From: blondin@druhi.ATT.COM (BlondinDJ)
Newsgroups: rec.photo,rec.video
Subject: Photographic Mail Order Survey
Date: 12 Sep 92 15:59:59 GMT
Distribution: rec


       Photographic Equipment/Video Mail Order Company Survey 

		     Posting : September 13, 1992

I. Introduction

	POSTING, REQUESTS: I get many requests for a copy of the mailing.
	I try to respond, but usually what happens is that the mailer
	bounces back my mail.  

	TIMELINESS OF ORDERS:  I'm working on revising the survey so
	we can get some sense of how a company might change over time.
	Thus, if your experiences are not recent (past couple months),
	please give a time so I can add it to the survey at the 
	appropriate date.

	CATEGORIZATION:  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE categorize your
	experience as one of no problems, minor hassles, major hassles
	or avoid.  I can make inferences, but some distinctions
	are subtle and need to be made by the person who had the
	experience.  I hate to be hard-nose about this, but I've gotten
	manys inputs lately that are borderline & have had to make a guess.
	If you don't classify it as one of the above, then I may "drop
	your input in ye ole bit bucket".  If you're having trouble
	deciding, at least give me a hint and what might lean you 
	which way.  Thanks, Doug.

	NAMES:  Please be careful when naming a place.  I don't know all 
	places and sometimes may split places up when they are actually one.  
	Try using the name as it appears in ads.

	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 summarizing the ordering experiences
		IV.  Tips for shopping from mail order firms
		V.   The experiences received since the last posting

	POSTING: I post this survey around the first of each month
	to rec.photo and rec.video.  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.

	UPDATES/NEW EXPERIENCES/INPUT: If you have new experiences
	to report, and updates to the list (phone #'s) or have other
	input or questions on the survey, please e-mail them to me
	at att!druhi!blondin.  If you have trouble e-mailing me,
	then you can post to rec.photo and, if appropriately marked
	in the subject line, I will pull them off.  Note: that I
	do NOT read rec.video.  [My phone number and US Mail addresses
	are also listed below.]  When sending an experience, please
	make it clear which of the 4 categories it falls into.

	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 the magazines may be honest in their
	concern for the consumer (and I would 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.  

	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.

	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.  Your actual ordering
        experience may differ, and companies may change over time.

	KEEPER of the SURVEY:

		Douglas Blondin          11900 N. Pecos St.
		att!druhi!blondin        Denver, Colorado  80234
		(303) 538-4874



		II.  Explanation of the Chart

	Name:            Name of the mail order company.

	Last Info Date:  This is the date that I last received an 
			 "experience" on that particular company.  
			 I hope it helps users of this chart by giving 
			 some timeframe to the experiences.  In addition, 
	Numbers in []'s: After a number for a given column, you may see
			 a number in []'s.  That is the number of responses
			 received in that column for that company since
			 the last posting.  [NOTE: this replaces the 
			 old asterik (*) that just marked the last response]
	Phone Number:    Up to 2 phone numbers are displayed:
			 the 800 number (may not apply to instate orders)
			 and the general toll information/order number.
			 Consult the ads for other phone numbers (I have
			 limited space to list numbers).

	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. Chart summarizing the ordering experiences


