B & H's Attitude

I can't resist this posting opportunity. The FedEx truck just dropped off a delivery from B&H, on time, as pomised and reasonably priced. What more coudl you ask for?

Is B&H perfect? Of course not, but neither am I. I deal with several photo retailers and B&H has been a valued supplier to me, from the old mail order days to shopping on their website. Plus Harry will get on the Forum and discuss issues - a real bonus to me. All in all B&H is a good place to do business with,
--
Mike Bauer

Girish,

If you are so dissatisfied with how Yasi Fogel treated you, why did you advise another poster who was having problems with a camera to " Call b&H and ask for yasi and tell him "you are a good friend of girish"
he will take care of you... " ???

This was posted several hours after you posted your entirely unwarranted and childish rant about B&H in general and Yasi in particular. Were you happy with Yasi's treatment of you after all, or were you trying to screw up a fellow DP Review user?

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=4044068

--
Patrick Martin
http://www.patrickmartin.com

MKW said:

Henry,
Thanks for your (expected) even tempered and well worded response.
B&H is one of the few companies I know of that has really made the
best of the web. I can place a web order for an item from you guys
by 3pm and I will see it the next day with your cheapest shipping
option 99% of the time (I'm in CT).... what more could I ask for?

Click to expand...

I'm way out on the left coast, and it's still more convenient to order from B&H than to run all over town. If I order early in the week, I'll have my stuff before the weekend (unless there's a Fedex holiday in the middle.)

I ordered a 24-70L from B&H when they were first available. I had it shipped overnight the day before Thanksgiving at shipping cost of $40. It arrived in the morning as promised. Unfortunately, the lens had some dirt inside the rear element group. I called B&H for a replacement. FedEx arrived the next day to pick-up the lens at B&H's request. Once the lens was back in stock, I was shipped a new one priortiy overnight at no charge to me. The new lens is perfect.

B&H took it upon themselves to remedy a situation that was cleary a Canon defect. Yet they handled all of the return shipping on their dime. I didn't ask for this service. They provided to me with no hassles.

BTW, this is just one example of similar experiences I've had with B&H...

Cheers,

Lou.

Nah, he probably wanted to ensure that someone else had a bad experience by using his name.

He set out to ruin B & H's reputation, and it's ruined his. LOL.

of the old saying:

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt".

Girish Jadav said:

Hello,

I've been looking for a camera and in my search, I came across a
camera for $4249 at KEH. Then, I called another company and they
had it for $4000 with a US warranty. So, then I called B&H to see
if they could match the $4000 offer. A guy named Yasi Fogel,
digital sales manager, talked to me on the phone. He was telling
me with pride that they had been in business for 30 years and have
always had the lowest price. When I mentioned about KEH's price, he
realized that he was wrong. I also mentioned about the $4000
camera company, and then he did not want to match the price. He
then went on to insult other companies. I am upset moreso about his
attitude about matching the price rather than him not actually
doing it. With this attitude, I doubt the company will be
continuing for much longer and I hope you take this into
consideration when buying your next camera or any other
accessories. If anyone has B&H's owner's name, I would like to
have it so I can update him on his employee's attitude towards me.

GJ

Click to expand...

although if they want to sell me a new 1D for $2500 I'd regard them even higher yet : )

I bought several items from them and have never been disapointed.

Their catalogue will blow your mind and their prices are fair though not always the absolute lowest for a variety of reasons.

Jim

They may not always have the lowest price but they always have a price I can trust.

Girish Jadav said:

Hello,

I've been looking for a camera and in my search, I came across a
camera for $4249 at KEH. Then, I called another company and they
had it for $4000 with a US warranty. So, then I called B&H to see
if they could match the $4000 offer. A guy named Yasi Fogel,
digital sales manager, talked to me on the phone. He was telling
me with pride that they had been in business for 30 years and have
always had the lowest price. When I mentioned about KEH's price, he
realized that he was wrong. I also mentioned about the $4000
camera company, and then he did not want to match the price. He
then went on to insult other companies. I am upset moreso about his
attitude about matching the price rather than him not actually
doing it. With this attitude, I doubt the company will be
continuing for much longer and I hope you take this into
consideration when buying your next camera or any other
accessories. If anyone has B&H's owner's name, I would like to
have it so I can update him on his employee's attitude towards me.

GJ

Click to expand...

B&H is a great camera store; what I like about them the best is that they are honest.

Whenever I go to New York, I make sure I go and visit them (though I order most stuff off the internet these days). I find they have the best expert camera people, and you can ask questions and learn a lot from them.

