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Any problems with B&H?

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Jamie Benaud

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Location
Blue Mountains, AU
Hi all,

Am looking at buying some stuff (...70-200VR....yum yum) from B&H Photo and having it sent out to Australia. I haven't dealt with them before. Any customers with pros/cons after having dealt with them? Particularly International customers. They seem OK, just want to make sure.

Thanks

--
Jamie

http://homepage.mac.com/sitehost/penrithfire
 
Jamie Benaud said:
Hi all,

Am looking at buying some stuff (...70-200VR....yum yum) from B&H
Photo and having it sent out to Australia. I haven't dealt with
them before. Any customers with pros/cons after having dealt with
them? Particularly International customers. They seem OK, just want
to make sure.e
Click to expand...
I'm in the US (though my wife wants to move to Australia) and have had nothing but good dealings with B&H. Very honest and trustworthy, in sharp contrast to many other New York camera dealers. Enjoy your 70-200!

--
Mark
http://www.scheuern.com/photoblog/
 
I have used them (USA) for three years+ and will continue to do so.
Jamie Benaud said:
Hi all,

Am looking at buying some stuff (...70-200VR....yum yum) from B&H
Photo and having it sent out to Australia. I haven't dealt with
them before. Any customers with pros/cons after having dealt with
them? Particularly International customers. They seem OK, just want
to make sure.

Thanks

--
Jamie

http://homepage.mac.com/sitehost/penrithfire
Click to expand...
--
Larry Gleason
 
Only good experiences in 5+ years. Great store!

Regards,

Dan.
Jamie Benaud said:
Hi all,

Am looking at buying some stuff (...70-200VR....yum yum) from B&H
Photo and having it sent out to Australia. I haven't dealt with
them before. Any customers with pros/cons after having dealt with
them? Particularly International customers. They seem OK, just want
to make sure.

Thanks

--
Jamie

http://homepage.mac.com/sitehost/penrithfire
Click to expand...
 
I first used B&H back in 1981 when I still lived in the UK, and never had a problem. I moved to Florida in 1987 and have been useing them ever since. I think they are the #1 company to deal with.

Regards,

Anthony.
Jamie Benaud said:
Hi all,

Am looking at buying some stuff (...70-200VR....yum yum) from B&H
Photo and having it sent out to Australia. I haven't dealt with
them before. Any customers with pros/cons after having dealt with
them? Particularly International customers. They seem OK, just want
to make sure.

Thanks

--
Jamie

http://homepage.mac.com/sitehost/penrithfire
Click to expand...
 
I have used B&H fairly excusively doing internet ordering and have yet to have to call in with any problems. I get prompt shipping on the day my items are supposed to ship.

I live in the states, so I am sorry that I cannot help with the question about international shipping. Although, all of my items have come through Fed-x, and I would assume that they can handle the international......

I would love to have that lens also...........

--
Best Regards. Jimmy
 
I have nothing but good things to say about B&H - and I am an "international" customer (well, Canada isn't quite as international as Australia but anyway...)
Jamie Benaud said:
Hi all,

Am looking at buying some stuff (...70-200VR....yum yum) from B&H
Photo and having it sent out to Australia. I haven't dealt with
them before. Any customers with pros/cons after having dealt with
them? Particularly International customers. They seem OK, just want
to make sure.

Thanks

--
Jamie

http://homepage.mac.com/sitehost/penrithfire
Click to expand...
 
I find their shipping charges on the high side, but other than that, the only place in NYC I'll do business with.
Jamie Benaud said:
Hi all,

Am looking at buying some stuff (...70-200VR....yum yum) from B&H
Photo and having it sent out to Australia. I haven't dealt with
them before. Any customers with pros/cons after having dealt with
them? Particularly International customers. They seem OK, just want
to make sure.

Thanks

--
Jamie

http://homepage.mac.com/sitehost/penrithfire
Click to expand...
--
'I may not know much about art, but I know what I like' John Cleese
http://www.pbase.com/baywing
pbase supporter
 
I'm stationed in the United Kingdom, but I have spent Big money at B&H. The only problem that I have had, and it was only one time, some software that I ordered got lost in the mail. Called B&H and they faxed me a form to fill out, they resent the software.
 