               |  Last  |              |           Experience was:             |
Name of Mail   |  Info  |   Phone      |    NO    | Minor   |   Major |        |
Order Company  |  Date  |   Number     | problems | hassles | hassles | Avoid  |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-221-7774 |          |         |         |        |
47th Street    | 7/24/92| 212-398-1410 |   27     |    9    |    6    |   3    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
6th Ave        |        | 800-394-6283 |          |         |         |        |
Electronic City| 8/21/92|              |    0     |    0    |    0    |   1 [1]|
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-221-9521 |          |         |         |        |
AAA            |12/12/91| 212-242-5800 |    2     |    1    |    2    |   4    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-227-0400 |          |         |         |        |
Abe's (Maine)  |11/18/91| 718-645-0900 |    2     |    4    |    2    |   2    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-223-2500 |          |         |         |        |
Adorama        | 7/12/92| 212-741-0052 |   73     |   22    |    5    |   2    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Aero-Comm      |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Photo Supply   | 4/ 2/91|              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
American Audio | 8/13/92|              |    0     |    0    |    0    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
A/V            |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Distributors   | 4/ 3/91| 713-486-8866 |    0     |    0    |    0    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-221-5662 |          |         |         |        |
B&H            | 8/28/92| 212-807-7474 |  140 [3] |   24    |   10    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Battery Park   | 8/ 4/88|              |    0     |    0    |    0    |   1*   |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Beache's       |        |              |          |         |         |        |
of Maine       | 7/ 7/92|              |    3     |    1    |    1    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-223-1970 |          |         |         |        |
Bi-Rite        | 8/19/92| 212-685-2130 |   10     |    1 [1]|    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Brooklyn Camera|        |              |          |         |         |        |
Exchange       | 8/12/92|              |   11 [2] |    1    |    0    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-847-4039 |          |         |         |        |
Brothers       | 5/ 2/89| 212-695-4158 |    1     |    1    |    0    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Calumet        | 7/10/92| 800-CAL-UMET |   28     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-221-2253 |          |         |         |        |
Cambridge      | 1/ 8/92| 212-675-8600 |    2     |    1    |    4    |  11    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Camcorder      |        | 800-338-4290 |          |         |         |        |
Land (Texas)   |11/ 8/90|              |    0     |    1    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Camera One     |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Sarasota, FL   | 5/ 2/91|              |    5     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Camera Sound of|        | 800-477-0022 |          |         |         |        |
Pennsylvania   | 3/25/91| 800-477-1003 |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Camera World of|        |              |          |         |         |        |
Charlotte, NC  | 7/24/89|              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Camera World   |        | 800-222-1557 |          |         |         |        |
of Oregon      | 8/21/92| 503-227-6008 |  117 [2] |   17    |    3    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Cameta's       | 3/14/92|              |    2     |    0    |    1    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Central Camera |        |              |          |         |         |        |
(Chicago)      | 4/ 2/91|              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Chambless      |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Productions    |        |              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Charlotte      |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Camera Brokers |11/ 1/90|              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Colonel Video &|        | 800-423-8277 |          |         |         |        |
Audio - Houston| 6/24/92| 713-486-8866 |    2     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Columbus       |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Camera Group   |11/ 3/90| 614-267-0686 |    7     |    2    |    1    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Competitive    |        | 800-544-5442 |       Phone Disconnected     |        |
Camera         | 2/ 6/88| 212-868-9175 |    5*    |    1    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-558-0003 |          |         |         |        |
Computability  | 9/ 1/92| 414-357-8181 |   15 [1] |    1 [1]|    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Crutchfield    | 8/21/92|              |    3 [2] |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
DBS Satellite  |        | 800-327-0046 |          |         |         |        |
Television     |11/ 1/90|CA:800-3272345|    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Del's Camera   | 3/14/92| 805-962-7557 |   12     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Direct Camera  |        | 800-526-6633 |          |         |         |        |
Warehouse      | 1/17/90| 212-719-3174 |    0     |    0    |    0    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-766-6710 |          |         |         |        |
Ecca           | 9/17/90|              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
The Electronic |        | 800-323-2325 |          |         |         |        |
Mailbox        | 7/30/92| 516-759-1611 |    3     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Electronic     |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Wholesalers    | 3/ 6/91|              |    3     |    0    |    0    |   2    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-662-8559 |          |         |         |        |
ElectroWorks   | 8/21/92|              |    0     |    0    |    1 [1]|   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-223-7323 |          |         |         |        |
Executive      | 6/17/92| 212-947-5290 |   10     |    6    |    3    |   4    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Focus          |        | 800-221-0828 |          |         |         |        |
(Honest Abe's) | 5/30/92| 718-436-6262 |   18     |   10    |    3    |   7    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-847-4092 |          |         |         |        |
Foto-cell      | 3/27/92| 212-924-7474 |    8     |    5    |    2    |   2    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Frank's        |        | 800-421-8230 |          |         |         |        |
Highland Park  |        | 213-255-0123 |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-292-6137 |          |         |         |        |
Freestyle      | 4/13/88| 213-660-3460 |    5*    |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
800 # is wrong!|        | 800-223-5830 |          |         |         |        |
Garden         |        | 212-868-1420 |   13     |    0    |    0    |   2    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Gil Ghitelman  | 3/19/92|              |    3     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-GIFTIME  |          |         |         |        |
Giftime        | 6/ 4/90| 201-869-8180 |    3     |    1    |    2    |   4    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
G&S Photo &    |        | 800-551-2363 |          |         |         |        |
Electronics Inc|12/12/91|              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-367-4854 |          |         |         |        |
