.com!nntphub.cb.att.com!bigtop!catamnts!blondin
Subject:  Photographic Mail Order Survey
Nntp-Posting-Host: catamnts
Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 17:52:37 GMT

       Photographic Equipment/Video Mail Order Company Survey
 
           When Generated: Sat Mar  2 10:50:58 MST 1996


 
I. INTRODUCTION

        Here is the latest version of the Photographic Equipment/Video
        Mail Order Survey.  The article consists of 5 sections:

                I.   Introduction - this section
                II.  Explanation of the Chart
                III. Chart of overall experiences,
                           last few months and past year's numbers also shown
                IV.  Tips for shopping from mail order firms
                V.   The experiences received since the last posting

..NB: If providing input, please read section below on "NEW EXPERIENCES".

        NEW SURVEY FORMAT -- Long-time readers of this survey will find
        some changes with this posting of the survey.  I've attempted to
        maintain the information all have found useful over the years while
        adding some new, hopefully useful information.  Comments on ths
        new format are most welcome.

        DISCLAIMER:  The figures presented here represent neither an
        endorsement or a condemnation of any particular company.  Rather,
        this table is simply a compilation of experiences sent in by various
        netnews readers.  Experiences are personal experiences and are NOT
        related to the company of the editor nor of any company of a person
        who is relating an experience. Also, this is a non-scientific survey,
        the chart may not reflect the reality of experiences for any given
        company.  Your actual ordering experience may differ, and companies
        may change over time.

        USE OF THE SURVEY:  This survey is maintained for the readers of
        netnews to aid them in choosing a company from which to order
        equipment.  Companies may also use the survey to see what some
        customers are saying about their company (or competitors).  Any other
        use of the survey, such as in advertising, is strictly prohibited.
        Questions about possible use of the survey should be directed to the
        editor.


        POSTING, REQUESTS, MAILING LISTS:  This survey is posted once a
        month, around the beginning of the month, to rec.photo.misc and 
..rec.video.  Please look for the survey there, at those times (and 
..save a copy).  I've found that posting the survey is a good stimulus 
..to people to send in their input.  I believe that once a month is 
..frequent enough.  I get many requests for a copy of the survey.  
..First, it's hard to respond to all requests.  Second, I'm naive in 
..use of the mailer and often get my reply "bounced" back to me.  
..Finally, I get many requests to be "put on the mailing list".  
..There is NOT a mailing list for the survey.  You receive it by reading 
..the rec.photo.misc and/or rec.video newsgroups.

        UPDATES/NEW EXPERIENCES/OTHER INPUT:  Your easiest method is to
        send your experiences at the e-mail address listed below.  I have
        also listed my US-MAIL address and phone number.  Finally, if
        a posting to rec.photo.misc (I do NOT read rec.video) is listed as
        "PHOTOGRAPHIC MAIL ORDER SURVEY INPUT", I will take it off the net
        and add to the survey.  The preferred method is direct e-mail.
        As netnews items expire, I cannot guarantee that I will find all
        postings to the net -- due to vacations, business trips et al.

        When sending input, please make sure that your message contains
        the following information:

                - company name :: be careful in spelling et al; I don't
                  know all companies, so may mistake a misspelling for
                  a new company name
                - categorization of experience (no problem, minor problem,
                   major problem, avoid) :: I can't read minds and do not
                  like to try to infer from your other words;  submittals
                  that do NOT contain a categorization run the likely fate
                  of being unceremoniously left out of the survey
                - timeliness of input :: if your experience is not a recent
                  one, please given an indication of the timeframe;  as you
                  can see in the survey below, I'm trying to maintain a
                  time element to the survey

        Unless otherwise noted in your input, the text of your experience
        will be including in next month's posting.  As editor, I reserve
        the right to edit for clarity, spelling, formatting et al.

        RATINGS BY MAGAZINES:  Some magazines have added ratings and
        disclaimers to assure the reader that ordering from those
        companies will be trouble-free (e.g., Popular Photography's
        "Check Rating").  While these magazines may be honest in their
        concern for the consumer (and I strongly encourage you to inform
        magazines if you have problems with "certified" companies),
        you should also realize that the magazines depend on the
        companies for ad revenue.  Some readers of this survey have
        also noted that some "certified" companies have repeatedly
        been low-rated by this survey.   Maybe this survey is out of
        whack with reality, consumers are not informing the magazines,
        or the complaints do not constitute enough to remove the rating.

