Abe's of Main [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

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ray*j*gun

06-15-2009, 04:48

Al Patterson

06-15-2009, 04:53

Hi,

I don't know if this is the right place for this question but I have noticed that "Abe's of Main" has some good prices on all their products....does anyone have any experience with them? I;m thinking about a digital SLR and they seem to have the goods and the best deals.

Thanks as always!

All I know is that Abe's isn't really in Maine. If you lie about simple facts like that, I'm not going to trust you. I've bought from B&H and Adorama over the years with good results. I also buy from Amazon.

Bill58

06-15-2009, 05:02

I think I've read somewhere (maybe www.photo.net) "he" is a big time crook.

scottkathe

06-15-2009, 05:10

What Al said! I've been burned before going for the cheapest price. Now I always buy from B and H, Adorama or KEH for used stuff. I found this seller rating http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Abe_s_of_Maine

If it were me-I'd steer clear.

Scott

DeeCee3

06-15-2009, 05:15

No, Abe's of Maine is NOT in the Pine Tree State. If you'll look carefully at their print and web ads, you'll see they're in Brooklyn, NY. It's my understanding that the original Abe was a Downeaster but decided business would be better in The Big Apple.

Now, insofar as their being shysters is concerned, I'd be very reticent to paint them as such without giving some concrete evidence. Anyone who wants to check them out can go to the www.photo.net section on vendors and read the comments themselves...then decide.

dc

ray*j*gun

06-15-2009, 05:23

Thanks all!!!!

I have also bought many ,many products from B&H and Adorama as well as KEH. The three have always been excellent to deal with. I generally don't go for the price only option but I felt I should ask to see if there was a good value savings ratio from Abe's.

I think I will take the known quantity and stay with outfits I have used before.

Thanks again all!!

Brian Sweeney

06-15-2009, 05:38

It's been a few years, but my wife ordered a leather case for my Nikon F3HP from Abe's of Maine for a Christmas present. She got it at the advertised price, which was a good bit less than other places. She told me they were friendly, and did not push anything on her.

George S.

06-15-2009, 05:45

There ain't no Abe and they ain't in Maine, so why lie like that? Google them and you'll find lots of bait-and-switch horror stories. Stay Away!

kshapero

06-15-2009, 05:53

Where I shop:
1. Cameraquest, PhotoVillage, Popflash
2. B&H, Adorama, Amazon
3. KEH (used)
4. Best Buy, Ritz, Wolf (little stuff, walk in)

mackigator

06-15-2009, 05:55

Amazon, Adorama, B&H, KEH. That's my short list and it's been years since I've had to buy anywhere else. And add Newegg and MWave to the list of good places if you are looking for computer gear.

If you've never seen it, check out this list of camera dealer storefronts in Brooklyn and New Jersey. It lists the web sites and business information paired with the actual businesses. Abe's is on the list, as is B&H, as are the 100's of scammers:

http://donwiss.com/pictures/BrooklynStores/#moved

navilluspm

06-15-2009, 06:01

I used Abe's once for a Canon EF- 85mm. The transaction went smoothly. I'd use them again if the it was new and the price was right.

Edit: I used them when I lived in Milwaukee. I have not made an international purchase from them

rpsawin

06-15-2009, 06:36

dcsang

06-15-2009, 06:45

dmr

06-15-2009, 06:47

I think Abe's USED to be in Maine, but now I believe they're in Brooklyn or some such.

If I'm correct, formerly of Brooklyn, now over in Jersey somewhere.

Al Patterson

06-15-2009, 06:50

I bought a video camera from them a few years ago and had no problems at all. I actually knew that they were not in Maine. I did not think I was being lied to because "Abe" in "Maine" did not take my order. I have, however, quit eating at Wendy's since I found some guy cooked my cheeseburger and the woman who took my order was named Kate....not a Wendy to be found anywhere...lying no goods!!!

Well, Wendy WAS the daughter of the founder of the chain, which he named after her. (And yes, I know you are being sarcastic.)

Having read the reseller rating for "Abe", I'd avoid them.

jke

06-15-2009, 07:03

I just have to laugh a bit about this because it reminds me of the store named "Going Out of Business" from the movie "You Don't Mess With The Zohan" - the store isn't going out of business but the owners named the store that way because it was "good for business"

There are actually stores in NYC that are named "50% Off!". They sell handbags or shoes or something. When the economic slump hit, they changed their name to "90% Off!".

RF-Addict

06-15-2009, 07:20

I have just recently bought from Abe's - they are legit. I had zero problems with the transaction and would buy from them again. They are NOT one of those bait and switch scammers from Brooklyn.

George S.

06-15-2009, 07:32

I have just recently bought from Abe's - they are legit. I had zero problems with the transaction and would buy from them again. They are NOT one of those bait and switch scammers from Brooklyn.

