BH Photo SUCKS!

I've been a customer of B&H for a long time - from film camera/lens & accesssries to digital camera. I am happy to say " I did not have any problem or ever return products to them". Plain luck???

rome

Yatin Chachad said:

I purchased a "Factory Fresh, Brand New Lense" from BHphoto (50mm
1.4), or so I was told, and when the lense arrived, it had shown
signs of use (not misuse), the wrapping was off, the plastic inside
was wrinkled, the warranty card had finger prints on it. But the
lense worked fine. Needless to say, I have returned it, and I will
NOT buy from Bhphoto again. I thought they were the best, but Heck
no! I bought my D30 , and 70-200 F4.0 from Canoga Camera, and it
arrived on time, factoy fresh, in mint condition. I will remain a
Canoga cutomer till I die.

--
Sincerely,
Y. Chachad

Click to expand...

Michael.

The rude manners around here is something I never expected. I am a new member of this forum and at first i was very happy coming here to read about the latest and greatest in digital equipment and techniques. After reading a few hundred messages I have a different feeling about this forum. If someone is not bashing a particular camera they are bashing an equipment company. If they are not bashing B&H or or some other storefront they bash each other... what's up with that???

Michael Kay said:

Frank Benvenuto said:

First off Michael is correct.. You are nitpicking at best.
Secondly, what gives you the right to tell anyone to get off the
forum if they don't like a post? certainly NOT YOU... and certainly
not YOUR POST.

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Thanks

Sincerely
Michael

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--Frank B

Thanks for your support. People do not realize that when they buy a car is is NEW, when they buy a demo car it is a demo car, and not exactly new. And you pay a reduced price accordingly. As a customer, I should be informed if the car I am buying is brand new or a demo, and I was sold a demo as brand new!
Thank you LMC54

LMC54 said:

Yatin Chachad said:

I purchased a "Factory Fresh, Brand New Lense" from BHphoto (50mm
1.4), or so I was told, and when the lense arrived, it had shown
signs of use (not misuse), the wrapping was off, the plastic inside
was wrinkled, the warranty card had finger prints on it. But the
lense worked fine. Needless to say, I have returned it, and I will
NOT buy from Bhphoto again. I thought they were the best, but Heck
no! I bought my D30 , and 70-200 F4.0 from Canoga Camera, and it
arrived on time, factoy fresh, in mint condition. I will remain a
Canoga cutomer till I die.

--
Sincerely,
Y. Chachad

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--Sincerely,Y. Chachad

Yatin Chachad said:

Thanks for your support. People do not realize that when they buy
a car is is NEW, when they buy a demo car it is a demo car, and not
exactly new. And you pay a reduced price accordingly. As a
customer, I should be informed if the car I am buying is brand new
or a demo, and I was sold a demo as brand new!

Click to expand...

So you expect to pay less if the car has a fingerprint. I would hae to be the salesperson that has to deal with you.

Michael

I do not like bashing anybody, or any company. I just felt cheated out of good money. Since it is not your money, I am sure you do not feel the same way as I do. That's all.
Y. Chachad

Rome said:

rome

Yatin Chachad said:

I purchased a "Factory Fresh, Brand New Lense" from BHphoto (50mm
1.4), or so I was told, and when the lense arrived, it had shown
signs of use (not misuse), the wrapping was off, the plastic inside
was wrinkled, the warranty card had finger prints on it. But the
lense worked fine. Needless to say, I have returned it, and I will
NOT buy from Bhphoto again. I thought they were the best, but Heck
no! I bought my D30 , and 70-200 F4.0 from Canoga Camera, and it
arrived on time, factoy fresh, in mint condition. I will remain a
Canoga cutomer till I die.

--
Sincerely,
Y. Chachad

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--Sincerely,Y. Chachad

Its best not to argue with fools. This discussion is over as far as i am concerned

Michael Kay said:

Yatin Chachad said:

Thanks for your support. People do not realize that when they buy
a car is is NEW, when they buy a demo car it is a demo car, and not
exactly new. And you pay a reduced price accordingly. As a
customer, I should be informed if the car I am buying is brand new
or a demo, and I was sold a demo as brand new!

