Adorama is nice, but I miss the logical searching/shopping of B&H

[Scott Stephen]

Oh well.

[Sheiky]

I get your point.

But still, Sigma rebate plus additional discount...:
" Now Get Exclusive Inside Discounts from Adorama - Shipping to Over 200 CountriesBig news: Premier site partner Adorama has just provided The-Digital-Picture.com site visitors with an exclusive inside rep with authority to discount prices.

Before making a purchase at Adorama, contact jwaldner@adorama.com (jwaldner@adorama.com?subject=Special%20Pricing%20 Request%20From%20The-Digital-Picture.com) for additional savings not advertised online on select items like the 5DM3 and the 70-300mm L Lens.

You must mention "The-Digital-Picture.com" to get this discount. Also provide the list of items you are interested in ordering.

The site will continue receive needed support from these purchases.

Adorama currently ships to over 200 countries. Photographers worldwide can take advantage of Adorama's great prices."

Oh by the way, you should at least check out the 50mm f1.4 it's awesome:rolleyes:

[Sean Setters]

I will agree that the Adorama site (in its current form August - 2012) is not as intuitive or user-friendly as the B&H site. Adorama has gone through a couple of site refreshes in the last few years, and each has brought improvements (and small, isolated steps backwards, in my opinion). Generally, though, it gets better with time.

The change from B&H to Adorama resulted from B&H no longer recognizing the advertising revenue generated from the site because of a state sales tax law reinterpretation in Bryan's home state (at least, that's the simple version). It was a mess. *Bryan went through great lengths to rectify the situation, but he was unable to smooth things out with B&H; the switch to Adorama was long over-due, at least from a fiscal standpoint.

Bryan works hard to bring us the most comprehensive and reliable review information for Canon products that's out there. *If you find his hard work useful when making a purchasing decision, then I'm sure he would appreciate you using Adorama to support the site even if it comes at a slight inconvenience in user-friendliess.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=2705

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[HDNitehawk]

What the OP points out is so true. Adorama's site is a pain. It is hard to make comparison, half the time it seems I do multiple searches to find things.

Maybe Helen will read this and relay it to the powers that be at Adorama. A little tough love, Adorama is loosing sales because of this.

[JJphoto]

Sean, one question, if we go with other stores like eBay or Amazon by using TDP'Link, are they some for Bryan or Adaroma is better for him?thanks.

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

[clemmb]

I agree with all the comments but its great to have Maybe Helen as a member here. She has been very helpful to many here and I am sure will continue to be. Hope our loyalty will prompt some help with the website:rolleyes:

[Sean Setters]

Sean, one question, if we go with other stores like eBay or Amazon by using TDP'Link, are they some for Bryan or Adaroma is better for him?thanks.

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

If you use the links on the site, you're supporting the site--whether it's Adorama, eBay, or Amazon.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[HelenOster]

The website is still going through continuous upgrades and improvements, and feedback from our customers is a fabulous way for us to double-check that the search parameters we have in place are working - or not!

If you are searching for an item and it is causing you trouble, please email me directly with:
The browser you are using
As far as possible the full description of the item


If you found it, but with difficulty:
The browser you were using
Your order confirmation number
The SKU# of the item

I'm liaising directly with the web team to iron out these search issues, one by one, with the hope that once finished we have a website that 100% meets our customers' needs.

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

[clemmb]

The website is still going through continuous upgrades and improvements, and feedback from our customers is a fabulous way for us to double-check that the search parameters we have in place are working - or not!

If you are searching for an item and it is causing you trouble, please email me directly with:
The browser you are using
As far as possible the full description of the item


If you found it, but with difficulty:
The browser you were using
Your order confirmation number
The SKU# of the item

I'm liaising directly with the web team to iron out these search issues, one by one, with the hope that once finished we have a website that 100% meets our customers' needs.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
Helen@adorama.com
Helen,
It is not that we cannot find things on the Adorama website. The filters that B&H have are nice like setting it to show only "L" series lenses for those of us with "L" disease :p
It just makes it a little more user friendly :)

[shutterdown]

I have no problem navigating Adorama's site. It's very user friendly, IMO. Just did a search for CF cards, and it brought me right to where I needed to be.

