So i i purchased a celestron origin 2 about 2 months ago. It has been a complete nightmare. The service from camera house has been horrible. They are rude they say they can't replace it as they say it's human error but they don't read my email which has descriptions and photos that clearly prove that the CPU the autofocusing and the camera are faulty. I won't shop there again except from the burden of dealing with this nightmare of a product Show details
I purchased a CANNON Camera from Camera House and one of the fiscal hooks used to lure me into the sale was a "$100 CASH BACK" which I found out was very misleading. When I went to buy something from Camera House using the "$100 CASH BACK", I was told it was only available "online" and I would need to use the "online" store to redeem it. So, I… Read more
went "online" and found the "$100 CASH BACK" has expired 24 hours earlier.
Apparently, according the CS person from Camera House, I was told this but, I don't remember this and I know I wasn't told. I have a good memory of conversations (my job) and I have searched and scanned through my paperwork from the sale and there is absolutely no mention of the "$100 CASH BACK" being redeemable only online and there is is no expiry date either.
As many people have said earlier, they are very happy and eager to take your money immediately but, they don't like handing it back.
I was left unimpressed with the obvious distortion of the facts, the lack of empathy and the general over whelming feeling that I had been conned. The language Camera House CS staff use is "tricky" and "misleading" and is used to manipulate you into a false sense of security; in that you believe you are dealing with a reputable and accountable business, which of course you are not.
Camera House then sent me a survey asking about my experience with Camera House and when I gave my honest opinion of the interaction with Camera House, they sent me an email stating I was incorrect and they did not agree with my opinion. Then, why ask for my opinion?
As stated previously, they are "tricky" and "misleading" in the way they dealt with us and they use wording deliberately intended on manipulating you down a purchasing path that leads to an outcome not intended. Our whole experience with Camera House has been one of disappointment and distrust. I can only say that I am surprised Camera House is still in business with the sales staff and the selling blurb as they currently have being so manipulating and misleading.
No amount of Camera House generated 5 Star reviews is going to change this culture of deceit and disappointment coupled with an unempathetic view of their customers.
As for the CANNON CAMERA, it is a nice camera and appears to be doing the job intended but we will never ever go back to Camera House.
Reviews with attachments
Expert Advice in Person – Earlier in the year I bought a new SONY mirrorless Alpha 7C camera on eBay. Its a wonderful camera and I like it very much. I was after a wide angle lens to go with it as I take a lot of scenery and nature photographs. The local Camera House Hobart store salesperson was extremely helpful and recommended a SAMYANG (Korean) lens, which I bought. The… Read more
lens is just what I wanted and have taken some stunning photos in the few days I've been using it. The attached photos were taken at dusk at the Hobart wharf area.
Printing Service With Intelligence – 2023 Canvass Enlargements The Camera House in Midland WA was once a crammed shop within the Midland Gate Shopping Centre, this is where I bought my first digital Pentax D20 camera. I had returned to the shop a few times over the years for the odd printing job when I required reliable quality prints, though on most occasions I used the convenience… Read more
of Kmart. They have since shifted to a larger premises of their own further along the Gt Eastern HWY which is not as convenient because it becomes a purposeful drive to get to it, thankfully the parking is right at the front door. This year I spent quite some money, on firstly enlarging some prints I made from my S10E phone of a beach pan landscape, five in all up to the size of 450mm x 300mm after cropping. I wished after that I had taken my good Pentax, but the S10E does produce some wonderful pics. Believe it or not it came to me later after waking up to seeing them hanging on my bedroom wall that canvasses would look much better than the wooden framed combination! So some four months later I drove back the 160km with my original prints on my phone and spoke to a young female technician with each my plan but also my concern with how my pics were going to work out with the limited canvass sizes available, the technician remembered the prints and after perusing them she assured me that they would work out. The technician invited me to watch her match the pics and asked each time what I thought before moving on to the next. When the technician advised me that I had to wait another two days for their part time picture framer to come in this put me off a little, however I admitted to my impulsiveness and stayed in Perth for that length of time. Now this was well worth the wait because I turned up at the precise moment that same original technician (The part timer called in sick) was just finishing making the frames and had the other four canvasses laid out on the bench for all to see, they were just amazing. Overall the technician did an amazing job of which I shouldnt have been surprized at all as her service was truly professional from the start, along with this I found her counter manners also very pleasant which is not always the case with smart technicians. Stewart.
