So the other day I wrote that after reading a bunch of posts at Strobist I was buying up Photography Lighting Equipment. I wanted to order through the Strobist affiliate links, plus it was convenient to order all from the same place. Only it wasn’t so convenient.
It seems if you are outside USA they assume you are using a stolen card until you can prove otherwise by faxing both sides of your credit card (fair enough, they already had me type out the info) and my credit card statement (!). Um, no, not going to do that.
On the flickr group people assert this is standard practice (uh, no, never had to do that before) and it’s for both parties protection (maybe, but still not going to do it).
One of my credit cards is purely online, I don’t get a printed statement. What would they have me do in that case, print off the web page and fax that. Hyeah. Really secure. Plus how many times have you seen consumer report tv programs where they go through some bins and have everything they need to order a ton of junk, including as it happens fresh credit cards.
Sorry, there are some hoops even this trained monkey will not jump through.
Problem is, karma being what it is, I will probably find down the road I absolutely have to order something from these jokers.
Update: Heh, the stuff arrived this morning. So despite A) they said they wouldn’t and B) I asked for the order cancelling, it all arrived. I could have saved myself all the hassle of sourcing different suppliers, paying customs import duty, extra delivery. Lesson learned, patience first, rant later. Thanks Adorama and my apologies.
Technorati Tags: adorama, can, kiss, my, butt, sorry, strobist
5 Comments
Cool, the only item I couldn’t find elsewhere was the adorama swivel thingy, I *hope* the alternative I found is similar enough ..
The real shame is with international postage from various places it is no longer in “starving student” price range ;O)
I dont blame you either.
Chris-
I totally agree. I think that is excessive, and it is prompting me to look for alternatives.
Hi Chris,
Came to your site thorugh strobist, must say I am really enjoying the tete a tete that you two are having. I suspect it is doing you both the world of good in terms of hits, it is great that there is some seriousness involved but not too much that either of you are upsetting one another, and you both seem game for a laugh and prepared to accept each others challenges/criticisms. Anyway reason for responding to blog is this. i ordered from adorama recently (I am UK based). I saw their info regarding sending credit card details and thought no way jose. Thing is, they never asked me for those details, order was processed, sent and recieved in a very quick time, and no-one ever asked (other than that inital request) for CC details. maybe it is just there to put off the fraudsters. As for me, they gave a fine service and I will use them again. Hope this helps.
Dan
That’s the funny thing, I even replied with a “no way jose” along with a “please cancel the order” but now it seems it has been dispatched anyway. If/when it arrives I will update the post accordingly … I might have some duplicate bits to go on ebay also ;O)