For the past 15 years, I have used two online internet companies, B&H Photo Video and Adorama, to purchase digital cameras, video cameras, lenses, large format printers, light kits, basically everything I’ve needed for my business. When I teach university classes and workshops, I tell my students to either buy locally or order exclusively from B&H and Adorama. I have recommended them countless times and they have never let me down. Honestly, I would not recommend them if I did not have tons of good experiences with them. I realize that no company is perfect, but in my experiences B&H and Adorama provide high-quality professional services and offer reasonable prices on camera and video gear.
If you are looking to purchase photography and video gear online (or by mail order), you need to be careful. I have heard numerous horror stories of people who found some online vendors and mail order houses that bait-and-switch, sell grey market goods (without informing the buyer that they are imported), claim to have products in stock that they don’t, and just plain rip people off. Many of these advertise in the back of photography and video magazines and many of them are out of New York and “advertise” on ebay. Of course not everybody is like this, but buying photography and video gear online is a big game of buyer beware. Don’t be enticed by a ridiculously low prices. It would be difficult to offer lower prices than B&H Video and Adorama do, and in my opinion it’s not worth risking your hard earned cash to buy somewhere else. Most likely B&H and Adorama have everything you will need, great prices, and good service.
Tags: adorama, bhphoto.com, bhvideo.com, buying cameras online, review
Helen Oster wrote,
Two great companies - sound advice, indeed.
Of course, mistakes can happen in the best run outfits; if you ever do have a query regarding a product or an order from Adorama Camera, you can always contact me directly:helen.oster@adoramacamera.com, and I will be delighted to help you in any way I can.
Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
Link | September 15th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Henry Posner wrote,
When I teach university classes and workshops, I tell my students to either buy locally or order exclusively from B&H and Adorama
Thank you. Much appreciated. You might want to direct your college students to http://www.bhphoto.com/edu which is designed for students and educators.
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video
Link | September 16th, 2008 at 2:14 pm