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Photospecialist.co.uk
Reviews:

750 reviews in the last 12 months1,593 total reviews  

4.27
Good

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Photospecialist.co.uk fulfils all Trusted Shops quality criteria, including
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Top positive review

21 Aug 2023
 Verified review
The order I made was despatched quickly and collected by the couriers you use and it arrived in the UK alright but everything has gone wrong from there. UPS the UK side of the delivery are totally useless. They have not delivered the package yet and it has been in their hands since 08/08/2023. They are blaming a Customs hold up in the release of my delivery. They have so far sent me 14 stupid messages telling me that the package will be delivered the next day but nothing happens. It appears that the UPS staff in the UK and their computer system are totally useless. Do not use UPS UK for anything. I have made 2 phone calls to them and the staff in the UPS office just keep telling me that the package needs Customs clearance for a £14 lens hood!

Top negative review

10 Aug 2023
 Verified review
Absolutely disgraceful customer service. Firstly our first order with the company does not show in our account, having been assured it would be fixed straight away, it still does not show. The items arrived and so far seem ok, so we made another purchase giving them the benefit of the doubt. BIG MISTAKE. Having identified our email address had been added incorrectly and not being able to update it via the website, we were told they would fix it straight away, we are now locked out of our account. The second order we made got stuck in customs, it was very clear from the UPS tracker this had happened, having contacted Photospecialist the first day it did not arrive we were told they would fix it straight away. The next day the same thing happened, it was clear the item was still stuck in customs. We contacted their support again and after around half an hour wasted time found out not only had the previous support agent not even bothered to contact UPS, they were refusing to speak to us and refusing to give UPS a telephone call. The person responsible was hiding behind one of the girls who was speaking to me (Who we thank for trying her best) they were literally refusing to speak to us and sending messages to and from via this poor girl who was landed in the middle of all this. Our emails regarding this subject were all ignored and we received no written response regarding the issue. We were told we would be called back in two hours with a solution, when that call happened we were told they still had not contacted UPS. We went back and forth for over an hour trying to get the person dealing with this speak to us, who continued to refuse, and trying to get them to agree to pick up the phone and contact UPS. We were continually told it was impossible for them to call UPS, a straight out lie. I informed them multiple times all they need to do is pick up the phone and call them, they continued to refuse to do that, and the person responsible continued to refuse to speak to me. Bearing in mind this is how they treat customers that have spent nearly 1000 GBP with them in the last 3 weeks. We contacted UPS ourselves, and within 5 minutes had found out the item was indeed stuck at customs, and that it should be arriving tomorrow. Instead of Photospecialist picking up the phone to try and resolve this, it took two days of being messed around before we finally got the answer ourselves. Photospecialist gained and lost a customer within the space of 3 weeks due to their pathetic customer service (Aside from the girl we spoke to). Do not buy with this company, their company, website and customer support is an absolute joke.
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Reviews for Photospecialist.co.uk

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2 Jun 2023
 Verified review
The web site failed card payment processing at time of placing the order which I then retried successfully via paypal. But then you seemed to continue retrying the 1st order in the background to a point where I was charged again having believed the first had been cancelled. Two bags shipped - lots of inconvenience to get it sorted. Next time I will use Amazon
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
2 Jun 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. I am sorry to read that the website failed. I have pulled up all your info and I can see that everything has been sorted out. I will send you an email to make sure this issue will be solved.
4 Aug 2023
 Verified review
A very poor returns process. It took around 4 weeks from refusing the delivery to receiving the refund, it's just not good enough. Although they use a co.uk. Web address and have a UK phone number, don't be fooled as this is a Dutch company. It is often hard to get through to customer service as the call will often drop without any explanation.
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
4 Aug 2023
We're sorry you feel that way. We would like to get in touch with you to find out what went wrong in this process. Can you please email us at reviews@kamera-express.nl? We are indeed a Dutch company, but we have an English-speaking customer service. Occasionally during this season our telephone accessibility may not be as good as what you are used to. This is due to understaffing during the busy summer season, for which we apologize.
15 Jun 2023
 Verified review

No delivery, no refund, no replies

Website said "in stock, delivery within 2 to 4 days" and they say it is out of stock, will take months to re-order, and are not refunding. I have sent more than 10 emails to www.photospecialist.co.uk, most unanswered, phone calls to the number on their website were not picked up either.
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
16 Jun 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. I am so sorry this is taking so long to resolve. Your request for refund was send to another department and something went wrong in our system. I have requested this again with urgency and I will keep you informed via email.
7 Aug 2023
 Verified review
Excessive return postage - over 50% of the value of the goods. Offer of help from company but nothing forthcoming. An item costing £68 cost me and additional £30 in loss (sold) and postage.
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
9 Aug 2023
We're sorry you feel that way. We see that you have already contacted our customer service department. You have been offered a return label, with us covering the cost. Somehow there was a miscommunication about this and you chose not to return the bag. You can still contact us so we can resolve this issue for you. You can email us at reviews@kamera-express.nl
4 Jun 2023
 Verified review

Awful customer service.