        SURVEYS IN GENERAL: The consumer must take all input (magazine
        ratings, this survey, other surveys, friend's advice, ...) and
        put whatever faith in them that they will. Companies may change
        over time (both for better and worse), and different people/magazines
        may have different standards.  In the final analysis, you must
        make the decision and you're likely to have a unique experience
        from anyone else.

        KEEPER of the SURVEY:

                Douglas Blondin          11900 N. Pecos St.  Rm. 30H16
                                         Denver, Colorado  80234
                blondin@drmail.att.com
                (303) 538-4874

.

                II.  Explanation of the Chart

                SAMPLE ENTRY -- a sample entry might look like

  | 7/4/1993                    800-555-1234 |       |       |       |  [ 1] |
  |                             303-555-9876 |       |  { 3} |  { 1} |  { 2} |
  | ABC Photographic & Video Supply Store    |    4  |    5  |    1  |    4  |
  |------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|

      The date, here 7/4/1992, indicates the latest date that I received
      an experience for this company (no date indicates no data received
      since I took over the survey).

      The 2 phone numbers are, hopefully, the 2 most useful numbers to this
      company -- a 800 order line (if available) and an information number.

      Numbers in the ratings in []'s are the number of experiences reported
      over the past few months.  Numbers in {}'s are for the past year.
      If there are no numbers show, this company did not receive any
      reports over those time periods.

      The numbers on the line with the company's name are the total of
      all experiences received since this survey has been kept.

      Experiences:     The numerical summary of experiences reported
                       by readers.  They are split into 4 categories:

          No problems:   Got what you ordered, in reasonable time,
                         at expected price, no unpleasant surprises.

          Minor hassles: Minor delays, unpleasant saleperson, hard to
                         get through to toll free line; probably not
                         enough to keep you from ordering from them again.

          Major hassles: Major problems occurred, but you were satisfied
                         enough with with the way they were resolved that
                         you might consider ordering from them again when
                         you cool off.

          Avoid:         Major problems occurred that either were not
                         satisfactorily corrected or that you feel were
                         significant enough to begin with that you
                         wouldn't consider ordering from them again
                         under any circumstances.


.
              III.  Overall Chart of Experiences

        Data this chart generated: Sat Mar  2 10:50:58 MST 1996

        Numbers in []'s cover the period (12/1/1995 - 2/29/1996)

        Numbers in {}'s cover the period (3/1/1995 - 2/29/1996)



