Adorama packaging

It looks like I've placed my last order with Adorama.

I've had issues with them before... an order sat in pending status forever (it's actually still there) and the morons on the help line can only read from a script.
Had an issue with the shipping department on their use of FedEx...

But the packages have always been overpacked. Large box, good, inflated protection... I never had a concern that a package would arrive damaged.

No more.

I placed an order for a number of items. It was split into 3 shipments.
My tripod carrying strap was the first to arrive.
It was in a foam-padded envelope... with no easy way to open it.
This envelope was literally two pieces of adhesive-backed plastic backed with foam, stuck to the item, with the air sucked out.
I took a pair of scissors and cut the side off... it did not open.
I cut an end off... it did not open.

I ended up having to hold the package up to light and cut as closely as I could to the item, then get 2 fingers in and spread it apart. My wife would not have been able to open it.

Today, I got the bulk of the shipment. This was in a basic bubble-pack envelope.
I opened it up and found the Photoshop box crushed. Okay, no biggie if the disk is in good shape.
I opened the Nikon battery (box also crushed) and found the safety cap badly damaged... still usable, but crushed. The battery is okay and took a charge.

Opened my screen protector... $40 item... it's shattered.

I'm done with them. I went back to them after they had a better package on the D7100 than B&H (same price, but the Adorama bundle was better for my needs).

I'll be requesting a refund on the screen protector and ordering the replacement from B&H.

 

I was so very sorry to read that this was your experience; from the description and images posted I absolutely understand why you are unhappy - in your position I am sure I would be feeling the same way.
I have already advised the Distribution Manager of the issue, and we would welcome the opportunity to address this - but cannot identify your order without additional information.

Could you please email me directly: Helen@adorama.com, with your order number, and I will give this my immediate attention. Once again my deepest apologies, and I very much look forward to hearing from you.

 

I sent a contact message referencing the order number through the web site about 9 or 10 hours ago.

 

That will have gone to the call center and may not be responded to for 48 hours. If you email me directly.....

 

Doesn't matter. I'm just going to request a refund on the screen protector.
I can live with the software box and the battery cap.
I've already ordered a replacement screen protector from B&H.
I'm going on vacation in a couple of weeks and needed to get that rolling ASAP.
It doesn't matter if the refund takes 48 hours or 48 days.

 

Fair enough, but I would like to clarify: we are shipping on average 5-8,000 orders per day. Most will be packed by guys in the warehouse with a lot of experience, others by guys with less - and it can happen that we have someone on the team who needs additional support to do a good job.
If I have your order number we can ID that packer and help him to do better in the future.
I can also compensate you for your trouble.

 

Order #A2014050318474522621
The part of the order that shipped UPS... but as I mentioned, the tripod strap that shipped USPS earlier was also packaged in a way that I have never seen before, and was extremely difficult to open.