Click to expand...

So you expect to pay less if the car has a fingerprint. I would
hae to be the salesperson that has to deal with you.

Michael

Click to expand...

--Sincerely,Y. Chachad

Sorry Yatin,

Off course, I do understand how you feel. I feel the same way too if I feel I was cheated. But are you sure you're being cheated by B&H or could it be an accident or unintentional mistake on their (B&H) part? did you give them a chance to amend their mistakes before bashing in this public forum?

Regards,

Rome

Yatin Chachad said:

Rome said:

rome

Yatin Chachad said:

I purchased a "Factory Fresh, Brand New Lense" from BHphoto (50mm
1.4), or so I was told, and when the lense arrived, it had shown
signs of use (not misuse), the wrapping was off, the plastic inside
was wrinkled, the warranty card had finger prints on it. But the
lense worked fine. Needless to say, I have returned it, and I will
NOT buy from Bhphoto again. I thought they were the best, but Heck
no! I bought my D30 , and 70-200 F4.0 from Canoga Camera, and it
arrived on time, factoy fresh, in mint condition. I will remain a
Canoga cutomer till I die.

--
Sincerely,
Y. Chachad

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Sincerely,
Y. Chachad

Click to expand...

Michael,

If the car is supposed to be in a sealed box, then I know I am not getting what I want if finger print is present.

Regards,

Rome

Michael Kay said:

Yatin Chachad said:

Thanks for your support. People do not realize that when they buy
a car is is NEW, when they buy a demo car it is a demo car, and not
exactly new. And you pay a reduced price accordingly. As a
customer, I should be informed if the car I am buying is brand new
or a demo, and I was sold a demo as brand new!

Click to expand...

So you expect to pay less if the car has a fingerprint. I would
hae to be the salesperson that has to deal with you.

Michael

Click to expand...

Hey Yatin-

I thought you stated two posts back that "This discussion is over as far as i am concerned". Why do you keep posting?

And, by the way, before you start telling others to "get off the forum", maybe you should take your own advise. Maybe in your haste to post such a provocative header as "B&H Sucks", you might have noticed that this is the Canon SLR Forum. Your gripe is about a company, not a Canon SLR; in other words (you're in the wrong group).

Have a joyous holiday (without your new lens of course, because you sent it back).

PS, I almost forgot- where did you see the statement "Factory Fresh, brand new lense" (your spelling); I guess I didn't notice it anywhere on B&H's website; but apparently you did, so if you will be so kind as to point me to it, then maybe I and others will be more symphathetic to your unfortunate plight.

-Gary

Yatin Chachad said:

I do not like bashing anybody, or any company. I just felt cheated
out of good money. Since it is not your money, I am sure you do
not feel the same way as I do. That's all.
Y. Chachad

Click to expand...

Michael Kay said:

Finaly someone else with some sence.

Click to expand...

Gee, "finaly"(sic)...two guys with sense! So much"sence"(sic) that one of their contributions include characterizing another member as "a spoiled-child", because he was not happy with a vendor's service and said-so.

Michael Kay said:

Michael Kay said:

Michael Kay said:

You are a spoiled child and you need to calm down.

Sincerely
Michael

PS. I usually don't get this upset but I think that causing someone
to loose business is a serious matter.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Thanks guys, for helping keep-the-lid-on-the-flames around here . If you want to get personal, it seems that you both have the same "rediculous" (sic) spelling-coach, ...dump him! (Hey, I make spelling-errors, too. But this was an interesting coincidence. Are there really two guys here, or is it just one, patting-himself on the back? I know, ...check the "profiles". Nah, too-much trouble!)

So why get personal like this? Good question. I'll stop here. How 'bout you?

