Anyone here deal with Abe's of Maine

[Disney*Dreamer]

I have read both good and bad reviews online, more good than bad, but I trust you all here, so can someone who has actually delt with this company tell me about it.

 

[Code]

I bought my first DSLR from them in Aug 07. I got a call from them after the order to "verify my information" and upsell me on accessories. The person that called told me blatant lies trying to upsell, and was extremely rude when I said I only wanted what I ordered. The camera arrived just fine, but I won't ever order from them again on principle, nor would I recommend them.

 

[Disney*Dreamer]

I used to work at a company that took orders for Fingerhut. We had to try to upsell things. However, I think it is all in the way you do it. I did what I HAD to do and no more. But it made me sick to hear the people there who were considered the top sellers try to upsell stuff. They were rude, abrasive, and pushy. I always felt sorry for whoever was on the other side of that call. There were only about 5 people that were considered the TOP sellers, the ideal employees, I should say, and there were over 500 of us employeed there. I did not use those same tactics, I read from my script and it someone wanted something, good for me, it not, who really cares, I only relied on what I actaully made per hour, not on the extras that I could sell. On average I sold about 4-5 per hour (according to my stats when the call center closed). One of those other guys sold 30 to one person one time. I have no idea how.

Anyway, my point is, hopefully if I do decide to order from them, I would get someone more like myself. But I am still not sold on this company yet.

Can you tell me if your product that you recieved was a US product or a gray market?

 

[YesDear]

I have used them three times on camera purchases and have not had a problem. I got the call but it was not bad. Iwould buy from them again, but they are not where I go first.

 

[dragonstarr]

It may depend on what you are buying. I just brought three memory cards and a lens cleaning pen from them and had a positive experience. Not even one phone call. Now, maybe they only do that if you buy a camera and that's why I decided to go to another company when purchasing my D90. It's a shame because I would have gotten a $100 restaurant card and a lower speed 4GB memory card, but due to some reviews, I didn't want to bother. I know someone who bought lenses from them and never had a problem. They may try to "upsell" you but they are not grey market by any means.

 

[Code]

Can you tell me if your product that you recieved was a US product or a gray market?

It was a US product.. Olympus E-510 to be exact and they are an authorized Olympus retailer so I wasn't worried about that. I wasn't bothered by the rudeness (typical phone center crap), it was the blatant lies that moved them to the "never again" category for me.

 

[RCDisneyFan]

I bought my Nikon 18-200 from them and they were just fine. Polite on the phone, no follow up call, good price and timely shipping.

 

[My2Girls66]

I bought my D50(body only) from them 3 years ago. I got 'the' call to try and sell me a battery and memory cards, the guy wasn't rude or pushy and didn't ry and lie. I said that I was all set on that stuff and that was that. I would buy from them again if it was saving me $$. My latest purchases have been from Beach, B&H and Adorama, tho. No calls at all from any of them.

 

[Groucho]

Seems like I just told this story but I'll do it again. I've bought my three most expensive lenses from them. Had to make the call the first time (they don't call you, they want you to call to "verify".) Was told that it was a one-time thing, so when they asked me to call on the second order, I replied in email that I shouldn't need to and I didn't need batteries or filters. They didn't reply but shipped the lens. On the third one, I wrote in the comment field that I didn't need any accessories and there was no problem.

The upselling tactics are annoying, but I haven't seen any indication that they engage in any underhanded moves like selling graymarket or refurbished items, everything has been brand new, USA packaging, packed acceptably safely, and they are authorized resellers for most all the big names.