I was surfing Adorama's website (www.adoramacamera.com) under M7 and they have an icon you click called "ask for price break" where they instantly e-mail you a buy price: $2209.95 USA. I don't know if they have them in stock though, you'd have to call and ask definitively. I've found them a reputable shop in the past...worth a call for anyone interested in a USA M7 now.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 28, 2002

Answers

I have found Adorama a bit "oily" with which to deal. Be cautious.

-- George L. Doolittle (geodoolitt@aol.com), April 28, 2002.

Adorama this month played the old "it's in stock we'll ship it right out" game. A week later when I called "it just got back in stock we'll ship it today. Another week later " we'll ship it today". item ordered April 5, received April 23. Items shipped from NYC usually reach my house in NJ 2-5 days.

-- Art McLaughlin (captmcl1@aol.com), April 28, 2002.

Having waited 18 years for the M7, maybe some people might not mind waiting another 18 days to save $150 on one ;>)

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 28, 2002.

Have you ever heard of "bait and switch" tactics.

-- edgaddi (edgaddi@msn.com), April 28, 2002.

Careful. I've had Adorama say they items in stock for which they didn't. I switched to B+H & have had no complaints. Ya gets what ya pay for (too frequently)...

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), April 28, 2002.

i ordered an o-series just for fun 4/4/02 and adorama did not respond after the confirmation of order the same day. it took a call by me more than two weeks lates to learn that not only were they out of stock but don't ever intend to stock (no avail. was never mentioned) and hung up. lesson, go elsewhere, there are more fish in the sea.

i haven't checked photo.net, but will do and add my own comment.

i guess they saved me from another $900 toy, but not in a business like manner.

-- Steve (leitz_not_leica@hotmail.com), April 28, 2002.

I couldn't agree more. Forget Adorama buy from B&H.

-- Arthur Yue (yueart@ctimail.com), April 28, 2002.

I agree... Bad experience several years ago at Adorama. Have been using Ken Hansen since. He is honest, knowledgeable, and will back his product to the hilt. The tel # 212 3170923.

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), April 28, 2002.

Saw something on PhotoNet where hundreds of dealers are rated for service. People list their complaints. After reading this list, you might never want to buy from a dealer again! Lots of people getting shafted! And they really badmouth the photo magazines for letting them advertise, month in, month out, in spite of so many consumer complaints. All the photo mags care about is ad revenue!

-- Frank Horn (owlhoot45@hotmail.com), April 28, 2002.

Sorry to hear about peoples' bad experiences with Adorama. I haven't bought from them much, or in a couple of years, but I had ok experiences with them. Too bad for them if they've lowered their integrity. There are plenty of ethical places to buy from.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 28, 2002.

I am surprised about all the flames against Adorama. I bought most of my Nikon gear there, (F5, F90x, F90, 80-200 2.8, 80-400, 60macro and much much more), much of my digital darkroom, and more. never had any problem with new, with replacing new that I wasn't happy with, returning new a week after the last day of return, on trade-in they are much better than B&H, I have found (gave me 650 on sigma 50-500, when B&H suggested 400). got there my 75lux as new for 1600. you have to know who to go to. Julio is the best. for trade-ins etc, speak to Jack Gold. it is easy to make accusations. even when they are well grounded accusations, they have to be fair, and they might be interpreted wrogly. I had some bad experience with B&H. don't believe it means too much. I had some really bad experience with Cambridge Camera, which does mean much. When you see a bad place you know it, Adorama is a honest place. The big difference is between people that know what they are talking about and tell you the truth when you buy something, and people that don't. Adorama and B&H are same league.

-- rami (rg272@columbia.edu), April 29, 2002.

I don't have any personal dealings w/ Adorama, but I have heard some of the same kinds of things as people are reporting here. I think if you mention Adorama in the question, you will select out answers from people who have had bad experiences. So this may be a skewed survey of responses. However, there are many excellent dealers with whom no or very few individuals report negative experiences, so draw your own conclusions.

So far I have not seen any other evidence of price reductions in the M7. I think it is too early. Prices will start to come down when New but non-USA M7s appear on the market, which will take a little while, since availability of the M7 is still tight.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), April 29, 2002.