|                                          |  NO   | MINOR | MAJOR |       |
| COMPANY                                  |Problem|Problem|Problem| AVOID |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/1/1994                    800-234-4747 |       |       |       |       |
|                             718-722-4750 |       |       |       |       |
| 47th Street                              |   28  |   11  |    6  |    3  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/21/1992                   800-394-6283 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| 6th Ave Electronic City                  |    0  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/3/1991                    713-486-8866 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| A/V Distributors                         |    0  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/18/1996                   800-221-9521 |       |       |       |  [ 2] |
|                             212-242-5800 |       |       |       |  { 2} |
| AAA                                      |    2  |    1  |    2  |    9  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/31/1996                                |  [ 2] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 3} |       |       |       |
| Abbey                                    |    3  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/1/1995                    800-227-0400 |       |       |       |       |
|                             800-992-2379 |       |  { 1} |       |  { 1} |
| Abe's Camera & Electronics of Maine      |    2  |    8  |    6  |    9  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/31/1996                   800-223-2500 |       |       |       |  [ 1] |
|                             212-741-0052 |  { 5} |  { 3} |       |  { 3} |
| Adorama                                  |  109  |   38  |    7  |    7  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/2/1991                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Aero-Comm Photo Supply                   |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/22/1995                                |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |  { 1} |
| American Audio                           |    0  |    0  |    0  |    2  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/24/1996                                |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Audio Advisor                            |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/24/1996                                |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Audio Odyssey                            |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/5/1996                    800-947-9940 |  [ 6] |  [ 1] |       |  [ 1] |
|                             212-444-6640 |  {25} |  { 3} |  { 1} |  { 3} |
| B&H                                      |  268  |   47  |   15  |    5  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/2/1994                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| B&S Camera Repair Inc                    |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/4/1988                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Battery Park                             |    0  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/28/1995                   800-634-1811 |       |       |       |       |
|                             908-424-1101 |  { 1} |       |       |  { 1} |
| Beach Camera of Maine                    |    4  |    2  |    2  |    6  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 6/1/1994                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Bergen County Camera                     |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 2/26/1994                   317-742-0297 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Berry's Camera Shop                      |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 11/2/1994                   800-223-1970 |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-685-2130 |       |       |       |       |
| Bi-Rite                                  |   12  |    2  |    1  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 7/30/1995                                |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Brooklyn Camera Exchange                 |   17  |    1  |    1  |    2  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 5/2/1989                    800-847-4039 |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-695-4158 |       |       |       |       |
| Brothers                                 |    1  |    1  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 2/27/1996                   800-896-2626 |       |       |       |  [ 1] |
|                                          |       |       |       |  { 2} |
| CCI Camera City                          |    0  |    0  |    0  |    2  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/22/1996                    800-CALUMET |  [ 2] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 5} |  { 1} |       |       |
| Calumet                                  |   52  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 5/1/1995                    800-221-2253 |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-675-8600 |       |       |  { 1} |  { 2} |
| Cambridge                                |    2  |    1  |    6  |   23  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 10/18/1990                               |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Camcorder Land (Okla)                    |    0  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 3/1/1994                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Camera Care (Philadephia, PA)            |    0  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 7/5/1995                    800-881-8718 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Camera Club                              |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 11/1/1994                                |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Camera One - Sarasota, FL                |    6  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 10/14/1995                  800-477-0022 |       |       |       |       |
|                             215-889-7358 |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Camera Sound of Pennsylvania             |    2  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 7/2/1995                    718-336-6667 |       |       |       |       |
|                             718-998-4819 |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Camera Traders                           |    2  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 7/24/1989                                |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Camera World of Charlotte, NC            |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/23/1996                   800-222-1557 |  [11] |  [ 1] |       |       |
|                             503-222-7070 |  {34} |  { 1} |       |       |
| Camera World of Oregon                   |  255  |   26  |    6  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/16/1993                   516-691-1190 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Cameta's                                 |    3  |    0  |    1  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/2/1991                    312-427-5580 |       |       |       |       |
|                             312-427-1898 |       |       |       |       |
| Central Camera (Chicago)                 |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Chambless Productions                    |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 7/6/1995                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Charlotte Camera Brokers                 |    4  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/17/1995                   800-788-5555 |       |       |       |       |
|                             718-265-6800 |       |       |       |  { 1} |
| Coast to Coast                           |    0  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 2/27/1995                   800-423-8277 |       |       |       |       |
|                             713-486-8866 |       |       |       |       |
| Colonel Video & Audio - Houston          |    6  |    1  |    1  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/4/1990                    614-267-0686 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Columbus Camera Group                    |    7  |    2  |    1  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/19/1996                   800-558-0003 |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                             414-357-8181 |  { 2} |       |       |       |
| Computability                            |   34  |    2  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/11/1993                   800-955-3000 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Crutchfield                              |    6  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 3/1/1994                    608-838-4769 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| DAG Camera Repair                        |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 11/1/1990                   800-327-4728 |       |       |       |       |
|                             800-327-2345 |       |       |       |       |
