BH Photo SUCKS!

Good luck with THOSE people. They always get negative reviews.

And they're 'discount' prices for the D-30 are gray market, and often stripped of everything but the body.

You won't save much money in the process.

dgrogers said:

It's a huge inconvenience though. If I'm looking for possible
inconveniences, I'll buy from Beach camera or Buydig.com (same
company), or some other heavy discounter.

Click to expand...

--The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons http://thewilkinsons.xroad.com

Can I buy US-warranty lenses / cameras there on a routine basis?

Lee Rothman said:

Uhhhhh, can you say DELTA! I can (and do) as their product comes to
me sealed, shrink wrapped and with a indelible seal ( in this case
last week with a European Assurance Seal) which CAN NOT be tampered
with on it. Even the plastic bags that the lens and flash come in
from Canon that wrinkle oh so easily had NO wrinkles in them when
removed. So YEAH.....when I say SEALED I mean completely NOT
messed with. What part of "Not Messed With" don't you
understand?!!!!!!!

Click to expand...

--The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons http://thewilkinsons.xroad.com

I saw that thread. And if you'd named it "B&H sucks" after that experience, I wouldn't blame you.

However, I have yet to see evidence that this is 'standard practice' of B&H.

Do they have more errors like these than they should? Definitely.

I hope you wrote a letter to the owner of B&H afterwards, expaining what happened to you. Not demanding anything, and in a civil tone. If people did that enough, perhaps more would get done. They need to know (with specifics) when things like this happen, so that they can be corrected.

To me, warnings of "so and so sucks" and "stay away" on the internet are only warranted for companies like Beach Camera that have a reputation for deceptive practices. I don't think B&H qualifies for that club.

steve mitchell said:

I believe it would me much different if they were simply guilty of
shipping items that were examined in store...but they go far beyond
that practice. Please read attached eply for my experience.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=1928470
--
Steve Mitchell
http://www.boxcarstudios.com

Click to expand...

--The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons http://thewilkinsons.xroad.com

Ordered 28-135 on Thursday night! Went out Friday, I got it in today Saturday! Great service from nice person!

Of course my invoice was not in the box so I can not send in my rebate. However, the lens was perfect!

BTW this is a very nice lens. Focus is much better than my E-20 in low light.--Jeff Morris

That's odd. They've always been included in my order.

They should be able to mail you a receipt for the rebate.

Yep, the 28-135 is a nice lens. Only one problem with it. It'll addict you to IS technology!

Jeff Morris said:

Ordered 28-135 on Thursday night! Went out Friday, I got it in
today Saturday! Great service from nice person!

Of course my invoice was not in the box so I can not send in my
rebate. However, the lens was perfect!

BTW this is a very nice lens. Focus is much better than my E-20 in
low light.
--
Jeff Morris

Click to expand...

--The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons http://thewilkinsons.xroad.com

DavidP said:

Good luck with THOSE people. They always get negative reviews.

And they're 'discount' prices for the D-30 are gray market, and
often stripped of everything but the body.

You won't save much money in the process.

Click to expand...

Beach and Buydig.com sell US products the way they were intended to be sold (unless eitherwise noted). Their problem is you can not rely on them actually having the product in stock when they say they do. If you don't mind putting up with the hassle, you can get a great deal from them and they do resolve complaints filed to the BBB.

Having said that, I ordered an E-10 from them a month or two ago that was never sent (I cancelled the order after waiting a week for comfrimation). I didn't get screwed out of any money, but they charged my card right away and I had to wait a few days after cancellation to get my money back (this bothered me). But, many people have successfully ordered from them.

DavidP said:

Have you EVER looked at a piece of photographic equipment at a
store before buying it? Have they ever opened a box for you to do
so? Do you insist after looking at it that it now be sold at a
reduced price for the next customer because of what you've just
done?

What a racket. Next time I get a lens, I'll have my wife go open
the box a day before, then insist on them selling it as "demo'd".
Then I'll go pick it up at the reduced price.

Click to expand...

No! Take 20 friends, who'll go in and "check-out" the lens, ...one after the other.

By the time they're finished, the lens will be SO "used" that the store will PAY YOU to take it off their hands!

Larry

DavidP #28649 said:

I hope you wrote a letter to the owner of B&H afterwards, expaining
what happened to you. Not demanding anything, and in a civil tone.
If people did that enough, perhaps more would get done. They need
to know (with specifics) when things like this happen, so that they
can be corrected.