Yes, causing someone to lose business can be a serious matter. The question becomes WHO is doing the "causing"?

Michael Kay said:

However, with the kind of volume they do, some things will go wrong
and errors will happen. The issue here is what's their general
policy on returned or open merchandise. A fair evaluation would
include B&H's official policy statement on the issue. Anyone know
what it is?

--Michael Porter

Click to expand...

Thanks M.P., for a more rational position.

While past-laurels are nice, and may be well-deserved, today's customers have a right to be thinking "That was then, and this is now!".

"Accidents" and "mistakes", do occur, and it is human-enough to make them.

But WHEN they DO happen, frustration and disappointment result, and disappointed, frustrated customers are not as likely to be repeat customers (OR to speak-well of the vendor).

So vendors (usually) try to control/minimize this occurance via service(quality)-control. When (if) a vendor becomes so "successful " that it is too-busy to tend to the service concerns, then it has simply gotten too-big-for-it's-britches, ...and a "slap-upside-the-head" by means of negative publicity will likely occur, to keep it headed in the right-direction.

Rightly so!

A customer has a right to expect service "as-advertised". If he does not get it, he HAS been "lied-to", accidentally-or-not, and has a right to "*****". There is nothing wrong with expecting someone's word to be-their-bond, although it may not be always realistic in the often-shady world of mail-order(PARTICULARLY photographic) business.

B&H may well be one of the best. If so, they should appreciate the heads-up being given by the SEVERAL recent posts from less-than-happy customers.

If they are too-busy to care, the publicity may slow things down a little, ...and THEN they can get their ducks-in-a-row.

Meanwhile, the "policy" info that M.P. mentioned can help everyone know what-to-expect, at-least.

Re. "opened boxes". This is a valid concern, although it admittedly puts vendors in a potential bind if they permit no-penalty examine/return privileges.

An item can be dropped and damaged(with NO "apparent" harm), ever-so-slightly mis-aligning elements, and creating sub-spec performance that the next-customer may-not (probably will-not) be equipped to test-for, and may not "notice". (Duh! why do they pack this stuff in "cushioning" foam?)

Todays equipment, especially at the level usually discussed on this forum is expensive, precision stuff. Customers have a right to be concerned that when they pay for it, ...they GET it. WITH all the expected performance.

For most-of-them, the only assurance they will have that they have "gotten it", is the integrity of the vendor.

It behooves the vendor to tend to their reputation for having this integrity.

Discussions such as this (and several other) threads may prompt them to keep this in-mind.

If the reports are TRUTHFUL, the reporter has met his obligation. The vendor meets his, by minimizing the incidence of reports.

(All MHO, of course!)

Larry

Michael Kay said:

Walt said:

Walt

Michael Kay said:

This nitpicking is rediculous.

A company as large as B&H processes countless orders a day. I am
positive that if you recieved an open lens that it was purely by
accident.

And even so there was nothing wrong with the lens, yet you still
wasted your time returning it. You then come on a public message
board and bad mouth a legitimate business because of a fingerprint
on a waranty card, causing them to loose business.

Frankly I think B&H would have been better off if you had bought
the lens elsewhere.

You are a spoiled child and you need to calm down.

Sincerely
Michael

PS. I usually don't get this upset but I think that causing someone
to loose business is a serious matter.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Have you EVER made a mistake in YOUR life? B&H is not perfect and neither is any other company. Consistently, they have provided me with great service and great prices for 8 years! They have made one or two mistakes with me in that time period but they fixed them and made me BETTER than whole!

Maybe you got a bad deal but you were able to return the item and that says a great deal about B&H right there.

heck I biught cameras from local retailers who would not let me return them to the store in my own home town the next day!

I'd rather try my luck with B&H than with most of the no-name camera retailers I see mentioned in this forum.