| DBS Satellite Television                 |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/23/1996                   805-962-7557 |       |  [ 1] |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |  { 1} |       |       |
| Del's Photo                              |   15  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/17/1990                   800-526-6633 |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-719-3174 |       |       |       |       |
| Direct Camera Warehouse                  |    0  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 9/17/1990                   800-766-6710 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Ecca                                     |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 12/16/1995                  800-323-2325 |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                             516-759-1611 |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Electronic Mailbox                       |    4  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 10/11/1991                               |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Electronic Wholesalers                   |    3  |    0  |    0  |    2  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 3/9/1995                    800-223-7323 |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-947-5290 |  { 1} |       |       |  { 1} |
| Executive                                |   14  |    9  |    4  |    9  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 7/29/1994                                |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Express Video                            |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/23/1995                   800-335-7468 |       |       |       |       |
|                            800-405-PHOTO |       |       |       |  { 2} |
| Family Photo & Video                     |    0  |    0  |    0  |    2  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 7/12/1995                   800-221-0828 |       |       |       |       |
|                             718-436-6262 |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Focus Camera & Video (Honest Abe's)      |   27  |   11  |    3  |    7  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/18/1994                                |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Four Designs                             |    0  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/1/1988                    800-421-8230 |       |       |       |       |
|                             213-255-0123 |       |       |       |       |
| Frank's Highland Park                    |    3  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/31/1996                   800-292-6137 |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                             213-660-3460 |  { 1} |  { 1} |       |       |
| Freestyle                                |    8  |    2  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 10/18/1992                  800-551-2363 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| G&S Photo & Electronics Inc              |    1  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/22/1996                   800-569-4100 |       |       |       |  [ 1] |
|                             201-742-5777 |       |       |       |  { 2} |
| Garden State Camera                      |   13  |    3  |    0  |    5  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 10/31/1995                  800-575-9977 |       |       |       |       |
|                             610-527-5803 |       |       |       |  { 1} |
| Genesis Video & Camera (Penn)            |    1  |    1  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/31/1995                   708-420-2951 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| George Ury Fine Photo Eq.                |    2  |    1  |    1  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 2/7/1994                     800-GIFTIME |       |       |       |       |
|                             201-886-7400 |       |       |       |       |
| Giftime Discount Center                  |    4  |    1  |    2  |    5  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 3/19/1992                                |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Gil Ghitelman                            |    3  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/5/1995                    800-420-5050 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Global                                   |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 7/31/1993                   800-367-4854 |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-243-2306 |       |       |       |       |
| Gould Trading                            |    3  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 7/7/1993                    800-621-6471 |       |       |       |       |
|                             312-421-6000 |       |       |       |       |
| HELIX (Chicago)                          |    6  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 3/6/1990                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Haven Electronics                        |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/10/1990                   800-638-3920 |       |       |       |       |
|                             301-488-9600 |       |       |       |       |
| International Electronic World           |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 10/27/1995                  800-221-8180 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| J&R's Music World in NYC                 |   27  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 3/19/1995                   908-493-0280 |       |       |       |       |
|                             908-493-0167 |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Jersey Camera                            |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/30/1995                   404-892-5522 |       |       |       |       |
|                             404-892-1251 |  { 4} |       |       |       |
| KEH Camera Brokers                       |   26  |    4  |    1  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/2/1991                    516-933-9790 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| KOH Camera Sales                         |    3  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/4/1994                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Ken-Mar Camera & Video                   |    0  |    0  |    1  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 9/29/1995                   800-626-5074 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Kirk Enterprises                         |    3  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Labelle (= La-Mere?)                     |    3  |    2  |    0  |    2  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 2/18/1995                   605-588-9090 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |  { 1} |       |       |
| Le Camera                                |    1  |    1  |    1  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 7/8/1988                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| LeBaron                                  |    0  |    0  |    0  |    2  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 9/5/1992                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Lens & Repro Equipment Corp              |    0  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/2/1994                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Lens Exchange (Saul Kaminsky)            |    2  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 10/18/1992                               |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Lewis & Clark                            |    0  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/31/1996                                |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 3} |       |       |       |
| Light Impressions                        |   18  |    2  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 11/3/1993                   213-467-7189 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Lloyd's Camera Exchange                  |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/2/1994                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| MKA/ICBM                                 |    0  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/13/1994                   800-331-5423 |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-247-7468 |       |       |       |       |
| Manhattan Video Wholesaler               |    0  |    0  |    0  |    2  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/27/1995                   800-448-8811 |       |       |       |  [ 1] |
|                             718-891-1844 |       |       |       |  { 2} |
| Marine Park Camera & Video               |    1  |    0  |    0  |    7  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 5/1/1994                    619-272-8820 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Micro-Tek Inc                            |    2  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 3/30/1995                   614-261-1264 |       |       |       |       |
|                             614-261-1637 |       |  { 1} |       |       |