Gould Trading  | 3/14/92| 212-243-2306 |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Haven          |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Electronics    | 3/ 6/89|              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-621-6471 |          |         |         |        |
HELIX (Chicago)| 3/14/92| 312-421-6000 |    4     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
W.B. Hunt's    |11/26/91| 617-662-6685 |   10     |    0    |    0    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
International  |        | 800-638-3920 |          |         |         |        |
Elect. World   | 4/10/90| 301-488-9600 |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
J&R's Music    |        |              |          |         |         |        |
World in NYC   | 8/13/92|              |   14 [1] |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
KEH            |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Camera Brokers | 8/14/92| 404-892-5522 |   12 [1] |    3 [1]|    1    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
KOH            |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Camera Sales   | 7/12/90| 516-933-9790 |    3     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Labelle        |        |              |          |         |         |        |
(= La-Mere ?)  |        |              |    3     |    2    |    0    |   2    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
LeBaron        | 7/ 8/88|              |    0     |    0    |    0    |   2*   |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Le Camera      | 3/14/92| 609-588-9090 |    0     |    0    |    1    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Lens & Repro   |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Equipment Corp | 9/ 5/92|              |    0     |    1 [1]|    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Light          |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Impressions    | 5/14/91|              |    2     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Mibro          |11/18/91|              |    0     |    0    |    1    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Minox          |11/ 2/90| 516-437-5750 |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Mystic Color   |11/14/90|              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
National Camera|        | 800-624-8107 |          |         |         |        |
Exchange (Minn)| 8/24/89| 612-546-6831 |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-488-8877 |          |         |         |        |
New West       | 7/ 8/92|              |    7     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-223-6119 |          |         |         |        |
New York Camera| 3/15/89| 212-564-4398 |    0     |    2*   |    1    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
North American |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Video          | 5/14/91|              |    0     |    1    |    0    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-456-9890 |          |         |         |        |
Not Just Video | 7/18/91|              |    2     |    1    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-223-1444 |          |         |         |        |
Olden          | 3/ 6/89| 212-725-1234 |    5     |    3    |    0    |   2*   |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-525-5014 |          |         |         |        |
Palace         | 1/ 9/90| 718-692-0829 |    4     |    2    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Peach State    | 7/16/92|              |    2     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Planet Video   |        | 800-542-8811 |          |         |         |        |
(Electronics)  | 6/ 6/90|              |    2     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-444-SAVE |          |         |         |        |
Photron        |12/ 1/88| 212-868-9455 |    0     |    2*   |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Porter's       | 5/14/91| 800-553-2001 |   11     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Power          |        | 800-877-2900 |          |         |         |        |
Video (Texas)  | 3/ 5/92| 713-240-3202 |    5     |    3    |    1    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Pro Video      |        | 800-541-4055 |          |         |         |        |
Distributors   | 1/10/89| 516-741-5440 |    1*    |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Professional   |        | 800-736-6677 |          |         |         |        |
Video Warehouse|12/ 4/91|              |    2     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Russell's      |        | 800-292-0202 |          |         |         |        |
Camera West    | 3/ 3/90| 408-649-0232 |    7     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Seattle        |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Filmworks      | 1/20/91| 206-281-1390 |    2     |    0    |    0    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
                        | 800-366-6993 |          |         |         |        |
Smile Photo    | 7/ 8/92| 212-967-5900 |    8     |    2    |    1    |   6    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-543-3025 |          |         |         |        |
Skyvision (MN) |10/10/90| 218-739-5231 |    0     |    1    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Special Effects|        |              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Spiratone      | 4/ 6/91|              |    8     |    2*   |    1    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Stephen Stuart | 6/ 6/91|              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Stereo         |        | HAS GONE OUT |          |         |         |        |
Discounters    | 3/16/88| OF BUSINESS  |    1*    |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Sunshine       |        |              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-332-2661 |          |         |         |        |
Supreme Camera | 1/23/92| 718-692-4110 |    2     |    2    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-289-5342 |          |         |         |        |
Stan Tamarkin  | 2/24/92| 203-789-0350 |    2     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Tape City/G&G  |11/20/90|              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-221-1926 |          |         |         |        |
Tri-State      |11/18/90| 212-349-2555 |    1     |    1    |    2    |   1    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
United         |        | 800-448-3738 |          |         |         |        |
Video & Camera | 8/10/92| 212-397-1081 |    1     |    0    |    1 [1]|   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
George Ury     |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Fine Photo Eq. | 5/30/90| 708-420-2951 |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-222-5590 |          |         |         |        |
USS Photo      |        | 718-646-3633 |    1     |    0    |    1    |   2    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
Video          |        | 800-843-3687 |          |         |         |        |
Depot Inc.     | 2/ 7/90| OUT OF BUSI? |    5     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Video Direct   |11/ 1/91|              |    1     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Vienna Camera  | 4/30/92| 703-938-1534 |   19     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        | 800-221-4090 |          |         |         |        |
Wall Street    | 7/ 8/91| 212-344-0011 |    4     |    1    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
WDS - Wisconsin|        | 800-356-9514 |          |         |         |        |
Discount Stereo| 3/14/92| 608-271-6889 |    3     |    1    |    1    |   0    |
8/21/92 -- reported to be out of business; phone disconnected
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Woodmere Camera| 3/14/92| 516-599-6013 |    7     |    0    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+
               |        |              |          |         |         |        |
Zone VI        | 7/14/91| 802-257-5161 |   12     |    3    |    0    |   0    |
------------------------+--------------+----------+---------+---------+--------+