Scott Bourne
http://www.earthportraits.com

Yatin Chachad said:

I purchased a "Factory Fresh, Brand New Lense" from BHphoto (50mm
1.4), or so I was told, and when the lense arrived, it had shown
signs of use (not misuse), the wrapping was off, the plastic inside
was wrinkled, the warranty card had finger prints on it. But the
lense worked fine. Needless to say, I have returned it, and I will
NOT buy from Bhphoto again. I thought they were the best, but Heck
no! I bought my D30 , and 70-200 F4.0 from Canoga Camera, and it
arrived on time, factoy fresh, in mint condition. I will remain a
Canoga cutomer till I die.

--
Sincerely,
Y. Chachad

Click to expand...

I bought a demo D30 from B&H. It was defective so I sent it back & had them crosship me another brand new one.

Then, instead of crediting the one I returned, they sent me another one so I had to return that one also.

I sent both registered mail, return reciept requested.

I recieved delivery confirmation two weeks ago & am still waiting for the credit on my credit card. We are talking about $4000.00 they owe me.

To make things worse, they lied to me when I called to ask about the credit. The first time I called they told me"that return just arrived yesterday". This was six days after I recieved the delivery confirmation.

Then a week ago they told me the credit had been issued(another lie).

I have never purchased from them before & I will absolutely NEVER purchase from them again.

At this point I am going to dispute the charges to my credit card.

Also, in case someone is thinking this is my credit cards fault, I have had it over 10 years & never had a problem before.

I'll second the opinion, B&H sucks big time!!

NOW you got me going. It may be a tad off course here but I'll tell you how I buy cars. RIGHT OFF OF THE TRUCK FROM THE FACTORY! I don't buy cars driven as demo's or on the lot cars driven for test drives. I order my cars and watch them come off the truck. ZERO miles. This has served me very well over the last 8 new cars I have owned thank you. And as for my photo equipment.....I'll get many of my filters and such from B&H and NEVER the big ticket stuff like the camera body or lenses. For that I'll go to Delta International thank you. Today I got a 100mm macro lens, 550EX flash and ST-E2 from them, all factory shrink wrapped with (in this case) a non removable Euro-Assurance SEAL on the ends of the boxes. All product came out with not so much as as wrinkle (on the highly wrinklable plastic bags the product comes in). THIS is the way I prefer to buy thank you. And don't even think about calling me a spoiled child. I just feel if I am paying for NEW.....that means UNTOUCHED PERIOD. Guess what, when you are unhappy with a place you buy from, you simply find someone else that accomodates your wishes (as Delta does with a SMILE) I might add.

Try your luck?
Is that the new Shopping model here?

When in your were in local stores and you bought items you could not return, did you inform them that in the US you can cancel ANY financial agreement with 3 days, regardless of their " we reservve the right to steal your money signage?" If paid by check or Credit Card, you are covered. If your silly enough to pay cash, without knowing your "local" dealers history, well theres nothing but smal claims court for that...

Well, anyway Happy Holidays, and Good Luck! next year..

Personally, I have only been screwed by B&H on shipping charges, hmm and it happended 2 times, seems like a pattern I wouldnt want to continue to "try my luck" with..

By the Way, 2 companies I can count on 100% all the time everytime,

Berger Brothers in NY (yes I said NY)
-
Norman Camera's in MI

If I cant find what I need with these top level (customer service driven) companies, then I dont need it that bad..

Peace~Out

Scott Bourne said:

Maybe you got a bad deal but you were able to return the item and
that says a great deal about B&H right there.

heck I biught cameras from local retailers who would not let me
return them to the store in my own home town the next day!

I'd rather try my luck with B&H than with most of the no-name
camera retailers I see mentioned in this forum.

--'I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn.' -- Pablo Picasso http://members.home.net/mackey135

Click to expand...

Oy vey here we go again. Don't even say the words "Norman Camera" to me EVER! I ordered a wide angle lens from them supposedly NEW and unopened......well......you guessed it. it was NO WAY unopened as it had a nice big ole' McDonalds french fry type of thumb print RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LENS. So, guess what....that is the LAST time I'm buying from them also.