It's a scam. They are dishonorable and don't care credibility – Placed an online order last month. Click & Collect from Campbelltown Macarthur Square store. Price is $120 higher than another camera store but the website marked with $300 VISA card redemption. I have no idea who would issue the VISA card. I kept asked the female shop keeper (I thought she is the franchise store owner) how to do the redemption… Read more
many times when I was collecting the item from the shop. She can't help but answer (she tried hard to avoid to answer) just told me following instructions showing in the box doing online on Olympus website. I checked the Olympus website it show a list of products eligible to claim the VISA redemption that the camera I just bought was not included. I realise camerahouse.com.au made a mistake I am not able to claim anything through Olympus Australia. I tried to call the female shop keeper many times she’s busy and never called back. I sent email and messages via customer service assistance on website then got a reply after 4 days. It told me same that I just go to Olympus website to make claim it’s senseless. One day, I could talk to the female shopkeeper finally. She gave me a phone number said I have to call their head office. I wondered and asked why she cannot follow up. She said she can't. I went home and make calls accordingly many many times but nobody answered. Then next day I call the shopkeeper again. I told I can step back to give up the rebate because it took me too much time. I just want to get the cash back of price selling different between camerahouse and another merchant ($119). A keeper called me back after 30 minutes that they only offer I can get $100 but in form of voucher not cash. I can't help but accepted that I was really tired and sick of these negotiation. I should have checked the review before I placed this order on this shop!!!! Suggest you don't stick to shop!!!
Positive reviews
The camera shop in pacific fair, broadbeach...If your wanting ,expertise, quality and exceptional customer service this is the place to go...the guys there are so helpful...Gerard helped me photo shop some poor quality family photos today and I was amazed how he went out of his way to get them just right for me...priceless....this is the best… Read more
camera store on the gold coast in my opinion..and I have shopped there many times now, and they never fail to amaze me....thank you Gerard and Tommy for all your friendly help ...5 stars
Friendly and very helpful staff. I always go to this store to print photos off my phone. Never have had a problem. Done quickly and always come out perfect quality. Show details
Great Service from Penrith Store – I was looking for a particular lens that I had no luck finding and had no response from other camera stores either online or physical. I went in to Camera House in Penrith Westfield and was told it wasn’t in stock but they could order it for me. I declined and decided to keep searching. 5 days later I was back in Penrith and decided to go ahead… Read more
and order it. However to my delight Jackson said not only do they have one (just one left) in stock but it was now also on sale! Winner ! Jackson’s determination to locate said lens was standout and his customer service 10/10. Not sure if the other person I asked the previous visit would have found it had he looked, but I was happy to have bought it on sale. Will be happy to buy from this store again
Negative reviews
Very disappointing experiences. Get your print enlargements elsewhere, – I attended the Croydon store and requested 4 large prints. I took the frames in they would be going into. These were measured by the store worker at the computer, she appeared to be rushing so she could go on a break or finish for the day and she passed her measurements to the girl operating the printing machine. That girl came to me when done… Read more
with a long roll of the 4 prints altogether and said was it okay to leave them on the roll and have the picture framer cut them. She told me they often get asked by picture framers to leave them uncut for the framer to cut. I had not heard of this before and trusted what she was telling me, so I accepted her word and took them to the framer like that. He told me in his 40yrs of professional picture framing he had never asked for the pictures to be left uncut for him to do, nor had he ever heard of this. He suggested the girl was simply being lazy. But he said he said he would do her job and cut them into the 4 prints, to save me having to go back to the Camera House store. A week or so later he rang to tell me the pictures did not fit the frames, they were TOO SMALL and he said fell through the frame! He told me he would have to try to glue them down and hoped that worked, which it didn't. He said the only other alternative was to use a mat, which in the natural hardwood frames that I already had I did not want. It was either travel a 3hr round trip from where I lived to get the pictures printed again at an additional cost of approx' $80 to me or accept the mat around my pictures. I reluctantly accepted the mat but was deeply disappointed and unimpressed by Camera House for putting me in this position, all because of the 1st girl not measuring the print size correctly and the 2nd for not cutting the 4 individual prints up and adding stress and work to my picture framer. The 4 prints were of my beloved pussycat who had recently deceased and I was incredibly sad and upset the framed prints would not be as beautiful now they had to have the mat around the print. To make matters worse, while I was waiting for the enlarged prints to be done. I wanted several other smaller prints done and was told I had to use their automatic kiosk machine for those. I sat down and found this machine really awful and hard to use, the screen was very dull, so dull it was extremely hard to discern true colours of the prints and guage how they would come out and whether the colours needed adjusting. I also wanted to do some at 8x10" but the kiosk had every size but 8x10". I was told they could do them at that size though, BUT I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE 8x12" size. There was a significant jump in price for the 8x12. Why would anyone want to pay for an extra few inches on a half dozen prints that they weren't actually getting??? So I had to choose to downsize those prints to 8x8" instead. So to sum up, I had spent a lot of money previously and on this occasion at this store for print enlargements and found the staff to be rushed, not fully focussed on their job, prone to mistakes and in this case downright lazy, causing my picture framing jobs to be very compromised from what I had wanted. Their small print kiosk is horrendous and not set up with all necessary sizes and prices. I have found somewhere else now to get my printing done and will never return to Camera House Croydon. KMart or Officeworks are far more preferable for small print jobs and other boutique family run print stores for larger enlargements.