		IV.  Tips for shopping from mail order firms

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.

		V.   The experiences received since the last posting

==============================================================================
From att!soda.berkeley.edu!phr Sat Aug  8 21:58:47 0700 1992
Date: Sat, 8 Aug 92 21:58:47 -0700
From: Paul Rubin <phr@soda.berkeley.edu>
Message-Id: <9208090458.AA26158@soda.berkeley.edu>
To: blondin@druhi.ATT.COM
Subject: camera mail order survey entries

1. Last month, ordered Spiratone slide duper from Brookline Camera
exchange.  Salesman (actually the owner!) VERY helpful, gave me
a good deal, place seemed a little disorganized but item arrived
with NO problems.

2. Some earlier experiences (past year or two), that I didn't get
around to reporting:

  1. Ordered film from Adorama.  Order taken smoothly, they say the
     film is in stock.  A couple days later, they call back, film isn't
     in stock after all, they cancel the order, my card credited a
     couple weeks later.  Rating: MINOR HASSLE.

  2. Ordered bulk loaded film from Freestyle.  Received promptly, but
     I think it might be a different emulsion than what the label
     says!  (There are no edge markings as it is bulk film.)  I'm
     looking into it.  Provisionally, NO problem.

  3. Ordered a flash from B&H.  Took a little longer than I expected
     to arrive, but no problem.

PS. I notice the survey has separate entries for "Del's Camera"
and "Del's Photo" but I suspect they're the same place.

>> EDITOR:  Combined, thanks.
=============================================================================
 

From att!hpwrc11.mayfield.hp.com!kinch Mon Aug 10 7:25:05 PDT 1992
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 92 7:25:05 PDT
From: kinch malapitan <kinch@hpwrc11.mayfield.hp.com>

Hi,

   I bought 2 Minolta Weathermatic Dual and a Nikon AF 35-105mm lens from

Beach Camera of Maine (1-800-634-1811) last year and I had NO PROBLEMS

whatsoever... The salesperson was pleasant, didn't hassle me, and didn't

talk me into buying what I didn't ask for... They had the lowest published

price for the Nikon AF 35-105mm at the time... Oh yes, the shipment was

delivered in the timeframe they told me... I'd buy from them again !!!