Their prices are consistently the lowest; however, sometimes I pick up stuff from Keh, Calumet Photo and Adorama because I can save a little or they have what I'm looking for (I buy a lot of used equipment).

BUT, I buy most of my stuff from B&H and find dealing with them is so easy... worry-free, etc.

They may not always have the lowest price for "some" things, but at least you don't have to worry about not getting what you ordered, or getting something broken, etc. That's worth a lot to me. They have always come through.

-Lynda

Long story.

I live in NYC and have been shopping at B&H for more than 10 years. A lot longer than the salespeople working there involved in this story.

As you can see, most of my posts have been in the lighting forum. I've been researching which stobe system to get and I've decided on getting Profoto. I'm just not sure about the 7b or Acute 2 or even Compact.

So I guess I've been a pain in the butt to the salesmen in that department asking many, many questions (at least that's how they made me feel, instead of comfortable). They are quite knowledgeable and answered most of my questions, although sometimes I'd get 2 different answers from 2 different salespeople. This confusion on their part led me to ask to see several softboxes. Apparently my salesman got tired of bringing stuff up. And it wasn't as if there was a line, a couple of salespeople were sitting around doing nothing. Hey, if it isn't on the floor and you want me to spend $400 on something, I have to see the thing.

When I ask to see my 4th softbox, the salesperson asks me what I want to know about. I say I want to see it. He brings up the B&H webpage and tells me that I can read all about it there. I say that I already have and want to see it. I sense his growing negative attitude and say that if it's too much trouble I could simply buy it, take it home and return it if it isn't satisfactory. He pulls the lighting department manager to the side and they come back and tell me that the "warehouse" says there are none in stock, even though the website and their stock computer state that there are plenty.

They are salespeople and not actors, I immediately knew what they were up to. I felt sick to my stomach after years of loyal shopping at B&H to be so blantly lied to. These 2 guys have been there less than a year. Hopefully it won't be much more.

The next day I return a softbox which I purchased earlier in the week and ask the return/exchange department if there are any of the supposedly out of stock softboxes in. He says plenty and brings up two different models of the brand I was interested in. I check them over, decide they are not for me and head straight to the lighting manager to ask him what the deal was. He lied to me again, stating that there were none in stock yesterday and there must have been lots of returns in the last 24 hours. These are very high-end softboxes, of which the salesperson told me he hadn't sold any in the 7 months he'd been there. How did so many appear out of thin air?

So yes, they do have attitude. They do lie. They do get cranky. Will I continue to shop there, yes, of course. Only because they have tons of stuff in stock and usually the best price. But you can be d*mn sure I'll be calling Adorama first.

Robert

I do not think, you're going to find much support to destroy B&H on this forum.

Couple of things.

1) This mysterious $4000 camera. Is it a Hasselblad? Canon 1Ds? What? Gives a little more insight. Is this mysterious cheap company a Canon Authorized photo dealer? Do they have unconditional money back guarantee? If you order something on their website at 1:30pm CDT will it be at your door (if you pay the shipping) the next morning?

2) Does this mysterious company with the least expensive price carry every item Canon or some other vendor, or all the vendors related to photography or is this one or two of the items in stock and you're on yer own to find other items?

3) Just because I company doesn't want to loose money / wants to make money on a product doesn't make them a bad company. If they have been in business for years, it's because they're making money, not giving stuff away.

4) Did you mention that you called an 800 number and on their dime harrangued them for not selling something that you must know is at a cutrate price? Does this mystery company you're comparing them too have an 800 number where they'll spend copious amounts of time with you helping you understand what product you're going for?

5) Do they have a brick & mortar location that you can visit and that every major photography compnay has shows at that you are always invited too?

Just a few things I can think of that would make me spend a whoppin 5% price difference on.

robertfel said:

Long story.

Click to expand...

...But you can

robertfel said:

be d*mn sure I'll be calling Adorama first.

Robert

Click to expand...

Adorama is certainly no better than B&H in ANY regard. I will occasionally shop there, as well, but with disdain for their "multiple price" schemes. Just always remember to ask which price you're paying - the lowest price, or the price before you ask if it's the lowest price....

Ze

I've been buying from B & H for most of those 30 years that they've been open. I have never been disappointed in their treatment of me or their service. They are one of the few on-line phone-order dealers I will use. Having dealt with the public myself I can tell you that there will always be a number of people with unreasonable expectations. Fortunately for most retailers they are a small number as most people are fair.

Willa said:

And, I love B&H photo!


Willa

Click to expand...

--
Jonathan Lefcourt
D60,24-70L, 70-200L 2.8 IS, 15-30 Sigma (wish it was 2.8!)
50 1.4, 28-135 IS, Metz 54, 550EX, S40
and a lot of other stuff I drag around!