Brian Mackey said:

Well, anyway Happy Holidays, and Good Luck! next year..

Personally, I have only been screwed by B&H on shipping charges,
hmm and it happended 2 times, seems like a pattern I wouldnt want
to continue to "try my luck" with..

By the Way, 2 companies I can count on 100% all the time everytime,

Berger Brothers in NY (yes I said NY)
-
Norman Camera's in MI

If I cant find what I need with these top level (customer service
driven) companies, then I dont need it that bad..

Peace~Out

Brian Mackey said:

Maybe you got a bad deal but you were able to return the item and
that says a great deal about B&H right there.

heck I biught cameras from local retailers who would not let me
return them to the store in my own home town the next day!

I'd rather try my luck with B&H than with most of the no-name
camera retailers I see mentioned in this forum.

Click to expand...

--
'I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself.
I have nothing else to learn.' -- Pablo Picasso
http://members.home.net/mackey135

Click to expand...

Lee Rothman wrote:
This I know also after having worked

Member said:

for a electronics retailer in San Francisco that sold Grey market
product. Any product we got back, for whatever reason, went right
back to the distributor. Part of the agreement, and a nice one too!
It just assures you of FACTORY FRESH items, not pawed all over by
someone before. Personally I have NO tolerance for that kind of
merchandise. ONLY from Production-Shipping-ME!

Click to expand...

I haven't read all the posts yet and don't have time now so sorry if this has been asked already.

lee, what does the distributer do with the returned merch that's in perfect working order, do they just smash it with a sledgehammer? or doesn't it probably go back to the factory where they clean it (if it needs it) and then repackage it as "factory fresh" in uncrinkled plastick with unsmudged cards and a sealed box? (i'm sure there are probably other choices between sledgehammer and repacking as new, but you get the gist of my question i'm sure)

Okay. I confess. I wasn't sure how to spell ridiculous so I copied from Michael. I didn't think I would get caught. Anyway, I wasn't getting personal. I just thought you were a little harsh publicly with you're opinion of B&H over that one incident. That's all. We should all be lucky there are businesses like B&H, Canoga, etc. that can give us the great deals we get.

Walt

lhsmith said:

Thanks guys, for helping keep-the-lid-on-the-flames around here .
If you want to get personal, it seems that you both have the same
"rediculous" (sic) spelling-coach, ...dump him! (Hey, I make
spelling-errors, too. But this was an interesting coincidence. Are
there really two guys here, or is it just one, patting-himself on
the back? I know, ...check the "profiles". Nah, too-much trouble!)

Click to expand...

Are you kidding???? Haven't you ever test drove a car you were thinking of buying and then didn't buy it or you bought another one? Do you think when you finished driving that car, it was put over on the used car lot? Get real.

Walt

Yatin Chachad said:

Thanks for your support. People do not realize that when they buy
a car is is NEW, when they buy a demo car it is a demo car, and not
exactly new. And you pay a reduced price accordingly. As a
customer, I should be informed if the car I am buying is brand new
or a demo, and I was sold a demo as brand new!
Thank you LMC54

Click to expand...

I've tried hard throughout this thread but just can't contain myself.

I stand foresquare with Michael and Walt.

Flame or not, you jumped on here with a title – BH Photo sucks! uh?

Because of wrinkled plastic?

Because of a fingerprint on the warranty card?

My Gawd!

By your own statement the lens worked just fine, no scratches, no evidence of any knd of wear or use.

And the problem is????
Wrinkled plastic?
A fingerprint?

I quite agree you are spoiled rotten to badmouth a company who is held in very high regard throughout the industry (of course, not with all; in the good old USA, make a single mistake and you're a very bad company).

As to feeling the same way (fingerprint) on an autombile, all I can say is I'm so very thankful I don't know you personally or professionally.

Personally, if I had received that lens and all the parts were there and it was in perfect condition showing no signs of use, we have a done deal.

I have to quit before I get really wound up.

Peter Stewart