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


From att!vssad.enet.dec.com!madler Mon Aug 10 15:14:53 EDT 1992
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 92 15:14:53 EDT
From: Michael C. Adler <madler@vssad.enet.dec.com>
To: blondin@druhi.att.com
Subject: Photo/Video Mail Order Survey

Three separate orders from B&H with no problems.  All orders placed on a
weekend arrived on the following Friday with UPS ground.  (Shipped by
B&H within 2 days of order placement.)

thanks,
-Michael
=============================================================================

From att!encore.com!mpalmer Mon Aug 10 16:47:35 EDT 1992
Received: by att.att.com; Mon Aug 10 16:48:38 EDT 1992
From: Mike Palmer <mpalmer@encore.com>
Message-Id: <20763.9208102047@sysgem1.encore.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 92 16:47:35 EDT

Great job on the survey, here's some input:

>> EDITOR:  thanks

Electronic Wholesalers - 3 purchases - 1990 - No problems - Rating 1

Smile Photo - 3 purchases - 1 time sent wrong tapes, minor hassle to get
(1990 - 1992)	            shipping costs refunded - Rating 1

>> EDITOR:  I take it this means 2 "1" experiences and 1 "2" experience

United Video -  Wanted an Sony 801 but ended up with a Yashica KDH-170A for
		the same price.  Ordered 10 * Sony MP 120 (Hi-8 )- Got Canon
                MP 60 mins.  Would not send 120's for same price, so I returned
		60's and bought 120's from Smile photo.  Yashica would not fit
		in camera bag sent, returned it too.  Rating - 3.

Regards,				Encore Computer Corporation
Mike palmer                             6901 W Sunrise Boulevard
90 Layered Software Development         Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33313 
email: mpalmer@encore.com               Telephone: (305) 797-2326
=============================================================================

From att!cs.brown.edu!pbg Tue Aug 11 10:03:37 0400 1992
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 92 10:03:37 -0400
From: pbg@cs.brown.edu (Peter Galvin)
Subject: Photographic Mail Order Survey

I just received a Sony 696HF from Computability (8/1/92 or so).  NO
problems!  It arrived on the day they said, at the price they said,
with US warrantee, etc.

						--Peter

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


From att!micro.ll.mit.edu!chuang Wed Aug 12 15:01:53 EDT 1992
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 92 15:01:53 EDT
From: Michael Chuang <@submicron.ll.mit.edu:chuang@micro>
Message-Id: <9208121901.AA08388@micro>
To: @submicron.ll.mit.edu:blondin@druhi.att.com
Subject: survey: Brooklyn Cam Ex - no hassles

No hassles with Brooklyn Camera Exchange, as the subject line
says.  I ordered some new, boxed Konica stuff on 8/6 to be
sent regular UPS.  The package arrived with all items intact
on 8/11.  An interval timer had obviously been pulled out of
the box and shoved back hastily (the box was swelled up grossly
in the middle like a garter snake eating a toad) but
everything worked.  The salesman did not try to sell me any
extraneous items.  If anything he was in a hurry to get off the
phone.  Although I failed to ask about shipping costs and
delivery time and even the salesman's name (I was in a real
hurry) everything turned out fine.  Seven dollars shipping
and packing, which was not unreasonable, particularly when one
considers that Bill Cameta was advertising the same items in
Shutterbug for roughly twice was Brooklyn Camera wanted.
I don't have BCE's phone number here, but they are the outfit
that advertises "Keep It in America !" with the multipage
advert in Shutterbug.  Thanks for the work you do on the survey.

>> EDITOR:  You're welcome

-Mike
chuang@micro.ll.mit.edu

=============================================================================
From att!shell.com!grayless Thu Aug 13 12:47:43 0500 1992
Subject: mail order experiences
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 92 12:47:43 -0500
From: grayless@shell.com

Hi,

I have several recent mail order experiences:

American Audio -       AVOID
J&R Music World -      No Problems
Crutchfield -          No Problems
=============================================================================

From att!altair.csustan.edu!dporter Fri Aug 14 10:24:33 PDT 1992
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 92 10:24:33 PDT
From: dporter@altair.csustan.edu (Darren Porter)
Message-Id: <9208141724.AA26216@altair.csustan.edu>
To: blondin@druhi.att.com


Well, I would like to report two dealings with KEH Camera Brokers.  My first
order was for a Pentax SF1N body in LN condition.  What a pleasant surprise
to find a brand-new (non-USA warranty) camera with a sealed box and all 
instructions and accessories as supplied by Pentax (in English, even!).  I knew
I was not getting a manufacturer's warranty buying used anyway, but to get a
brand new un-used camera was nice.  All went well.  I got a 5% early-bird
discount and used the difference to pay for 2nd-day air freight.  Delivery was
as-promised and the experience was a "no problems" one.  Very happy.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I decided to buy a Pentax 35-70 SMC-F 3.5-4.5 lens
to go with it.  It was in LN- condition, so I did not get any instructions
with it.  I was expecting to not even get a lens-cap or rear cap for it, but I
was again pleasantly surprised to get both (not Pentax originals, but you 
can't be too fussy when you expected nothing to begin with).  Again, I ordered
2nd day air.  However, when the promised delivery day came and went with no
lens in sight, I called them up and they sent it regular UPS ground.  They
promptly credited my account for the difference ($5) (or at least they said
they did as I have yet to receive my credit card statement) and the lens 
arrived after about 12 days.  Way too long.  I had to cancel a camping trip.
I'll call it a "minor hassle".  They salesman was very apoligetic and polite
and very quick to offer the refund.

