Camerabox

Photo Plod

Photo Plod

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Name
Chris
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I have just purchased a Nikon 80 - 200mm f/2.8 from Camerabox with a 77mm UV filter for £730 brand new. The lens itself is excellent - well packaged and in pristine condition. However, I am a little disappointed with some aspects of Camerabox's service.

I ordered my lens on Friday after hours. According to the website, orders received over the weekend would be posted on Monday for a Tuesday delivery. This did not happen in my case, with Camerabox citing "some problem at the warehouse". This was okay, as postage was only delayed by a day.

However, upon opening my package this morning, the UV filter has not been sent. There is simply a handwritten note saying, "To Follow". I have contacted Camerabox a couple of times since placing this order, and nobody has mentioned that the filter wasn't going to be supplied. I now have no idea when - if ever - it will turn up. Like most photographers, I always use UV filters to protect the front glass - and having just spent a huge amount of money (to me) on this lens, I am a little reluctant to go out without one.

Getting hold of Camerabox on the phone can be a nightmare, but this morning that's exactly what I'll have to do. It's a mixed bag of emotions - I'm glad that my lens has arrived, but I'm disappointed that they haven't delivered when promised (even though I paid for Next Day Delivery), and worse still, haven't delivered everything I ordered. Their slogan is "the professional's choice", but I can well imagine the problems that might be caused to a pro if they left out parts of their order.
 
Photo Plod said:
I have just purchased a Nikon 80 - 200mm f/2.8 from Camerabox with a 77mm UV filter for £730 brand new. The lens itself is excellent - well packaged and in pristine condition. However, I am a little disappointed with some aspects of Camerabox's service.

I ordered my lens on Friday after hours. According to the website, orders received over the weekend would be posted on Monday for a Tuesday delivery. This did not happen in my case, with Camerabox citing "some problem at the warehouse". This was okay, as postage was only delayed by a day.

However, upon opening my package this morning, the UV filter has not been sent. There is simply a handwritten note saying, "To Follow". I have contacted Camerabox a couple of times since placing this order, and nobody has mentioned that the filter wasn't going to be supplied. I now have no idea when - if ever - it will turn up. Like most photographers, I always use UV filters to protect the front glass - and having just spent a huge amount of money (to me) on this lens, I am a little reluctant to go out without one.

Getting hold of Camerabox on the phone can be a nightmare, but this morning that's exactly what I'll have to do. It's a mixed bag of emotions - I'm glad that my lens has arrived, but I'm disappointed that they haven't delivered when promised (even though I paid for Next Day Delivery), and worse still, haven't delivered everything I ordered. Their slogan is "the professional's choice", but I can well imagine the problems that might be caused to a pro if they left out parts of their order.
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I ordered a Fuji S100fs off Camera box and like you paid extra for before noon next day delivery, it took 3 days to arrive (4pm on third day) I tried to contact them via phone and never got reply also sent emails and just got a email saying its been despatched.
This is the last time I will deal with these jokers, ignoring phone etc is totally wrong way to do business. I suppose they are just like 99% of dealers ie selling items they don't have in stock and pretending its the courier firms fault with any delays. My wife was going to buy another S100fs for herself but we will shop elsewhere in future.
I agree with you regarding Pro Toggers If i was a Pro I would avoid these jokers.
 
I have just got off the phone to Camerabox. They said that there are "big problems" with the supply of the filters, and that they should be in at some point next week. This is unacceptable when a "live stock" system shows that they are in the warehouse.

I then mentioned about the delivery, having paid for a service that I did not receive. They refused to give a refund, saying "it's a mandatory service" twice over. I then said that I was disappointed and would not be using them again. The girl on the phone sounded like she couldn't give a toss.

I find this utterly unacceptable service now, and would advise people to think very carefully about using Camerabox at all.
 
Photo Plod said:
I have just got off the phone to Camerabox. They said that there are "big problems" with the supply of the filters, and that they should be in at some point next week. This is unacceptable when a "live stock" system shows that they are in the warehouse.

I then mentioned about the delivery, having paid for a service that I did not receive. They refused to give a refund, saying "it's a mandatory service" twice over. I then said that I was disappointed and would not be using them again. The girl on the phone sounded like she couldn't give a toss.

I find this utterly unacceptable service now, and would advise people to think very carefully about using Camerabox at all.
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That's very poor customer service and like yourself won't be dealing with them again, I wouldn't mind if companies were honest and just said "yes we can get it for you but give it 5-7days etc" and then you would know what to do? but to just ignore and have an attitude when you do eventually get through to them then that's a disgrace.
I bought something today from another dealer up north Scotland and they were most helpful and I thought yes that's the way it should be done.
Oh well I certainly won't recomend CameraBox to anyone after this farce.
Cheers and hope you eventually get sorted
Brian
 
I was disappointed, Claymore - mainly because nobody told me there would be a problem with the filter when I called them on two occasions to check the status of my order. They simply let me find out on the day of delivery with a scrawled note on the invoice. It's not the end of the world with a UV filter, but I have no doubt they would behave the same with other items in a multi-part order. The delivery charge then annoyed me, because I'd paid £15 for items I hadn't received, and what I had received hadn't arrived on time. Again, not the end of the world for me...but for a pro? Their obstinate refusal to try and see things from my persepective then just irritated me all the more.

It's a shame, as their prices are quite competitive for many things. I've seen other people have perfectly good experiences with them. Personally, I'll be sticking to the likes of Camera World, Amazon, Kingsley Photographic, Aperture UK, Mifsuds...just some of the places where I've always had excellent service.
 
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I have bought a few lenses from them and had superb service.

The only thing that i didn't like is not being able to order over the phone.
 
I bought a couple of things here and must say the servise was impeccable, they couldnt help me enough
 
Photo Plod said:
Like most photographers, I always use UV filters to protect the front glass - and having just spent a huge amount of money (to me) on this lens, I am a little reluctant to go out without one.
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As a consolation - the lens is brilliant and you don't need a filter really. I got my a few weeks ago and had a few outings with it already - it is built like a tank and the front element is quite deep - goes even deeper when focusing so you should be reasonably safe. The lens is a joy to use...

On an unrelated note, having read your blog I see that you may be local to Woking - the world is really small place then, I work there in a center not far off the train station... Pity though that I read your blog entry too late - had no idea that Lightbox had Tom Rudman exhibition...
 
When I was after a D700, I found camerabox had some for a decent price so asked them to confirm it was UK sourced and not a grey import. They quickly responded confirming all their stock was EU sourced and not Asian / Japanese.

On that basis, I went ahead and bought a D700.

It arrived a few days later :) Upon opening the packaging, I had a laser-printed and stapled manual, no warranty registration card, and, IIRC, no mains lead for the charger. I thought "hmm, this might as well be a grey import with a reprinted manual, etc", and on looking on the box, confirmed that it was a Japanese model D700.

In the end, I returned it and obtained a refund and bought a D700 in Dixons duty free at Heathrow for less.

So just be careful if having a genuine UK model is of importance to you ;)
 
Bought a couple of things from them and always been brilliant service and delivery was rapid.
 
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