are offering to produce photobooks, and thought I would share it here - along with the answer that I posted:

I checked out A&I and Adorama, your two top winners: A&I doesn't even have an 8 x 10 size, and their 8.5 x 11 only comes in hardback, so it's VERY pricey.

Adorama doesn't say, at least immediately, whether they're offering a softback or a hardback 8 x 10, but whatever they're offering is $8 a copy more than Blurb. So I'm not sure what people were judging on, or if they were fully taking price into consideration.

Having been through a few rounds of this, I have to say your remarks about the importance of editing are spot on....some of the challenges I've encountered have to do with the software Blurb provides (it's extremely hard to tell where the final paper cuts will fall) ..........You just have to be very very attentive to the work, and that's not always easy when you're working under deadline.

AdoramaPix 8 x 10 books are indeed hardcover, and are printed on Fujifilm Crystal Archive Album photo paper, so they are not press printed, and as you are aware, this makes them very, very different from all the press books.

We took this decision as we discovered that with press books, there were frequently issues with color variations, which we wanted to avoid.
AdoramaPix books are basically digital c-prints bound in a book, with 100% lay-flat bindings.

These factors could very well be the reason why our books are not as cheap as other books of a similar kind.
However, we do feel that we are giving our customers an exceptionally high-quality book for the additional $8.

We do appreciate that this is a relatively new medium, and we are learning more effective methods all the time; however, the only other book in the test that scored higher than AdoramaPix overall was nearly triple the price and took 2 weeks to produce.

We are careful to ensure that we have no issues of color shift with books printed at different times on different machines. We also have ICC profiles available for download on our website (at no extra charge!) for the maximum control over your images and finished book.

There are undoubtedly improvements that we could make and we are always keen to learn from our customers where there are issues or problems that we need to resolve.

Please don't hesitate to contact me directly, if we can provide any additional help, advice or support.

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

with thanks to Ingrid Spangler of AdoramaPix for her assistance with this entry.

Considering buying refurbished Canon from Adorama Camera?

2009-07-28T06:07:00.000-04:00

There is a big difference between our refurbished and used departments. The used equipment we hold in stock has been purchased from members of the public.

Refurbished items are delivered to us directly by the manufacturer who has carried out the refurbishment therefore they have all been restored to the exact manufacturer specifications.

In the past Adorama warranted Canon refurbished for 90 days; since 1st May 2009, all Canon refurbished products from Adorama come with a 1 year return-to-Adorama warranty.

Refurbs may be ex-store demos, possibly used in field tests or sales displays, or are items that have been ordered in error and returned to the retailer (who can't then sell them as 'new' so they have to be sent back to the manufacturer for refurbishment). They can also have simply been pulled from the production line if something appears faulty, or which haven't passed the final inspection.
Most of the time it is a very minor issue that needs correcting, nevertheless, once they are pulled from the normal flow of production, they get flagged as a refurbished model, so you may actually get a model straight from the factory that really has never been used!

A refurbished item will have been checked over by the manufacturer by hand, inspected very thoroughly, diagnosed, and calibrated by experienced technicians, and could therefore turn out to be more dependable than a new item - which will only have been checked by a process of systematic quality control protocol (ie by random sampling as they come off the conveyor belt).

However, as to the individual history of a single item, the honest answer is we have no way of knowing. Refurbished equipment is not like new inventory; the manufacturers contact us when they have a batch to sell, and the availability is unpredictable.

If you have any questions about buying refurbished, used or of course new equipment from Adorama Camera, or need to talk to us about any issue concerning Adorama Camera or AdoramaPix, please don't hesitate to contact me directly: helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

Credit card charges

2009-07-22T03:51:00.000-04:00

I occasionally receive emails from customers querying whether we charge customer credit cards immediately if an item is on back-order; I am pleased to confirm that Adorama does not charge Credit Cards for back ordered items until we ship, as we have control over the payments.

However, other payment methods for example Amazon.com and Buy.com may charge the moment you place the order, while others may put a 'hold' on the funds until it is actually charged.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need any information or assistance regarding an order from Adorama Camera, AdoramaPix or Leisure Pro.

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

How to set up a new account with AdoramaPix

2009-07-16T06:28:00.000-04:00

When someone sets up a new account with AdoramaPix (which is FREE!) they get 25 free prints. Many people use these free 4x6s to order some prints on all the different paper types. We usually recommend that you print something that you have already seen in print, that way you can compare. The only paper type we don't offer in a 4x6 size is the Silk, but if you'd like to email me with your mailing address, I can pass it along and see that you get some samples.

