B&H is getting a lot of flak, but...

What I'd like to know is where are folks buying their gear? Let's hear some positive accounts of where you have gotten great prices AND great service. With the recent slams on B&H and Canon service, it might give the newbies a scare.

On that note...I don't notice State Street Direct ads anymore. Did Phil nix them or did they take their ad dollars elsewhere?

I normally buy ALL my photo and video equipment from B&H and couldn't be happier. No problems whatsoever and they will continue to be my primary source for gear.

However, I wanted to get a 10D as a backup camera to my 1D (currently using a D30) and I saw a post here on Friday about State Street Direct having 10D's in stock at a decent price (5% disc). So I called and ordered one and it arrived today as expected. No fuss. I'd say they are still around.

• John

Stew said:

What I'd like to know is where are folks buying their gear? Let's
hear some positive accounts of where you have gotten great prices
AND great service. With the recent slams on B&H and Canon service,
it might give the newbies a scare.

On that note...I don't notice State Street Direct ads anymore. Did
Phil nix them or did they take their ad dollars elsewhere?
--

Click to expand...

I made my last major purchases from "OneCall.com". The service is excellent and the prices are decent (comparable to B&H). I have spent over $4000 there in the past few months. I am VERY satisfied. It is really nice to talk to real people who don't rush you. I recently had to return something because of an error and it was a "no hassle" thing. If you just want to return something, there is a 15% restocking fee. Of course, if it is THEIR mistake or a defect, there is no restocking fee. I make it a point to deal with the same saleman (I don't know if that makes any difference, but I think it might, in general - when you deal with "real" people and they get to know you, it HAS to help.

Dale53

I believe that the totality of B&H threads have been in fact positive. As many, and myself included, have stated you need to be prudent when reading threads on this forum (mine included!).

Stew said:

What I'd like to know is where are folks buying their gear? Let's
hear some positive accounts of where you have gotten great prices
AND great service. With the recent slams on B&H and Canon service,
it might give the newbies a scare.

On that note...I don't notice State Street Direct ads anymore. Did
Phil nix them or did they take their ad dollars elsewhere?
--

Click to expand...

--
Troponin (Trop)
I must admit, I gotta problem with typo's

Troponin said:

Stew said:

What I'd like to know is where are folks buying their gear? Let's
hear some positive accounts of where you have gotten great prices
AND great service. With the recent slams on B&H and Canon service,
it might give the newbies a scare.

On that note...I don't notice State Street Direct ads anymore. Did
Phil nix them or did they take their ad dollars elsewhere?
--

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Canoga camera is a great dealer...I order all my gear from them....They have fantastic customer service and pricing...Very easy to deal with...If there is a problem with something you ordered or it wasn't exactly what you expected and you want to return it...They say "no problem, send it back" no flak or BS....Everything arrives exactly when they say it will too...I totally recommend them for any of your photo needs....Although if they are out of stock or don't carry what I want, I have no problem going to B&H or Adorama.

Cregg

Hello,

While on vacation in the East Coast (Boston Area) I ordered a few filters and a Maco lens for my 10D. I called and specifically told them I wanted the lens sent to my Aunts house in MA as I was on vacation there. They sent it to my house in IN. I called and asked why they sent it there. They told me that was the address they had on file. I said I wanted to talk to a supervisor there. The supervisor told me they messed up the order and that they had computer problems. He said they would take care of it.

All they had to do was recall the order and send it to me fedex next day air but they lost the order. Something that was only suppose to take 2 days to get took over 5 days and I still did not get the order. I ended up having to cancel the order as I would of been back in IN by the time they straightened it out.

I've bought a lot of Photography stuff from B&H in the past and will continue to do so but they will not be my first choice anymore.

Michael

Troponin said:

Stew said:

What I'd like to know is where are folks buying their gear? Let's
hear some positive accounts of where you have gotten great prices
AND great service. With the recent slams on B&H and Canon service,
it might give the newbies a scare.

On that note...I don't notice State Street Direct ads anymore. Did
Phil nix them or did they take their ad dollars elsewhere?
--

Click to expand...

--
Troponin (Trop)
I must admit, I gotta problem with typo's

Click to expand...

Stew said:

What I'd like to know is where are folks buying their gear? Let's
hear some positive accounts of where you have gotten great prices
AND great service. With the recent slams on B&H and Canon service,
it might give the newbies a scare.

On that note...I don't notice State Street Direct ads anymore. Did
Phil nix them or did they take their ad dollars elsewhere?
--

Click to expand...