| Midwest Photo                            |    4  |    2  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 11/2/1990                   516-437-5750 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Minox                                    |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/15/1995                                |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Mystic Color                             |    2  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/24/1989                   800-624-8107 |       |       |       |       |
|                             612-546-6831 |       |       |       |       |
| National Camera Exchange (Minn)          |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/24/1996                   800-488-8877 |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 5} |  { 1} |       |       |
| New West Electronics                     |   27  |    2  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 3/15/1989                   800-223-6119 |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-564-4398 |       |       |       |       |
| New York Camera                          |    0  |    2  |    1  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/16/1991                   800-456-9890 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Not Just Video                           |    2  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 6/7/1994                    800-223-1444 |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-725-1234 |       |       |       |       |
| Olden                                    |    5  |    3  |    0  |    3  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/6/1993                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Omni                                     |    0  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/24/1996                   800-ONE-KALL |  [ 4] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 9} |       |       |       |
| One Call West                            |   11  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/9/1990                    800-525-5014 |       |       |       |       |
|                             718-692-0829 |       |       |       |       |
| Palace                                   |    4  |    2  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 2/22/1995                   800-766-9653 |       |       |       |       |
|                             404-633-2699 |       |       |       |       |
| Peach State                              |    6  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 8/23/1995                   800-923-2022 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |  { 1} |       |       |
| Philly's Camera                          |    1  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/1/1994                    800-444-SAVE |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-868-9455 |       |       |       |       |
| Photron                                  |    1  |    2  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 11/10/1992                  800-542-8811 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Planet Video (Electronics)               |    3  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/26/1996                   800-553-2001 |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 2} |       |       |       |
| Porter's                                 |   23  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 5/3/1995                    800-877-2900 |       |       |       |       |
|                             713-240-3202 |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Power Video (Texas)                      |   12  |    5  |    1  |    2  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/10/1989                   800-541-4055 |       |       |       |       |
|                             516-741-5440 |       |       |       |       |
| Pro Video Distributors                   |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 11/10/1992                  800-736-6677 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Professional Video Warehouse             |    2  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 5/1/1994                    805-528-6321 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Really Right Stuff                       |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 2/28/1996                   310-837-2368 |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Reel 3D Enterprises                      |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/2/1994                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Russian Collectable Cameras              |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 6/1/1994                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Samy's Camera (LA)                       |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/24/1996                                |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Savant Audio                             |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 10/25/1994                  206-281-1390 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Seattle Filmworks                        |    2  |    0  |    0  |    2  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 10/10/1990                  800-543-3025 |       |       |       |       |
|                             218-739-5231 |       |       |       |       |
| Skyvision (MN)                           |    0  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/22/1996                   800-489-3677 |       |       |  [ 1] |  [ 1] |
|                             212-967-5900 |       |       |  { 3} |  { 2} |
| Smile Photo                              |    8  |    3  |    4  |   11  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Special Effects                          |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 2/24/1992                   800-289-5342 |       |       |       |       |
|                             203-789-0350 |       |       |       |       |
| Stan Tamarkin                            |    2  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 12/21/1992                               |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Stephen Stuart                           |    2  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 6/10/1993                                |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Studio Center Photographic               |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/24/1996                                |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Sunshine                                 |    2  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 11/19/1995                  800-332-2661 |       |       |       |       |
|                             718-692-4110 |       |       |       |  { 1} |
| Supreme Camera                           |    3  |    2  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 2/6/1990                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Tape City/G&G                            |    1  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 4/4/1994                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| The Tape Company (Chicago)               |    1  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 11/2/1995                   800-221-1926 |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-633-2290 |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Tri-State                                |    3  |    2  |    2  |    3  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 6/20/1994                   800-368-5020 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Video Direct                             |    2  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 3/3/1995                    800-215-9777 |       |       |       |       |
|                             703-938-1534 |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Vienna Camera                            |   22  |    0  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 6/7/1994                    617-662-6685 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| W.B. Hunt's                              |   14  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 7/8/1991                    800-221-4090 |       |       |       |       |
|                             212-344-0011 |       |       |       |       |
| Wall Street                              |    4  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/5/1995                                 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |       |       |       |
| Wiz                                      |    0  |    0  |    0  |    1  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 1/23/1996                   516-599-6013 |  [ 1] |       |       |       |
|                                          |  { 1} |       |       |       |
| Woodmere Camera                          |   13  |    1  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 3/31/1995                   802-257-5161 |       |       |       |       |
|                                          |       |  { 1} |       |       |
| Zone VI                                  |   12  |    4  |    0  |    0  |
|------------------------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
.