Was sent a faulty item. Seems impossible to get customer services to sort it out. Next step is a letter of complaint, and then I’ll get the ombudsman on to it.
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
5 Jun 2023
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. My apologies you were send an faulty item. You have recieved the retun lable today. Due to low of staff we try to help every one, however our reply responses are longer then what you are used to from us. I am so sorry about this. I will keep in touch with you via email, to get this sorted out asap.
14 Jul 2023
 Verified review

Item not delivered.

Item not delivered and none of the contact details work. Very very poor customer service. I would avoid this company.
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
15 Jul 2023
How frustrating to read! I'd love to get in touch with you so we can work out a solution!
31 Oct 2023
 Verified review
Item didn't arrive and still no refund or replacement Had to open a caes with PayPal Buyers beware
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
1 Nov 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. I see that your package has gone lost and we start an investigation, where we handled a refund for you. I am so sorry that this has taken so long.
7 Jun 2023
 Verified review

Think twice before purchasing - company is not UK based (even with co.uk), customer services are not what they should be

Product I bought - brilliant. But the experience was not what I paid for and have to say it already caused me few sleepless nights. Started well with receiving estimated delivery email within few hours of purchase. But then the actual date of delivery came and nothing changed, parcel was not even despatched at that point (5 days since my order), and that made me read all the reviews on Trustpilot - I wish I read them before purchasing. As that's the point I realised the fact that the company has co.uk at the end of their website link doesn't actually mean they are based in UK as I originally thought. And for something so potentially 'delicate' such as big printer it got me worried. Their customer services are useless, and it looks they actually spend more time responding to their trustpilot reviews than actually doing what they should do at first place - be proactive, not responsive. Phonelines keep getting cutoff even during office hours, if you do eventually manage to speak to someone, and they promise they look into the issue and send you email (no calling back as requested), they never bother responding. I cannot even imagine having bigger issues and losing thousands of pound as some others seem to due to delivery issues, as noone seems to be taking responsibility for their actions - company and it's customer services nor the delivery company. So my advice after this eyeopening experience - actually spend few extra quid and buy the product within UK if uk based - you're morelikely to sleep better. And if you do want to still purchase with photospecialist, at least cover yourself and pay via credit card as there's a chance things will go wrong and you want some security. So to sum up - I'll think twice before purchasing from them again as customer services don't care, so if there's an actual issue, they will be a pain to deal with.
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
9 Jun 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. This is a bad situation that has happened and I truely want to offer my apologies. We are a a company based in the Netherlands and this is mentioned on the website. Kamera Express has taken over Photospecialist and not to confuse the customer we have kept the name as well the website. I have pulled up your order and I see that my colleague did respond to you, however something went in the system that you did not recieve the email with the information about UPS. Due to low of staff on the customer service it takes longer to get in touch with us, but we try to help everyone. The customer service and the reviews are done by different departments. But I will take your feedback to management to imporve this. I will send also send you an email.
18 Dec 2023
 Verified review
Its been 3 weeks since my order and they haven't sent the item. Further more, they haven't got back to any emails regarding this and the phone number doesn't seem to ring? This telescope was supposed to be a Christmas present for my son and therefore I have had to make a second order elsewhere. I'm currently trying to contact them to cancel this order but they aren't replying to my emails and again, the phone option seems pointless. If I could give them 0 stars I would. Absolute joke company.
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
19 Dec 2023
Sorry to read that it went the way it did. I see that we did request the delivery time, but with the mail to you it didn't go quite right which meant you never got a message from us, Sorry about this!!! I see the order has been cancelled. You will get a refund soon.
17 Oct 2023
 Verified review

Poor After sales Service

Bought a downloadable software package for £75.00. They emailed the serial number along with a link to an other firm where I could actually download the software. Unfortunately I couldn’t get access to the download. . Despite phone calls and emails no one seemed or wanted to help. Fortunately I contacted Pinnacle software who were very understanding and gave me a link to their web site and I managed to download the software from them. Very poor service
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
18 Oct 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. When it comes to a download, there is nothing we can do. Pinnacle is the one that can have access to your account and can see what might be the issue and solve this for you.
BB
Bob B.
St.Ives
18 Nov 2023
 Verified review

