- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Adorama
Categories: Shopping Photography Stores & Services Shopping Electronics Photography Stores & Services, Electronics [Edit]
42 W 18th St(between Avenue Of The Americas & 5th Ave)
New York, NY 10011
Neighborhood: Flatiron
(212) 741-0052
- Nearest Transit:
-
14 St (F, M)
6 Av (L)
18 St (1, 2)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 9 am - 8 pm
Fri 9 am - 2 pm
Sun 9:30 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
135 reviews for Adorama
Review Highlights
-
"This review is for adoramapix, which prints amazing photos." In 21 reviews -
"Absolutely my preferred camera equipment dealer." In 45 reviews -
"...8x10 (the amazing Kodak Metallic paper) is just $1.84." In 3 reviews
Loading...
135 reviews in English
-
Review from Vitaliy S.
Brooklyn, NY
3/13/2012
This is my favorite store to go to for few reasons: it's not off the grid like B&H and, even though, much smaller in space, the staff is always friendly. In particular, Efraim from lightening department. He's my "go-to" guy every time I'm in the store.
Everything I ask of him and he sends up from the storage, he literally makes me open and try before I even attempt to take two steps away - excellent!
Once, I needed a hotshoe with pc port for my older sb-600 and Efraim sent one up with a warning that it may NOT work - he wasn't sure of that particular type. I didn't have the flash with me so I bought it ($15) and took it home, successfully throwing out the box on the way.
Once I got home and tried the setup I realized that it doesn't work. So I go back to tell him the two bad news (doesn't work and I threw away the box). He gives me another hot shoe adapter to try - with a positive result. I proceed to the counter and customer service rep exchanges the old one for new without any hesitation. I'm a happy camper.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 3/14/2012
Hi Vitaliy Thanks so much for taking the time to leave such… More » -
Review from George B.
Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NY
5/23/2012
I am a professional photographer and printer in New York. I usually do most of my business at B&H because of their unmatched selection, knowledgeable staff, and lets face it, the experience of going to B&H is really fun. However, when I don't have the time to trek up to 34th street, or if my wallet is a little light, I go to Adorama. I have also helped some of my friends who are just starting out and on tight budgets buy their first camera here. I always dread it.
I'll start with the good. Adorama consistently has the lowest prices of all of the major camera retailers online and in the city. I always go here for expendables, ink and paper for my Epson 4800 and sometimes film. Ink cartridges for the 4800 (list price $112) are $81 at Calumet, $78 at B&H and $73 at Adorama. Definitely worth the savings here. They also pack a reasonable selection into their small space. I've rarely walked out empty handed due to a lack of stock.
Now the bad. Adorama does not know how to run a professional establishment. I will begin with my own experiences. Yesterday I went in to buy some digital paper. I walked up to a sales counter, told the sales person I wanted some paper but wasn't quite sure what kind, and she instructed a trainee to help me. I told him that I was looking for a gelatin or baryta based inkjet paper and after a moment of hesitation, he told me he would get someone else to help me. I thin he was looking for the one guy that works here that really knows his paper, but apparently he was on break. So I asked if they stocked any Hannemuhle papers (they do online but I didn't see any on the shelves) and he pointed me to a stack of binders of paper samples, "its the white one." I never found the samples. He proceeded to help another customer as I continued to look for paper samples. I asked about an Ilford paper, it was out of stock. I gave up.
As I mentioned, I have also tagged along with friends here to help them buy cameras. Observing how a salesman interacts with someone who knows little or nothing about cameras, it is obvious that profits are the main concern. The salesman attempted to sell all of my friends cheap and unnecessary Adorama branded accessories that were priced 10-15% higher than equivalent, higher quality name brand products. If you are planning on buying equipment here and aren't extremely knowledgable about what you're getting, I would highly recommend doing some research before you go in and only shop here if you know exactly what you want to avoid falling for these ridiculous impulse purchases they push on you.
Adorama's main problem, though, is the quality of their staff. They seem to have high turnover. I rarely see the same people in there, and there are always 5 or 6 trainees on the floor and at the register. While a few select salespeople are indeed highly knowledgeable about what they're selling and very helpful, its hit and miss, biased towards the misses. A common reaction to a question about a specific specification of an item is a blank stare. The cashiers are lazy, rude, and incompetent. They are usually busy talking to each other or ringing something up twice. There is absolutely no customer service here.
I have never ordered from Adorama online, but from what I've read, there are few problems with their online shop and I am more inclined to order online in the future, especially now that I live in Brooklyn. But if you are in the area and looking to buy some camera equipment, I would highly recommend that you go up two blocks to Calumet on 20th st. if you care about customer service and will pay a few more dollars for it, or make the extra hike to B&H if you want great prices AND great customer service. I always tell myself that each trip to Adorama will be my last because every experience I have had there is negative. But sometimes I just can't argue with their prices and I succumb to my desire to save money in exchange for non existent customer service and a generally awful experience.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 5/23/2012
Dear George Thank you so much for leaving such detailed… More » -
Review from Angel H.