They're not losing sales because of me, that's for sure.

[HDNitehawk]

Helen,
It is not that we cannot find things on the Adorama website. The filters that B&H have are nice like setting it to show only "L" series lenses for those of us with "L" disease :p
It just makes it a little more user friendly :)

clemmb, I think it is both filters and search. You can eventually find something, provided you know the exact item you want. Sometimes I have found that even knowing the exact item, you have to search several different way. Of course if the filters were set up better I might not be using the search function at all.

[clemmb]

clemmb, I think it is both filters and search. You can eventually find something, provided you know the exact item you want. Sometimes I have found that even knowing the exact item, you have to search several different way. Of course if the filters were set up better I might not be using the search function at all.
Well, ok, I had not visited the Adorama site in a while. I see it has been improved and I find it more user friendly now:rolleyes:
Thanks Adorama:cool:

[Kombi]

I try and support the site by making purchases though the site links.

Over the last few months I have made maybe $2000 worth of purchases though B&H.
Small amount in the bucket, but when local shop prices are out of line, I find I may continue to shop at B&H over Adorama.

I don't find their site to bad, it's better than my local shop, but living in Canada it's the shipping options that would keep me from buying from Adorama, not there service or prices.

Wordy example below..

Not a large purchase but likely part of my next purchase will be Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens.

From Adorama
$199.00 + $30.60 shipped via UPS
For UPS I will need to be home for delivery- or will have to pick up at the UPS depot to pay Customs.
Duty (estimated $3.98), GST ($9.95) and usually ridiculous UPS brokerage fees.

so sub total of $243.53 + whatever UPS decided to add on (probably another $25)


B&H $199.00 shipped Purolator Ground Shipping: $8.93

Prepaid Customs an Clearance
Details of Duty Charges
Duties:$3.98
GST:$9.95
Brokerage:$1.56
Disbursement:$0.42
Security & Handling:$9.83
Total:$25.74

Know total prepaid delivered to my door (and I don't need to be home)= $233.67

So saving at least $10 from B&H on even a small purchase.
(Locally lens would be $241.45 with tax)

[DavidEccleston]

FYI, Adorama uses a UPS shipping option that includes brokerage (see chart: http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html ), and there shouldn't be any duty on a lens (or a camera, though there is 2.5% duty on filters. See here: http://www.photoprice.ca/article/tax-duty-brokerage-demystified for general info, or click here: http://www.photoprice.ca/product/03916/Canon-EF-40mm-f2.8-STM-price.html and on the Amazon or Cross Border option's question mark for a price breakdown. Duty is $0 on both. )

But yeah, B&H does have a cheaper shipping option to Canada. I've also found it's faster to order from either Adorama, or B&H than to order from anywhere in Canada (even the same province) that insists on using Canada Post (such as Aden).

[Scott Stephen]

The website is still going through continuous upgrades and improvements, and feedback from our customers is a fabulous way for us to double-check that the search parameters we have in place are working - or not!

If you are searching for an item and it is causing you trouble, please email me directly with:
The browser you are using
As far as possible the full description of the item


If you found it, but with difficulty:
The browser you were using
Your order confirmation number
The SKU# of the item

I'm liaising directly with the web team to iron out these search issues, one by one, with the hope that once finished we have a website that 100% meets our customers' needs.

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


Hi, Helen! It is fantastic that you are reaching out like this to users, and you are seeking input. I will say, digging into the site, it is better for shopping/searching than most of your competitors, actually.
One thing I like to see, which you don't currently have, is a filter for price range. On that subject, it is ideal if you can enter your own values rather than picking from a set of pre-defined ranges. This is especially helpful for items where there are a LOT of similar products, such as collapsible reflectors, or tripods.

[HelenOster]

Helen,
It is not that we cannot find things on the Adorama website. The filters that B&H have are nice like setting it to show only "L" series lenses for those of us with "L" disease :p


This is EXACTLY the level of info I need from you to pass on to the web team! This, and the other suggestions in the thread have been forwarded on.
Thank you all.