                IV.  Tips for shopping from mail order firms

    These are some general guidelines developed by readers over the years.
    As with any guideline, there are times when it is appropriate to "break"
    them.  However, as many survey users can attest, if you don't follow one
    of the following there is a good chance that you'll be sorry.

1.  ORDER BY CREDIT CARD ONLY.  Don't pay the credit card bill until you have
    received the goods in satisfactory condition.  To avoid interest charges,
    when you pay the rest of the credit card bill, include a note explaining
    the contested charge.

2.  ASK WHAT THE SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES WILL BE.  Most stores no longer
    just charge you the freight, but also include a sizable handling charge.

3.  ASK IF THE ITEM CARRIES A U.S. WARRANTY.  New York stores (but not others)
    now have to tell you whether what they are selling you carries a U.S.
    warranty.  Grey market material does not carry a U.S. warranty and is
    sold at a significantly lower price.  International warranties may be
    worthless, but you may not feel you need the warranty protection.  Some
    stores do not allow returns of grey market material.  If the material
    arrives damaged you must file an insurance claim.  The price advertized
    in photography magazines is frequently the grey market price.  And they
    may not have the grey market item in stock, but only the higher priced
    U.S. warranty item.  NOTE: May want to ask if it's a Manufactur's U.S.
    Warranty.

4.  DON'T AGREE TO BUY ANYTHING YOU HADN'T PLANNED TO BUY WHEN YOU CALLED.
    For example, often when buying a lens, the salesperson may try to
    get you to buy a filter.  Be sure you know what you're getting : there
    many different filters available, of varying quality and price.  You
    likely spent time determining the right lens, your filter is just as
    important.  Filters may be as cheap, or just a little more, at
    your local camera store.  As a general rule, don't buy anything solely
    on the phone salesman's recommendations.  Though there may be exceptions,
    most are not there to help you.

5.  WHEN ORDERING, ASK FOR THE NAME OF THE SALESPERSON.  Record this piece
    of information along with the time, date, and agreed upon sales price and
    merchandise.

6.  WHEN YOU GET YOUR EQUIPMENT, TEST IT IMMEDIATELY.  If it is defective, call
    the mail order company immediately and arrange for returning it.  See #1
    above.  Ask for a return authorization number and get the name of the
    person you talk to.  Most stores give you rather short period for
    returning defective equipment, so waste a roll of film and get it
    developed at a one day service place.

7.  ASK IF THE ITEM IS IN STOCK.  There appears, however, to be no reason to
    believe their answer.

8.  Call around and get the best price with the desired warranty, including
    shipping and handling.  Add 10 or 15 per cent for nuisance.  Then call
    around to your local stores and see if they can come close.  Very
    frequently they will.

9.  Low end items, like small autofocus cameras, are frequently just as cheap,
    if not cheaper when you consider the shipping and handling, in the local
    discount department stores.

10. IF YOU PAID FOR SHIPPING ALREADY, YOUR SHIPPING COMPANY SHOULDN'T CHARGE
    YOU ANYTHING FOR "EXTRA" SERVICE.  If you paid for shipping to your
    mail-order company, that mail order company should mail your goods to your
    house.  If you get a phone call from the local shipping company saying they
    need an extra "service fee", refuse to pay.  You can give the shipping
    company the phone number of the mail-order company so they can hash it out,
    or call the mail-order company directly and complain.  You already paid
    shipping.  Don't give any extra money to the shippers.

11. IF REORDERING, CONSIDERING ASKING FOR THE SAME SALESPERSON:  A few folks
    have noted that they receive better experience this way.  A salesperson's
    day is usually spent speaking to a bunch of anonymous folks.  If you
    notice a salesperson it probably would make them feel better and might
    get you that little extra service.

12. INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: In the past I (Rune Riisnaes) had some unpleasant
    experiences with international deliveries where the salesperson or
    shipping dept. get the address all wrong or can't figure out how to get
    a foreign address into their order entry system.  "What, no zip code?
    Must be wrong. Let's keep the package here until the customer asks for it,
    then get the right address..." Now, I always call and get a qoute, then
    fax the order.  That ensures my address is entered and spelled correctly.

.
                V.   The experiences received since the last posting

==============================================================================
=============================================================================
From att!leland.stanford.edu!gkf Mon Feb  5 19:47:53 1996
Return-Path: <att!leland.stanford.edu!gkf>
X-Sender: gkf@pobox1.stanford.edu
Message-Id: <v02130500ad3c3038abbb@[36.173.0.197]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 1996 15:23:00 -0700
Original-To: blondin@drmail.att.com
From: George Ferguson <gkf@leland.stanford.edu>
Subject: PHOTOGRAPHIC MAIL ORDER SURVEY INPUT

Hi Dound,

My Input:


 Camera World of Oregon                  NO Problem!

They were very prompt and helpful.

Are you still doing the survey?
If it's not too much, could you send me a copy-- Haven't seen it on the
newsgroups.  Otherwise, don't sweat it.

Thanks for a *great* service!  :)



Best,

George Ferguson          gkf@leland.stanford.edu

"Wisdom is counter-intuitive."
What part of "...shall not be infringed." don't you understand?
=============================================================================
From att!leland.stanford.edu!gkf Mon Feb  5 19:47:53 1996
Return-Path: <att!leland.stanford.edu!gkf>
X-Sender: gkf@pobox1.stanford.edu
Message-Id: <v02130500ad3c3038abbb@[36.173.0.197]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 1996 15:23:00 -0700
Original-To: blondin@drmail.att.com
From: George Ferguson <gkf@leland.stanford.edu>
Subject: PHOTOGRAPHIC MAIL ORDER SURVEY INPUT
Status: OR

Hi Doug,

My Input:


 Camera World of Oregon                  NO Problem!

They were very prompt and helpful.

Are you still doing the survey?
If it's not too much, could you send me a copy-- Haven't seen it on the
newsgroups.  Otherwise, don't sweat it.

Thanks for a *great* service!  :)



Best,

George Ferguson          gkf@leland.stanford.edu

"Wisdom is counter-intuitive."
What part of "...shall not be infringed." don't you understand?

=============================================================================


From ent.umass.edu!trickett@ig2.att.att.com Tue Feb 27 08:20:04 1996
Return-Path: <ent.umass.edu!trickett@ig2.att.att.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 10:18:38 -0500 (EST)
From: "Adam J. Trickett" <trickett@ent.umass.edu>
Subject: Mail order experience!
Original-To: blondin@drmail.att.com
Message-Id: <199602271518.KAA19652@asimov.oit.umass.edu>

Hello,

Brilliant list!

Here is my experience:

Smile Photo & Video NY (December 1995)

Item was advertised below actual price. And did not included a AC 
converter that sales person claimed (in fact it shouldn't, but he calimed 
it did)

Will not by from them again.Major PROBLEM


Camera World of Oregon (February 1996)

The responded to email, were friendly and polite on the phone. Messed up a
filter (in a long order), that's fixed at no cost to me. Order arrived
within two days. 

Will order from them again.Minor PROBLEM

 -- 

 Adam J Trickett      | Voice   +1 (413) 545-1037    | Insert your 
 Entomology UMass     | Fax     +1 (413) 545-2115    | silly phrase
 Amherst MA 01003 USA | email trickett@ent.umass.edu | or comment
 http://www.leeds.ac.uk/genetics/resear/butlin/      | here!

=============================================================================
From mtest.teradyne.com!slui@ig2.att.att.com Tue Feb 27 11:52:36 1996
Return-Path: <mtest.teradyne.com!slui@ig2.att.att.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 10:26:06 +0800
From: slui@mtest.teradyne.com (Sean lui)
Message-Id: <9602271826.AA17248@boris.mtest>
Original-To: blondin@drmail.att.com
Subject: PHOTOGRAPHIC MAIL ORDER SURVEY INPUT

Please add this to your survey!