Queens, NY
Updated - 5/17/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Alright, had to come back here. I almost bumped this up one more star.. However, the front door greeter was way too pushy for my liking. I barely had walked in through the door when he approached me. He asked for help, but truth be told, I was still trying to decide what to get from this place. I felt as if I wasn't even given a chance to think.
However, one of the sales people was helpful. Not only did he find what I had needed, he recommended GPS photos for film developing. The cashiers were also quite nice too.
So okay, there you have it. I'll probably come back again, but that greeter just kinda annoyed me. So the star rating remains the same.
I know Adorama is reading this. So may I suggest the original female greeter, instead of the pushy male one?Listed in: C for Chelsea
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
3/12/2012
Okay, I was wrong on one thing. This place doesn't process film.
It would've been nice to have… Read more »
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 5/18/2012
Hi Angel re your updated review: I copied your review to… More » -
-
Review from D T.
Manhattan Beach, CA
Updated - 5/7/2012
After my review here on yelp and leaving a message on their FB page, I was able to get in touch with a couple of people at Adorama Pix.
I finally received my prints.
Quality wise, I'm happy with the outcome of the prints.
Thank you Libby and Helen for looking into this matter.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/4/2012
Nonexistent customer service!
This is my first time ordering prints from them after getting an email… Read more »
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 5/7/2012
Hi Deney Please accept our deepest apologies that this… More » -
-
Review from Jess N.
Versailles, KY
5/8/2012
DO NOT DO BUSINESS HERE. Not only did they charge my CC card for things I did not order after I bought my camera, they were rude and charged my card again when they sent the wrong items. Stay Away...if you can
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 5/13/2012
Jess I would really like to resolve this for you, but I do… More » -
Review from Eric E.
Brooklyn, NY
3/28/2012
They have an impressive and varied array of used lenses. I was looking for some specific old/inexpensive glass and they were the only local place I could find them. Since they don't have space to keep them on display, initial browsing is best done online. Fortunately, their site is easy to browse, and once in the store the items are retrieved quickly to look over. The guy i was talking too knew all about the necessary adaptors, fortunately.
So, a very good experience when I went in with a mission. It has some confusing intricacies and very limited display space (ie, most of what they have isn't out), so it's less ideal for casual browsing. However, the central location means I will end up in there browsing anyway.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 3/28/2012
Thanks so much for stopping by to leave your review, Eric. I… More » -
Review from Mervyn H.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 3/15/2012
I've received several messages asking how Adorama responded to my original post, so I'm posting an update. To their credit, Adorama's staff was quick to get in touch and they ultimately did the right thing, allowing me to exchange the non-functioning keyboard for a new one even though I was well past the 7-day return period. Hence the extra star.
But the shopping experience itself was exactly the same as before. Prior to the exchange, I walked in to check out the Apple merchandise. Just like the last time, when I asked store employees standing around if I could look at wireless iPad keyboards, I was told to go away and wait for a specific salesperson to come back. Not even a veneer of politeness or friendliness, although to be fair, only one person was outright rude -- the two others I asked were merely brusque.
Are my expectations that high? If the ability to walk into the store, and receive a pleasant reply when you ask where the merchandise is so you can buy it and move on, is beyond reasonable expectations, then I guess I'll eat my words. But the fact that this experience felt uniquely displeasing tells me that Adorama's an outlier.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/20/2012
Don't waste your time! I should have read the reviews before heading across town to Adorama.… Read more »
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 3/18/2012
Update Mervyn I'm told that the reason other sales staff… More » -
-
Review from Mike K.
Phoenix, AZ
4/19/2012
Really shoddy customer service. I ordered two ND Nuetral Density FADER filters for my Canon 5D online - they sent the wrong product. I called customer service (it's in the Philippines) and was promised they'd fix the issue. They also promised a 5 dollar rebate and two-day reshipping for my trouble. Neither promise was honored. Meantime, I've lost three weeks waiting for what I should have had in 3-5 business days.
Called the New York store (really rude salepeople) to check on the status and was redirected back to the Phillipines...
Any respectable business worth its salt should make customer service priority one! Not going to shop here ever again. Would not recommend!Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 4/20/2012
Dear Mike Please accept my apologies; I agree with you… More » -
Review from Cynthia M.
Long Island City, NY
1/28/2012
Adorama Canon Workshop - Beginner and Intermediate
So I decided to finally try to take a photography class to learn how to use my fancy DSLR camera. Yes there is way more to it than Auto Mode. This class was absolutely wonderful. At first since it was only $25 a class (plus they give you a gift certificate for $25 to the store at the start of each class, so the class is basically free), I was worried that it might just be some type of sales pitch from the people at Canon who were sponsoring and teaching this class. I could not have been more wrong.
