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The company's reputation is significantly marred by numerous customer complaints regarding deceptive sales practices and inadequate customer service. Many customers report being lured in by low prices, only to face upselling tactics and the delivery of grey-market products lacking proper warranties. Issues with returns and support further exacerbate dissatisfaction, with several customers experiencing delays and unresponsive service. While a few positive sentiments exist regarding product availability, the overwhelming trend indicates a lack of trust and serious concerns about the company's business ethics, suggesting potential improvements in transparency and customer engagement are urgently needed.
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The prices are great when you order your equipment - then when they call to confirm it they attempt to upsell the HECK out of everything and give you false information about your equipment. Despite what they will tell you you CAN purchase your items without purchasing their in house warranty - and you had better know the equipment you're purchasing because they will tell you you will need a whole lot more! I would never recommend this company to any other photographers
To whom it may concern:@ Abes of Maine, what's a FACTORY FRESH IMPORT MODEL as stated on your website of your cameras description?
Oh wait I bought one of your FACTORY FRESH IMPORT MODELS from your company. Now when I was having issues, I called Nikon USA, they did not have my camera registered, which means, I was SOL if I need it fixed.
I guess that's why you push the extended warranty so hard.
I look closely at a few cameras on your website, the few I looked at said FACTORY FRESH IMPORT MODEL. I do remember when I bought my D610 from Adorama I received a US Warranty Card, but NOT FROM YOU! SO where do you buy your FACTORY FRESH IMPORT MODELS?
Well to help other Unsuspecting buyers I will paste what the definition is of IMPORT MODEL / GREY MARKET: from Google!
Import generally means grey market model without a USA warranty. It means the camera or lens did not come into the US via approved channels, but was probably shipped to another country where for some reason it failed to sell and then was sent via a non-approved distributor to the US. There's no way to know if it is even new unless you know and trust the retailer. Regardless, some manufactures will not warrant it in the US. Some won't service it even if you're willing to pay. If you're dealing with a less than honest retailer, you may not even get all the included accessories or owners manual.
Some grey market models come with what is called an International warranty. This means, if you need repair, you have to send it back to the country where it was originally designated or back to Japan.
Personally, I'd stay far away from grey market gear. IMO, a USA warranty is important, not to mention being able to get service after the warranty period.
So buyers beware, if you want a Nikon US Warranty buy from an authorized Nikon Dealer pay the extra for peace of mind
Absolute scam bait and switch company. Be aware. This is not an original Abes of Maine. They use intimidation tactics paired with bait and switch model.
They will call you after the order and try to either switch the item you bought or sell you something else.
I bought a lens and they called me trying to sell me a lens that was $200 more expensive compared to what I paid originally. The lens they were trying to sell me wasn't even on their website. And apparently the lens they sold me was an "international" model - with no description anywhere online of what that means. Turns out international model is a lens with nothing included - not even caps - which is unheard of.
The representative was using intimidation tactics and was rude and pushy all along. When I asked for the manager a lady Christina picked up the phone and yelled at me. This isn't a one off situation - read more reviews.
They were bought by scammers who are milking the customers for all they got. Be aware!
Whilst my more youthful brother visited your website, he felt quite happy now that we all use your wonderful and awesome offerings, however your internet site's pace isn't quite appropriate. I am thrilled with you,
I wanted to purchase a Canon 5D Mark IV. First off, the website does NOT have their actual prices, add $900. When you pay for the "Pro canon package" to go along with your camera, you would expect the good quality stuff that goes with a $2400 camera. Nope, the stuff is so cheap i could not even find similar poor quality items to show them I could get it for a few bucks. Then when you complain it's, "i didn't say that." "I didn't say i would send lens cases, I said pouches." It's all recorded. I STILL do not have an itemized receipt and I have requested one 3 times via phone, once via email and once via phone to the manager. Still no itemized receipt. I told them i'll just send all of it back and get a refund, well, they wont refund the cost of the warranties yet and I have nothing in writing saying the cost. I know he told me the total cost of 4 warranties was $299, but what do you want to bet now it's $2000. Once i finally was able to get a manager, I called from a different phone than mine, she gave me the run around and acted like she was totally shocked she did not know what her salesmen were doing. Oh, OK. Uh huh. So then... how about that itemized receipt? And how about they take the garbage items they sent me that are so poor quality i have not been able to even find them online. I wont use them. I care more about my camera, my photography and myself than that. Abes of Maine has no respect for me and clearly saw me as a Mark. Do not buy here unless you want to be take for a ride and not be able to fix it.
