Microglobe Shop Reviews

Good experience of direct sales with no friction.

I was frightened when I placed my order for a Nikon camera as I read some bad reviews about them, but all around they were very good and friendly.

The price was very cheap and with a fast delivery.

Very happy by doing business with Microglobe.

This is a great shop whether you are a camera novice or pro. All of the staff are knowledgeable about their products, and very generous with their time in explaining things to you.

They stock a vast range of new and used cameras and lenses, as well as accessories such as bags, cases, tripods, batteries, memory cards and film. Their products are reasonably priced - you may be able to get some things cheaper online, but you wont get the expert knowledge.

In truth, e-bay is cheaper for about everything, but there again, you dont get to pick up and play before you buy with e-bay. The staff are all helpful and there seem to be a lot of characters here either working or browsing. Check out their website if youd like to know what theyve got in before you pay them a visit.

The staff here at Microglobe are very nice, charming, helpful and knowledgeable people.

And I have to say Microglobe is my favorite independent camera shop in the whole of London. Possibly in the country.

They always have something that Im looking for, when it comes to any photography/camera gear.

And I have to say, I only buy my cameras from this independent store.

The manager and owner of Microglobe, is Habib and he is always helpful when it comes to any camera and lense model or any other product.

Sales Assistant, Airash is always very nice and helpful as well.

Microglobe is totally minted and its one of my favorite stores. The guys at Microglobe are the friendliest and nicest people in town.

I will recommend to all of my fellows

Like a lot of people I enjoy photography as a hobby. I have a fairly battered SLR which is pretty fun and recently I have been experimenting with films and equipment. As a result I was on the lookout for a good camera supplies shop. I was excited to find out Microglobe store in London.

It is a small store on off Bury Place with a range of camera equipment on display. I go to buy film which is kept in fridges at the back. It is a professionally focused store and so there is a lot of cool stuff. They have a catalogue so, if you dont see what youre looking for immediately (which is likely given the small size) it is worth checking the catalogue. The people serving are really friendly and informed, and happy to help with enquiries at any level.

Microglobe is a great shop if youre looking to take your photography a little further.

This place is 5 stars in my book NOT because they are cheap, but because they have everything I ever needed. I have on more than a few occasions been guided away from a product I "wanted" and directed me to a product I "needed". In every case the sales assistant was right and I ended up with a great product. Also...after a lot of comparison shopping, they are always either cheaper or equal.

The store manager was extremely helpful with some returns I needed to take care of. I really appreciate the time the staff took with me with all the new lenses we were investing in. Fair prices, professional and knowledgeable staff. Always a pleasant experience with Microglobe.

I already loved Microglobe for the wide selection, prices, and general customer service options, but my experience today sent me over the top.

Im a freelance producer in West Africa covering the outbreak and a colleague had lost a very important receipt for equipment that belongs to the company I work for. If we hadnt found the receipt, it was going to cost me quite a bit of money (as I probably wouldnt be getting reimbursed), so I was understandably annoyed with my colleague.

I called Microglobe Customer service towards the end of the day and spoke to their representative. He was very patient and friendly and was able to help identify the order-though it took a small bit of detective work and then forwarded a copy of the original receipt to my coworker who had made the original purchase. Now we have the information we need! Im very happy about the customer service, he could have just brushed me off onto someone else, but he dealt with it himself. Many thanks! Youre awesome.

Spoke to a very knowledgeable member of staff and paid for the goods on a Thursday afternoon and it arrived the next day, well packaged and exactly as described. Although this was my first experience with Micro Globe, I have no reason to describe the service as anything other than first rate.

I just want to let everyone know who is looking into buying microglobe a few things..
I am not trying to put them down in any way, and go ahead do not take my advice but I feel as though it is only right to give this information out there to the people who are looking into buying items from this store.

I have a Nikon d40x and was looking into buying a Sigma 105mm Macro F 2.8 lens today. I popped into the shop on Galen Place in London feeling as though I would prefer to buy the lens in the shop, meet the owner, just in case I had any problems I could bring the lens back to the shop directly, not have to deal with the whole Nikon Company, even though there brillant just would be easier. After entering the shop you could tell that it was an online selling mostly, boxes everywhere, and it had me thinking a little bit. I then asked for the lens and one man behind the counter, totally oblivious to the seen just nodded and walked away looking for it. It took him 10 minutes till he returned and said that there were none left. Even though he searched the computer database saying there were two available. (You can imagine how many boxes and everything all over the place now right..?) So as I waited checking prices at other stores in London on my trusty iPhone a father and son stumbled into the store. They took out the receipt to there bought binoculars. The man behind the desk, (two men that work there) just looked at the recept and said here let me give you the number to the company. Precisly why I came to the store to buy it! Having seen this I feel a little uneasy to buy a lens, and reluctanly they couldnt find it i stumpled out of the shop and around the corner to a few of the others. After talking to a few other shop owners about why there prices to this same lens were higher by £30-40 He told me the following. (Which is the whole reason to the post).. but please read it will help you make a good choice.
He said this company (Microglobe) had no affiliation with any of the companies they sold products of, albeit Nikon, Cannon, Sigma, etc, they had no accounts! (Reason why the poor man with the binoculars that were faulty didnt get anymore help than a peice of paper with a number to the company. ) He said that they imported there stuff from China, Afghanistan, etc, and that it had no warranty because they were not affiliated with the companies. Now after hearing this from more than a couple guys, I felt quite relieved about the fact that I did not buy my lens from Microglobe. Now I am not against them in any way, I just believe it is best for a buyer to have all the knowledge of the company and feel that this is necessary for some people to read before buying. Please if you have questions feel free to contact me. Thanks
kdmitchell93@hotmail.com