B&H and Delta International.

Stew said:

What I'd like to know is where are folks buying their gear? Let's
hear some positive accounts of where you have gotten great prices
AND great service. With the recent slams on B&H and Canon service,
it might give the newbies a scare.

On that note...I don't notice State Street Direct ads anymore. Did
Phil nix them or did they take their ad dollars elsewhere?
--

Click to expand...

I've made all of my purchases from the most reputable dealer selling at the lowest price, with one exception. (When I bought my D60 last year, they were in short supply - I ordered from my local dealer and had it in a week, vs. the average 6 week wait others were experiencing.) I've made most purchases from B&H, and have never received anything less than the best service. I've also called them to seek help or advice on a couple of occasions. While I wouldn't say they were a "warm fuzzy"[g], they were very helpful, and never rude or disrespectful. Other dealers I've been happy with are Adorama, Canoga, Calumet, State Street. I bought my 1Ds from State Street during one of their 10% off sales, and was very pleased with the price.

Just as I make mistakes from time to time, I'm usually prepared to accept that others do sometimes as well. None of the above dealers have made mistakes with my orders, so I consider myself very lucky. But if they had, I'd try to at least start by dealing with them the way I would prefer to be approached when I err. In my experience it saves everybody a ton of grief. My life is just too short to spend it with my bowels in an uproar!

US Stock market went up yesterday and today - and I suspect we "big US spenders" here can take some of the credit for that.[g] Canon SLR Forum for economic recovery! [vbg!]

--
Best,
Laurie

I've spent over $60,000 with B&H over the past few years.

Flawless service.

I had some returns (front focusing 1D) that were handled perfectly.

I remain a loyal customer. I've never had to invoke Henry's help, but I feel confident he would be there if I needed him.

John-G said:

I normally buy ALL my photo and video equipment from B&H and
couldn't be happier. No problems whatsoever and they will continue
to be my primary source for gear.

Click to expand...

Thank you.

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

Michael Mitchell said:

Hello,

While on vacation in the East Coast (Boston Area) I ordered a few
filters and a Maco lens for my 10D. I called and specifically told
them I wanted the lens sent to my Aunts house in MA as I was on
vacation there. They sent it to my house in IN. I called and
asked why they sent it there. They told me that was the address
they had on file. I said I wanted to talk to a supervisor there.
The supervisor told me they messed up the order and that they had
computer problems.

Click to expand...

Absolutely true and while I can apologize, there's really no excuse. We screwed one up.

Michael Mitchell said:

All they had to do was recall the order and send it to me fedex
next day air but they lost the order.

Click to expand...

Actually, it's a little more complicated than that. We contacted FedEx and asked them to reroute to you and they said they couldn't, but could return to us. We told them to do so and immedeiately began recompiling the merchandise to ship a new order. At that point we discovered that the lens you'd ordered was out of stock in the "USA-warranty" verrsion, an unforseen complication.

Admittedly not our finest hour, for which we have apologized

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

Many thousands of dollars on many items over many years (with a much steeper spending curve over the last 15 months!). Great prices, superb & prompt service, easy and pleasant handling of the occasional return (including a 1D that displayed banding and left-side/right-side noise differences).

Also, occasionally, excellent prices and service from Canoga and, until the recent downturn of the exchange rate, Delta International.

Nill
~~
http://www.toulme.net

Stew said:

What I'd like to know is where are folks buying their gear? Let's
hear some positive accounts of where you have gotten great prices
AND great service. ...

Click to expand...

Is it time now for positive comments on B&H?

I guess I've purchased about $25,000 worth from them so far. Three cameras, maybe 8 major lenses, lots of filters, flash and lighting equipment, etc. and never a problem with fulfillment or apparent substitution of old goods for new. A lot of our orders were routine stuff (film, paper, chemicals, etc.), but these seemed to go OK as well.

I'm not sure why, but I always place my orders verbally (never via the web). True, I'm often underwhelmed by the lack of snap and sizzle on the part of their phone reps (they often seem laconic to the max), but I can usually wake them up long enough to get my order straight. Their pricing always seems to be very competitive (if not the ABSOLUTE lowest), and I'm the type who NEVER takes the low bid. I could have saved $80 net on my new Epson 2200, but bought from B&H, knowing that if there were a problem, they would likely treat me well.

It's also taught me a valuable lesson on how often photographic supply crises are occasioned by the arrival of Jewish holidays and their sabboth !

Judging from these posts, they're having a few growing pains, and I trust they'll take that to heart...

