A little disappointed in B&H…

This is not a thread to bash B&H but just to say I’m a little disappointed in their unwillingness to price match other reputable dealers. I have spent about $10k with them over the last 1-1/2 years. I emailed them and ask for them to price match Roberts on the 30D and I got an email with a quote attached for list price ($1399). No explanation, just an attached quote. I gave them my name and told them to look up my order history. I guess they just don’t value my past business enough to try and work something out.

That’s all I’m going to say.

--
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o.

EOSMan said:

This is not a thread to bash B&H but just to say I’m a little
disappointed in their unwillingness to price match other reputable
dealers. I have spent about $10k with them over the last 1-1/2
years. I emailed them and ask for them to price match Roberts on
the 30D and I got an email with a quote attached for list price
($1399). No explanation, just an attached quote. I gave them my
name and told them to look up my order history. I guess they just
don’t value my past business enough to try and work something out.

That’s all I’m going to say.

Click to expand...

Just FYI, Roberts did not give that price on their website or for Internet orders either, you had to call and talk to a sales person.

Just out of curiosity, had you considered trying that with B&H...? Maybe an actual sales person might be more flexible.

I too, would like to see them price match other "reputable" dealers. However, I'm not sure I would be happy if it is based on how much I have spent with them in the past. Perhaps when supply has caught up with demand we might see their prices come down.

I called B&H this morning and the salesman said since Roberts doesn't have them in stock, they would give me $50 off, I said thanks but no thanks. I can wait for the good price.

Dennis_Wood said:

Just FYI, Roberts did not give that price on their website or for
Internet orders either, you had to call and talk to a sales person.
Just out of curiosity, had you considered trying that with B&H...?
Maybe an actual sales person might be more flexible.

Click to expand...

Actually, Roberts does show their lowered price on their website. They refer to it as a $150 "instant rebate". However, they do not currently have it in stock (as of ten minutes ago), and not sure when more will be coming in.

EOSMan said:

This is not a thread to bash B&H but just to say I’m a little
disappointed in their unwillingness to price match other reputable
dealers.

Click to expand...

We are sorry you are disappointed. The fact is that, depending on the item, the price and the other retailer sometimes we can match a price and sometimes we cannot. The issue is not simply "unwillingness."

EOSMan said:

I have spent about $10k with them over the last 1-1/2 years.

Click to expand...

Thank you.

EOSMan said:

I emailed them and ask for them to price match Roberts on
the 30D and I got an email with a quote attached for list price
($1399). No explanation, just an attached quote.

Click to expand...

I am sorry the reply you received was curt. I will make sure our sales manager knows of this.

EOSMan said:

I gave them my
name and told them to look up my order history. I guess they just
don’t value my past business enough to try and work something out.

Click to expand...

Your past business is very much appreciated, but unfortunately that alone is sometimes not enough to allow us to accede to a customer's request.

--
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.

I don't know if they do feature price matching, but whether they do or not, it's always best to do that sort of shopping face to face, or at least over the phone.

--
...Bob, NYC

http://www.pbase.com/btullis

You'll have to ignore the gallery's collection of bad compositions, improper exposures, and amateurish post processing.

I returned 3 lenses to you guys and clearly said that I had to exchange all of them due to front focus and other issues. However, I called them to make sure everyting was ok this morning and got the notice that all of the lenses were credited back to my account. WHAT? I need to exchange NOT refund. If I didn't call B&H, I wouldn't know this. I'm so glad that I did call B&H and got this stright before the long B&H hoilday. I really need them this weekend.
--
I like 'L', 'USM', and 'IS'.

EOSMan said:

This is not a thread to bash B&H but just to say I’m a little
disappointed in their unwillingness to price match other reputable
dealers. I have spent about $10k with them over the last 1-1/2
years. I emailed them and ask for them to price match Roberts on
the 30D and I got an email with a quote attached for list price
($1399). No explanation, just an attached quote. I gave them my
name and told them to look up my order history. I guess they just
don’t value my past business enough to try and work something out.

That’s all I’m going to say.

Click to expand...

If Roberts is as reputable as B&H and Roberts has it for less, then why would you want to purchase it at B&H? If everyone shops at B&H, then B&H has no incentive to lower prices. That's the way the market works. On the other hand, if B&H gives you something you can't get at Roberts (customer service, return policy, in stock, cheap shipping, etc) then perhaps the higher price at B&H is justified.

Habemus_Canon said:

On the other hand, if B&H gives you something you
can't get at Roberts (customer service, return policy, in stock,
cheap shipping, etc) then perhaps the higher price at B&H is
justified.

Click to expand...

Right now, that'd be availability.

--
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.

Ohioan said:

I returned 3 lenses to you guys and clearly said that I had to
exchange all of them due to front focus and other issues. However,
I called them to make sure everyting was ok this morning and got
the notice that all of the lenses were credited back to my account.