Merchant: Camera City Inc. (in NY) 800-896-2626.
Category: AVOID
Date: Feb. 14, 96 - Date of order.

Boy, I wish I had read your FAQs before I picked up the phone and
called Camera City Inc. (in NY) 800-896-2626.

All I wanted was a Canon Rebel XS w/ quartz date and Canon's 35-80mm III
lenses. A guy named Jack answered the phone and quoted me a price $5
below the advertised price, which was the lowest of all ads already.
I said to myself (whow!) - The sales guy probably thought: sucker...

Well, when I mentioned the lens, he talked me into buying a Sigma lens, which
were heavier. He said they were sharper, etc. etc. etc. Then he sold
me te pkg w/ the USA warranty, but I had to buy the package w/ the tripod for
$399 (just $20 more, he said). After that were batteries, camera bag, filter,
sun shade, and shipping and handling ($25 for S&H!!!!).

I asked twice whether the items were in stock and he said YES, they
were going to be shipped today!

The total bill was $482 ($100 more than what I wanted to spend). I was
thinking about shopping some more but I was already late for work and
I wanted to get the stuff before my sister's birthday.

Well, 10 days later I call them (in the non-toll free number) and I found
out they haven't shipped the order because the camera was on back order.
I said the salesman told me the items was in stock! But the lady on the
other side of the line said that's what the computer said and she couldn't
do anything because her manager wasn't there. Whan I asked about the
return policy, they were not specific about the restocking fee either! Just
that there is one. At this point I wanted to cancel the order, her reply
was the items were shipped today! I had to wait 4-5 days to get them first.

Well, I don't know... I don't think I want to do do business with them anymore.
Plus, my sister's birthday is over.

I am thinking about refusing to receive the items, or send the merchandise
back without opening. I know I'll be down $40-$60, but I guess that's the
price you pay for trusting merchants out there... It's been 12 days since
I called them and placed the order (they charged my credit card on that
same day) I still don't have the camera, and I'm down $500 and lost
some sleep over it.

Would you have any suggestions on how can I minimize my losses?

Thanks!

Sean L. Lui - A profoundly upset mail order customer...

- 
S. Lui - Sr. Electrical Engineer - Power Systems
personal e-mail: slui@netcom.com

=============================================================================
From intuit.com!Adrian_McCarthy@ig1.att.att.com Wed Feb 28 16:11:25 1996
Return-Path: <intuit.com!Adrian_McCarthy@ig1.att.att.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 14:57:54 -0800
Message-Id: <134e0db0@intuit.com>
From: Adrian_McCarthy@intuit.com (Adrian McCarthy)
Subject: Photo supply survey
Original-To: blondin@drmail.att.com

     Company:   Reel 3D Enterprises  [yes, that's the spelling]
                (310) 837-2368
     Category:  No problem
     
     This is a specialty catalog for stereoscopic photography supplies.  
     Their catalog is filled with useful information about 3D photography 
     and sterescopic organizations as well as product information.
     
     I ordered an assortment of goodies a few months ago and received 
     everything promptly, at the expected price, and in good condition.  On 
     the phone they were very friendly, and they tend to throw in a goodie 
     with your order.  They were recommended to me by a friend who also had 
     no problems with them.
     
     Since most of their gear is specialized, it's hard to compare prices.  
     Nothing in the catalog seems out-of-line although I did find slightly 
     better prices elsewhere for projection screens.
     
     Standby for a report on Honest Abe's Focus Camera and Video.
     
     Adrian McCarthy

=============================================================================
From igor.caltech.edu!jcm@ig4.att.att.com Thu Feb 29 17:13:42 1996
Return-Path: <igor.caltech.edu!jcm@ig4.att.att.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 96 15:14:07 -0800
From: jcm@igor.caltech.edu (Jennifer Ma)
Message-Id: <9602292314.AA24191@igor.caltech.edu>
To: blondin@drmail.dr.att.com
Subject: Photographic mail order survey

Company:  B&H
Experience:  Minor problem
                          
Minor mix-up with the product I ordered and what they sent me. 
I had to mail the product back, and call them (phone busy most of
the time).  A little hassle, but not a bad experience

Jennifer Ma


=============================================================================