So, to sum it up, a "no problems" and a "minor hassle" for KEH.  I would
definately order from them again, however yesterday I ordered a new lens from
Camera World of Oregon.  This will be another one to report later...   

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

From att!decwrl!odaat.enet!mbs Wed Aug 19 08:06:19 1992
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 92 11:03:37 EDT
From: Mark Sawyer <decwrl!odaat.enet!mbs>
Subject: Mail Order Survey and CWO Experience

First, thanks for taking the time to maintain the Mail Order Company Survey.
I find it useful and appreciate your efforts.

>> EDITOR:  You're welcome.  I know the survey has been invaluable for
>>          my orders and am glad others also find it useful.

Now, I'd like to make a contribution.

Last week I purchased a camcorder from Camera World of Oregon and was
very pleased with the experience.  The salesperson was polite and
efficient and while he did pitch a few additional accessories my way he
was not high pressure and didn't persist when I refused an item. I did
end up buying an extra battery but that was all.

The complete order arrived right on schedule as promised.

I would catagorize my experience with CWO as "NO PROBLEMS".

/mbs
=============================================================================

From att!saturn.its.uci.edu!raman Wed Aug 19 14:20:51 0700 1992
Message-Id: <9208192120.AA23852@saturn.its.uci.edu>
To: blondin@druhi.att.com
Subject: mail-order survey:BI-RITE
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 92 14:20:51 -0700
From: raman@saturn.its.uci.edu

hi blondin,
	I ordered a calculator from BI-RITE on 6 august.
I received the merchandise today.  My experience could
be classified as :  MINOR HASSLES.

The first time they got my credit card number wrong.  I had
to call them again to correct it.  Otherwise, they were
helpful, courteous etc.  BTW, the calculator arrived
in a cardboard box that had been used for shredded
parmesan cheese sometime in its past!  At least that
is what the writing on the side said in bold 4" letters.

Please keep up the good work.  I am glad someone is taking
time off to help others.

>> EDITOR:  You're welcome.  And thanks to you, and all, who
>>          contribute.  Your input to the survey keeps it alive,
>>          and currently useful for all.

Balaji Ramanathan
Institute of Transportation Studies,
UC Irvine.

raman@translab.its.uci.edu
=============================================================================

From att!ihlpe!chenl Fri Aug 21 11:28 CDT 1992
From: ihlpe!chenl (Julian L Chen +1 708 713 4526)
To: att!druhi!blondin
Subject: mail order

Thanks very much for maintaining the mail order survey. I like to feed-in
the following mail order experiences I had recently :

(0) "Wisconsin Discount Stereo" was out of mail order business for good,
their phone numbers had been disconnected.

(1) One "no problem" vote to "Camera World of Oregon" --- I ordered a Sony
camcorder from them, arrived one day before the day they promised. It
was brand new and with full U.S. warranty.

(2) One "avoid" vote to "6th Ave Electronics City" --- I ordered a Kenwood
DPC721 portable CD player from them. They said they had them in stock and
I should get it in a week. Merchandise never arrived, order canceled after
one months of waiting and many fruitless phone calls. Eventually they
admitted that they did not have DPC721 in stock. Now I am still waiting for
them to credit back my VISA.

BTW, 6th Ave Electronics City runs a big ads on Stereo Review every month.
Phone number 1-800-394-6283.

(3) One "no problem" vote to "Crutchfield" --- I ordered a Kenwood DPC721
portable CD player from them. Very good price ($199), free shipping,
arrived one day before the day they promised (in 3 days!).