The class was extremely organized and they provided a workbook each day with all the slides and notes regarding the information that we learned that day. That alone made it worthwhile. The teacher was very thorough and explained stuff so well. A lot of the mistakes that I have seen in my pictures (overexposure, underexposure, white balance issues) were addressed in this class. It was information overload for over 6 hours in the course of 2 days. Though it will be hard to retain everything and absorb everything in just two days, these workbooks that were provided will surely help with that.
Highly recommended!Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 1/29/2012
It was great to read a review of one of our Adorama… More » -
Review from Kassy M.
1/12/2012
I stumbled upon an article that compared different web-based photo book creators (this guy made the same photo book using 10+ websites and reviewed them) and Adorama was ranked one of the highest. I did a little research and decided that I wanted to use their website to create a photo book of my travels.
The website was super easy to use, with really nice templates for those who don't want to customize every single detail in every single page. I was very pleased.
I worked on the book for two days (few hours a day), and placed my order. I was prepared to pay for shipping but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there's an Adorama store in Manhattan, and that I could pick it up for free. I got a confirmation email of my order, stating, that it would be available for pick up in roughly 10 days. I couldn't wait!
3 days later, I received an email from Adorama that said that my photo book was ready for pick up. A WEEK earlier than I had expected! I was thrilled. I went to pick it up hours later, and there it was, my first photo book! I looked through the pages and was satisfied with the results. The binding, cover, paper and print quality were all great.
My only complaint is that, the "preview" feature on the website was not the best. For some reason, the preview was only displayed on the right half of the page, so it came out small and I couldn't really read anything. As a result, the font in my captions came out bigger than I would've liked them to, but since I viewed this photo book as a trial run for many more photo books to come, I am not that upset. The book looks great and my friends love it!
Very worth the price, especially for something that is meaningful and you can keep around forever, instead of having it stored on your hard drive!Listed in: again and again, artsy artsy
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 1/13/2012
Great feedback, Kassy, thank you so much for taking the time… More » -
Review from Ron Y.
1/13/2012
I researched online and found that Adorama Camera sold the cheapest memory cards in NYC, compared to the prices of J&R, RadioShack, Best Buy, and Staples. I called them today ahead of time to confirm if they had what I wanted in stock and they did. But couldn't the guy on the phone tell me that they closed at 2pm?!?! Who closes their business at 2pm on a Friday?!?!?!!?!?!?!? When I got there at 3pm, I wasn't the only one who got pissed off at the handwritten sign, saying that from now on, the store was going to close at 2pm every Friday.
UGH. So I went to Staples because I didn't want to go all the way downtown to Fulton to J&R. UGH to Friday the 13th.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 1/15/2012
I apologize for your disappointment, however Adorama has… More » -
Review from Philip R.
12/24/2011
Fantastic photography store with a great equipment rental space upstairs (see separate review.) If B&H is overwhelming with bright lights, tourists and candy everywhere to make you hyperative, Adorama is a much more serene experience. Lots of knowledgeable staff can be reached via a ticketing system to direct you to the available specialist in the area of knowledge you seek. Service can be a little brusque on occasion and I've received the same upselling techniques you'll get in other places (e.g. UV filters, specialist lens cleaning clothes etc,) but its faster than B&H.
I've purchased used and new lenses, speedlights, lighting brackets, seemless paper and other equipment here. Recommended.Listed in: Places for photo enthusiasts
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 12/25/2011
Thanks so much for your review, Philip. I'm delighted to… More » -
Review from K M.
Wayne, NJ
10/10/2011
Not even worth the subway fair I paid to get here. Appalling customer service. That's an understatement.
I called this store before making the trip out to their location. I was in the market for a 300mm Tamron lens for my Pentax. They had a used one in good condition, but the price on the website was steep. Insanely steep - More than double the going price on similar sites. So I called them to confirm that there wasn't an error.
Whoever answered the phone said, and I quote, "Yeah, that doesn't seem right... Come on in, and we'll work out a price, no problem!"
So I show up a few hours later only to be greeted by perhaps the most rude employees ever. They just grunted at me and continued to watch anime on the LCD televisions nearby. I walked past them.
I was the only customer at the time. The store was empty. So I approached one of the counters, only to immediately get YELLED at to take a number. Take a number? There is no one HERE. So I have to stand back, get a number, and then the guy asks me to re-approach him.
...
Are you SERIOUS? What kind of bureaucratic nonsense is this? Did I need to be yelled at?
So, I ask for the Tamron I wanted. The guy looks it up in the computer but can't find it. He says, "Take another number, and go to booth 6. They will help you."
I do so. The guy at this second booth grunts at me, annoyed. He doesn't want me bothering him. I ask about the lens, and he looks it up, quoting me the insanely inflated price. I tell him that the price is wrong, and that on the phone I was told that the price could be negotiated/worked out.
He responded, and I quote,
"Well that's TOO BAD. That's the price! Do you want it?" I explained myself again, assuming he was confused. No one could be this rude, right?
