Ffordes Reviews 

I was on a road trip through Scotland and didn’t have a pair of binoculars with me. Being a total beginner in this area, I had no clue what to look for. But as soon as I experienced the breathtaking landscapes and incredible wildlife of Scotland, I realised: without binoculars, I’d miss so much. So I simply had to get one.

The first model I enquired about via email wasn't available at Ffordes. Still, the shop was directly on our route, and I was determined to buy a pair on-site. Unfortunately, our ferry to Ullapool was delayed, and I soon realised I probably wouldn’t make it to Ffordes in Inverness before closing time.

And that’s where Alister from Ffordes came to the rescue – a true customer service hero.
He kindly offered to stay late so I could still pick up a pair. And indeed, we didn’t arrive until half an hour after closing – yet Alister and his very friendly colleague (whose name I sadly didn’t catch) opened up the doors of their already stunning shop just for us.

Alister had the binoculars I had chosen – the Hawke Frontier HD X – already prepared. After an incredibly pleasant, relaxed and warmly personal conversation, I got to take them with me. That moment saved the trip – and the binoculars now deliver razor-sharp views that make every wildlife and nature encounter even more unforgettable.

I am absolutely thrilled with Ffordes. This was "beyond ordinary" service – honest, personal and human.
A big heartfelt THANK YOU to Alister for going the extra mile in such a generous way!

I can truly recommend Ffordes and the entire team to anyone – and even though I live in Germany, I’ll definitely be ordering from Ffordes (online) in the future!

Needed the camera urgently and Ffordes were great for sorting out the quick delivery and the DLux 8 camera arrived safely!

Now studying the instruction book as I’ve been exclusively Canon for ever.

Comms from Ffords were great and very responsive, so nice to get personalised response from the team rather than an automated Bot response.

Highly recommended and so nice to deal with a genuine small company!

Had my first transaction with Ffordes and I have to say they were brilliant. Helpful, knowledgeable, communicative and very speedy too. Exceeded my expectations and they will now be my first port of call.

I've bought and sold new and used photographic equipment form Ffordes for many years and I can confirm without any shadow of a doubt, that put simply, Ffordes is the best camera shop in the world and they proudly uphold their values and principles with every transaction and customer interaction.

Alister at Ffordes responded swiftly and efficiently to my urgent request for a Leica telescope twist up eyecup - not a 'common' part - posting one out the same day, and allowing me to continue to use my spotting scope for my occupation as a wildlife safari guide. Fantastic service.

This is my first port of call for cameras and lenses. The appropriate quote is "under promise and over deliver".

It's a simple matter of delivery of a high level of service and product, and in all four transactions I've had with Ffordes they've been perfect.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Ffordes Photographic Ltd at Beauly, and I cannot praise this shop enough! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by warm, friendly, and knowledgeable staff who went above and beyond to assist me.
The team at Ffordes is truly professional—whether you're a seasoned photographer or a beginner, they take the time to understand your needs and offer expert advice without any pressure. Their passion for photography shines through in every interaction, and their depth of knowledge on cameras, lenses, and accessories is outstanding.
If you're looking for a photographic retailer that combines expertise, integrity, and outstanding customer service, look no further than Ffordes Photographic. They’ve earned a lifelong customer in me—highly recommended!
Thank you, Ffordes, for your exceptional service! 👏📸

I've been a Ffordes customer for many years and their service has consistently been exceptional. Recently, they've truly outdone themselves. Last month, they went above and beyond to source equipment that other UK dealers couldn't provide.

On April 18th, I ordered a very difficult-to-find camera with a quoted 2-3 week delivery timeframe—which, frankly, I was skeptical about. To my surprise, it arrived today, right on schedule!

If you're in the market for photographic equipment, I can't recommend Ffordes highly enough. They're undoubtedly the premier photography supplier in the UK. Their ability to source rare items and deliver on their promises sets them apart from the competition.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Very fair price for a new Zeiss Sonnar 135mm f2.0 lens EF fit - and remarkably rapid dispatch. Thanks so much!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

Simply the best, friendliest and most professional outfit going

always a great experience dealing with the team

Dave

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

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.

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.

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.