Generally, the silk paper is very well suited for any kind of portraits, especially formal portraits like wedding shots. It delivers lovely skin tones and has a very delicate texture to it. It's more matte than our Lustre paper. The Kodak Endura Supra Lustre has a slight sheen to it, not as much as the Metallic or Glossy, but it's a good all around paper, a very fine surface texture and closest to "semi-gloss."
The Supra Matt(TM) might be a good choice also, nice rich blacks and good detail with no texture to the finish - it depends on your subject matter, and personal preference. Set up your account and order some prints for free and see for yourself.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

How do I print at AdoramaPix?

2009-07-09T06:57:00.000-04:00

You would first convert your RAW files to TIFF or JPG files and save them on your CF card. You might also save them to a jump drive, DVD, or CD. Once in the store, you would insert the media into one of our kiosks.
From there, it’s basically the same set up as we have online; you would log in to your account, or, if you didn’t have one, create a free account with AdoramaPix. You would then upload the image files to our site from whatever drive they are on, then continue to process the order.
This includes setting up the job and choosing paper/finish, selecting borders or no borders and deciding on a cropping option. On the next page, you'll enter the quantity of prints for each image. The next step is to approve or edit the crops, if you chose that option in Set Up.

Then you can confirm the order and proceed to checkout! You can pay with PayPal, credit card or in cash (cash is only an option for the store, obviously not for online orders).

You'll be given a receipt with which to pick up the prints. That’s it! We have two customer service representatives in the store to help every step of the way.

[Thanks to Ingrid at AdoramaPix for her help with this blog post]

Shipping your purchase from Adorama to Canada

2009-07-05T12:25:00.000-04:00

The question of shipping options to Canada comes up regularly, so I put together the following info - hope it helps.
When shopping with Adorama for shipping to Canada, you can choose from: FedEx International Economy, FedEx International Priority and UPS Express
With UPS Express, there should be no additional brokerage charges for customs clearance, as these are included in the shipping fee. The same holds true for FedEx International Economy and FedEx International Priority. I understand that back in February 2008, there was a class action lawsuit filed in Ontario against UPS for hidden fees.
Sales taxes and duty (if applicable - most photo items are duty free because of NAFTA), are additional and (unless you have an account with FedEx or UPS), are payable upon delivery. Duty may have been paid on the item entering the USA from the originating country if there was no FTA in place. But in any case, photographic equipment items between the US & Canada are duty-free.
However, if your purchase requires a tariff (eg paper products, storage media) this would typically be less than 0.5%. You can download the Customs Act on line to find out how your purchases would be classified and from that, estimate the tariff.
Many customers have reported that USPS online package tracking is not very good, and if a package is mislaid in transit that the customer must wait 45 days before submitting a lost parcel claim.
Conversely, experience has shown us that UPS's online package tracking is excellent and if a package is mislaid, that they are much more responsive. Our Canadian customers tell us that UPS is fast and reliable, and that packages are handled efficiently when they arrive into Canada.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

What happens to all the items customers return because they are faulty?

2009-06-30T09:29:00.000-04:00

I can't speak for other retailers, but at Adorama, faulty items are returned to the manufacturer or distributor.

That doesn't mean that there aren't occasional problems; the manufacturers and distributors, who supply to Adorama, and of course, other retailers, do allow us to return equipment as new, because of over-stocks, exchanges etc. This can be a particular issue after the Christmas holiday when we all need to balance out our inventories.

Even if we at Adorama are completely thorough when packaging up these items for return, there is no doubt that less scrupulous retailers could well be receiving returns, trusting the customer's explanation that they never opened the box - packaging them up for return to the manufacturer or distributor. These items then form part of the inventory for sending out to other retailers.
No retailer can inspect the contents of every packaged received into the warehouse.

If the manufacturer doesn't check the equipment before sending it back out, from the customer's perspective it is the retailer who looks bad, even though it may well have not been their fault.
At Adorama we do have liberal return policies and there is no doubt that on occasion this is taken advantage of - although this does not exempt us from more closely checking any and all returns, some retailers don't.

The problem is that we are all relying upon humans to carry out the required procedures at every point in the transaction, which can, and does, result in mistakes at any place along the line.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

What does "out of stock" actually mean?

2009-06-29T10:47:00.000-04:00

When you read on the Adorama website that an item is out of stock, or back-ordered, it doesn't always mean that you can anticipate a long wait for the item you want to order.

With high demand items, frequent delivery and dispatch times mean that items can come in one door of the warehouse, be packaged, and out of another door within a couple of hours, so real time inventory on the website is often not possible. Unless the items actually hit the shelves, our computer system generates an automatic message in response to an order, indicating that it is out of stock.

The most accurate indication is by speaking directly to a sales rep - but if you are unable to get in touch with a rep regarding a particular item, you are always welcome to get in touch with me directly and I will check out the stock situation for you.

