The Camera Centre, Cardiff - www.cameracentrecardiff.co.uk

A bought a Mi 3 escooter from them believing it was a real Xiaomi unit, now I do not believe it is from the manufacturer, it is either a knock off, a grey import, or maybe even lifted. serval months after recieving it and less than 2hrs use it just packed up. I had to pay for it to be sent to them for repair, was it sent to the manufacturer for repair, no it was sent to dodgy back street repairer in London. When it returned the control unit was hanging out, and since then it is sluggish to get going and cuts out intermittently. Contacted them and they were no longer helpful and simply stopped replying. I would seriously recommend not buying from them as I am hundreds of pounds out of pocket, they are just sham at best.

In recent months I've purchased two cameras and two lenses from the store. Each time I've received terrific service; they even managed to help me buy a better product than I'd planned - at a cheaper price. Staff are friendly - even quirky! But they know their stuff and never make me feel inferior. It's now the only place in Cardiff I buy my photography gear.

If I could give these guys a minus star rating I would. Why? Read on...

I ordered a Fuji 18-1335 lens from the Amazin shop 22nd March 2017. It was marked as dispatched and I was given a royal Mail tracking number.

When it didn;t arrive I sent several emails and called the shop. When I called the shop on Sunday 26th, 2017 March they told me they were concerned the lens had not ben delivered and would raise a claim. etc.

Today, 27th March 2017, I got an email from them saying how sorry they were but they refunded me the lens and cancelled the order on the 23rd March 2017. Apparently, they had an issue with stock control and sold me a lens that they didn't have in stock.

Appalling customer service. Wouldn't shop with them ever again.

I recently purchased a Tamrac bag from Camera Centre via their e bay shop. Pleasantly surprised when the parcel arrived earlier than expected. They are excellent VFM and really impressed with their overall service.

Awful. I ordered a Nikon Digital Reflex camera via ebay - a very nice little machine. It was meant to come 'special delivery' next day. It didn't come at all. A few days later I called them, got the tracking number, and it had no record of being scanned anywhere. I spoke to the manager (who didn't listen to what I was saying and spoke over me)and he asked me to open an ebay dispute so we could, 'both get our money back'. I did this, and like a fool, on his advice, bought another camera from them (over the phone this time) which he assured me would come the next day as he would take care of it. Surprise surprise, despite being detailed with the employee I spoke to when I paid for it, despite asking for said manager and not getting to talk to him but being reassured he would be informed, despite being assured it would be sent Special Delivery, it wasn't. Next day, no camera.

You'd think they would have phoned to let me know they had made a mistake, given it was for my daughter's birthday (the next day by this time!!) but no - I called them, was given a tracking number for the camera which when I called Royal Mail turned out not to have been posted(!!). I then called the shop back, only to be told they had made a mistake. Good god. I was offered a refund, but the guy was so desperate to hang onto my money (400 quid by this time) he offered me another, third, camera. I said no, as we couldn't take delivery the next day and besides, it would be too late for my daughter's birthday surprise by then. I asked for a refund - get this - he said I would have to go through the Royal Mail's refund process! So at this point I've paid for two cameras, received none, been mislead about delivery methods, lied to, and this guy won't refund me?? I told him it wasn't resonable and I would have to report him to the Trading standards, and lo and behold, he said go no then and hung up. Unreal. Epic customer service fail. Shop elsewhere because if there's anything wrong with your purchase, or it doesn't show up, I wouldn't expect good service from this guy.

I urgently required the new Sony a77ii for a shoot this weekend. As it's only just been released, I tried to arrange an import from the States, but even the venerable Amazon was predicting 30 days availability times. Hunting around and desperately calling the likes of Jessops and Park Camera, I was getting nowhere and so as a last ditch attempt I contacted The Camera Centre.

I had been wary of using this firm due to some unfavourable reviews from various sites, but they were showing some potential stock. I contacted the Newport store and spoke to a very helpful member of staff there who assured me that they had the Body only version in stock (which was exactly what was needed) and gave me a stock estimate to assure me they weren't about to sell out.

My order was taken over the phone and I tentatively asked if Saturday delivery was possible. This was no trouble at all, and Guaranteed Saturday Special Delivery was easily arranged. The whole ordering process was extremely simple and dealt with efficiently and in a friendly manner. I spoke to a couple of staff during the process and the communication between them was excellent.

The package arrived next day on Saturday as requested. The parcel was EXTREMELY well packaged against any potential damage. The item was exactly as described and in perfect working order.

Overall, a good, professional and friendly service online and phone and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone needing to find hard to source stock.

After searching online for a Manfrotto ball head for my tripod, I settled on Camera Centre UK. I ordered by telephone, at about 2pm yesterday, and at 8am this morning the postie was knocking on the door. I'm absolutely delighted. The item is exactly as described, well packed, and at the best price I could find, I cannot fault this company. Would certainly recommend them to anyone.

Hello! I bought in May of this Year a Pentax gw-1 from Camera Centre Newport. This camera broken, in August under warranty time. I sent back this to Cameracentre. After 1 month they told to me, they can repair my camera only for money. I didnt want it, I wrote to them they to send to me my camera without repair. Since they didnt answer to me, and didnt send back to me my camera.I think they stolen my camera, I wont buy of them, newer, nothing.

Wanting a new camera, I researched until I found the model I thought would cover my needs.

I found the best price at this traders Ebay shop. Being local to one of their retail outlets, I decided to take my custom there, firstly to ensure the camera was for me, and secondly to start building a relationship with a view to upgrading to where my old 35mm equipment was.

Camera was fine, used it quite a bit on holiday, and for my wedding in April!!

During June I needed to take some photographs of my disabled son in a swimming gala and 2 college presentations, all of which he had excelled in. Problem. The camera lost it's ability to focus when using zoom, and the flash menu disappeared intermittently, making using it unreliable.

Result? A pile of out of focus badly exposed pictures of 3 very important events.

Okay, things go wrong and the camera is now in for repair under warranty. I have lost confidence in it and will now upgrade to a full DSLR.

Buy it from here? No. Part exchange value of my 9 month old Nikon? Nil, don't want it, not worth anything. Even when it has been repaired? No.

So much for going to a camera shop to buy a camera. May as well go to Argos. At least you know where you stand. And wont pay a premium.

Do not order online from cameracentreuk.co.uk or cameracentrecardiff.co.uk

It took 45 days....yes 45 DAYS for my item to arrive. I emailed after 31 days, to be told that it hadn't been dispatched! I was promised by a them that my item would be sent out by DHL to arrive faster and was promised to arrive with me the next day. Well that day came and went, I initially put it down to the courier and waited a further 6 days until I phoned up. I was bounced around between their offices before being told that my item still had not been dispatched! I was told that it would be sent out that day. They then phoned my place of work and disclosed details to one of my work colleagues! Then they had the cheek of sending it by Royal mail which took another 6 days to get to me. Absolutely appalling! I opened a dispute on paypal which they haven't even bothered responding to.

Terrible communication. Terrible customer service. Terrible delivery times. My partner ordered an item from China and it arrived faster!

AVOID!