To me, warnings of "so and so sucks" and "stay away" on the
internet are only warranted for companies like Beach Camera that
have a reputation for deceptive practices. I don't think B&H
qualifies for that club.

steve mitchell said:

I believe it would me much different if they were simply guilty of
shipping items that were examined in store...but they go far beyond
that practice. Please read attached eply for my experience.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=1928470
--
Steve Mitchell
http://www.boxcarstudios.com

Click to expand...

--

Click to expand...

First, I didn't start this thread. And I am not saying "B &H Sucks. I am simply recounting an experience I had with them. I think one of the greatest benefits of forums like this is it gives people an opportunity to read about and share experiences with others. It up to the person reading whether or not that experience relates to them. To answer your questionhow I contacted them, I was more than civil. After Panasonic explained to me the product had a previous repair attempt, I contacted Henri who was the Customer service manager (funny how you don't forget certain names) who totally denied the unit was not "factory fresh", and frankly had an attitude with me. I had already received the replacement from Panasonic, and suggested he call who I was dealing with at Panasonic in Elk Grove Village, ILL. BLAH BLAH BLAH.....I'm not here to pound on any company. I'm just adding my story to the list of posts. I think I owe it to other readers so they can decide. Even with my bad experience, I have purchased at least 5-6 other items from B & H. They have just been items that are either shrink wrapped or packaged in a way I can know immediately what I am getting. Happy Holidays to all.
--Steve Mitchellwww.boxcarstudios.com

B&H Photo is where I make all of my purchases for new items. I had a similar experience with a new lens. I had just picked up my lens after purchase and saw some wear that wasn't there before (when I inspected it at the counter) -- before I left the store, mind you. I brought this to the attention of the manager and he promptly had the lens changed on the spot. No hassle or anything.

Despite this incident, I go to B&H Photo because they have the selection I need and, for the most part, have decent pricing too. Now, I wouldn't purchase used items from them (some inflated prices? oh, yeah), but I will continue to go there to purchase new, anytime.

Their customer service is really top notch and I never have problems with returns. I lost a receipt one time and they faxed a copy to me in about ten minutes. Now, that is exceptional service.

Sometimes waiting to inspect items before purchase can be a drag when the wrong item comes up from storage. One time, three items were sent up to me at the counter that were all wrong. They were similar, but not the exact item I had requested. The rep joked that whomever is sending the stuff up hasn't had their coffee yet! (It was early in the morning). Their storage department area, IMHO, needs some new blood (or fresh stronger coffee).

I'll stop here, but please definitely shop around and purchase from wherever you prefer, but be professional and don't say that a place 'sucks' from one bad experience.
B&H is still the place to go, in my book.

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 believe this is an aberration. If you complain to management I think you'll find them very accomodating.

Richard Ozaroff
[email protected]

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...

B&H has a huge, attractive store, with many departments and knowledgeable sales people. Originally they sold to professional photographers, but they branched out to consumers.

Although the management and virtually the entire staff (with a few exceptions) are Orthodox Jews, they're in sharp contrast to other Orthodox Jews and Middle East people who run sleazy operations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

I have the highest regard for B&H and I buy most of my photo stuff from them. They offer low prices, they don't bargain, and they give honest answers. Anyone at this forum who refuses to buy from B&H is cutting his/her nose off to spite his/her face.

Richard Ozaroff
[email protected]

Lee Rothman said:

Actually, I am VERY glad you asked me this question as I am sure
others also would like to know. The distributor in fact DOES send
it back to either the main manufacturer or an "agent" that will
"Refurbish or restore to "like new" condition. After this service
has been performed, then it is offered to select retailers that
offer THIS specially prepared (refurbished) product at discounted
prices. It is referred to as either "Refurbished" or "B stock".
Very common practice and some offer some very good buys. It is just
that a retailer SHOULD be honest about ANY product that is NOT sold
in a Factory Sealed box. Once a box has been gone through, and the
product removed from it's original packaging, it should carry a
"Open Box" sticker as far as I am concerned. For those not so anal
retentive as some of us, they should be the one's to get all of the
"open box" product as it seems from this thread they really DON"T
care!

Click to expand...

ok, but if there is truly nothing to restore or refurbish other than wiping off fingerprints, replacing warrenty cards and replacing used plastic wrapping and sealing then do you really think they are selling it as refurbished? don't you think if they inspect it and find absolutely nothing wrong with it and no marks on it that they reseal it and sell it as new?