Sold me dodgy camera – I bought a camera here a few years ago and meant to leave a poor review of the camera (Panasonic Lumix TZ90) but it's no longer in stock so leaving a poor review of the experts that sold it to me instead. All I wanted was a camera that did two things: take nice photos while zoomed and take nice photos at night. But guess what, this camera… Read more
didn't allow for extended shutter times. It's not like it's physically impossible for the shutter to stay open longer. It's that the makers deliberately didn't allow the shutter to stay open longer.
So I'm standing there on a remote island like an idiot with my camera mounted on a tripod (I also bought at camera house) trying to take photos of the milky way at the maximum shutter time and all I can see is black.
I'll never come back – I recently visited the physical store at Warringah Mall for the second time, hoping to have a better experience than my first visit where the salesperson didn't acknowledge me. This time, I approached a tall, dark salesman who seemed to be in his 40s. I intended to gather information about a camera and two lenses that I was interested in… Read more
purchasing. Unfortunately, the salesman treated me rudely and refused to match prices from reputable stores such as Ted's and Georges. He even mocked the prices and suggested that I should go to those stores and buy 17 lenses at that price. I was extremely disappointed and decided to go to JB Hifi where I received top-notch service and they matched all the prices I showed them. I will not be returning to that particular store and want them to know that they have lost a valuable customer. I wouldn't buy anything in this store, even if it's given for free.
Recent reviews
I don't know about online, but the Rockhampton store is always 11/10, friendly, and knowledgeable. Some of the guys there used to be proper professional photographers/videographers. They are always willing to compromise on price or cut a deal to make the sale, its only a small store but they have most of the things you'd need Show details
Find out how Camera House Physical store compares to other Electronics & Computing Shops
Know better, choose better.
Specialist Camera Shop that cannot take quite simple passport/visa photos of acceptable standard – My partner visited the Castle Towers Camera House on 15 March 23 to obtain urgently needed visa/passport photos. The photos provided, both the printed and electronic had a yellow background. The published guidelines state these photos must have a background that is white or light grey. My partner highlighted this color issue to the shop… Read more
staff at the time of the images being provided. The staff were quite belligerent stating they do 100's of photos and the photos were of the required standard. WRONG
The provided photos would not upload on the on-line visa application because of this faulty background color. My partner was required to return to the store, taking her laptop showing the message to the store that the provided images were not to the required standard.
She was refused a refund and was not provided with replacement photos.
Instead the pics were again sent to us electronically - 5 times!!
It took 5 different files being sent until one was received of acceptable quality.
We took this issue of staff in a camera shop who could not take a simple passport photo up with the Camera House Head Office and of course promised return phone calls were not received.
Camera House stated we did not return the images for them to review.
NOTE They have the images electronically and could easily review same and my partner was not provided a refund, hence why would she surrender images that she had paid for? In addition, the store must be aware the images are of substandard quality - proof ....they resent these images 5 times!
On eventual receipt of the refund I had no intention or wasting more time or costs in returning the poor images to the store - we had wasted enough time in visiting the store twice and making numerous phone calls as our calls were frequently not returned, particularly from a person who identified themselves as the Customer Service Manager. (An individual who didnt seem able to provided a timely resolution to our extremely poor experience).
It is also noteworthy that the shop illegally advise customers in writing that there are no refunds on these photos - they would be re-taken. This is clearly a deceptive and illegal/immoral practice in Breach of Australian Consumer Law.
In short, a specialist camera shop that cannot take a reasonably simple passport/visa photo, belligerent staff, a shop that does not comply with consumer law and a Head Office that clearly doesnt care.
I do not wonder why this retailer has such a low customer satisfaction rating.
UPDATE
I made several calls to Camera House and eventually received a call from their CEO who apologized for our experience in the Castle Towers Store and provided a refund for the cost of the substandard images taken.