He repeated, "Well that is the price! That's the price! We don't haggle!" Haggle? Your price is an error!
He finished with, "Either buy it OR LEAVE."
Trust me, I left, and FAST. I will never so much as buy a screen protector from this store, I am absolutely offended and disgusted with their poor etiquette. Considering the other reviews here, apparently I am not alone in having experienced this type of rude behavior.
That night when I got home I was able to score my Tamron lens for less than SIX TIMES the amount they were asking. I should have ordered online in the first place. I have a knot in my stomach just thinking about the treatment I received.
Avoid, avoid, AVOID. This store is a nightmare. Come here if you enjoy being degraded.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 10/11/2011
Dear KM At this point I can only apologize. It is clear… More » -
Review from Anh H.
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
As a long time shopper of this store, to finally be able to step inside was truly a treat. The service they offer in house is the same as the service they offerc online. The prices are able the same as B&H, but somethimes on the grey market items there are significant discounts. Yo be honest, all the purchases I've ever made were from Adorama. I do like the B&H store because it's physically bigger and they have a very efficient and creative check out process, but money is money and I like having more of it. So if it comes down to savings than my money's on Adorama.
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 3/5/2012
Thanks so much for taking the time to post a review of your… More » -
Review from Vinny O.
Queens, NY
3/18/2012
Great service. Bought a new lens in the store today and traded in an old lens and got a decent price for it. Everyone in the store was very helpful especially the salesman in the TV section. He helped me find a photo-book even though it wasn't in his department.
-
Review from Kip D.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 12/2/2011
UPGRADE TO 5 STARS.
Adorama, you guys SERIOUSLY rocked it! I've used your photo lab twice and bought $2700 worth of camera/lenses. I recently upgraded you from 3 to 4 stars after my camera purchase. Now, after my last photo lab experience, you get 5 stars!
Why? The prints were AAAAAMAZING!!! With a 600dpi scan of a 40-year old photo of my mother, you were able to generate and amazingly sharp, grain-free 8x10. Oh...did I mention the original photo is 1x2!? Yeah...1 inch by 2 inches!
I was impressed and amazed by your prints. I kept saying "Woooowww" out loud as I flipped through my 18 photos. Absolutely great job!
Based on my combined experiences with your camera store and photo lab, I WILL come to Adorama FIRST in the future for all my photo needs! For me, Adorama is the one that all other will have to try hard to beat!! Nice work, folks.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
11/29/2011
I previously wrote a photo lab review. I had no basis to write a store review because I hadn't… Read more »
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 12/27/2009
Thanks for the feedback which I've passed to the lab. We'd… More » -
-
Review from Kenny C.
9/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not a bad selection of gear, but the people who work here are so rude. If I'm waiting at the counter for you to finish speaking with another customer, don't walk away with them and not return.
They also closed early one time for a Jewish holiday and didn't post it on their website or Twitter, so they lost my business that day when I went out of my way to make it down there. They were apologetic on Twitter after I called them out though.Listed in: Neither Food Nor Booze, Tourist Traps
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 9/25/2011
Dear Kenny Please accept my deepest apologies for our… More » -
Review from Liz M.
Woodside, NY
8/5/2011
I seriously tried to like this place because it is 2 blocks from my work and is extremely convenient for me.
Yes, they have everything you may possibly need for all your camera and video needs. But every time I went I have had a bad experience. They made it seem like I was wasting their time. Which is a shame because I buy a lot different lenses and gear for my camera. I guess they don't realize that even if they don't sell something that very moment that I would come back and buy it later after work because I am on my lunch break!
They were clearly irritated that I was asking them questions and engaging in conversation about quality and how other customers liked the product which I think is normal when you start talking about $300 lenses!
I now buy my camera gear from a nearby shop who were actually nice and actually engage in a conversation about the products before I shell out the big bucks.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 8/5/2011
Liz I'm really sorry that you had such a bad experience in… More » -
Review from Ken W.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 2/23/2012
Looks like Adorama did indeed deliver my order earlier than the third week of March quoted by their first rep, which arrived today (10 days after my order). Good job on being responsive to customer feedback.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/17/2012
Classic Bait-and-Switch artists. I ordered a copy of Lightroom online at a good price (which, by the… Read more »
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 2/26/2012
Dear Ken We appreciate you updating your review, Ken.… More » -
-
Review from Hailie M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/27/2012
I AM a fan!!
Adorama has the most competitive prices in New York and online. I work a few blocks away, so instead of ordering online without interaction and delivery - I walked here instead. I am very pleased with the results. Jimmie helped me out .. and in the process taught me a few things I didnt know about the versatility of my camera. He spent a long time with me, ensuring that I was getting what I needed. He was as concerned with pricing as I am .. and helped me stay within my budget.
Also - I realized they have a wonderful interactive website as well as classes.
