Consumer tech · review
Adorama
Adorama has sold photo and video equipment out of the same block of Manhattan since 1974, and its 30-day return window and detailed used-and-refurbished grading system reflect that specialism. The catch is squarely electronics-shaped: laptops, tablets, drones, computers and memory cards cannot be returned once their sealed packaging is opened, whatever condition they're in. A 15% restocking fee applies if anything comes back without its original box, seals and accessories intact.
Last reviewed 24 August 2026 · scored 4.1/5 by our editors
- Founded
- 1974
- Return window
- 30 days
- Ships to
- 70+ countries
- Restocking fee
- Min. 15% if not resellable
About Adorama
Adorama opened as a single photography store on Manhattan's 34th Street in 1974 — self-described as 'The Photography People' — and moved to its current 42 West 18th Street flagship in 1988. What was once a camera counter now spans computers, drones, audio, musical instruments and home electronics online, alongside sister storefronts under the same group: Adorama Rentals, the print service Printique, and the outdoor retailers Scuba.com and SunnySports. The company still operates the single NYC retail store, closed Saturdays, alongside its e-commerce catalogue, and ships to more than 70 countries and territories worldwide.
Pricing is not the differentiator — Adorama competes on selection, financing and service tiers rather than being reliably the cheapest. The Adorama Edge Credit Card, issued through Comenity Bank or Fortiva, carries no annual fee and offers a choice between an everyday 5% discount or promotional financing on qualifying purchases. New items carry the full manufacturer warranty; refurbished stock carries a 90-day return-to-manufacturer warranty; and used gear is graded Mint through 'For Parts,' with warranty coverage — 90 days down to none at all — set by that grade rather than a single blanket policy across the used catalogue.
Returns run 30 days from delivery, longer than most electronics retailers, but the exception matters more than the headline number: laptops, tablets, drones, memory cards and other electronics cannot go back once the sealed box is opened, and a minimum 15% restocking fee applies to anything returned without its original packaging and accessories intact. Trustpilot rates Adorama 4.6 out of 5 across more than 3,600 reviews — a genuinely high volume for a specialist retailer — though Adorama pays for a Trustpilot business subscription and actively invites reviews from every customer, worth factoring in when reading that score.
What buying actually costs
Standard shipping
Cost shown at checkout
Free 2-day shipping applies to eligible items on orders over $49.99 within the contiguous 48 states; Home Electronics, Musical Instruments and used stock are excluded.
30-day return window
Self-service label; 15% restocking fee risk
Generous by US electronics standards, but laptops, tablets, drones, computers and memory cards cannot be returned once opened, whatever the reason.
Adorama Edge Credit Card
No annual fee; 5% off every day or promotional financing
Issued through Comenity Bank or Fortiva; pick the everyday discount or a financing offer on a given order, not both.
Used and refurbished tiers
Priced below new; warranty set by condition grade
Refurbished carries a 90-day return-to-manufacturer warranty; used ranges from 90 days down to no warranty at all for "Flawed" or "For Parts" grades.
Electronics carry the strictest return terms on the site — check the non-returnable list before assuming the 30-day window applies.
What works
A real 30 days to decide
Most electronics retailers give 14 days; Adorama's self-service return portal and 30-day window give more room to test a purchase before the deadline passes.
Warranty tiers are written down
New stock gets the full manufacturer warranty, while refurbished and used items carry stated, graded warranty terms instead of a vague 'as-is' disclaimer buried in the fine print.
Financing with no annual fee
The Adorama Edge Credit Card offers a standing 5% everyday discount or promotional financing on qualifying purchases through Comenity Bank or Fortiva, without an annual charge.
A large, active Trustpilot presence
4.6 out of 5 across more than 3,600 reviews is a genuinely high volume for a specialist retailer, and Adorama replies to a stated majority of negative reviews rather than ignoring them.
What doesn’t
Opened electronics can't go back
Laptops, computers, tablets, drones and memory cards are non-returnable once out of their sealed packaging — there is no 'try it and decide' option for most higher-value gear here.
Restocking fee risk is real
A minimum 15% fee applies if a returned item is not in its original, unaltered packaging with every accessory and manual included, which is easy to fall foul of on anything larger than an accessory.
International orders carry friction
Buyers outside the US and Canada cover duties, taxes and brokerage fees themselves, and Adorama will not ship an international order at all until every backordered item is back in stock.
How it scores elsewhere
Aggregate public scores, with the source named. We do not publish individual testimonials — we have no way to verify them.
Trustpilot
3,600+ reviews, rated "Excellent"; Adorama pays for a Trustpilot subscription and actively solicits reviews
4.6ReviewKong editorial score
weighed against the strict non-returnable-electronics list and restocking-fee risk above
4.1
Buy it if
- US and Canada buyers who want manufacturer-backed new gear alongside a genuinely tiered used market
- Photo, video and audio buyers who value a near-50-year specialist over a generalist chain
- Buyers who want financing with a stated everyday discount rather than a vague "special offer"
- International buyers prepared to handle their own customs and duties
Skip it if
- Anyone planning to open and test a laptop, tablet or drone before deciding whether to keep it
- Buyers who want a fast international order when part of it is backordered
- Shoppers who want to skip restocking-fee risk entirely — that means keeping every box, seal and accessory
Adorama: common questions
Can I return a laptop or tablet if I just don't like it?
Only if it's still in its original, unopened sealed packaging. Once the box is opened, laptops, computers, tablets, drones and memory cards are on Adorama's non-returnable list regardless of the reason for the return, so this is not a 'try before you commit' retailer for that category of electronics.
Does Adorama ship internationally?
Yes, to more than 70 countries and territories by its own listing, alongside the US and Canada. Import duties, taxes and brokerage fees are the buyer's responsibility and are not something Adorama controls or predicts, and an international order that includes a backordered item is held until everything is in stock.
What is the restocking fee, exactly?
A minimum of 15% of the item's value, charged when a returned product isn't in new, resellable condition — meaning it's missing its original box, an intact UPC code, packing material, manuals or accessories. Keeping everything that arrived, in the condition it arrived, is the way to avoid it.
Is financing available?
Yes, through the Adorama Edge Credit Card, issued via Comenity Bank or Fortiva Retail Credit. It carries no annual fee and offers either an everyday 5% discount or promotional financing on qualifying purchases — the two are alternatives on a given order, not a stack.
Is the 4.6 Trustpilot score trustworthy?
It reflects a genuinely large sample — more than 3,600 reviews — which is hard to fake at that volume. But Adorama holds a paid Trustpilot business subscription and actively invites every customer to review, both of which tend to lift review counts and, often, average scores compared with a store that never asks.
Ready to try Adorama?
Full manufacturer warranty on new stock · Package Protection add-on (via Extend) for loss or shipping damage · Operating from the same NYC store since 1988