No compensation was provided for the additional transport costs or the 1/2 day my partner was required to take off work to try and resolve what I would have thought was a pretty straight forward 'job.'
We were offered a gift voucher to the store which we declined for reasons I think are pretty obvious.
Appalling service – Purchased camera from the Shepparton store which offered free periodical camera cleans for 3 years. The Shepparton store closed it's doors and apparently the Camera House as a whole isn't obliged to honour this agreement. There's no way to talk to the people who run the franchises. Don't deal with these people, they aren't honourable and they… Read more
don't stand behind the promises of their franchisees when they fail. If I have a warranty issue on the camera now, what do I do? Camera House clearly doesn't care.
Love this store!! – Great customer service and received my photos within an hour. Super easy to navigate around the store and the quality of the photos was excellent. Highly recommend!! Show details
Unacceptable service and deceitful – At first I found information given on the phone helpful and that is where it ended. I only required a sensor clean for my camera. I left my camera with the store for a few hours. On my return I was immediately shown a few cracks on the corner of the screen. I advised them that this was not there previously and any damage in store was denied. I… Read more
them gently rubbed my finger over the cracks and small shards came off, obviously just happened. When they confirmed that the sensor was clean they only pointed out a white photo on the screen. Obviously dust or dirt spots rarely show on a tiny screen. I had to ask if they had checked it on any software, they then proceeded to do it. I am devastated that my camera equipment is now damaged. I will now have to find someone to repair it. After speaking to other photography friends they stated that usually when equipment is left behind in a store for repairs a check and damage report is done - this wasn't.
Poor service – Today I took a passport size photo @ camerahouse, Darwincity,totally disappointed with the photo (looks dull,they are not professional), felt they don't have any dedication of their service.
The Worst Customer Services Ever So I Advised All Customers To Avoid Camera House Morley At All Cost!!! – I bought a product from Camera House Morley in Dec 2019. The product was faulty and stop working after the first use. Jan 2020, I came to exchange and was advised that the product was out of stock, my details was written down in : the back order book" and the staff told me I would be in contact once it become available. THERE WAS NO PHONE CALL,… Read more
between 2020 - 2021, I followed up over 5 times both in person and phone call. The same answer, there was no stock and the staff would phone me to inform if the product or substitute is available. I called today around 4.30 pm to check for the stock, the staff advised that he can order it in and mail to me. However, After listening to my back order inquiry, he told me: " you call me in regarding to a product purchased 2 years ago, it is impossible as how can I know it was true. There was no record to show that your name is in back order list anymore. If the product is important to you, you wouldn't have waited for 2 years as it only costs $50". It is absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable answer. I would share this story to my wider community to make sure that no one within my reach will come to Morley Camera House Morley and have terrible experience like me.
Useless Sales Rep – messaged the Chermside shop about a Gimbal to fit my Camera,and the result was to "bring it in and well see it it works" got there and the Sales guy just said "no it not going to work..then turned his Back to me while I was asking a question.....C**T wasnt interested and said anything else? basically code for F**k off..was going to spend $300 on… Read more
something else but I'll go up the 'TEDS".. hope this guy works on commission,cause you lost a BIG Payday...maybe $7,000 in future Camera Gear
More expensive than other camera shops – Bought a Canon EOS M50 From North Lakes store . My mistakes was I didn't realise all these stores with names like Ted's Camera house,Garrick Camera house and so on are totally different stores even though their names are similar, I bought a number of items and just paid the amount when I went to down load the invoice for the warranty I noticed… Read more
the camera was $100 more expensive than other camera shops and a wide angle lens was $30.00 more expensive than their advertisement. I rang the store to tell them about the over charge they said they will get back to me when they did I found the guy wasn't very helpful had no phone etiquette then said that's the price.not even a sorry explanation why they are more expensive. I'd take the lot back but am to far away.
Sales Sharks - Do not trust Again. Thiefs – Put my trust in this group only to be lied to abused and have my property stolen. An expensive Nikon DSLR Camera Lens was taken from me and they refused to return. Resorting to lies and abuse! Thieves & Lies after an initial Sales Shark ripped me off. Never Trust Again ! Show details
Find out how Camera House Physical store compares to other Electronics & Computing Shops
Know better, choose better.
