Well, first time buyer from adorama. Loved that it works with paypal, competitive prices, easy search & ordering, backordered items shipped within 10 days. BUT, and this is the one thing that came out of nowhere and is really offputting to me at this point. Of course, I'll call them tomorrow, but chances are that I am also a last time buyer from adorama. Duh.

Story is: like many of us, I can't sit at home and wait 9-5 or even 10-2 to wait for the order to arrive. I work, my husband works, many of us have full-time jobs, yes. USUALLY, I just call usps or ups or whatever shipping company and tell them that I"ll pick the order from the facility after 5. But not with Adorama. With them, you HAVE to be at home to sign for the package, and you cannot pick it up from the facility. You know what, in my book, that's just terrible. So, now, I know that I will not be at home for the re-deliveries, and I know that the order will be shipped back... and I am pissed. And what's worse is that nowhere on the checkout page is there an explanation of this. I had to go to FAQ about shipping to verify that this is indeed their policy. Will call them tomorrow, but I don't think there's anything that can be done. Bummer. Lesson learned. Could've ordered from amazon for a few bucks more, gotten it faster (no backorder), and no hassle picking up from the facility after work.

Sorry, just a bit of ranting (with a bit of warning to potential adorama customers). Feel better now.... a little.

I usually have it sent to work. Just a thought.

Yeah, good idea!!... which didn't even occur to me! as this is the first time I'm running into this problem.

Think twice before giving up on them!

Adroma and B&H are the two most honest and reliable camera dealers in the USA. I have bought from both of them many times. Amazon once and once burned I will never buy from them again.

Now that you know the shipping requirements, work with them on a shipping address that will have someone home to sign for the delivery.

The requirements are for your (and their) protection against fraud.

My 2 cents.

-Larry

Well, I agree, adorama and bh are leaders. Unfortunately, they do not make their shipping policy explicit at checkout, as I said. Had they made it clear, I would have definitely made all the necessary adjustments. And, two, I don't see how one picking up her/his own package from a UPS facility with a tracking/order number can be fraudulent.

Helen, wow, thanks! Very reassuring to know that there is an adorama representative checking in with these threads. You have restored my faith in people adorama. I am sending you an email!

Just an update on my shipment - happy ending thanks to Helen and the Adorama crew.

Emailed Helen in the morning (by 8am); at 9.30 an Adorama representative called me to confirm that I wanted to pick up a shipment at the facility; by 1pm received a confirmation email from Adorama saying that an "incercept" request was filed with the UPS and we could pick up the package at our local ups office, which we did after a phone exchange with a UPS rep (I needed to have my husband pick up the order, not me - and it worked out fine, all he had to do was show his driver's license with the shipment address & a delivery slip).

Thanks, Adorama. Everything was done very fast, professionally and efficiently, solid customer service.

Helen, is this a fairly new policy? 

I have received things from Adorama a number of times without having to physically sign for them.

Is it only items over a certain price range? 

To be honest this would deter me from ordering from Adorama in the future.  I work from home most days, but from my office in the back I don't always hear the knock at the door.

It is, indeed; you will find that all the bigger companies are now taking this precaution due to repeated fraudulent activity. However, as you can see in this thread, it really is very simple to deal with - just drop me an email!

Sincerely

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador

[email protected]
www.adorama.com