They may have been legit for yours and others here who have said they had no problems, but look them up- many many others would disagree- they ARE scammers and thieves. This is from my own experience a few years back-

THEM: "Yeah".
ME: " I'm interested in the Canon lens on sale in your ad."
THEM: "Let me have your credit card number."
ME: "Why? You haven't told me if you have the lens in stock yet."
THEM: "We need to have your number to get the process going."
ME: "What process? I'd like to ask you a couple of questions.
THEM: "We need your number before we can help you."
ME: HANGS UP.

RF-Addict

06-15-2009, 09:15

Nevertheless, for some reason others have not felt as you do.

I can only tell you what I experienced. They have a decent rating on resellerratings.com - certainly way better than your typical Brooklyn scammers. I normally get my photography gear frm B&H but Abe's had a special on Memory Cards and the transaction went smoothly without any phone calls or other stupid stuff.

Brian Sweeney

06-15-2009, 09:30

Like many stores, I am sure more than one person works there. Sales people come and go, some you need to get rid of. When i worked in a camera shop, we had one guy that was a "scammer". He would push extras on customers, not show them less expensive alternatives. I always treated a customer as if I were spending my own money.

My wife was very happy with her treatment when dealing with Abe's of Maine on the phone, no attempt to push anything else on her when ordering the Case. The Nikon Strap was in it, as it should have been. No extra charge for it.

George S.

06-15-2009, 09:34

If you love them, great. No one is suggesting you don't buy from them.

I am! :eek:

bean_counter

06-15-2009, 09:35

It has been several years, but I had no troubles. Was a significant savings, and for me was the difference between affording the item, or not.

As far as the location/name, it's no big deal, just a continuation of an established business name; after all, Coca-Cola no longer has its namesake ingredient.

JohnTF

06-15-2009, 10:00

They may have been legit for yours and others here who have said they had no problems, but look them up- many many others would disagree- they ARE scammers and thieves. This is from my own experience a few years back-

THEM: "Yeah".
ME: " I'm interested in the Canon lens on sale in your ad."
THEM: "Let me have your credit card number."
ME: "Why? You haven't told me if you have the lens in stock yet."
THEM: "We need to have your number to get the process going."
ME: "What process? I'd like to ask you a couple of questions.
THEM: "We need your number before we can help you."
ME: HANGS UP.

Back about 20 years plus, the guys in the back of Pop Photo, or others, had a terrible rep for borderline fraud and rudeness. Many of them asked for your credit card first, refusing to talk to you until they had a number, --- they had no real way at that time to know if you were actually giving them your ex wife's phone number in Spain in place of a legit card.

They would often not answer questions regarding anything on their 800 Wats line, and you could linger on hold on the other line until you needed to use the facilities, several times.

They almost killed the whole thing, and some things changed.
Pop Photo stepped in and lifted some ads.

There were some variations, advertising gray market, and then having only more expensive US in stock, or swapping the stuff charging your credit cards, or my personal favorite, advertising a Mamiya TLR, but charging $50 extra for the viewfinder? Told the guy I had a prism, and the price went down.

Upping the price, and not shipping until after the credit card bill was actually mailed, then when the charges were reversed, they would charge $50 on the card every six months trying to slip it past. Lasted years until the card expired. Card company knew these guys.

I think I bought a few things OK from Abes.

I always tried to buy first locally, and you know what, the guys at Campus Camera in Kent would occasionally tell me to buy a particular item from NY, they just could not sell some things at those prices, often, they could sell for the same or less. Sometimes they were aware of scams.

In general, I recall attitudes changed so that you could have a reasonable and quick conversation with most of the NY retailers. There are, I understand, some holdovers, but then, I just got another email from Nigeria today and yesterday telling me of my good luck. I guess some things remain a tradition tied to some geographic locations?

Fun times. ;-)

Regards, John

rpsawin

06-15-2009, 10:30

Well, Wendy WAS the daughter of the founder of the chain, which he named after her. (And yes, I know you are being sarcastic.)

Having read the reseller rating for "Abe", I'd avoid them.

Yes indeed. My point is that it is silly to rate a business by the authenticity of it's name. Not in the USA/"global" economy. Remember the all American beer, Bud, is now foreign owned. Who knows, maybe your big mac comes to you via the chinese....lol

Now, if there are a large, credible base of complaints against the way these guys conduct themselves then by all means a potential buyer should be a bit wary.

Best regards,

Bob

zenon

06-15-2009, 10:58

I bought a few things from them in the last two years, and I had no issues whatsoever. (A Nikon D40, and a SB-400 flash.) Came with all the normal warranty. Price was good.

ray*j*gun

06-15-2009, 11:21

Thanks for the tremendous input!

I tend to have Murphy (of Murphy's Law) living in the trunk of my car :rolleyes: so I will try to go with the more tried & true (at least by me) vendors......minimize the chance for problems.

Thanks again.

Doug

06-15-2009, 12:27

I recall back in the bad old days of the 60's-70's that the NYC mail order places would charge your card instantly and then take about 5-6 weeks before shipping the item. I was always uncertain if and when I'd receive what I'd ordered. The more complicated the order, with lots of little stuff like cable releases and filters, the more likely something I'd paid for wouldn't be included. I recall a problem like that with Adorama.