I live about 100 miles from B&H. whenever I am going to buy anything photographic I drive the 200 mile trip and pay the sales tax. Everything I buy there they let me open and examine. I seem to be pretty lucky that everything so far is great although I probably wouldn't know a slight defect. No hassles. Was asked if I needed any accessories but never pushed for anything. Free parking for an hour (not nearly enough Henry, I feel rushed to get out of the store). The fact that one post has generated such response is testament to the fact that B&H is a good place to get your stuff. I never even thought of asking for a price match. I almost never even look at other stores because I have gotten the run around before I went to B&H. I received more for my trade in than expected.

Those that have been in the store and worked with the public can imagine how the help might get less than friendly after either being run around by one customer for a while or by people that come in with an attitude to begin with. I wonder how many people use B&H as a place to examine the equipment and then save 10 or 20 bucks by ordering someplace online. This is not my experience though. I have stood on line and at the counter many times and have never experienced or heard the salesmen be anything but professional.

My last trip.

monopod
550EX

I have purchased equipment on and off from B and H since the early 1980's. They are generally polite and honest. But the lowest prices? Not in my experience. My local dealer beats B&H consistantly on equipment they both carry. They are a good store but not a great bargain. Competitive yes. "Always the lowest" no way.

I have had good service from BH photo. Never a problem or issue. Their prices are extremely competitive and honestly if they are the same as most other dealers, I will order from them. I know what is in stock and when it will be shipped. Sometimes Adorama has a better price. If it is substantial, I will order from them--but they are much less reliable --not dishonest. I refuse to buy anything from a firm I believe to be dishonest. mark

Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video said:

Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video Inc. said:

Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video Inc. said:

If anyone has B&H's owner's name, I would like to
have it so I can update him on his employee's attitude towards me.

Click to expand...

You can talk to me.

Click to expand...

Well, the fellow who originated this thread just called me and
after MY experience, I'm going to have to give Mr. Fogel a raise
and an "attaboy" for keeping his cool.

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

Click to expand...

I've dealt with B&H numerous times. I've bought 2 digicams from them...one as recently as this week. I've bought countless lenses, flashes, accessories, etc over the years. Nothing but flawless transactions, and on the rare occasion I had to return something...no trouble.

If you want to jump to the lowest advertised price...be my guest. Try your luck with Broadway Photo, or A&M Photo World...see how far you get.

Girish Jadav said:

Hello,

I've been looking for a camera and in my search, I came across a
camera for $4249 at KEH. Then, I called another company and they
had it for $4000 with a US warranty. So, then I called B&H to see
if they could match the $4000 offer. A guy named Yasi Fogel,
digital sales manager, talked to me on the phone. He was telling
me with pride that they had been in business for 30 years and have
always had the lowest price. When I mentioned about KEH's price, he
realized that he was wrong. I also mentioned about the $4000
camera company, and then he did not want to match the price. He
then went on to insult other companies. I am upset moreso about his
attitude about matching the price rather than him not actually
doing it. With this attitude, I doubt the company will be
continuing for much longer and I hope you take this into
consideration when buying your next camera or any other
accessories. If anyone has B&H's owner's name, I would like to
have it so I can update him on his employee's attitude towards me.

GJ

Click to expand...

--
John
http://www.pbase.com/mankman
Canon EOS D60
Sigma 50-500EX
Canon 50 1.8
Kenko 2x Pro TC

Have always been positive. Their web based ordering and tracking are great. If their site says they have it in stock and I order overnight I aways have it with an e-mail confirmation and direct tracking.

They carry more stock then most and have knowledgable staff that don't play games.

They may not always have the lowest price on a particuallar item, but they always are close to the lowest and your getting a real item with real warrenty and know when your buying Grey Market. There is no bait and switch, preasure to add other items, or many of the other games that create horror stories well documented on this forum by some of their not-so-trustworthy competitors.

There are others with good reputations. But a trollish like post with no info is not going to bother BHphoto. In fact, lots of posts like others and my response documenting our years of good experience with them will cause this trollish post to add business for them.

Be careful when you get your "deal" for the other lower priced outfits.

It sounds like Yasi was trying to warn you to be careful. If he knows the cost on the item in question then he may know that your about to be taken and was trying to warn you about that.

Colorvision mastersuite waiting for me to open today when I got back from a buisness trip

Last week, quantum Turbo Battery, Timer Release, Memory cards

Next week Epson 2200 - oh I forgot - they are out of stock on those

Come on Henry - how about some Epson 2200s?