Never Trust User Ratings
(Banner image from 47st Photo)
The problem with being a photo enthusiast is that it’s hard to get the equipment you need. There aren’t that many large camera stores, and if there are, they usually don’t carry a wide selection, or they markup the prices significantly (and photo equipment is in my opinion, already unaffordable). So that leaves just one option – online shopping.
And with online stores carrying identical products at competitive prices, it’s hard to know who to purchase from, so the easiest thing to turn to for reference are unbiased, user reviews and ratings.
Well, never trust user ratings. Here’s why.
My boyfriend, Mike, bought camera accessories from a third party seller, 47st Photo, on Amazon.com. He ordered it a while ago, and didn’t receive it until much later, so he rated the seller with 3 out of 5 stars and posted a semi-negative review.
Mike:
“I got what I ordered as I ordered it, but after a very long wait–almost 3 weeks late. I would order again, but only if I knew I didn’t need what I ordered for at least a month.”
Somehow, the seller saw the post, traced the phone number to the username, and called him. He apologized for the delay, and offered him a shipping fee refund. Literally seconds after Mike hung up the phone, he received an email from them:
47st Photo:
“We thank you for giving us the opportunity to correct the negative experience you had with our company. We hope the matter has been resolved to your complete satisfaction. If there are no further issues we would sincerely appreciate it if you could see your way clear to removing the negative feedback. Feedback removal instructions are as follows…”
After deleting his review, Mike received this response.
47st Photo:
We are writing to confirm that we have processed your refund in the amount of $5.54 for your Order #xxx-xxxxxxx-xxxxxxx from 47th Street Photo.
UNBELIEVABLE!
I was outraged. How dare a company try to bribe users with their low prices, provide bad service, and then give the user an offer in order to change a negative review?! Mike ended up removing his review, so that’s why I’m here now writing about it. Scumbags.
And this isn’t to say that Mike is gullible - I too, almost bought a lens from this exact website until I found what I needed elsewhere, and my co-worker almost did before he found user feedback on other sites that talked about 47st’s censored user reviews, and going through the exact process Mike went through.
Their “excellent” user reviews on Amazon.com »
Negative reviews on Google »
- Try to purchase from a large website such as Amazon.com (not including their third party merchants), Macys.com, etc. Or, go with a smaller seller that a friend recommends, and has received good service. My friend Gerard is a photographer, and will only buy camera equipment from one of three major sources: Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or Adorama. I’m definitely sticking to that!
- Don’t buy from online stores with multiple storefronts. I just bought a watch, and considered purchasing it from Kenmar Watches, until I found an almost identical site, under a different URL and name. Think it’s not obvious? Compare the actual product pages: This is the Kenmar Watches product page, and this is the WatchWear product page. They even have the same product number! (And yes, that’s my new watch)
- Check the manufacture’s site for the actual selling price, and don’t purchase a product with a price that is ridiculously lower. Something fishy has to be going on. Why would a brand new product only be half the price as all the other stores?
- Be careful of third party sellers. Many smaller sellers will try to sell under a bigger name, such as Amazon.com. Do your research first - check on their background, visit their website, and most importantly, read their policies. From Amazon.com: “If the item to be returned was not sold by Amazon.com, you will need to contact the seller directly or follow the specific Amazon Merchant’s return instructions found in the order summary of Your Account.”
Does anyone else have other tips for online shopping? Please do share.
Update: 30 minutes after posting the above
Oh my goodness. Take a look at the first comment on this entry, from someone named Jeff. You can’t see it here, but the email notification I received about the comment includes Jeff’s email and full name. Doing a google search on this mysterious commenter, the first few links showed that he is the registered owner of the domain name www.kenmarwatches.com. (see second bullet point in the “Tips” section above if you’re skimming this article).
oh my goodness.
Is he worried? Maybe.
Categories: Curiosities, Photography, Reviews customer service, e-commerce, online purchasing 
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What is the difference if a website has two names? I bought from KENMAR WATCHES and received my watch in 2 days. I did ask KENMAR if WATCHWEAR is owned by them, and they said yes. I asked why? The salesperson said to test advertising and methods to offer product. Many retail stores have multiple names. Also 3rd party sellers are okay. KENMAR is on AMAZON and has a 97% positive feedback. Yes I agree one should check out the seller. Smaller sellers are good. Size of the dealer is important, but some of the biggest retail stores, are impossible to find a real person.
Too much Mana Energy Potion can be a bad thing.
Thank you so much for the recommendation for Adorama - but if you ever have a query or concern regarding an order from Adorama Camera - or AdoramaPix - please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.
Sincerely
Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
helen.oster@adoramacamera.com
http://www.adoramacamera.com
Paula! That was a great posting. Really helped me out. It’s hard to know who to buy from so any tips are great. Just be careful. There are some crazies out there who will do anything to save their reputation. So Mike better get a bigger knife to protect you :)
Hope to see ya soon!
@Helen Oster
No problem, Helen! Good customer service is even more important nowadays.
@“DeepThroat”
“DeepThroat”?! Oh my goodness, Gita. I’m glad you found this useful…hopefully other people do too.
I just want to add to the mess and this wonderfully written post. Just like many people now-a-days, I look deeply on people’s reviews and thoughts on where to buy anything online in addition to my years of experience in running to fraudulent sellers and amazing sellers. Though many of the reviews we find out there are fake. Today, I have finally narrowed down to who I trust and where to buy from, but still not to be closed minded to the new online shops out there. To look for reviews and validate them, look at other review site such as forums, stores, to see how they are compared.
For instance, I am guilty from buying a couple of cheaper things online, but only after doing my research. I find that flickr, fredmiranda, etc. other forum sites are the best place to find true and rich answers from people that actually have made purchases and/or encountered their customer’s service. Getting consensus if not almost perfect suggestions.
Photography is a very very expensive hobby and/or profession and people always want to know where is the best deal with the best customer service. I have found that: B&H, Adorama, Amazon {by Amazon or by highly rated sellers only..besides the having two website companies…which I’ll add more to} are the ideal places to buy from. eBay is a toss up because many of them are from overseas and just hard to deal with when things goes wrong.
Moreover on online shops such as 47th St. OMG, I am not the only one to ask why would they need 2/TWO SITES? 2? 2? If you’re successful why would you need to separate yourself from another company name/brand? As a company, you brand yourself through you quality and services. People will trust you, but how can people trust you if you have to companies: 1 is doing bad and one is doing the opposite? Again to reference Adorama and B&Hphoto, do you see them having two sites?
Moreover #2, how can you simply compare huge price differences between a company such as 47th St. to Adorama and B&Hphoto, where there would be $400-1,000 cheaper at 47th St.? Isn’t that a bit suspect? Too good to be true. Well it is. But if you’re one of those people that likes to find the hard way, go try and buy one from them and you will end up either getting: “We apologize but the item is currently backordered, or they try to offer you something different with warranties, etc.”
Being tooo cheaps sets up to lots of trouble. Adorama, Amazon and B&Hphoto are way cheaper than local stores already.
-Cheers
Wow…Gerard is definitely the pro when it comes to buying online! Thanks a lot for the input.
I wouldn’t say “never” trust user ratings, but to take it with a grain of salt….
@HKT
I completely agree.