Ffordes Reviews 

238
TrustScore 5 out of 5

4.9

While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more

To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more

Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 54 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently find products to be in superb condition, often described as pristine or even better than expected. The staff are consistently commended for their exceptional helpfulness, knowledge, and professional approach, making every interaction pleasant. Many people appreciate the efficient and super-fast delivery, with items arriving quickly and securely packaged. Reviewers consistently highlight the exemplary service, expressing high levels of trust in the company for both purchasing and selling equipment. Customers also find the items to be competitively priced and offer great value, often exceeding expectations in condition. This leads many to recommend the company highly and return for future needs.

What people talk about most

Product

Customers had positive experiences with product, frequently noting that items arrived in excellent, often... See more

Service

People report positive experiences with service, often highlighting the professional, efficient, and friendly... See more

Staff

Consumers find staff to be positive, consistently praising their knowledge, friendliness, and helpfulness.... See more

Quality

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of quality, consistently praising items for arriving in pristine,... See more

Delivery service

Customers consistently note positive experiences with delivery service, frequently highlighting the speed and... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Have just taken delivery of a superb Canon 135mm f2.8 lens. It came wrapped in swathes of bubble-wrap and was thus extremely well protected. When unwrapped I found there was not a mark on it - absolut... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I sent an email enquiry regarding lens advice & received a v friendly, prompt response with several options. I purchased a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4:5-5.6L IS USM for an amazing price, delivered nex... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Proof that independent locally owned businesses operating from proper shops and offering the personal touch can more than compete with the online giants. I was offered better trade-in terms on my o... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have purchased from Ffordes many times over the years buying both used items and new. I have also used their buying services, for part exchanges and more recently a commission sale. I find them ver... See more

Company replied


Company details


Contact info

4.9

Excellent

TrustScore 5 out of 5

238 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

No recent history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative

How this company uses Trustpilot

See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.

4.9

All reviews

(238)

49 reviews in the last 12 months

Write a review
Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Where do I begin

Where do I begin, I phoned Ffordes because I was not sure the lens I wanted was in stock and did not want to pay on line, to be told later it is not in stock, no live status on stock. The gentleman I spoke to assured me they have two in stock, I asked him what delivery company he uses as I did not want it going via DPD, he said we can send Royal Mail no problem as this was my delivery company of choice, fine I said I will go ahead and order online. Later that day I got a email saying it will be going Parcelforce 24, I phoned to say I was not happy as Parcelforce are hit and miss, and was lead to believe it would go Royal Mail next day delivery, the gentleman I spoke to was very rude and unhelpful saying it is out of my hands, he kept talking over me and accused me of the same, even though I had not finished my sentence. We were not getting any where, and he was becoming even more rude and condescending to me, so I ended the call. The long and short of it a terrible service, if I could give a zero I would, unhelpful staff rude and did not want to know. Cannot recommend this camera store, and will NOT be buying from them ever again, I will go to elsewhere where I know I can be treated with respect and valued as a customer.

May 7, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Really Sorry to hear that you feel this way, especial as I believe Ffordes staff tried to help you in every which way that they could,

After resolving the issues with your order which was made under wrong name via our online shop, we updated you with tracking information by email and underlined at the time, that there would be delays due to the knock on effect of a bank holiday weekend. We replied to your all your emails you sent within the hour of receiving.

We even offered to collect the parcel from you, once delivered, if you were unhappy with the product or service in anyway, we would collect at our cost and refund you in full on return.

We will look over our ordering processes that we have in place at the moment and see if we can improve upon anything, to make sure we are give our customers the best service possible, especially around bank holiday periods.

We wish you well and if you decide to keep the lens, I know you will love the quality it produces.

Advertisement
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A 5 🌟 plus experience. Thank you all.

From start to finish the team excelled in everything. From dealing with the shipment of the lens up to them, to the monies arriving in my bank account. I was informed every step of the way. So nice to deal with people who are knowledgeable and care about their customers. I would recommend to everyone to give them a try. Thank you a very pleasant experience.

April 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Thank you so much, it makes all the hard work worthwhile when the team at Ffordes get reviewed like this, we believe in knowledgeable staff that share the same passion for the photography art form as our customers. I hope we can help you again.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Lovely staff

Lovely staff, camera exactly as described, very happy customer!
Cheers guys!

April 25, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you love our team hear at Ffordes, we try so hard to make sure we have the right equipment for sale, in the best condition and back up by knowledgeable staff. Enjoy for now and we hope to help you again soon.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent service from Ffordes

Just purchased another item from Ffordes, the service is excellent and the quality of items outstanding. I find the description of condition is understated rather than over, so I know I'm going to get above other people's condition values. I trust this small, knowledgeable business to deliver good quality service everytime.

