I won’t be shopping at Cord Camera ever again. They are a popular photo store in Ohio who has lost my business. With the emergence of places like Shutterfly, Target, and even Walmart, Cord is slipping farther and farther into irrelevance.
My favorite place is Shutterfly (follow the link above) because you can upload photos to their website, and then anyone you give access to can order prints. Yeah, but shipping costs? Laura ordered two 5×7 prints from Shutterfly with tax and shipping, and it was still cheaper than ONE 5×7 print from Walmart. Shutterfly also offers glossy prints, something that Walmart won’t do with 1-hour service. My second favorite place is Target, simply because they offer glossy prints in 1-hour. Because of their higher price and matte finish, Walmart comes last.
Behind Walmart, though, is Cord, with high prices paired with no increase in quality. But that isn’t even why I now dislike Cord. Laura bought me a camera bag for my birthday back in February. She didn’t realize that the bag wouldn’t hold the camera that I own. We had the receipt, so no biggie, right? Wrong. Where Cord falls flat on their face, is that they have a ridiculous return policy. With a receipt, one only has 14 days to return a product for a refund. After that, with a receipt, one has 30 days to get an in-store credit for an exchange. After 30 days, you own it. Sheer idiocy!
So let me get this straight: If I buy a birthday gift 10 days prior to a birthday party, the recipient has 4 days to return the item for money? Holy cow, that is obtuse. With our camera bag that we purchased, we were beyond both the 14 day return time and 30 day “exchange our item for any item in the store” time. When I return something, the last thing I really want is more crap from the store, I just want my money back.
I guess my burning anger showed on my face because the clerk was nice enough to extend the 30 day exchange policy for us, so we could walk through the store trying to find $50 dollars worth of crap to take with us. We got three picture frames with the intention of returning them at a different store, heh heh. When we tried that return, we still didn’t get our money back because we bought them with a store credit — only returnable for another store credit. Blast! Now we have a $50 dollar credit we don’t want or need.
However, the final Pièce de résistance is that Cord is an irrelevant retail store. I don’t remember the last time I purchased anything photographic in a retail store. They are high priced with terrible service and even worse return policies. With places like Amazon, Adorama, and BHPhoto, who are extremely reputable internet retailers out of New York, that have a wider selection of items, with free shipping, no sales tax, and hundreds of dollars cheaper, there is no excuse to buy anything photographic from a loser retail shop like Cord. I would think that as excellent online retailers make Cord more irrelevant, that Cord would be working harder to keep their customers with smart policies, but I guess not.
I occasionally make a mistake and buy something there, but I won’t be making that mistake again. With a ridiculous return policy aimed at keeping your money, I hope you’ll save yourself heartache, sales tax, and hundreds of dollars as well, by shopping at these online retailers.
I really enjoyed reading your blog; thanks particularly for the recommendation for Adorama Camera, which is very much appreciated!
Sincerely
Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
[email protected]
http://www.adorama.com
Helen, Glad you found the blog. I've probably made my last 10 big purchases at Adorama, even over B&H; and Amazon. I love you guys.
Are there new mercies for Cord Camera and the people who own it and work there? I presume there will be new mercies for you buying frames and fraudulently taking them back to another store. heh heh. There is no problem warning others of issues with a store but a less than merciful attitude is very present in your post.
Ha Ha! Touché.
However: I’m fully sure that God’s mercy does extend to “Cord Camera and the people who work there.” :o) Unfortunately, we never were able to beat them at their own game, as we couldn’t return the frames (nothing fraudulent about that) — and sprinkling mercy into my posts won’t help change their crazy policy. Please remember that my beef is with their policies, not the employees as you infer.
Pretty bold of you to make a drive-by comment anonymously, though! I may start deleting comments without names . . .
You make several interesting points in your blog. A few of which I feel I must comment on. First and foremost for me is the need for more people to support local businesses. You mention that you can skirt paying taxes by purchasing on-line. While that may be true, that money is part of a system which helps fund our schools fix our road ect. The less money that the local government makes on sales tax the more likely they will be to allocate the money elsewhere, like higher state income taxes.
It is entirely possible that locally owned retail stores are forced to have such strict return policies because so many people purchase an item to see if they like it and return it just to make the purchase on-line; and for what, to save 6.75%? I am not putting down stores such as B&H; or Adorama. They operate very successful businesses. But I also believe that there is a value to going into a store putting your hands on the item you are interested in and asking someone whom knows something about it questions. There are plenty of people out there who know as much or more about camera then the employees at Cord. But for those of us who don’t, it is very helpful to be able to ask some questions and hold the product.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect yours. I am even more impressed that you allow posts on your blog. Very honorable of you.
John, thanks for reading!
Paying the fair share of taxes is an on going argument beyond the scope of this blog post. The online taxes are actually due at the end of the year if one doesn't lie on their tax forms. However, the tax bill on a D700 purchase and a lens could total upward of $270 in taxes alone. That's a lot to pay up front that if I don't have to, I won't. So saving 6.75% is a big deal.
Where I think you go a little awry is why you say Cord has a 2 week return policy. Actually, everyone (online retailers as well) has a two week return period on photography equipment like cameras. Most everything else (things that don't damage too well like picture frames, camera bags and memory cards) usually can be returned with original packaging and a receipt. IF Cord has a 2 week return period to keep people from trying it out and returning it, as you suggest, they have a poor system because two weeks doesn't prevent this from happening! A 2 week return period is the risk all retailers take in this matter. So I don't think that's why they have it as I could still buy it, try it, and return it, all in 2 weeks.
No, I think they try to trap you into keeping your purchase, and them keeping my money. Again, if I buy an item for a birthday party two weeks away, the person cannot return their gift for cash. That is plain DUMB! 🙂
A final word on retail salesmen: Know your stuff before going into the store. The internet is an amazing tool and with careful research, you can inform yourself. Most salesmen are great and just want to help you out, but for every one like that, as in all of life, there are bad apples that will steer you the wrong way to help them line their pockets with items that they have in stock or their own in store brand, that aren't what you need. So yes, it's nice to talk to them, but make sure you educate yourself first. I guess that goes without saying 🙂
Have a great Father's day weekend, if you are in the U.S.