I can't believe I've lived here for 12 years as an amateur photographer, and never knew. Don't make the same mistake.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 1/29/2012
Welcome to shopping at Adorama Camera, Hailie! - thank you… More » -
Review from Thomas G.
Staten Island, NY
7/12/2011
Adorama is my favorite photography store - it isn't as monstrously large as B&H (you can still find a salesperson with social skills unlike B&H) and the prices are very, very good. KEH (in Atlanta) is better for used equipment but Adorama has the best prices on film (for those of us who can't quit black and white) and their prices on digital equipment are excellent.
One caveat: if you can't get to Adorama in person beware of their mail order system. Their website is very good but the delivery of the items you order may be a source of frustration. For many years Adorama was great at mail order - I would order film, ask for USPS over UPS (don't get me started: if it's Brown, flush it down) and would have the package in two days. It was consistent, fast and cheap. That is no longer the case.
Adorama mail order? Forgetaboutit.
Adorama, at their discretion, may hand off your package to a godawful third party shipper named Streamlite. What's so bad about Streamlite? They don't actually do anything useful - they hand the package off to the postal service. This adds two days (minimum) to your order. The delay doesn't help film much - extreme heat in summer, cold in winter. Recently I ordered a Newswear belt to hold my strobe pouch. It's been over a week - I paid for shipping, requested USPS and got Streamlite. They sat on the package for four days and then delivered it to the wrong post office. I'm still waiting (as of July 12 2011).
Meanwhile, I ordered a Domke belt (I'm tired of waiting, to quote Ray Davies) from Amazon late on Saturday (9 July) and it arrived on Monday (July 11). Because it wasn't selling (guessing here) it cost me $6. I was simply stunned.
One last word of warning - if you opt to buy something on Amazon check that it isn't "fulfilled" by Adorama (the same advice holds for eBay). If it is, skip it. Or find another seller.
I would urge you to visit Adorama when in New York. Bring lots of cash. They have a great store. But if you want mail order photographic supplies, use B&H or Unique Photography in New Jersey.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 7/12/2011
Thank you so much for your great review of the Adorama… More » -
Review from Ed K.
6/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
As a photography enthusiast, I had to check out this holy mecca of Camera stores.
While the customer service was quite nice and informative, the physical store was a lot smaller than I expected, especially compared to the circus showroom of B&H. So you don't get to see or play with much in the store itself, however if you're a serious shopper, take a number and one of the friendly clerks will answer your questions and let you check out most of their equipment. Once you decide to purchase, they give you a ticket and you take it to the sales counter, pick up and pay for your equipment there.
Still, having been there once, if I really want to buy anything I'll stick to online mail order.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 6/26/2011
I'm sorry to read that you were disappointed with the size… More » -
Review from John T.
Astoria, NY
3/27/2011
I'm old fashioned. Back in the day, when you were going to buy a camera or telescope you would research it for months in magazines, books (remember books?), and by talking to experts; then save money (remember when the word 'saving' did not mean 'discount'?) so that by the time you were ready to make that big dream purchase you knew exactly what you wanted and had cash in hand (remember cash?) to buy it. It was exciting (and for some of us it still is).
This aint no Best Buy or J&R. If you're going to Adorama, you already pretty much know what you want and you're going to talk to not just a salesperson but an expert who is going to make sure you're happy with your purchase not only when you walk out the door, but five or ten years from later. They don't sell crap by the truckload.
Can you get a bargain? Sure, but then you need some old fashioned smarts. Negotiate a package--an extra lens, a camera bag, anything. Personally, I find it difficult to make a big purchase without getting something extra or a minor discount. But you have to try for it.
BOTTOM LINE: If you buy it at Adorama you can be sure you bought something good at an appropriate price.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 3/31/2011
Hi John I really enjoyed reading your review; always good… More » -
Review from Michael C.
Brooklyn, NY
3/30/2011
I've been a happy customer of Adorama for the past year or so.
Even though I don't spend a lot of money there, they've treated me like solid gold every time I walked in the door.
To illustrate my point, let me detail a recent shopping experience.
I went to Adorama to purchase a piece of photo-editing software they had listed for $240. B&H was selling it for $220, and so I asked the Adorama sales rep to match B&H's price.
He flat-out refused to give me the software for $220. Instead, he gave it to me for $200, a full $20 below the B&H price.
Now that is how you win a customer!
Another time, I went in to ask about the then-new Panasonic LX5, a brand-new camera that was extremely hard-to-find at release.
A manager overheard me asking about the camera, and immediately offered to pull the only LX5 they had coming off a delivery truck that was about to arrive.
To sum it up, unlike the Applebee's in Brooklyn, Adorama wants my business and is willing to go the extra mile to get it!
At the stores of a certain now-bankrupt electronics chain, I've had plenty of conversations that go something like this:
Me: "Hi, I'm looking for a 42" plasma TV."
Employee of Said Chain: "So?"
Anyway, back to the review.
What else do I like about Adorama?