[HelenOster]

....B&H does have a cheaper shipping option to Canada.....

We are currently working on offering the exact same option to Canada, but there have been difficulties in getting Purolator to integrate with our website.
In the meantime, provided an order is $200 or less and not to bulky or heavy, we can offer USPS shipping - contact me for details or call your order in to one of our reps who can make the shipping adjustment manually.

[ddt0725]

Helen has helped me on numerous occasions after seeing something I wrote in a thread here! I don't think we ever had a rep from B&H chime in at TDP. IMO, great customer service and now our own rep to offer us discounts trumps a user-friendly website any day! Now with their website being a work in progress with improvements coming our way as they work it out ...Adorama is nothing but awesomeness!

[Kombi]

We are currently working on offering the exact same option to Canada, but there have been difficulties in getting Purolator to integrate with our website.
In the meantime, provided an order is $200 or less and not to bulky or heavy, we can offer USPS shipping - contact me for details or call your order in to one of our reps who can make the shipping adjustment manually.

That is good news, I have dealt with companies that viewed making a change for the Canadian market as not worth their effort, it's nice to know than an effort is being made at Adorama.
I look forward to becoming one of your customers.

[Joel Eade]

I think Adorama is great. I have made many purchases from them over the last 4 years. Customer service is prompt and professional. I had no problems with B&H either...they also do a fabulous job.

Just out of curiosity I sent an email to the contact listed here for discount prices through TDP. The quotes he gave me on the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM and the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L lenses were the same as on their website....in reality no special discount. I don't know if this applies to all items but I could not get any special price on either of these two items.

This does not discourage me from using Adorama but they may not be able to offer special pricing on all items.

[HelenOster]

Mark

The Adorama site also shows only "L" series lenses: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Cameras %26 Lenses&cat2=Lenses %26 Accessories&cat3=35mm %26 Digital SLR Lenses&Feature5=Canon L

(http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Cameras %26 Lenses&cat2=Lenses %26 Accessories&cat3=35mm %26 Digital SLR Lenses&Feature5=Canon L)We are in the process (long process) of making improvements to the data/search/categorization/refinements and are consistently adding to these on a weekly/daily basis.
If there are specific refinements requested by our customers, we do take note, and focus on those.

(http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Cameras %26 Lenses&cat2=Lenses %26 Accessories&cat3=35mm %26 Digital SLR Lenses&Feature5=Canon L)

[HelenOster]

Joel

Can you please forward me the email exchange and I'll see what I can get sorted out for you: Helen@adorama.com

[clemmb]

Mark

The Adorama site also shows only "L" series lenses: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Cameras %26 Lenses&cat2=Lenses %26 Accessories&cat3=35mm %26 Digital SLR Lenses&Feature5=Canon L

(http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Cameras%20%26%20Lenses&cat2=Lenses%20%26%20Accessories&cat3=35mm%20%26%20Digital%20SLR%20Lenses&Feature5=Canon%20L)We are in the process (long process) of making improvements to the data/search/categorization/refinements and are consistently adding to these on a weekly/daily basis.
If there are specific refinements requested by our customers, we do take note, and focus on those.

(http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Cameras%20%26%20Lenses&cat2=Lenses%20%26%20Accessories&cat3=35mm%20%26%20Digital%20SLR%20Lenses&Feature5=Canon%20L)
Yes, I corrected myself on this. Thanks.

[Joel Eade]

Just to let everyone know....Helen found out for me that since Canon just instituted a rebate program Adorama, by contract, cannot offer a lower price on the items that I asked about. I appreciate her concern and the quick investigation/response.

[DavidEccleston]

I wonder if they can they tell us, "If you ask again after (date of rebate ending), I expected to be able to offer the lens at $(discounted price)". This way they're respecting the Canon rebate pricing during the rebate period, but also letting you know if you should buy during the rebate, or wait it out. The 'expect to be able to' also allows for adjustment based on unexpected price hikes taking effect once the rebate period ends, so they're not accidentally taking a loss by attempting to do us a favor.