So I kept my orders simple and started ordering COD to motivate them to ship more quickly and not sit on my payment. Lucked out once with an order for a Canon copier in that the truck delivery guy didn't have any COD paperwork. I phoned customer service cross-country on my nickel three times over the following two months trying to pay but they never invoiced it. My lucky copier.

We finally settled on B&H even though their prices were a bit higher than others, simply because they were reliable, and as Fred said honest.

I do credit PC Connection for influencing improvements to mail order in general by not charging cards until shipment, being very easy and friendly to deal with, and shipping what you ordered ASAP. These were two ladies in New Hampshire who set up with Macintosh stuff as Mac Connection in 1984 and became so successful UPS established a shipping terminal in their town. I still buy computer gear from them by preference. Customers began expecting such treatment and I think their ideas spread into NYC with the help of Modern Photography.

chris00nj

06-15-2009, 12:49

I've seen "Abe's Of Maine" ads around for quite some time - but I too have only shopped at B&H (online/phone/in person) and Adorama (in person only).

I just have to laugh a bit about this because it reminds me of the store named "Going Out of Business" from the movie "You Don't Mess With The Zohan" - the store isn't going out of business but the owners named the store that way because it was "good for business" :D

Cheers,
Dave

The pushy sales men in that movie remind me of everything bad I've read about some of those Brooklyn warehouse shops, most especially "Broadway Photo", which have a horrible reputation for bait & switches (http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Broadway_Photo).

JohnTF

06-15-2009, 22:03

20 years ago was a very dark time for discount photo stores, but there were two of the discounters who did better, 47th Street Photo, and little B&H Photo (imagine that LITTLE B&H). B&H was awful, small-messy-low stock-out of touch, but right from the get go in lower manhattan - they were HONEST -- and they had a film refrigerator. And we loved them for that refrigerator.

And in the end honestly won out, even over price. And B&H led everyone to a better way of doing business, those who lived in the past (and there were many) are mostly gone.

Anything off, you earned, but there were some items that just were not available locally. You basically had to have all ducks lined up before you picked up the phone and have good timing relative to your billing statement plus the credit card guys on speed dial. ;-)

I recall my friend buying a Nikon EM whose paperwork indicated it came via Holland.

Freestyle was a trip then as well, but again, you found, and find, stuff there that you cannot get elsewhere.

My colleague sold Foma film he imported through B&H as I recall, until Kodak had a hissy fit about the letter T in the name of their films.

Foma eventually cut him out, and tried to sell through me, at more than retail. They asked where I got the prices of their film and I replied at their shop on Wencelas Square, I suppose they thought no one traveled.

Things change.

Regards, John

minimk3

06-16-2009, 11:23

Abe's of Maine is in Edison NJ. Check the entries at the Better Business Bureau before deciding to purchase. I never bought an item from them because they use deceptive advertising. I think it was last year when I called to check on the validity of the price indicated in a newspaper ad. They responded by saying that...oh that's a TYPO! of course the price was much higher compared to B&H.

My goto place is B&H, Adorama & Amazon (shipped by Amazon only).

oris642

06-16-2009, 11:31

JohnTF

06-16-2009, 20:57

That's like McDonald's used to have a corporation titled "100% All Beef Patties". That way they weren't lying when they said that their hamburgers were made from "100% All Beef Patties".

I just have to laugh a bit about this because it reminds me of the store named "Going Out of Business" from the movie "You Don't Mess With The Zohan" - the store isn't going out of business but the owners named the store that way because it was "good for business" :D

Cheers,
Dave[/quote][/quote]

McDonald's always sold "Shakes", no milk in the name.

Hey, at least they were cheap, during their early years there was not much in the way of competition, we got poisoned with fried chicken in Kentucky.

I had to give them all up, it got to the point I had to take the ads to the library to Xerox them at 300% and use a magnifying glass to read the fine print. ;-)

Regards, John

RFOBD

06-16-2009, 21:01

Hi,

I don't know if this is the right place for this question but I have noticed that "Abe's of Main" has some good prices on all their products....does anyone have any experience with them? I;m thinking about a digital SLR and they seem to have the goods and the best deals.

Thanks as always!

I've bought from them and haven't had a problem. I can't recall if they tried to sell me more stuff before actually sending me what I ordered, but, if they did, telling them no once worked perfectly fine and I received the goods I ordered at the price I ordered it for.

bean_counter

06-17-2009, 09:04

McDonald's always sold "Shakes", no milk in the name.

At college in the early '80's, it was common to see some poor frat pledge forced to dress up in a radiation suit and DEVO red flower-pot hat, to go into a McDonald's and order a "red (or brown or white) polysorbate 80"

JohnTF

06-18-2009, 23:33

In my Folk Festival days, I knew some of the writers, one had written a song entitled "Garbage", and the other wags would say he wrote it every day, so he wrote a new song called "A Thousand and One Songs" so he could tell people he wrote a thousand and one songs.

John