Well, they have just about everything in stock, and I'm always in-and-out of the store in no time at all. They also have the lowest prices of any legitimate photo-gear dealer.
As for AdoramaPix, I've used them for prints ranging in size from wallet to 20x30", on every kind of paper they carry.
My orders have always been finished in less than 48 hours, and every single one of the 200+ prints I've received has been perfect.
And you know what else? AdoramaPix is actually way cheaper than the big drug-store chains.
Duane Reade charged me $2.99 for an 8x10 print the other day, and only had one paper choice.
AdoramaPix' most expensive 8x10 (the amazing Kodak Metallic paper) is just $1.84!
So why did I not give Adorama five stars?
Well, it would be nice if they were open on Saturday.
Other than that, I have zero complaints about Adorama. They are good people.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 3/31/2011
Wow! Great review; thanks so much, Michael. I really do… More » -
Review from Janel B.
Overland Park, KS
7/5/2011
I gave this place 4 stars because, "Yay! I'm a fan" seems like an appropriate response. I would give them 5 if their printing operation was a bit better. (I've been disappointed on a couple of occasions with the quality of my 4x6 print order.)
However, enough of that...on to the good stuff. This place, just like B&H, is absolutely huge, and has everything under the sun that a photographer would need. Highly recommended for photo gear of all kinds. Their customer service has always been top notch. My package was delivered fast both times I ordered there. And the prices are SUPER competitive. I dig Adorama.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 7/6/2011
Thanks so much for your great review of the Adorama store,… More » -
Review from Mike N.
Astoria, NY
2/15/2011
I've only gone to Adorama for prints and they do a pretty damn good job ..
The website is easy to upload, they have many different paper options, good prices, and rather quick service.
Their camera and accessory prices look quite high so I wont be buying equipment there..but thats ok, I have a camera guy
The only downfall is you have to be in tune with the Jewish holiday calendar because thats how they base their store hours.. Once I received notice for a pick up, took the 35 minute trip down and they were closed.
To the people running Adorama: Add your holiday store hours within the emailComment from Helen O. of Adorama 2/15/2011
Thanks for your feedback, which I've passed over to thelab;… More » -
Review from DeShaun C.
Brooklyn, NY
3/21/2011
I really enjoy Adorama. It may take a little getting used to, but the thing that I like about this place is the lack of pushiness. Yes, you will be asked if you'd like to buy the extended warranty. Yes, you will be asked if you'd like some extra accessories. Of course you will, it's a store, people want to make a sale. However, if you say no, there is no push back. If you say "that's everything", they actually leave it at that! You are allowed to see the item before you purchase, which I'm a big fan of. I was thinking of buying a Nikon 105mm DC f/2, but I needed to see it, feel it in my hands. It was used, so it's always nice to be able to examine things yourself. Before I knew it, I was holding the lens in hand.
The workers are informed and not condescending. They don't assume that you know everything about cameras if you're purchasing equipment, and they don't just try to make a sale. While some places only care to make ANY sale, Adorama seems to push to make a proper sale: something that you'll like and find suitable for your needs.
I also have to commend their printing service. I've had prints made quite a few times, and they've always been superb. I've even had some mounted on styrene, and they look great. You can have them shipped wherever you like, but you can also pick it up in store. They have a lot of inventory, but it's a more intimate space, so you avoid being swallowed by the labyrinth of lines and equipment, a la B&H.
I've used them numerous times, and I'll be back for sure.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 3/31/2011
Great feedback, thanks; I'll make sure that the store… More » -
Review from Lorelei D.
Queens, NY
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Needed new items, was in and out of the store in 10 minutes.
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 12/8/2011
Hope you got everything you needed, Lorelei! Please let me… More » -
Review from Quinn Z.
West Hollywood, CA
4/28/2011
Five stars for two reasons:
1. They were the only store left in Manhattan at the time (Jan. 2011) that had the Nikon D3100 in stock and at a fair price.
2. Avi is the man.
After buying the D3100, along with their starter kit (bag, memory cards, lens protectors, etc.) I realized I wanted to get a second zoom lens, which they also had a package deal for. After crunching some numbers with Avi over the phone, we figured out that it'd be cheaper for me to come back, "return" my original purchase, exchange it for the package deal w/ the lens but no starter kit, and then buy the starter kit stuff separately. Clearly, Adorama had nothing to gain from this venture, but Avi was totally down to make it happen. Super cool dude. And that's what we did. I brought my stuff back, he ran the rather complicated exchange by one of the checkout guys who made it all happen, and I rolled out a few minutes later with everything I wanted, at a good price, and smiling for the fact that good customer service is not, in fact, dead.
Well played fellas, well played.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 4/28/2011
Always good to read when a member of staff goes 'above and… More » -
Review from Jon N.
