I am considering a new Canon R5. Adorama has a good price ($ 2600) with needed accessories (ef to rf lens adapter with control ring, cf express card and reader). I have purchased photo gear from B&H Photo with no problem but their price does not include the accessories.
Is Adorama equal to B&H Photo in customer satisfaction?
Adorama is one of the large camera stores that do a lot of business. So you should be able to find tens of thousands of reviews from customers who have purchased from them. I have purchased from them several times without issue.
In some cases Adorama also sells products through amazon.com, so you can purchase using Amazon's merchant system, but the item is still processed by Adorama. Just another option you might have to add a layer if you are well accustomed to Amazon's customer service.
Done business with both Adorama, & B&H, and overall, I've gotten better service from B&H.
B&H also has a PayBoo Credit service that pays your state tax.
Have never had any problems of any kind dealing with B&H. As sy says, when using the B&H Payboo Credit Card purchase is discounted the amount of sales tax.
Haven’t used Roberts Camera in years, but have always had excellent experiences buying from Roberts.
Best Buy is sometimes a good source. The service contract can be a shrewd move for those putting their gear in risky situations. Best Buy outlet has interesting deals for open boxes, closeouts, refurbished, demos, etc.
Many here like Adorama, but I’ve had bad experiences buying from them in the past.
I'm having an issue with them myself currently.
Depending on how it turns out, I may or may not recommend them anymore
lemmy shoyu wrote:
Have never had any problems of any kind dealing with B&H. As sy says, when using the B&H Payboo Credit Card purchase is discounted the amount of sales tax.
Haven’t used Roberts Camera in years, but have always had excellent experiences buying from Roberts.
Best Buy is sometimes a good source. The service contract can be a shrewd move for those putting their gear in risky situations. Best Buy outlet has interesting deals for open boxes, closeouts, refurbished, demos, etc.
Many here like Adorama, but I’ve had bad experiences buying from them in the past.
Adorama has been fast, well packed and trouble-free for me. Same for B&H and Canon Direct. The only hit and miss dealer has been Amazon. A few times they merely slapped a mailing label on an unsealed product box or tossed it in a plastic bag for shipping. I had a Tascam audio interface—shipped in a plastic bag—arrive bent and beat to hell and a 70-200L lens rolling bare and loose in a box. Of course, returns are easier than Adorama and B&H but Amazon is last on my list for delicate gear due to their careless packaging.
grebe wrote:
I am considering a new Canon R5. Adorama has a good price ($ 2600) with needed accessories (ef to rf lens adapter with control ring, cf express card and reader). I have purchased photo gear from B&H Photo with no problem but their price does not include the accessories.
Is Adorama equal to B&H Photo in customer satisfaction?
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Tom
If you prefer to shop at B&H, for whatever reason, maybe the Tax Free PayBoo. They will almost certainly match anything that Adorama offers.
You can just call B&H, tell them, "Adorama is offering the R5 with x,y and z included, but I would prefer to purchase it from you, can you match it?"......I would guarantee they will throw in the items for you at no charge that Adorama is including.
Adorama is simply a good store, but I'll share my experience from many years ago...
Adorama customer service ____ (left a bad taste in my mouth) ____ Many years ago, when I had no experience with photography and online sales weren't really something I knew about, I went to Adorama to sell my Olympus Zuico 12-60mm lens in perfect condition (it cost $600 new, and the guy took $200 from the register, gave it to me, and RIPPED the lens out of my hand like he owned it and I wanted to steal it - I took the money, went home, and never ordered from there again).
B&H customer service ____ I've been there many, many times, but once I wanted to buy one of the latest gaming sound cards for my computer (so I could play games with high sound quality), which was very expensive back then... But the salesperson asked me what I needed it for. I told him to play games... His response was, "You don't need this card, and he won't sell me such expensive one." I really insisted, but he wouldn't budge, and I bought the cheaper card. Since then, I've ordered a ton of stuff from B&H and spent a ton of money there.
I have also purchased from both Adorama and B&H for many years, but lately I seem to be buying more from Adorama. No real reason for this, except that I seem to find what I'm looking for more often at Adorams and I've made friends with some of their employees. I do prefer the Youtube instruction videos made by Adorama more than those from B&H.
grebe wrote:
I am considering a new Canon R5. Adorama has a good price ($ 2600) with needed accessories (ef to rf lens adapter with control ring, cf express card and reader). I have purchased photo gear from B&H Photo with no problem but their price does not include the accessories.
Is Adorama equal to B&H Photo in customer satisfaction?
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Tom
I’ve used them several times and have had no negative issues at all. I’ve always thought of them as a “B&H but maybe smaller.”
I trust them.
(One thing to watch out for in replies: Every company, including B&H and Adorama, occasionally leaves a customer unsatisfied. Consequently, it is not a good idea to focus too much on a few negative reviews — everyone gets those. Instead, look at the bigger picture, the overall experience of many users over time.)
The gold standard in photography stores is shared between B&H and Adorama. I have used both so many times without issues. They are good from sales to support.
Between Adorama and B&H, I give them a rating of 10 out of 10 for B&H, and 8 out of 10 for Adorama. The issues I've had with Adorama are mostly communication issues; emails from them sometimes don't make it into my inbox (I don't have this issue with any other online company, only with Adorama).
So, if I really, really need something and B&H doesn't have it, then I'll go with Adorama.
Adorama does have their "Edge" card which offers 5% off or promotional financing. It's similar to B&H's Payboo except the Edge program is a fixed 5% whereas B&H takes the cake (and the cherry too) by refunding the entire sales tax based on your place of residence.
For the OP, they are both reputable companies. Helen (ex-Adorama) and Henry (ex-B&H) are no longer with either company, but during the era when both were CSR/store ambassadors, it was almost like having a direct line to solving any problem you might have with an order. Great customer service and those two deserved the credit for it.
Many years ago, when I had no experience with photography and online sales weren't really something I knew about, I went to Adorama to sell my Olympus Zuico 12-60mm lens in perfect condition (it cost $600 new, and the guy took $200 from the register, gave it to me, and RIPPED the lens out of my hand like he owned it and I wanted to steal it 
- I took the money, went home, and never ordered from there again).