What a fantastic experience buying there. Great people, great prices, fast and free delivery. Best deals on everything. I've saved thousands of dollars buying from Abe. Abe for president!
DO NOT BUY! This company has a BBB rating of "F" and just sold me a $2200 LG TV which turned out to be a RETURNED MERCHANDISE with missing remote, papers, screws, etc. SCAMMERS!
They should be investigated by FBI for being an ORGANIZED CRIME ENTITY!
DO NOT BUY FROM UNAUTHORIZED DEALER ABES OF MAINE! Bought a camera and was contacted by Abe's of Maine to mention I had purchased the international version and I would need to pay more if I wanted the US version. I did so I paid more bringing the price back up to what you would find on B&H or Amazon. They threw in an aftermarket battery when they told me it would be an OEM battery and an sd card from an unrecognized brand. When the camera arrived it was still the international version! I am attempting to rectify this problem and will make sure to warn everyone about this company until this can be fixed!
Corrupt sales process. Will call you with shady info about your product and try to screw you over. All positive reviews are FAKE. The Fake 5 stars reviews are literally part of their business model to flush out the real negative reviews... its disgusting! Items are non-warranty international versions or knock offs. Then they will threaten to charge you and say "ok what now tough guy". Embarrassing stay away from these high pressure sales crooks!
I placed an order for a Canon 70-200 USM iii lens and received a phone call the following day stating that the lens is on "back order" and that price they had was for the international version but if I paid extra they will send me the US version covered by the warranty. They refused to send me the advertised lens so I filed a compliant with the Better Business Bureau which they have an F rating on. I received an emailing stating that my lens was already shipped and it was a mistake by a new employee. I said that's fine as the lens was $300 below retail and I received the lens with US warranty. Fast forward to a few months later, found a good deal on their site and they pull the same exact BS. Obviously not a new employee mistake but their standard business practice. The positive reviews are most likely fake. Yelp flagged a user that gave them 40 positive reviews. If they spent their time being a legit business instead of scamming people, they could be up there with Adorama or B&H.
ALL TO SAVE $50. Purchased a Canon EOS RP because of the price. Few days later I received a "confirmation call" (who does this in 2019/20?) Well it is their BAIT AND SWITCH call. This NJ toolbag named Adam calls and tries to tell me that I have the "international version" of my camera on order. I had read some reviews after my purchase (should always be BEFORE) so I kind of new what was going on. I called him out on the BAIT AND SWITCH pathetic sales tactics and he told me that "he did appreciate my comment" and then began to tell me that it wasn't a BAIT AND SWITCH because the US version and the International version(no warranty) were the same price. WELL THAT'S STRANGE, So why'd you call then, Chief? So then I asked him to just cancel my order and he refused to, said it was already boxed up (not a lie since cameras come in a box) and I would have to fill out the return form and pay the 10% restocking fee. ANYWAY, STAY AWAY FROM THIS PATHETIC PLACE.
They are scammers. I would not even give them one star if that was an option. They offered a "sale" price on a Canon lens. Then called and said it was a gray market lens and I had to pay $180 more for a US warranty lens. Then shipped me the international lens. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THESE CROOKS!
I have No idea how this company can sell Gray Market Cameras, I personally called Nikon USA and gave them my serial number. Abe's of Maine sell Gray Market items. So Nikon USA will not fix it.
Purchased a New Fujifilm camera with lenses. Following day I get an email from them for me to call them, to confirm the order, (Like they cant call). I call their number and they start telling me how good a deal I got, because it was on sale. Then they said "you know there is no warranty on this product", and if I want a warranty I have to purchase it for another $500. I complained that this was unacceptable, and that their listing did not state the absence of any warranty. They were also rude. Told them to cancel the order. Will never buy here again.