My dear aaron....(notice my increased patience from earlier). You must have completely misread the post I am answering. I was answering a previous post you may want to read thoroughly before you say what you have below. Thank you.

aaron said:

Lee Rothman said:

Actually, I am VERY glad you asked me this question as I am sure
others also would like to know. The distributor in fact DOES send
it back to either the main manufacturer or an "agent" that will
"Refurbish or restore to "like new" condition. After this service
has been performed, then it is offered to select retailers that
offer THIS specially prepared (refurbished) product at discounted
prices. It is referred to as either "Refurbished" or "B stock".
Very common practice and some offer some very good buys. It is just
that a retailer SHOULD be honest about ANY product that is NOT sold
in a Factory Sealed box. Once a box has been gone through, and the
product removed from it's original packaging, it should carry a
"Open Box" sticker as far as I am concerned. For those not so anal
retentive as some of us, they should be the one's to get all of the
"open box" product as it seems from this thread they really DON"T
care!

Click to expand...

ok, but if there is truly nothing to restore or refurbish other
than wiping off fingerprints, replacing warrenty cards and
replacing used plastic wrapping and sealing then do you really
think they are selling it as refurbished? don't you think if they
inspect it and find absolutely nothing wrong with it and no marks
on it that they reseal it and sell it as new?

Click to expand...

Lee Rothman said:

My dear aaron....(notice my increased patience from earlier). You
must have completely misread the post I am answering. I was
answering a previous post you may want to read thoroughly before
you say what you have below. Thank you.

Click to expand...

dear lee,

what is it that indicates i didn't read the post you responded to? i stated in my original post that i hadn't read the all the millions of other replies yet. but i had read up to the point where you responded to jeff.

my point is that you seem to think that getting something in the "factory fresh" box is an assurance that it has never been touched by another person since the factory. i realize that some people sell refurbished goods and mark them as such. but what i'm saying is that i find it hard to believe that a factory would receive an opened return with no reports of malfunction, test it and confirm that it's in like new condition and then willingly lose more money then they have to by selling it as refurbished when nobody will know the difference if they simply repack it and reseal it.

you said we need to determine which companies will repack as new and which ones won't and you use the seemingly new box as an indicator. maybe i'm too cynical, but i don't think that's a reliable method. i think a company with integrity will sell a truly refurbished unit as refurbished and not as new, but i'm not sure that even the best company will sell a perfectly good unit that they in fact didn't have to refurbish as refurbished just because they had to inspect it and repack it. (the return and inspection process has already cost them money)

ROzaroff said:

Although the management and virtually the entire staff (with a few
exceptions) are Orthodox Jews, they're in sharp contrast to other
Orthodox Jews and Middle East people who run sleazy operations in
Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Click to expand...

dear richard,

do you always note the race, religion or region or origin when speaking of sleaziness? do you note that the insurance industry is mostly wasp? how about used car salesmen? who is it that has broken every treaty ever made with the people we stole this land from? how about the majority of crooked politicians or corrupt corporations? are they usually jewish or "middle east people"?

Lee Rothman said:

A rather different scenario I feel. Just take a look at my poll so
far. Those folks NOT concerned about product having been opened are
far behind those that ARE. Your fly rod setup is quite different we
feel.....

Click to expand...

Yes, it probably is given the fact that the performance of a fly rod is an in hand kind of the thing that has to be experienced. Casting one in the yard doesn't make it used though, just like putting a lens on a camera and looking through it, mabe even out in the street in front of the shop wouldn't make it used either, in my mind.

The case of the guy in another thread getting a D30 with a third party battery, a missing cap on the synch cord plug, and 900 and some shots registered on the memory card, is defintely a return that has been used.--Dave Lewis

DavidP #28649 said:

For those who DEMAND completely unopened boxes: how would you feel
if you were charged a FEE (equal to the difference in NEW vs.
"opened to examine" prices) to look at a lens that was in stock,
before making a purchase decision?

That would be fair, IMO.

Click to expand...

That would be a bad vibe kind of thing. A shop would be shooting themsleves in the foot with that kind of thing.--Dave Lewis

Lee Rothman said:

You are making this WAY more complicated than it needs to be. NEW
means out of BACK STOCK away from prying hands. Shelf means subject
to anyone's prying hands at will. When I pay an Advertised price
that is for a NEW product I expect it to come from the
FORMER.....NOT the latter. Thank you....

Click to expand...

You're making it nearly impossible for the little guy, though, who can't afford backup inventory. When it comes to expensive stuff, most shops will be lucky to have one of a kind.--Dave Lewis

So YEAH.....when I say SEALED I mean completely NOT

Member said:

messed with. What part of "Not Messed With" don't you
understand?!!!!!!!

Click to expand...

Yep, that's the way I like to get my toilet paper too. Absolutely. (G)--Dave Lewis

Did you ask them why you got the opened one ? Did they apologize ? Did they offer you replace or refund ?

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...

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