April 11, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you love the condition of our used equipment here at Ffordes, the team works hard together to make sure we get the right equipment, in the right condition at the right, with good knowledge and understanding in photography if you need it. Enjoy your new toy and keep loving your photography.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Exemplary Customer service

Had a used warranty issue with a nikon ZF with a main board failure and Alister and his team went over and above the call of duty to resolve the issues. The level of customer service was like nothing else I have ever experienced and the outcome has been fantastic.
Cannot recommend more than enough.

April 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you like our service here at Ffordes, I believe you only know a good company, when something goes wrong, glad we were able to help. Enjoy your photography

Advertisement
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic experience!

Fantastic experience! Alister, Chris and Steve were extremely helpful and patient in answering my many questions. It was a pleasure doing business with them. Mega job guys!

April 7, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you love the service, here at Ffordes we believing in making sure customers get all the information that they require upfront before purchases equipment, so we are always happy to get emails and phone calls requesting more information or pictures. We release that customers all have busy life's, so making sure they have the right information is always best. Good to hear you like your new to you toy, Enjoy playing

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Simply the best

Simply the best, friendliest and most professional outfit going

always a great experience dealing with the team

Dave

April 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you have enjoyed our service, the team work hard to bring the best knowledge and understanding and equipment to our customers. Enjoy

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Found Ffordes when looking for repair…

Found Ffordes when looking for repair of a flash gun declared obsolete - it was a NIssin G8000 Extreme which had very little use but was dead. Saw a reasonably priced Canon 600EX, ordered it yesterday - arrived this morning exactly as described and works fine.
Next time I will start with ffordes - great service

April 7, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that we were able to help and advise you, here at Ffordes we believe in personal knowledgeable service. Glad that you liked it, Enjoy

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Been buying from Ffordes since the mid 80s, you won't find anyone better.

I have been using Ffordes since they had their shop in Southend, where I bought my first professional Hasselblad (which was older than me). In 2001 they moved to the Highlands, and I moved there in 2004 where they became my local(ish) supplier. The same faces are still there, with some new ones, and that continuity of great service is backed by an unsurpassed knowledge about the products. The longevity of the staff is also testament to the management.

Yes, there are cheaper online shops, but you won't get the knowledge, the quality of service or indeed the aftercare. On this most recent occasion I was trading in and buying a brand with which I had no previous experience, I was expertly guided the whole step of the way. So much so that I chose to make a 3hr drive to the 'toyshop' from my current home in Fife for the in-person experience, staying overnight in the Highlands.

I was happy with my part-ex valuation and I am delighted with my new equipment.

April 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Thank you for your continuing support, we have always believe that knowledge saves our customers time and money in the long run, having staff that have a passion for photography themselves makes things so much easier. The team work hard to bring the best of quality pre-owned equipment at the right price to our customers. Enjoy your new to you toy, we can wait to see your results.

Advertisement
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I've been using Ffordes (the toy shop)…

I've been using Ffordes (the toy shop) for many years now, for buying new "toys", & recently for selling unwanted items. Service is always good, & so is the range that they have.

April 3, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear you are still enjoying our service here at Ffordes, the team work hard to bring the best knowledge and personal service, that we all love to our customers, so its always great to hear the feedback Thank you and keep on enjoying the toys.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A First Class Experience

This was my first experience with Ffordes regarding part-exchanging my old camera for a new one.

From my initial enquiry onwards, communication was fast, informative and friendly. The trade in deal offered was excellent and gave me the opportunity to upgrade to something that has been on my wishlist for over a year. Special thanks to Alister and Chris at Ffordes who handled the transaction perfectly. 100% recommended.

April 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you enjoyed the service here at Ffordes, the whole team works hard to give that personal service, that only a small business with passion for photography and their customers could give. Enjoy your new toy, we hope to see you back again soon.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ffordes are a pleasure to deal with

Ffordes are a pleasure to deal with, it had been some years since my last purchase from them but there was absolutely no difference in the quality of service when I made my recent purchase.

March 13, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you are still loving Ffordes photographic service, even after all these years. Our team here work hard to make sure you get the best condition camera equipment, followed by great knowledge and services, as this is what we expect ourselves. Enjoy your new to you equipment and always remember we are here to help.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A pleasure.