If you ever have any queries or concerns regarding an order or purchase from Adorama Camera - or AdoramaPix please don't hesitate to contact me directly: helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
www.adorama.com

Adorama Buys Your Photographic Equipment

2009-06-28T04:42:00.000-04:00

Adorama Buys Your Photographic Equipment

Originally posted June 24th, 2009 by Dennis Hays

Your old photo equipment can be money in your pocket. The unused, dust gathering “stuff” you no longer need is your ticket to upgrade or get immediate cash.
Selling your old equipment privately or on an online auction takes time and is a hassle. Why go through all that and the expense of advertising, when you can send it to Adorama, at no cost to you, and get a check back in a few days or use your old equipment to upgrade.
Take some time and gather your used equipment. When ready, contact Adorama and get a prepaid UPS shipping label sent to you and send your equipment, fully insured, for a no obligation evaluation.
After we appraise your equipment, we’ll contact you with our best offer and you can choose to upgrade your equipment get a check put in the mail within two days, or you can choose to have your old photo equipment sent back at our expense. It couldn’t be any easier than this.
How much can you expect should you want to cash in your equipment? Typically, Adorama offers 70% of retail, based, of course, on age and condition.
Want to upgrade? Take a look at Adorama’s extensive range of cameras, lenses and accessories and save money today.
Go to http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=Used to contact Adorama about buying your photographic equipment.

Lost or stolen camera?

2009-06-04T05:41:00.000-04:00

A few months ago, Adorama reported on a site that posted photos from found cameras and media cards in the hopes that the owners would reclaim them.

Now comes "I Want My Camera Back", a European-based stolen and lost photo equipment database. Owners of lost gear worldwide can list their lost equipment brand, model, serial number and equipment type, plus any other relevant details and it will be added into the database. The database can be searched by serial number.

Perhaps I Want My Camera Back and I Found Your Camera should merge to form a virtual lost-and-found? For details, read the I Want My Camera Back press release: Lost photo equipment? Report it here!

Iwantmycameraback.com is a photographic equipment serial number collective base for items which have been declared stolen or lost. The website through a specifically formulated process allows photographers to declare all details about their lost equipment, such as the brand, the model, the serial number and also information which concerns the place, the time of loss and finally an email address for further contact.Photographic supply shops, service centers, prospective buyers and whoever else wishes to, can, by using the search engine provided by this website, search through equipment serial numbers to find out if it has been declared lost or stolen.

Also it it possible to contact the owner who declared the loss, in order for him to be given the necessary information as in how to retrieve the equipment. The website www.iwantmycameraback.com aspires to become a universal database for lost and stolen equipment and to increase the percentage of retrievals.In other words, it will no longer be necessary to inform every service center, photographic supply shop or photographer independently in case of loss. They will be informed through the upload of the information on the website.

In addition, due to the universal nature of this service it will be possible to immediately and directly inform all service centers, photographic supply shops and photographers in all countries.

The function of the website depends on the universal community of photographers and is of a non-profitable nature.We invite all concerned individuals, amateur or professional, all forms of the printed media, unions and organizations and every person connected in any way with photography to support our effort and to actively participate in the search process.

Shuutter count Canon 40D

2009-06-03T10:14:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered how to find out how many shutter actuations are on your Canon 40D?

This handy guide will help you to find out.click on this link, http://astrojargon.net/40dshuttercount.aspx
and you will find a straightforward guide that can be used both with windows and mac applications.

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

www.adorama.com

Why does Adorama Camera close on Saturdays & some other days?

2009-06-02T07:43:00.000-04:00

What does 'Grey Market' from Adorama, actually mean?

2009-06-01T08:55:00.000-04:00

"Grey market" refers to products imported directly into the US, rather than through the manufacturer's authorized agents / distributors. It is perfectly legal to directly import & sell these products in the US; the term "grey market" was coined by manufacturer's authorized distributors who wanted to discourage consumers from buying these (less costly) goods.

With no factory authorized middle-man involved in the import of these products, costs are lower, so the price is lower to our customers. Many items which are in short supply or not imported at all by the manufacturer's authorized distributors are available in direct import.

Any of our products which are being sold as such will be clearly marked, and you are more than welcome to contact me directly should you have any concerns regarding a specific listing.

There is no difference in the actual products. Occasionally manufacturers will name them differently for example the Olympus USA Digital Stylus Cameras are called Olympus MJU Cameras in Europe
On direct import products purchased from Adorama, we offer the same warranty as the USA warranted products carry for a period of one year. The only difference is that you would need to ship it to Adorama for warranty service.

BTW, I have no personal experience of the following, however I've been advised by customers who have tried, that Canon will service under warranty any item purchased from an authorized Canon reseller, whether direct import or not. They will service any Canon item with a fee if it is otherwise not under warranty, but Nikon USA will not service a direct import item at all, whether the customer is willing to pay or not.