I have no idea how much I've spent at B&H. But I can assure you it's more than I want to know.

--
The Lowest Paid Concert Photographer Around
http://www.neonlightsimaging.com/artshow/final.htm
Photography -- just another word for compromise

'Since we can't keep crime in check, why don't we legalize it and tax it out of business?' -- Will Rogers

...but I'm too chicken to ask it. Hmmm... too chicken to Quicken... never mind.

Nill
~~
http://www.toulme.net

DavidP said:

I have no idea how much I've spent at B&H. But I can assure you
it's more than I want to know.

Click to expand...

For the record, Henry, I did about $3,000 of business with you folks when I bought a new Canon 35mm rig about four years ago. I personally had great service from B&H at that time and was looking at doing the same as I migrated to pure digital. I posted simply because all the recent postings about bad/rude service at B&H has me (and I'm sure others) a little skittish.

Stew

Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video said:

John-G said:

I normally buy ALL my photo and video equipment from B&H and
couldn't be happier. No problems whatsoever and they will continue
to be my primary source for gear.

Click to expand...

Thank you.

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

Click to expand...

In the last few months, I have purchased my 10D, lenses and all accesories from B&H without incident. It was the firts week of May when I order my 10D, and they were few and far between. I called around different stores trying to find one that had it in stock at a reasonable price (with little luck). I went back to B&H and placed my order for the camera.

B&H told me the camera would be delivered in 2-3 weeks, which was still better than most places could promise. Much to surprise, my camera arrived within FIVE days of ordering it (and the camera operates flawlessly)!

Since purchasing the camera, I have spent another $2000-$3000 at B&H on various items, all of which were delivered on time and in A1 condition.

I haven't had to return anything to B&H, so my experience with customer service is limited, but the one time I did speak with the sales department, the gentleman was not pushy, but curteous and helpful.

I will continue to give B&H my business, although I am concerned about using UPS, as I have had some bad experiences with them over the past few years.

Now if you want to know about RUDE customer service, call and talk to an a* e from Royal Camera. You should have heard this guy!!!!!!

Great job B&H!

Kevin Vian

Stew said:

What I'd like to know is where are folks buying their gear? Let's
hear some positive accounts of where you have gotten great prices
AND great service. With the recent slams on B&H and Canon service,
it might give the newbies a scare.

On that note...I don't notice State Street Direct ads anymore. Did
Phil nix them or did they take their ad dollars elsewhere?
--

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/kevinv

Stew said:

What I'd like to know is where are folks buying their gear? Let's
hear some positive accounts of where you have gotten great prices
AND great service. With the recent slams on B&H and Canon service,
it might give the newbies a scare.

Click to expand...

So far, after about eight or nine purchases and two returns (one for a improperly filled out order), I've had no problems with HotBuysElectronics.com

The posted prices are for gray which then say they're out, or tell you it's for an out of Japan manufacturing site or plastic mount which they're out of but the final price, has always been the least over all the rest by fifteen/twenty percent, even with their, what I think, expensive shipping.

So I give HotBuys a call when I want an expensive lens. Example, final price, shipped two day FedEx, of a Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L, $1,300.00US. Do dah type of stuff, I get locally where the service always is the worst and the prices are always the highest.

But the nigglely/specialy things, I always get at B&H. Things such as pano heads, tripod braces, timer releases, lens braces. For a huge selection of specialty items, B&H can't be beat.

The point, look all around for your needs as opposed to a one-stop shop for all your needs.

Hope this helps.

--
If you don't want to believe me, ignore me

Careful, or Johnny Cochran might hire you.

I knew there's a good reason not to use Quicken.

Nill Toulme said:

...but I'm too chicken to ask it. Hmmm... too chicken to
Quicken... never mind.

Click to expand...

--
The Lowest Paid Concert Photographer Around
http://www.neonlightsimaging.com/artshow/final.htm
Photography -- just another word for compromise

'Since we can't keep crime in check, why don't we legalize it and tax it out of business?' -- Will Rogers

Kevin Vian said:

Now if you want to know about RUDE customer service, call and talk
to an a* e from Royal Camera. You should have heard this
guy!!!!!!

Click to expand...

I can only agree with you on that one. I first tried to purchase my 10D from them. The guy was nice at the beginning, but then when I started to complete the order, he just started to add items I didn't want, saying that the special price was granted only IF you bought these items (of course, no mention of that on their web site), and that I HAD to add some incredible amount for shipping. When I cancelled the order, the guy was just plain rude and impolite. Great customer service.
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