Summary: Despite claiming to offer high-quality products at affordable prices, Adorama doesn’t seem to be reliable, as there have been numerous negative reviews and ratings by customers citing poor customer support, not receiving their items, misleading product descriptions, and getting low-quality products, among other complaints. You will certainly be taking your chances when ordering expensive, high-quality equipment from Adorama.
Adorama is a camera, electronics, and film equipment retailer that claims it offers the best selection and prices on consumer electronics, such as home theaters, office equipment, filming equipment, mobile computing, home office equipment, and more. However, the company has received a bad reputation for its poor customer service and borderline scam-like actions.
Adorama is known for its cameras and photography products, selling high-end technology at affordable prices. Adorama is an excellent solution for those on a budget, but does it live up to the hype? Is Adorama legit? There seems to be a large amount of risk involved when ordering, as many customers complain of not receiving their products at all. Keep reading to find out more about Adorama.
Table of Contents
- Adorama Company Info Table
- What is Adorama?
- Is Adorama safe or a scam?
- Is Adorama reliable and trustworthy?
- Pros and Cons
- How does Adorama make money?
- Best Alternatives to Adorama
- FAQs
Adorama Company Info Table
| Official Website: | https://www.adorama.com |
| Founded: | 1974 |
| Founder: | Mendel Mendlowits |
| Location: | New York City, United States |
| Contact: | 1-800-223-2500, +1-800-815-0702, https://www.adorama.com/help/contactus |
| Social Media: | Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter |
What is Adorama?
Adorama is a company that sells high-end photography equipment, cutting-edge technologies, and home improvement gadgets. With a store in New York City, Adorama is accessible in person; however, they also have an online presence. They sell photography and videography-related technologies and other types of technologies such as computers, gaming equipment, drones, musical instruments, electronic home improvements, and much more.
Also, Adorama provides advice and technical help in their blog, 42 West, which serves as a guide and provides the latest news in photography, electronics, gaming, and all hobbyist products. You can also rent professional cinematography and photography equipment – digital cinema cameras, lenses, grips, lighting, computers & video gear on Adorama Rentals.
Additionally, Adorama buys used electronics and sells them on its platform, creating a space for second-hand products and allowing cheaper alternatives for those on a tighter budget. Following their mission which states that Adorama believes “everyone is a creator,” the company aims to “be an integral part of every creator’s success story.”
Is Adorama safe or a scam?
Reputation
When looking up the reputation of Adorama, they, unfortunately, don’t score very highly. Receiving a miserable 2.0-star rating on TrustPilot, Adorama is advisably a site to avoid when purchasing expensive products. Many complained of never receiving their products when they ordered online or receiving damaged ones. Many of those people never received a refund or any form of loss recovery after their bad experiences. More than 30% of customers on Trust Pilot rated Adorama as “bad” after having an unsatisfactory experience with the company.
Although 54% of people on Trust Pilot rated Adorama as excellent, receiving high-quality products without any issues, this is still relatively poor compared to other companies who receive as much as 80% Excellent rating tags. Adorama received an even lower 1.0-star rating on Reseller Ratings from 17,927 reviews, further worsening the situation. These don’t speak well for the company.
Compared to similar companies, such as Nikon, Adorama often offers cheaper and more affordable products and the option to buy second-hand items, making it an attractive option to many customers. However, their poor rating across various review sites is definitely a cause for concern.
Data Protection
Adorama has also received accusations of stealing sensitive data. Some customers complained as the company gathered sensitive information before letting them know the product they wanted was out of stock. Following this, Adorama has been accused of abusing the data and stealing personal information.
Is Adorama reliable and trustworthy?
Refund Policy
On their website, Adorama provides extensive details of their refund policy, having a 30-day return policy for a full money-back refund. However, this excludes shipping costs, which the customer must cover, and the product cannot be returned if it is missing the Universal Product Code (UPC). There are also many technicalities surrounding the returns, with many products not being eligible for return once opened, even if they are not working correctly, such as laptops and other electronic goods.
Customer Support
Based on reviews, Adorama’s customer support is mainly unresponsive and unhelpful regarding issues. Many customers seem dissatisfied with the service they receive if they receive any contact from the helpline at all. Despite claiming to be easily contactable through email, social media, or telephone, many people have reported issues getting hold of any form of customer service, most of their queries being left unanswered and issues going largely unresolved.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Free shipping on your first purchase
- Adorama Rewards
- Buy high-end products, often for low or discounted prices.
- Customers can buy second-hand products.
- Have the option to sell used technology to Adorama
Cons:
- Bad customer service.
- Unreliable, as customers may receive damaged or wrong products or no product at all.
- Scams reported by customers denied refunds.
How does Adorama make money?
Adorama has multiple streams of income and revenue generation. The company has multiple different brands operating under the Adorama names. These services include Adorama Rental Co., allowing for the temporary rental of products or services for cinematic and creative projects, and AdoramaPix, recently renamed Printique, a photo printing service.
Also, there is Adorama Learning Center or 42West, their blog site that contains reviews, how-to guides, and news on new and upcoming products. Adorama also has Adorama Business Solutions (a consultation and support center) designed to help achieve goals and creative ventures. Adorama generates millions of dollars in revenue annually through these multiple brands and the distribution of high-end products.
Best Alternatives to Adorama
- BH Photo Video – very similar to Adorama, yet receives much better reviews and has a better reputation.
- Nikon – despite having a smaller range of technology, Nikon is known for its high-quality cameras and photography equipment.
- Kodak – offers a wide range of products. Kodak is also well-known for its quality cameras and other electronics.
FAQs
How do I sell used products to Adorama?
To sell used products on Adorama, fill out a form and receive a quote for your goods. If you are happy with the offer, Adorama will send you a prepaid shipping label, and upon receipt of the goods, you will receive cash, store credit, or a direct deposit into your bank account.
What is Adorama Rewards?
Adorama offers a rewards-based system to encourage customers to return to the site often. It is free to join, and you receive a point for every $1 spent. These points can be redeemed to pay for items or reduce the cost of products. Bonus points can be received for referring friends, purchasing certain items, or even connecting with Adorama on social media.
How do rentals work with Adorama?
For those who do not wish to buy a product, Adorama offers a rental service where you can hire products for periods. They offer multiple different packages for creative productions, including the aid of services, such as having an account manager to provide advice. Set the rental period for which you wish to have the product, browse the catalog for desired gear, and pay.
What if my item is out of stock or back-ordered?
Adorama “strives to keep most items in stock for immediate delivery”; however, many people complain that back-ordering is a significant issue when purchasing products. The procedure for this is that Adorama will notify you and keep your order open unless you tell them otherwise, and once the item is back in stock, it will be shipped to you.
Adorama promises to only charge your credit card at the time of actual shipment; however, there may be a holding of funds up until this point. However, many customers have complained that they never received their orders, and despite multiple complaints to customer service, they never received their money back.