I ordered a Nikon Z7 with the FTZ online for $2800. A good deal. I get a call the next morning from the infamous Jeff and he starts the upsale. NO problems with that, but I think the only time this guy is not lying is when his mouth is shut.
Needless to say that the camera price increased a few hundred dollars when I received the receipt. Hmm. I asked about pricing and he stated that I ordered the "Retail Package". You know, the one that comes with the strap, eye piece, battery and instruction manual. Geez. I immediately stated that I wanted to cancel the order and I even sent an email 2 different times during the day to do so. Oh no, it had shipped already and that was before 1PM EST. Miraculously in 1 hr UPS had picked it up. That was just part of a chain of lies. UPS actually picked it up after 7PM EST.
UPS label arrives to me via email from Abes of Maine. Sent: Wednesday, June 19,2019 6:53 PM. Notice the time of the UPS Label creation - Label Created 06/19/*******:07 P.M.
I would not deal with these clowns!
Extremely pushy salesmen. Not only did the Salesman JEFF ext 272, start his upsale of battery inclusions with a lie. He stated that the "international" version of the Canon 1DX Mark II would be a Japanese make (canons origin) in Japanese if I didn't upgrade to a USA model with a 2.5k price point difference. Not only is this NOT true, he lied on my order Cancellation stating that cancelling my order would cost me $650. International models price points are set because there is no offered warranty on the product due to part differences. There is no difference in Camera use, functionality, or language. Don't be fooled by aggressive sales tactics they use to "confirm" your order.
Not only is this sales person incredibly aggressive but the sheer amount of lying for the sake of an upsell reflects horribly on this company. I will avoid all further purchases from AbesofMaine from the horrid customer experience.
I thought that I had landed a great deal on a 55" Inch LG OLED TV with Abe's of Maine. The price, including free shipping and no sales tax, was much lower than what Amazon was charging for the same TV. The day after purchasing the TV online, however, Abe's of Maine sent me an email telling me that I had to call them to "confirm my purchase." The call to a representative went as follows: First, he said the call was to verify that no one was fraudulently using my credit card. I thanked him for this security, but this verification was just a ruse for what followed. Second, he told me they had to add special handling to the shipping and told me the actual cost of my TV would be $288 higher than the original purchase price! Third, when I complained he said he would throw in what he called "white glove" delivery, which is nothing more than having someone bring the TV into the house. Fourth, when I still complained, he said he would throw in a cheap TV mount (a $20 mount that he said was worth something like $150 - another lie).
Finally, he said he would throw in a more expensive mount; but a TV mount that I could purchase for less than $40. While I reluctantly (and probably stupidly) agreed to the higher price that is still not a terrible deal, I feel cheated and believe Abe's of Maine is a totally untrustworthy merchant. I just noticed several reviewers with the exact same complaint, so this is obviously on ongoing unscrupulous tactic used repeatedly by Abe's of Maine. I wish I had read the reviews earlier and had been prepared. Be very wary and prepared should you purchase items from Abe's of Maine!
I called on Monday morning and ordered the lens. I talked to Adam who really knew his cameras and gave me some great advice in making my purchase. He said he would try to get this order out ASAP but would make no guarantees on how fast it would be delivered. Yes... I am in PA but I was very amazed when the UPS deliveryman came by midafternoon the next day with my lens and accessories. Wow... I had free shipping and it only took one day. Thumbs up for Abes... I had one of the best buying experiences ever with them.
Had the opportunity to go to the "store" since I live 15 miles away... this a bad setup... not a store at all, just a bunch of offices & storerooms. No stock or display cases or anything that would suggest a legit business. They could not upsell me (they tried) as I knew exactly what I wanted. ALL their merchandise is grey market or used, hence the low prices. As long as you go in with your eyes wide open and don't need the usa warranties it's not a bad deal, but never and I mean NEVER buy anything online from these people
Answer: I agree, They get an "F" RATING from the BBB! I couldn't believe what a scam they are running there. And the salespeople yell at you when asked a question. People beware. Shop elsewhere.
Abes's of Maine, Cameras and Electronics Since 1979.