For two weeks they are not able to despatch my order, even though they have my money (payment in advance). So, microglobe, no, thanks

Really poor. No communication. Dont have what they say is in stock. Ive never managed to actually buy anything from them. Not worth the trouble.

I purchased a pair of Binoculars used once on our holiday in April. Unfortunately the Binoculars were faulty. They insisted I need to use the Guarantee and send them in for repair! I explained that I was sold a faulty item but they were not intersted in that. Bottom line is, if you purchase anything they will not exchange. Theyre a monkey business, STAY AWAY!

Cant fault these guys at all. I did an internet search for the cheapest price and they came out with the best price by far.

I received several emails updating me on the order progress and the item arrived the next day. Very happy.

Cheers

I bought a Sigma EX lens at a good price only to find from Sigma that it was a grey import. That means, if I keep it, I lose Sigmas Extended Warranty (2 years) and that during the International 1 year warranty, I will have to prove that both Import Duty and VAT have been paid. Basically, I have no warranty on the lens except with Microglobe...

Its one thing for Microglobe to be upfront about this and quite another to leave the customer to find out when it comes to asking Sigma to repair it - they wont. Currently Sigma asks £75 to fix an EX lens.

Do I chance sending it back for a refund? Would I get one? Maybe better to keep it. I should add that it works fine and looks brand new.

Ordered my Canon EFS 18-55mm IS lens on May 2nd and it arrived on June 13th. The Microglobe website was a bit misleading as it said it was available for next day delivery when it was actually out of stock. To be fair, they emailed immediately to say it would delayed and once in stock they emailed progress reports. In my view the excellent price promotes the shop from 2 stars to 3 stars.

Grey stock, not advertised as such.

Wont ship until you chase them on the phone several days later. They claim on phone it has already been shipped, but when it finally arrives, the postage stamp tells otherwise.

Original lens caps not included with lens (demo/kit lens being sold as new?)

Wont ship to different delivery address, despite being repeat customer and the website allowing for different billing/shipping addresses. They wont get in contact to tell you they wont send it to the delivery address, he will just update the website as such and will ignore requests to change or cancel it. I even offered to fax copy of drivers licence with delivery address on it. Was told i must get royal mail to redirect it once it fails initial delivery, despite me being 200miles an unable to get the card from the billing address.

If you want a NEW item, a UK item, or the item QUICK.....AVOID microglobe

This level of service might be fine in China, but i expect better in the UK. Heck, hes too lazy to spell check the website. Have a quick browse, youll see what i mean.

Placed an order for two items - a flashgun and a Sigma 15-30mm lens on 16 March 2008.

While the flashgun was delivered in a respectably prompt manner I am still waiting for news (let alone delivery) on the lens (despite being told on 26 March that it might take an additional two to three weeks). Since 16 March when the order was placed the Sigma lens has been advertised on their website as being available on a 3 to 5 day lead time - not 8 weeks and counting.

No communication from Microglobe as to the delays other than a direct response to an email query.

While initially impressed on the delivery time for the flashgun the lens issue has been abysmal.

I have, over the past few year, bought many lenses from Microglobe.

I am in a village near aberdeen.

I have, on two occasions called to order lenses after 4pm - and had them delivered before 10am the next day.....

Always arrive when they say - always well packed - always a good price.

No Problems even - and no problem recommending them!

Poor "Customer Service" experience.

Ordered a Canon EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM on 27th December 2007.

The website states: "if an item is not in stock at the time you place an order, we will send you an e-mail telling you how soon we will be able to ship the order" - well they didnt.

With it being a holiday period, and that I wasnt in an immediate hurry for the lens, I gave them until 12th Jan 2008 before chasing the order. I was advised that delivery was expected around the last week of January.

During this conversation I asked if it would be possible for them to phone me prior to shipping as, depending on the date, I would prefer to pay with another credit card (to offset payment to my CC company for a further month). They agreed to do this and even made a note to do so under my "Account Info" on the site.

Well its now the 16th February and Ive still not had any contact from them, nor received the lens - even though the website is now showing the lens to be in stock.

As Ive already had to chase another company (again) today - see my review for Cameras2U - I really cant be bothered with this continual need to have to keep contacting suppliers in order for them to provide a basic service, so have decided to cancel the order.

"Buy cheap, but twice"

(or in this case: "try to buy cheap - come away empty handed"

Pete.