Click to expand...

We regret and apolgize for this error.

--
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.

I use them most of the time because they have integrity - I get my orders on time (and I live on the West Coast), they provide good quality, they won't say something is in stock when it isn't - they are honest about it and I don't have to pay tax.

When I purchased the 30D, I decided to chance it with Dell. They gave me a price of $1189.15 which I couldn't refuse, although I did have to pay tax. Dell is not always timely as B&H Video according to people on this forum. I have never had a problem with them though and I have purchased 5 laptops/computers from them starting in 1999.

I respect B&H for not budging from their prices and I will continue to use them because when it comes to most items, their prices are the lowest between both coasts.

Thank you B&H Video!
--
DeeDee G.
http://www.pbase.com/deedee_g/root

Henry Posner wrote:

First I will say I got my 30d from B & H and payed $150 more then Roberts. But the only reason I order form B & H was, I thought the camera would get to me quicker. then as the time passed Roberts was shipping for almost a week before B&H got stock. yes B & H has avaliability now.

I like B & H too, but I also like my hard earned money $$.

I always price shop for everything, if I can find something that I want cheaper, at a reputible dealer I will buy it from them. I usually start at B & H.

I start at other dealers when someone posts a good deal.

Hi,

Don't know about Roberts but I was pleasantly surprised by the knowledgeable salesman I had. Most shops I've been to, the sales person knew just about as much as my grandma about the internals of the Xeon processor.

This is something I'm willing to pay for, but when I know what I want, I'll go for the best price for an acceptable QoS.

On a side note, although 10k$ is a lot for you and me, it might not be so much for them. So you may think yourself a good customer but you are probably the average Joe for them.

a++ Cédric

I bought my 300D from them and I never have been treated so rudely from any place like that before. Their sales people are just plain rude!

I have seen this Henry guy from B&H on these forums before. To me it seems like they only employ him for browsing these photography sites and cleaning up their mess.

If they would just treat people respectfully when they call and offer competitive prices then they wouldn’t need somebody like this Henry the janitor.

Just my experiences.

Hi Henry,

I didn't realized someone on this site is with the store. Unitl I saw your posts. But, on another note. I wanted to tell you that I have purchased thousands of dollars of photo and video equipment over the years at B&H. I am currently trying to convice our Supevisor of the prices there instead of an Orlando based store where we do our purchasing from now. We will be replacing our entire line of Panasonic DVC Cameras (hopefully to the sony SX) And, hopefully will see.

Anyways, the main point. I called to return a camera 30D which had a focus point light not work and the person I spoke with was very great to deal with. My 18 month old started crying and he stood on the line as I went to her. He even asked about her and talked about his cats etc. Again, nice person. Sometimes the only time we hear feedback is when something goes wrong so. Here is one for the better.

thanks
abel aluart
NBC Photojournalist

henryp said:

Habemus_Canon said:

On the other hand, if B&H gives you something you
can't get at Roberts (customer service, return policy, in stock,
cheap shipping, etc) then perhaps the higher price at B&H is
justified.

Click to expand...

Right now, that'd be availability.

--
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.

Click to expand...

1

Last year I was looking for a place to order a 400 L lens. I was all ready to try B&H, but found out that their online international ordering process was lacking the required security to provide a safe consumer transaction.

I tried to resolve the issue with them, but they just never seemed interested in finding a way to do business. I really got the impression that B&H wasn't all that keen to deal with any kind of challenging situation. I realize that you can't please 100% of people 100% of the time, but I was disappointed though that after reading so many good reviews about B&H that they didn't want to make the effort to find a solution and win a new customer.

My guess is that B&H are obviously happy enough with their existing sales figures so that they don't need to do anything out of the norm in order to generate more business.

No great loss either way I suppose. I don't hate B&H, nor would I say that I'd never do business with them. Its simply a case of giving your business to the person who wants it the most. Some work for it, others don't - and this is simply another example of it I suppose. In this case Adorama seemed to be much more eager to find a solution in order to get my business (which they did).

I at least find it commendable that B&H monitors these kind of forums and makes an effort to actively participates in open discussions and feedback that criticize their service.

MtnBear said:

I bought my 300D from them and I never have been treated so rudely
from any place like that before. Their sales people are just plain
rude!
I have seen this Henry guy from B&H on these forums before. To me
it seems like they only employ him for browsing these photography
sites and cleaning up their mess.
If they would just treat people respectfully when they call and
offer competitive prices then they wouldn’t need somebody like this
Henry the janitor.

Just my experiences.

Click to expand...

I have never had any problems with B&H. They are polite and kind.
Their return policy and treatment are good for me.

--
http://club.foto.ru/gallery/photos/author.php?author_id=43355