(4) One "major hassle" vote to "ElectroWorks" --- I ordered a Panasonic
PVS4280 SVHS VCR and 10 SHVS tapes from them. Promised in stock and I should
get them within a week (sounds familiar ?) But they did not come as promised.
I called them and was told that they had to back order PVS4280 for me since
just during they were processing my order, the PVS4280 went out of stock
(what a lousy excuse, they then tried to switch me to JVC VCR which I promptly
rejected). And every time I called them they promised I would get my VCR
NEXT week. It finally came after 1 month of waiting.

ElectroWorks runs ads on "Video" magazine, phone number 1-800-662-8559.

BTW, why did I order from such unreliable places such as 6th Ave Electronics
City and ElectroWorks when I knew excellent places such as Camera World of
Oregon ? Because CWO honestly told me that they were out of stocks on the
items I wanted and ElectroWorks and 6th Ave lied to me that they had them,
and I believed (at least the first time)!

Julian Chen
=============================================================================

From mtgzy!ecl Fri Aug 28 17:44 EDT 1992
From: ecl@mtgzy.att.com (Evelyn C Leeper +1 908 957 2070)
To: mtgzy!blondin
Subject: B&H

We ordered film from them.  It arrived fast (and cheap).  Is this the
sort of data point you wanted for the survey?
			Evelyn C. Leeper, 908-957-2070, mtgzy!ecl

>> EDITOR:  I prefer a direct categorization into one of the survey
>>          categories.  I know from talking to you this is a "no problem".

=============================================================================
From att!md.interlink.com!mct Tue Sep  1 11:59:19 EDT 1992
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 92 11:59:19 EDT
From: mct@md.interlink.com (Monica Thomas)
Message-Id: <9209011559.AA15815@md.interlink.com>
To: blondin@druhi.att.com
Subject: Mail Order Survey

Computability: Minor hassle
Date         : August, 1992

All in all, very satisfied.  I ordered a JVC SR4700 VCR.  They had
the best price ($459) and that included shipping and a US warranty.
The small problem was that I wanted it shipped to another address, 
but they only ship to the billing address, supposedly to prevent
fraud, credit card theft, etc.  However, they told me to leave a note
for UPS saying not to leave a package.  UPS will leave a "Notice 
of Delivery" and you call the number they supply and tell them where
to deliver the package.  I did all this and the package arrived 
in good condition, the next day after the initial delivery.  The VCR
was in its factory sealed box, repackaged in another box (so it
didn't advertise "Hey, here's a VCR!").

Even with the delivery hassle, I would highly recommend Computability.  
They had pleasant, knowledgeable salespeople, quick delivery, and 
excellent prices.  Oh, one other note.  All sales are final, so if you 
have a problem with the unit, you have to contact the manufacturer's rep.

Thanks to you, Doug, for maintaining this mail-order list.  I found
it very useful and selected Computability based on the responses.

>> EDITOR:  You're welcome.

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

From att!hal.com!howard Sat Sep  5 08:44:40 PDT 1992
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 92 08:44:40 PDT
From: howard@hal.com (Howard Gayle)
Message-Id: <9209051544.AA02485@hasse>
To: blondin@druhi.ATT.COM (BlondinDJ)
Subject: Major hassles with Lens & Repro Equipment Corp.
Reply-To: howard@hal.com

The Lens & Repro Equipment Corp.
33 West 17th St.
New York, NY 10011

On 29 July 1992 I ordered a 50mm f/4 lens for a Mamiya 6, based
on a Shutterbug ad that described it as a "demo."  The salesman
("Mike") told me it came with a warranty card, lens hood, all
original packaging, and a Mamiya rebate certificate (for a $100
factory rebate promotion that Mamiya was running.)  What
actually arrived was just the lens.  I wrote a polite letter,
asking them to send everything else they promised, and they
did.  They also told me that Mike was no longer with them.
--
Howard Gayle
HAL Computer Systems, Inc.
1315 Dell Avenue
Campbell, California 95008
USA
howard@hal.com
Phone: +1 408 379 7000 extension 1080
FAX  : +1 408 379 5022

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

My own experience (yes, I do order stuff myself):


	Ordered some Kodalux mailers from B&H.  Saleman was reasonably
	friendly (for NY places).  Was glad that I asked for the total
	price, because it was obvious from the low figure that he had
	mis-heard/typed the quantity I was ordering.  Mailers arrived
	on-time and shipping was reasonable.  A "no problem".
=============================================================================