Reading mode: Light Dark

I got a totally destroyed lens from B&H (small photos)

Go to last post
This is true, we ship UPS every day. If the packaging was accepted, it would indicate that it was acceptable at the time they picked it up.

We have a daily pick up account so we do not go to the counter to drop off packages but I know that when you go to the counter, they look at the packaging and refuse it if it is not adequate. I am positive that since B&H is so huge they also have a pick up account and if their packaging was too flimsy, their UPS account exec would have discussed this with them.

If I were you, I would try calling UPS and telling them that their acceptance of the package is an implicit approval of the packaging itself and that they cannot accept it, destroy it and then blame the package. They know how abusive they are and once they accept the package, they accept responsibility. That is what insurance is all about. They cannot take payment for insurance and then decide when to or not to pay up on it. Explain to them that once they accept money for insurance they lose the "option" to refuse payment. They can refuse up to the point that they take the package, after that, it's theirs until they deliver it.

At least, that is what I would tell them.
Jorge
 
Suggest you call BH, its a busy return time now, and emails may take time to respond to. I've only had excellent dealings with BH's customer service by phoning direct, then following up with an email confirming what was said.

Seems BH gave you the perfect answer in writing that you have nothing to worry about, so just call and ask them to handle the claim. See if they will reship the order to you now without additional cost.

Let BH and UPS work it out, BH gives them a lot of business.

Hope it works out soon.
 
How one photo store avoids theft.

Today I received an item I ordered from DigitalFoto (www.digitalfotoclub.com), a LowePro trekker backpack and it arrived this morning via Oops (UPS). At first I didn't realize the box was for me as it was taped up with 3' wide tape that read "Campbell's Soup Company" in large red letters every couple of inches. The name of the store was only in initials on the UPS label. A complete stealth camera shipment! Nothing on the outside of the box indicated in any way that it was photo equipment. BTW UPS managed to crush in one end of the box - no harm to the contents, thanks to a lot of sealed air pouches.
Cheers,
Hal davey, proud 300D owner.
 
Diane B said:
..
if there wasn't something/someone that got into the package after
the problem. Mine always have more packaging than that from B &
H--or at least what I can see.
Click to expand...
My suspicion is someone got them a brand spanking lens and stuck their bad one into the box....Things like that happen.....B&H have been in business for a LONG time and know better how to pack:)

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

 
Hello,

I've used http://www.technikdirekt.de with lots of success. http://www.ac-foto.de should be good as well.

-olli
Adam-T said:
Adam-T said:
The warranty of the lenses work here in Finland as well with the
lenses bought from Germany. Plus that they have to give 2 years
warranty in Germany, so there's an extra year of warranty.
Click to expand...
If any of these well priced German retailers have English pages,
please post the links, I wouldn't hesitate ordering from Germany
but the USA is too much of a risk due to QC

--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist

Click to expand...
--
-olli
 
Menawhile...
On 6 Jan I got two replies (to my 6 emails...) from B&H:

"Please be advised that we filed a claim with UPS
and we are waiting from them to apply. Once they'll
respond we'll contact you. We are on top of this
claim."

It's been about 10 days since the package destroy, and I am still waiting. :( I think it is enough time for UPS to even send the package back to B&H...

Something I noticed today in UPS tracking:
30 Dec (Athens, GR):
PS INTERNAL ACTIVITY CODE;EXCEPTION RESOLUTION NOTIFICATION-OPEN
31 Dec, 2 Jan, 5 Jan, 7 Jan. 8 Jan (all about 4:00 PM, Athens, GR):
THE PACKAGE WAS DAMAGED IN TRANSIT

At least I have everyday a reminder that the package is damaged! :)Alm
 
Hang tight. Long distance transactions are certainly more likely to have problems. Understand this though: B&H is certainly not to blame. The package you recieved was clearly abused. I've spent thousands of dollars with B&H in the past year and everything I've received was well packed.

I'd suggest you contact B&H one more time and ask a replacement be sent while they sort things out with UPS. Even if they have to charge your credit card again, I'd consider it. Your card will certainly be credited after things get settled. In fact, depending on the card you use, there may have some sort of way to credit you in advance or at least suspend interest accrual on that purchase. Did you call your credit card company and explain the situation to them? If not, see what they can do. You might be surprised.

I'd also start sending UPS some hate mail. They're a pretty big company and it's possible the the UPS folks in NYC (where B&H is) have no clue about operations in Athens. Make sure that you let UPS know that your situation is being discussed here and that the general consensus is that THEY are at fault. A speedy resolution to the problem will benefit all involved.
unforgiven said:
Menawhile...
On 6 Jan I got two replies (to my 6 emails...) from B&H:

"Please be advised that we filed a claim with UPS
and we are waiting from them to apply. Once they'll
respond we'll contact you. We are on top of this
claim."

It's been about 10 days since the package destroy, and I am still
waiting. :( I think it is enough time for UPS to even send the
package back to B&H...

Something I noticed today in UPS tracking:
30 Dec (Athens, GR):
PS INTERNAL ACTIVITY CODE;EXCEPTION RESOLUTION NOTIFICATION-OPEN
31 Dec, 2 Jan, 5 Jan, 7 Jan. 8 Jan (all about 4:00 PM, Athens, GR):
THE PACKAGE WAS DAMAGED IN TRANSIT

At least I have everyday a reminder that the package is damaged! :)Alm
Click to expand...
 
Fred Kenney said:
I have had quite a bit of experience with UPS. It is typical for
them to destroy a package and refuse to pay insurance.

Regards, Fred
http://www.pbase.com/floridafred
Click to expand...
All the more reason to talk to the credit card company. There's a reason we pay such ridiculous interest rates.: fraud, theft and loss. If you bought something with a credit card and it was never recieved or arrived damaged, most credit card companies will help fix the problem.