Garden Grove, CA
10/18/2010
For those who know me I have a bunch of photography equipment, but sadly I don't have the best common sense. It took me a while to realize that I was stuffing a $43 Canon backpack with over $8,000 worth of photography equipment. I needed some protection. Not THAT type of protection.. but for my camera gear. The last thing I needed was the zipper to fail and my equipment to come falling out. Ok, that sounded a little dirty but it takes one to know one.
So I ended up buying a Tenba bag from Adorama through ebay. I've purchased a few things from them and they always ship the next business day unless there is some kind of random (Jewish) "Holiday" that keeps then closed. I actually didn't realize they were such a "small" shop... they have a huge online presence.
So now I have a nice big bag that criminals can steal in addition to my camera stuff. Nice.
Adorama's Score - 84 PointsComment from Helen O. of Adorama 10/19/2010
Thanks for your review, Jon. If you have time to visit my… More » -
Review from Scott S.
Jacksonville, FL
Updated - 5/17/2011
After speaking with Adorama's customer service representatives (Angela and Helen), my order was clearly rectified and all the issues were addressed. I received what I initially paid for and it was packed clearly with care, clearly all of my issues in my previous review had been considered and implemented. A big thanks to Helen who personally made it her mission to correct the problem. After the way this return was handled, I'm convinced that the issues I had was an isolated problem that was corrected.
Thank you again, Helen, for looking into the matter personally. You have restored my confidence in the products and customer service that Adorama provides it's customers, and I can recommend Adorama to others.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/6/2011
I have purchased a lot of my camera equipment through Adorama, and the experience keeps getting… Read more »
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 5/8/2011
Scott I am so very sorry to read of your recent frustrating… More » -
-
Review from Ben M.
Jersey City, NJ
4/10/2011
This place is down a little ways on the list to buy consumer or pro electronics and camera/video gear.
At least its all in one building unlike J and R right? wrong. The building is a little bigger than one of those cheapo electronic stores in midtown.
Search here as a last resort or if you are shooting across the street...If you can get the PA back quickly its worth it.. B and H/J and R are a process...Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 4/10/2011
I'm sorry you feel this way, Ben. We don't make any secret… More » -
Review from Mike B.
7/6/2011
Although they have been in business forever, their business practices leave a lot to be desired. If you order something from them online, you don't get told that they are out of stock! They'll take your credit card info, make you verify the card, send you an email verifying your order and NOTHING will say "out of stock"...even if you pay for 2 day shipping (where you obviously need it quickly) they don't say anything. I had to call to ask about another piece of my order and EXPLICITLY ask "when will this ship" before they 'fessed up that they didn't have the camera I ordered (and needed for a trip) and they had no idea when they would get more in. I've done business with these guys for the past 20 years or so, but no longer.
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 7/6/2011
Firstly, I would like to apologize that we caused you… More » -
Review from Noel J.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 8/9/2011
frank b is the best sales representative, my orders are prompt, they have all of my contact information, i think i'm on the phone maybe a minute. the best price for film anywhere.
no bullshit, fast service. please open a shop in san francisco!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/7/2010
after calling a dozen stores in search of fuji instax film this place came through with the best… Read more »
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 1/7/2010
Thank you for the great feedback, Noel. Please don't… More » -
-
Review from Amik A.
8/26/2011
I'm struggling between 2 and 3 stars here. First the good. Adorama is a fantastic camera store because of two reasons. They have everything you could want and the location is very convenient. It is a mere 2 blocks from the 16th street exit at Union Square. Now the bad ... there are problems. The store lives on commission to the point where it often feels like it is more about moving cameras out the door rather than taking the time to inform/educate/and answer questions about the equipment. Case in point: I recently spent a lot of money on a new DSLR ... the woman who helped me was very nice but she didn't inform me about any type of warranty. Half way down the street I thought about this and turned around to ask her again. She was at lunch. Another person helped me and told me I could come back within 2-3 weeks and get the warranty but not to wait too long. I said OK ... but then the guy stopped me and said "but I want to be the one ot sell it to you". DING DING DING ... by pointing out that he didn't want the other girl who sold me the camera to get the commission for the warranty was proof that this place only cares about cash. Information is completely secondary. Back to the original purchase regarding my camera. The original sales girl asked me if I wanted a filter and without asking any questions got me the most basic one. Later upon arriving home and actually taking some time to educate myself on filters (which Adorama should have just done while in store), I found myself going back to exchange the filter for a better one with less glare. Adorama could have saved me the trip by taking a bit more time and offering more service rather than concentrating on volume. This was not a isolated incident either. Today I bought a case ... the price was perfect so I was happy with that, but when I asked in the store if this case would fit my camera the response I got was ... "ya it could be tight but you could just bring it back if it doesn't work". For a camera store ... they should have been able to tell me exactly if this would fit my camera since they sold me the equipment a mere 2 days ago (and had one sitting there right on the counter) ... but alas, they needed to get me moving because there is someone else waiting to add to their commission. BTW - the case doesn't fit and now I need to go back and get another one :(
Seriously, I've had to go in and out of this store so many times now b/c of CS not coming through that I'm reluctantly gonna be the freaking Foursquare mayor by next week probably.