I've been an online customer for a number of years but decided to make a dream camera purchase so travelled to visit the shop in person. Fantastic shop and staff made the process of trading in some unused kit and the purchase of a second hand camera a breeze. Wide selection of gear on show and easy to speak to staff with no pressure to purchase.
Will be back again to maybe swap out the current Shimoda for a new one.......

February 27, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear your enjoyed your visit to the toyshop here at Ffordes, the team here are all ex-photographers or keen hobbyist, so we all know what we like and have made plenty of mistakes in the past, so this helps us save customers time and money. Enjoy your new toy and we will see you soon.

Advertisement
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Nikon SB800

After placing my order I was informed and kept up to date with the progress. From one end of the country to almost the other I received the package. The Flashgun was in good order but noticed that a small rubber grommet for the sync cord connection was missing. I contacted Ffordes and explained the situation, I was not blaming anyone as it could have simply been a case of it falling out when being packaged up. I was told that they would see what was about and let me know. To my surprise I had one arrive the very next day from them.

Great to deal with and a fab customer support.

February 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you like our service here at Ffordes and i hope you enjoy using your new flashgun,

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

First class

Great communications. Quick answers to my questions. Very correct discription of the item I was interested in. I purchased a 80 year old VIDOM viewfinder for my Contax camera. It arrived in it’s original box in almost pristine condition. Shipping was quick and with tracking. Very happy.

February 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you love Ffordes service, we work had as a team to make sure we are selling the best condition products, with as much information as possible. We get lots of Leica / Leitz accessories of all ages and its important to give customers all the information possible. Hope to hear from you again.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Professional after-sales service

Professional after-sales service was excellent. The second-hand digital SLR body's images were noticeable less sharp than obtained from a 20 year old model of the same brand. That appeared to be consistent across similar models which was unacceptable. An upgrade to a higher specification model in stock was found at a sensible price increase which produced images more in keeping with reasonable expectation. A very satisfactory conclusion for both sides.

January 31, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear we were able to help you get the right Nikon for the job you need it for, here at Ffordes we believe its about an all round service, to make sure you get the quality you need, whether this is before or after purchase. Enjoy and hope to hear from you soon.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

One of the best camera stores to deal…

One of the best camera stores to deal with. Over the years I've bought and sold equipment from/to them. Always with zero hassle. Just bought a nearly mint 50 year old camera from Ffordes, very happy!

January 30, 2025
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you love the Ffordes service, we are mostly all photographers and know what we like ourselves, so work hard as a team to make sure we give more to our customers.

Enjoy your new toy, I hope we have other treats to temp you with soon.

Advertisement
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Used Lens for Pentax dSLR

Just bought a dSLR lens from them at a very reasonable price. Next day delivery as advertised and the lens is almost like new.
Excellent product and excellent service.

December 5, 2024
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you like Ffordes equipment and service, the team here work very hard together to make sure we describe things accurately to save wasting anyone time, we also try to pick partners that extend our good service in delivering on time. Now get out there and Enjoy your new toy, and we hope we can help again in the future.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent product and service

I recently bought a used x1.4 teleconverter which was rated as Exc++ but which, in my view could well have been listed as M-. I'm very happy with the product and, above all, with the advice and service I've received. This is what I have come to expect of Ffordes, having purchased from them for some time now. Long may it continue.

November 21, 2024
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you love the service at Ffordes, we are always try to be as pickie as possible on condition, so you like it more when you get it. We work hard as a team to make sure we have the knowledge and understanding that customers needs, so always good that you like this about Ffordes. Enjoy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

ALWAYS SUPERB SERVICE

I've bought lots of camera equipment from Ffordes over many years and have never been disappointed.
The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable, and are more than willing to go the extra mile.
More importantly, the condition gradings used are very conservative. In other words, equipment is much better than you might expect from the grading. The arrival of a purchase from Ffordes always leaves me delighted.
Lastly, all the equipment I've bought over the years has been very well packaged. Nothing I've received from Ffordes has been damaged during delivery.
What more could you want?

October 25, 2024
Unprompted review
Ffordes logo

Reply from Ffordes

Great to hear that you are still loving the service here at Ffordes, we have always believed in using staff that have a keen interest in photography themselves, this means that the quality of information is alot higher we believe.

We also believe in giving customers a real condition level, at the end of the day, everyone has busy life's with no time to waste returning equipment, so being upfront is a help to everyone, so glad that you like the way we do things.

The Trustpilot Experience

Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.

Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. Labeled Verified, they’re about genuine experiences.

Learn more about other kinds of reviews.

We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.

Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.

Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.

Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.

Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.

Take a closer look