JP writes: I just would like to see them only open from noon to 1pm with an hour for lunch. They are awfully tough competition. Cheers JP, BTW Jamie, they are very nice people to do business with, you could do a whole lot worse.
Jamie Benaud said:
Hi all,

Am looking at buying some stuff (...70-200VR....yum yum) from B&H
Photo and having it sent out to Australia. I haven't dealt with
them before. Any customers with pros/cons after having dealt with
them? Particularly International customers. They seem OK, just want
to make sure.

Thanks

--
Jamie

http://homepage.mac.com/sitehost/penrithfire
Click to expand...
 
I agree that their prices are unbeatable, and their UPS shipping is fast and cheap.

But, their communication leaves something to be desired. I lost count of the number of emails, faxes and phone calls that were left unanswered and/or ignored. I don't think they did it on purpose, it just that they have so many seperate sections that one doesn't know what the other is doing.

When I cancelled an order with one department (sales), it was resurrected by another department (verifications). The two apparently didn't talk to each other. Then, when Verifications got a copy of my cancellation they didn't act on it (not their job to cancel orders, it needed to go to Customer Service).

My recommendations for overseas buyers shopping at B&H are these:

1. Pay with American Express (Grey area buying with Visa to Aust.)
2. Order via their website, not by phone, fax or email.
3. Do not attempt to change anything about your order after you have placed it.

That said, I will likely order from them again because they are so cheap. I'll just have to get myself an AMEX card before I do!

For those who haven't seen it, here's what happened:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=7074162

--
Jamie

http://homepage.mac.com/sitehost/penrithfire
 
Jamie Benaud said:
Hi all,

Am looking at buying some stuff (...70-200VR....yum yum) from B&H
Photo and having it sent out to Australia. I haven't dealt with
them before. Any customers with pros/cons after having dealt with
them? Particularly International customers. They seem OK, just want
to make sure.

Thanks

--
Jamie

http://homepage.mac.com/sitehost/penrithfire
Click to expand...
I've used B&H for several years now in in US. Never had any problems. Prices are good, so is service.
 
generally no, but they sent me a second hand Bogan monopod when I ordered a new one. They claim they are sending me a replacement feet part (which were badely scratched and legs falling out of the unit), but I havn't recieved anything yet (neally 2 week later). They also failed to admit the until was not new, when it was clearly shown to them how badly worn the condition of the unit was in when it arrived.

They double charged my order, but after a few emails, they claim they have refunded the excess charge (havn't got my statement yet, I'm sure they will have). This was more due to ordering via the web, and then by email having that order cancelled and another processed (see below), but the first order was still charged to the card.

Yes I would buy from them again (and will), but no, not everything always goes perfectly.

PS: They are very good/fast at accepting your order and shipping the goods. Use UPS, its great value, easy clearnace through customs, and pretty fast, you should get it in your hands about 6 days from order. Half the time is taken to get from the US to Aus, the other half to clear customs, and get from the depot to you...

PPS: You will probably have to email them to order the 70-200VR. They won't accept your VISA or Mastercard on their web site for this unit if you live in Australia. I emailed them a copy of my CC statement, which has my postal address on it, and they were then happy to process the order against my card.

PPS: There is an Aussie trying to sell an excess 70-200VR he got from B&H in these forums, you might just be able to pick it up from him instead if he still has it.
Jamie Benaud said:
Hi all,

Am looking at buying some stuff (...70-200VR....yum yum) from B&H
Photo and having it sent out to Australia. I haven't dealt with
them before. Any customers with pros/cons after having dealt with
them? Particularly International customers. They seem OK, just want
to make sure.

Thanks

--
Jamie

http://homepage.mac.com/sitehost/penrithfire
Click to expand...
 
I tried to buy something from them, went through to the checkout and my visa card wasn't accepted. I emailed them to see what the problem was but I still haven't heard back from them. This was about 2 weeks ago.
I may give it another go but if I get the same result, that will be it.
By the way I'm from Australia
Jamie Benaud said:
Hi all,

Am looking at buying some stuff (...70-200VR....yum yum) from B&H
Photo and having it sent out to Australia. I haven't dealt with
them before. Any customers with pros/cons after having dealt with
them? Particularly International customers. They seem OK, just want
to make sure.

Thanks

--
Jamie

http://homepage.mac.com/sitehost/penrithfire
Click to expand...
 
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