Best service ever, reduced price to fit current price trends and a great range of items. What more can I say! – The staff at Camera house Darwin went out of their way to help me track down what I needed, helped me get it at very little profit to them. I really was astounded. Rather than just a sorry we don't have that. I was not just helped to try to organise an Uber delivery, but when no driver was around, a member of the team there drove 40 minutes to… Read more
collect the item from another store as I had to get the goods before I flew out they then delivered them to my Hotel. I might add they gave me a price reduction to fit current price trends and had a great range of items. What more can I say!! Camera House is not just good for Camera operators and film-makers, but good for Darwin too!
Do Not Buy, No Refunds At All - No Change Of Mind - Sneaky & Deceptive – Be very careful with these expensive stores. Know exactly what you want, i got hdmi cord for a monitor then found for $40 cheaper at camera pro, also got a battery for $90 then found it for $30 on better batt Australian website. Now i chose to buy these knowing i can probs find them cheaper but got them just incase for pending shoot as i was… Read more
running out of time and assumed i could refund if items were unopened.
However, they don't do full refunds for un open products.
Of course the staff don't mention a no refund or change of mind policy when you purchase else you would be to picky with their crap prices.
They will do instore exchange coupons only. Very dirty behaviour.
Passport pic rejected as it was taken wrong. NO RESPONSIBILITY was taken by Camera Warehouse – We went to Camera House in Parramatta to get passport pics to our 2.5year old. But Auspost rejected the app saying the pic is showing hair covering full forehead. When we went to inquire about this they became defensive and said they can't take responsibility and told us to bring proof. So all the time we spent on getting the guarantor signature… Read more
and filling the passport application is now wasted but they want us to waste even more time.
The next day I went again after finding the Camera Operator Guidelines from passport office which clearly says it hair shouldn't cover forehead. Even after they came up with red herring arguments like "we've been doing it for 30 years". So for 30 years they have not read the camera operator guidelines? When I said these guidelines are for the camera operator and not for me they finally did agree to take the pics again but we were told to bring back all the original pics. So again our time was wasted going back home to find all copies of the pic taken. They Cleary have no sense of customer care, professionalism to admit faults or care about negative reviews.
Passport Photos – Required European Union passport photos which are very specific with detailed accuracy unlike the Australian passport photos where just about anything will do. Quote from other stores ranged between $20 for 4 photos to $30 for 3 photos and above. Camera House at the Morley Grower Markets Complex produced 8 photos for $15. The photos were excellent… Read more
and readily accepted by the passport authorities. The staff move like greased lightning, genial and no appointment is necessary. Real value and quality.
Poor staff service and NO refund – Staff gave poor explanation of the binoculars we purchased, poor quality and viewing angle not explained fully then offer no refund. Show details
Way too expensive – I was shopping for a a Canon 50mm lens and decided to talk to Camera House. After asking the price, I nearly choked. Needless to say I purchased from CameraPro and added a UV filter, all delivered for nearly $100 less. Show details
Amazing Photo Prints! – We have tried printing photos at various stores but Tom Saade's Camera House in Parramatta came out at the top! We ordered our prints online (super easy) and they were ready for pickup the next morning. The colours were so true, the image quality was excellent and the prices were fair! We will be printing our next batch there too. Show details
Outstanding Service – Camera House Katoomba has a spacious store with everything a photographer needs. They are friendly, most competent and always helpful. Love shopping there. When I came with my camera malfunctioning, they checked everything and did not even charge me for that service. Show details
Quality Service – I went to the Darwin Camera House Store with a problem. The screen on my E-620 had failed and I have 4 quality Zuikko lens, and because of that wanted to stay with Olympus. The Manager at the store, Chris ?, was not only helpful, he came up with a workable solution. It will mean that I will buy a new camera, an adaptor, and bit of pieces, not… Read more
through the Darwin store but through the Ballarat store (recommended by Chris to get a specialised adaptor), where Gerrard was also found to be very helpful. This is about Chris, and I thank you Chris for your professionalism, help and honesty.
Reneged on offered price – Just went to Camera House Hornsby, was told I could grab a display unit Canon M50 for $703. Picked up my daughter, went back and was told they couldn't do that price. #nevergoingback Show details
Disappointed – I’ve been going to camera house for years now and am a regular customer. Extremely disappointed to hear my film wouldn’t be ready for a week. I’d expect as a regular there would be some sort of system put in place that prioritises the regulars as we have been supporting the business for a long period of time. This is the second time it has… Read more
happened to me for over a few months as well as telling me their emailing system is still down meaning I would have to come back in to pick my film up instead of having it emailed to me.
ProductReview.com.au has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence our content moderation policies in any way, though ProductReview.com.au may earn commissions for products/services purchased via affiliate links.