Honestly, I want this store to be better. To be amazing. But Adorama is not so good at service. So my recommendation is good for stock but bad for CS. As others have said ... one good point is that "no" really does mean "no" - by this I mean the sales staff is not pushy at all. But this could just mean that they would rather move to the next commission customer and easy sale rather then try to work for your business. It is what it is. Best practice at Adorama is to do yourself a favor ... and educate yourself prior to coming in ... if you know exactly what you want then shopping here is fantastic. Just don't ask questions ... there are few if any answers.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 8/28/2011
Amik I'm really so sorry that you experienced such horrible… More » -
Review from Erika C.
New York, NY
2/23/2011
Summary: Customer service is exemplary and the finished product is gorgeous.
I ordered a book from Adorama for my engagement pics because I'd heard great things from various wedding websites and because, for lay flat albums, you couldn't beat the price. When I received my book, it was gorgeous - thick cardstock, glossy pages-gorgeous! Only problem is, I messed up and in designing the layout, had accidentally left a white line down the seam of each page that drove me crazy.
I called, and they immediately said they would replace the album for FREE. Even though it was my mix-up. They explained how to fix the problem, had someone personally look it over before they printed it, and - get this - REFUNDED me $12 because they no longer offered a UV coating that I paid for on the first book.
I've since ordered single prints which are expertly done, and I will definitely be going back for future albums, including my wedding albums. The price is GREAT, the product gorgeous, and customer service is remarkable.
Note: Since our photos were by a professional photographer, I opted out of the auto-photo touch up option because I didn't want the colors to be distorted.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 2/27/2011
Dear Erika Thank you so much for your great review of… More » -
Review from Tamar F.
Updated - 1/12/2011
So, an update:
Once you have a problem, customer service will do their best to solve it. Although my photobook would not make the Christmas delivery, I was offered credit for the issue and I think that others did as well. The turnaround time was 3 weeks (about 15 business days not including days they were closed for blizzard, holidays, etc) which is much longer than advertised on the website.
I haven't seen the finished product, since because of the whole deadline-change we had to ship it directly to my in-laws. However, they are very happy with the album, which they just received. They like the lay-flat pages and they said that it was good quality and shipped in good condition.
Overall, I think the product is a reason to order from Adoramapix. I wish, though, that they would handle the business end better by making sure their website is current and that they can deliver on deadlines. If I order in the future, I'll have to make sure to give myself more than enough lead time (i.e. Christmas shopping in October back like in my college days), which is something that I don't expect to do nowadays in the world of e-commerce.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/12/2010
So if you read my Yelp reviews, you know that J and I got married this year. What's a better… Read more »
-
-
Review from Angelica R.
Brooklyn, NY
11/7/2011
Great store with affordable prices. Andre was a great help to me. If it wasnt for him i would have bought something that wouldnt suit my photo needs. I am overly satisfied with the product I bought. I bought the Vivitar 285hv flash and the Nikon 50mm 1.8g lens( which was way out of what I expected to buy being that I am a student and we are cheap). But i am so happy with my purchase and my clients are happy with the outcome of my photos. Also adorama surprised me with an email for a free photo book offer which I cant wait to create. Compared to other camera stores, they are cheaper and they may be smaller but they are closer to home. Andre was patient enough to answer all my photography questions and treated me as a person rather like a number. I will be making numerous more visits in the near future. Thanks Adorama for everything.
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 11/7/2011
I'm delighted to read yet another fabulous review for Andre… More » -
Review from Chad K.
Brooklyn, NY
4/15/2011
As a frequent user of their rental service, I never had issues with the rental process and the equipment is always in great shape. Today was my first negative experience and it had to do with their customer service.
I recently rented a Canon HV40 and Nikon lens to use for the next two weeks (spring special). After getting home and doing a quick test shoot, I was severely disappointed with the video quality of the Canon camera and brought it back the next day (before 9:30).
I told the manager that I was disappointed and if there was anything that can be done. He stated that I would still have to pay the $50 daily rental fee because I kept the product over night, even though it was used for a total of five minutes.
Considering all the business they have recieved from me in the past - it's frustrating to think they wouldn't at least try to make things right for a longtime customer.Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 4/24/2011
Chad I was concerned when I read your posting, so checked… More » -
Review from John M.
12/18/2010
Reasonable Photo Store
Adorama is a no-frills, stop in for your supplies, and go store. I have used them in person and online. Both work reasonably well. Like B&H, this is a store where you need to go to the specific department if you don't know exactly what you need. While that takes a little more time, Adorama isn't the circus that B&H is!
I was able to get my items and go, which worked out fine. Between the two photo stores, I would recommend Adorama easily over B&H, unless B&H is the only place to get what you need.Listed in: New York City
Comment from Helen O. of Adorama 12/19/2010
Thanks, John, for your recommendation for shopping at the… More »