Just call, tell them the story and say you want to dispute the charge. They know exactly who to lean on.
 
unforgiven said:
Some days before I ordered an 17-40 and some other things (mini
tripod, filter) from Bhphotovideo.com. The shippment was via UPS.

Two days ago I got a call from local UPS office (I live in Athens,
Greece) and they told me that the package arrived, but I have to
pay some taxes. So far, no problem.

Yesterday, they called me again and they told me that there will be
one day delay, because they are going to inspect the package before
I pay the taxes. I told them that it was ok.

Today they called me again in the morning and told me that the
package was destroyed, but I have nothing to worry about, because
it was insured.

After a while, they called me again and told me that they are not
going to pay any insurance, because "Packaging is inproper because
it was is soft box and without proper cushioning to keep is steady
inside and at the same time absorb the vibrations"... So, B&H has
to send it again.

I emailed B&H and they wrote to me that there is no problem,
because the pack was insured. They are going to contact me soon...

Look at the photos they sent me from UPS:
(There are too small, I think that they are taken using a cell phone)

The outside of the box:



The inside:



Note that there is too little cushioning and everything is free to
move in.

And the shock...:



I think that something VERY big felt on the box...
Now I count on the B&H very well reputation to have my lens asap...
Click to expand...
--

max...my last two shipments from b&h came by ups. the small gitzo tripod was packed in a box 2 times the length of the tripod continer, and had shifted to one end. the other end was smashed and ripped. tripod was ok. score one for me. the second was a shipment of 10 containers of 13x19 epson paper. both ends of the box were torn open and all corners crushed. of the ten packages 4 were undamaged and i kept them. 6 had dented corners and b&h accepted them back for credit. it cost $35 to ship them back. score one for ups. i shipped them by fedx ground. score another one for me.
 
It is sounding very much like B&H's packaging is the problem, not UPS.

I'm about to put down the money for a 300/2.8 for importing from the USA into the UK. B&H are the cheapest, but now I'm rather worried. The next best option would be 17th Street but they are $100 more.

Can anyone comment - is 17th Street any better than B&H? Or is it just UPS? Do any other carriers fair any better?

Thanks
Excal
 
Are you out of your mind? Did you look at the pictures? There's NO way packaging is the issue here! It's clear the 90% of the packing peanuts fell out after some gorilla stomped all over it and someone cut a hole in it with and exacto knife or something!

I doubt the lens would have survivied that kind of handling if it were shipped in an Anvil road case for God's sake!

No way, baby! B&H is not at fault.
excal said:
It is sounding very much like B&H's packaging is the problem, not UPS.

I'm about to put down the money for a 300/2.8 for importing from
the USA into the UK. B&H are the cheapest, but now I'm rather
worried. The next best option would be 17th Street but they are
$100 more.

Can anyone comment - is 17th Street any better than B&H? Or is it
just UPS? Do any other carriers fair any better?

Thanks
Excal
Click to expand...
 
I think B&H is very reliable and will back up any problems. I also think they could package better. Never had a problem but I could have. Ups is very devious and if you ever have an insurance claim you will probably get a form letter denying same. They hope you will accept it and go away. One day I spent 5 hours on the telephone with various UPS people over a $1200 claim. I got paid but I eaned the money.

Regards, Fred
http://www.pbase.com/floridafred
 
Actually, a better question is why did YOU (the customer) accept the package? You know UPS has a policy whereby you may refuse shipment if there appears to be significant external damage and the box will be returned at no cost to you! In fact, you can refuse shipment on an absolutely perfect package if you want to! a retailer once double shipped an item to me by mistake. I got a second e-mail w/ a second tracking number after getting the first order confirmation I called the retails who said "just refuse shipment and it will be returned to us, no cost to you"
That's exactly what I did.
banterer said:
This is true, we ship UPS every day. If the packaging was accepted,
it would indicate that it was acceptable at the time they picked it
up.

We have a daily pick up account so we do not go to the counter to
drop off packages but I know that when you go to the counter, they
look at the packaging and refuse it if it is not adequate. I am
positive that since B&H is so huge they also have a pick up account
and if their packaging was too flimsy, their UPS account exec would
have discussed this with them.

If I were you, I would try calling UPS and telling them that their
acceptance of the package is an implicit approval of the packaging
itself and that they cannot accept it, destroy it and then blame
the package. They know how abusive they are and once they accept
the package, they accept responsibility. That is what insurance is
all about. They cannot take payment for insurance and then decide
when to or not to pay up on it. Explain to them that once they
accept money for insurance they lose the "option" to refuse
payment. They can refuse up to the point that they take the
package, after that, it's theirs until they deliver it.

At least, that is what I would tell them.
Jorge
Click to expand...
 
excal said:
It is sounding very much like B&H's packaging is the problem, not UPS.

I'm about to put down the money for a 300/2.8 for importing from
the USA into the UK. B&H are the cheapest, but now I'm rather
worried. The next best option would be 17th Street but they are
$100 more.

Can anyone comment - is 17th Street any better than B&H? Or is it
just UPS? Do any other carriers fair any better?

Thanks
Excal
Click to expand...
--

max...the 300mm f2.8 IS comes in a fitted fiberglass suitcase surounded by two inch styrofoam forms inside a tough cardboard box. mine came from b&h inside another cardboard box with a large amount of buble wrap and peanuts. it came by fedx without a dent. ups would have to drop a truck on it to damage it. i am sure that ups is reading all of these comments and is, as i write this, preparing to receive your lens and drop an appropriately sized truck on it. you do have the option to ship fedx from b&h.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top