WebbCam LLC - Photography Digital Camera & Film Shop — Local services in Philadelphia

This place refuses to honor their return policy, and screws their customer over after purchase is made. They also do not disclose important and relevant information for used gear like a professional camera store should.

I made purchases for a couple of used lenses a week ago on May 4th, I attempted to make a return of the lenses I purchased on May 10th, which according to the policy on the receipt, it is within 7 days of the purchase.

I even asked the guy when I made the purchase what's the return policy on the items, the guy said 7 days, and when I attempted to make the return on May 10th (within 7 days), the store denied my return. Here are the details below:

When I went into the store stating I wanted to make the returns, the staff there asked if there is anything wrong or defect with the items I purchased. I said the lens weren't a good fit for my needs. The staff then said "no return is possible unless there is a defect with the used items I purchased". I then mentioned that there is a gap in the aperture ring's resistance for lens 1. There is a small crack in the front of the lens for lens 2, which I only discovered after I got home and cleaned the lens front element.

Then the staff gaslight me saying that I damaged the lens. And they couldn't feel the gap in the aperture ring so the aperture ring to them was fine. I then showed that there is to much vertical play in the aperture ring, and they said that's not proper/normal use of the equipment.

They basically fabricated every reason to not honor their return policy. First saying if there is no defect, used gear cannot be returned and one of the staff said that has been the policy for 20 years (which is not printed in their return policy anywhere).And then saying that if there is a crack then it could have been me damage the lens (to me, a defect, which I found out only after I got home properly cleaned the lens). And for the other lens that they found no fault with the aperture ring, they wouldn't accept the return either. Wouldn't accept return unless there is a defect, and if there is a defect, then the customer must have damaged it. They just want to have it both ways.

And I guess they wanted to strengthen their point, so they also said according to their policy, digital products or accessories can't be returned and they say the lenses are used for digital cameras so they are digital products. Google says digital products are products that don't have physical form. I guess in their world, you can't touch lenses, they only exist in your imagination.

For the lens that had a small crack in the front element, the lens was dusty while it was in the store, so the crack looked like a tiny hair, I put it in my camera bag after purchase, brought it home, cleaned it carefully, and only then I discovered there was a crack.

As a note, a lot of other good professional stores like B&H, Unique Photo will tell you the condition rating of the lens, if there is dust/fungus inside the lens, and if the front or back elements have cracks or missing lens coating. Not only I was not told that there is a crack in the front of the element at the time of the purchase, they tried to blame me for the crack.

I bet they will respond with the receipt below is folded so it's fake. I folded the receipt for my own privacy reasons. You can take it for what it's worth.

Don't be surprised if they reject your return too. Maybe it's worthwhile to take your business else where and don't support local thieves.

Unique photo is pretty good and not too far away. Cardinal camera has a location at KOP, and Bryn Mawr has a camera shop too. B & H in New York has a much better selection and will make really good recommendation on...

The was my first experience with Webb Cam in Philadelphia, and my last. Even though big camera stores such as B&H, and Adorama in NY have competitive prices, and even offer free shipping, I'm still one that enjoys going to a local camera store for new photography gear, or to search through their used gear. Since I still shoot film, I like to know local stores that I can go to, to buy 35mm, and 120 rolls of film at a moments notice. I also think it's an invaluable resource to have a camera store near you that is knowledgeable, and allows you to pick their brains when needed. I'm sorry to say, I can't say whether or not Webb Camera has that knowledgeable staff that allows their customers to pick their brain, and that’s simply because my first experience there was a terrible one, so I will never go back.

This was the beginning of an email I had written to web camera to bring my terrible experience to their attention. I sent them an email first before posting a review in hopes of at least getting a response from them showing that they care at all about the customers that walk through their door. I sent them an email months ago, and no responce at all. I would post my entire terrible experience, but when I tried, it said I had exceeded the character limit. Thats how long my bad experaicne was here, and how many examples of terrible customer service I had recieved over the period of the two months it took from me to simply get a quote on the strobe they sent out for repair, and to get it back, and then once it's all said and done, I send them an email stating my concerns, and why my experience was so terrible, and all I get is response are crickets.

From the 4 plus years working for Apple, I've learned that there are 2 kinds of customers that the store, the customers friends/family, and online reviews will hear from again after that first experience, when a customer has a bad experience, and when they have an amazing experience. When a customer has an amazing experience, and are treated well, they become a walking billboard. When a customer has terrible experience, they can't help but to recommend to everyone to NEVER shop at that store. From my terrible experience with Webb Cam, and then not even hearing back from them, I couldn't recommend enough for people not use Webb cam,...

I’ve been a customer at Webb Cam since 2017 but will now advise anyone looking for a local camera shop to go elsewhere.

When I previously brought a lens in to be looked at, I watched it roll off a desk and it wasn’t addressed until I responded to an email questionnaire about my experience. They apologized and offered a half refund so I didn't hold it against them because they at least tried to make it right.

In December of 2021 I brought a camera body in to be looked at because it wasn’t focusing correctly. The front of house staff was very kind and directed me to the “in-house expert,” the owner John. He initially told me it wasn’t working as expected because I accidentally turned on back-button focus (not an accident, that’s my preferred setting), then that my diopter was off (it wasn’t), and then that the lens I was using must be broken. After disproving each claim and insisting that the camera itself wasn’t focusing correctly, John reluctantly agreed to send the camera into Nikon.

Nikon was not particularly helpful, which I don’t fault WebbCam for, but since WebbCam sent it in instead of me, I wasn’t able to communicate with Nikon. John didn’t check with me before requesting that my still-broken camera be sent back to me. Although I would have tried to escalate the issue further with Nikon, I ultimately would have paid to have it fixed because a camera that doesn't focus is useless to me. He tried to stop the delivery, but it had already been sent. I was charged and I now have to send it back in to be looked at again. I asked that John waive the shipping fee because ultimately his choices led me to have to send it in twice, rather than just once, but he refused.

Please listen to other reviews recounting John’s dismissive attitude and go elsewhere. I've been a full-time photographer for over six years and don't appreciate being spoken to like a child at every turn. I expect him to respond to this review pointing the finger at Nikon, but please hear that my chief grievance was with the way he interacted with me personally when I first came...