Really bad customer service on returns

Bought an Orca bag and they sent the wrong one. Emailed 3 times and heard absolutely nothing in over a week. Had to return the bag and that cost me £40 still heard nothing from them. Very very poor customer service and very disappointing as a loyal customer. Not sure it takes a lot to reply to an email these days so why over a week to respond. Hoping they will refund for the bag and the postage and make an apology .......fingers crossed.
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
19 Nov 2023
Thanks for the review, I am afraid you missed emails from us, you received a return label from us early last week. Has this one arrived ? I will contact you!
29 Dec 2023
 Verified review

Terrible customer service

Tried to order cameras on 2 separate occasions over 2 weeks before Christmas and due to their abysmal customer service (no contact to say they had no stock until I called them)and website (shows “in stock” when they don’t have any) I had no camera for my wife and almost £900 out of pocket 5 days before Christmas. By this time I had to take what I could and ended up paying double what I intended. STAY AWAY!!
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
2 Jan 2024
Sorry to read that this happens, due to black friday and the hustle and bustle around that and the holidays we were indeed a bit slower in responding. Sorry for this. I see there was contact 1 day after your email and we eventually cancelled the order.
28 Jun 2023
 Verified review

Very poor service

I have tried to return a camera bag because it is too small. Because I am in the UK the courier requires their VAT number and some other reference number and all Cameraspecialist keeps saying is fill in the return form and post it off. I can't because the courier won't accept the package without these reference numbers ad they continue to not provide the information !!
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26 Aug 2023
 Verified review

abysmal

delivery of items has gone smoothly in the past but this time the item is stuck at uk customs, this would suggest that either photospecialist admin has changed something or uk customs has changed something. PS sent email that item would be released the next day" but it was an empty promise as the item is still going no where.
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
30 Aug 2023
Thank you for leaving this review. I am so sorry this has happened. We have found the solution and are working hard to get everything delivered for you. You have recieved an email last week about this. Again I am very sorry about this.
19 Aug 2023
 Verified review

Untrustworthy

Little to no communication about my parcel delays, errors providing correct data for customs clearance, lack of respect for consumer protection laws in countries they trade in. Treat customers with contempt. Trustpilot and Google reviews bear this out quite plainly. Photospecialist cannot be trusted nor can UPS
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
23 Aug 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. I am so sorry to hear you haven't recieved it yet. UPS is having difficulties with customs. Of course we are doing our best to get this solved ASAP. I will contact you via email about this issue.
19 Aug 2023
 Verified review

Great price.....SHOCKING delivery policy

Great price.....absolutely SHOCKING delivery service because they use UPS. Nearly 3 weeks on since my order and no parcel, and now just been told that UPS are returning my parcel to the sender as they didn't provide the information needed for my parcel to clear customs. Just don't bother - not worth it....
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
23 Aug 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. I am so sorry to hear you haven't recieved it yet. UPS is having difficulties with customs. Of course we are doing our best to get this solved ASAP. I will contact you via email about this issue
25 Aug 2023
 Verified review
Paid £9.99 for delivery, product was meant to arrive on 17th August, intended to be used on my wedding day on the 19th for our photo guestbook. Kept getting messages it was delayed. Arrived over a week after it was meant to on 25th. Don’t even need or want them anymore! Awful service.
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
25 Aug 2023
Thank you for leaving this review. I am very sorry that this has take so long, there were custom issues with UPS that we were trying to solve as fast as we could. You recieved our email about the delay on your package. My apologies for the inconviences.
11 Aug 2023
 Verified review
Website said 2-3 days It turned up late and was a waste of money as I had to buy extra!! As it didn’t arrive for when I needed it Also the delivery from them was got an open day arrival 9am-7pm So I had to stay stuck at home all day long !! I won’t use again - unreliable
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
12 Aug 2023
Sorry that we were unable to deliver it within the specified time, I would be happy to get in touch with you so that I can help you further to resolve this nicely.
25 Aug 2023
 Verified review
Next to impossible to get communications from this company as the email addresses don't work. I didn't receive a vat invoice with my goods, or on payment, which I would have expected. There is no notification of shipment, nor updates on progress. I couldn't recommend them
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
25 Aug 2023
Thank you for leaving this review. We have had a lot of difficulties with our emailaddress that we have been trying to solve this asap. I see you recieved our email about the delay on your package. My apologies for the inconviences.
19 Aug 2023
 Verified review
It actually deserves zero stars. No company should advertise its wares if it cannot supply them. It is 2 weeks since I placed my order: I asked for a refund but this has not been granted. Obfuscation and excuses are all I get. Unacceptable level of customer service.
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Answer by Photospecialist.co.uk
23 Aug 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. I am so sorry to hear you haven't recieved it yet. UPS is having difficulties with customs. Of course we are doing our best to get this solved ASAP. I will contact you via email about this issue.