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

unforgiven · Jan 19, 2004

Ed Chaban said:
Hey, long distance transactions are likely to be fraught with
problems. putting all the blame on B&H is premature. We're still
lacking LOTS of data. I'd love to see the condition of this
package. How do we know we don't have a crook in the customs
office pilfering the goods? Does the packing slip mention
backorders or were the items supposed to have been included in this
order.

You see, I never put the blame on B&H for the destruction. The only problem I have with them is that they rarely reply my emails. But, that's ok now... You see, it was holidays.

Rebelwithoutaclue said:
I agree a FULLY DETAILED account is appropriate. His posting simply
came off as someone whining about having to pay ridiculous greek
taxes on two packages that happend becuase of a simple backorder.

Do I sound optinionated now?

There is no "ridiculous greek taxes". The $120 are handling fee for UPS and it's paid for every seperate package that pays taxes. I think that's the same for every country in the world. It's not "simple backorder". Both, ultrapod and filter are available. Or at least they were available few hours ago.

unforgiven · Jan 19, 2004

Ed Chaban said:
I'd be interested in seeing how this plays out.

You neglected to mention that you gave specific instructions on
customs handling and backordering and I was left with the
impression that you were now attempting to recover import costs
because of B&H's expediting your replacement order. I assumed that
the remaining items are currently out of stock at B&H.

No... I was not trying to avoid paying taxes or handling fees. It's my problem at all. But I don't want to pay extra money because they sent seperate packages... I didn't mention about asking one package, because I didn't give extra useless information about the destruction of the first package...

Rebelwithoutaclue said:
You're probably better off buying the remaining items locally anyway.

Good luck.

Thank's a lot

I am sure that me and B&H will find the better way to finish this problem... Although I have problem in my both orders from them, I just trust their very good reputation

Rebelwithoutaclue · Jan 19, 2004

unforgiven said:
There is no "ridiculous greek taxes". The $120 are handling fee for
UPS and it's paid for every seperate package that pays taxes. I
think that's the same for every country in the world. It's not
"simple backorder". Both, ultrapod and filter are available. Or at
least they were available few hours ago.

There's no guarantee they were available when your order shipped. Have you taken the order information and checked what was to be included in the replacement order? Email [email protected] and put the order number in the subject line. This should tell you if it's a backorder situation or not.

Is it possible that B&H was under the impression that you were keeping the filter and ultrapod from the previous order because you made no mention of their being damaged? That's also a very likely scenario.

I think the $120 is indeed another "tax". The reason I say so it that it's based on the value of the package, not size, weight, content or whatever. Probably a customs inspection fee (A very high one!) that was probably put in place by business interests in your country who wanted to prevent (or at least make very costly) the very type of transaction you're attempting. Protectionism pure and simple. If it looks like a duck... UPS should not care about a package beyond the size, weight and distance it needs to go.

I just looked at the UPS web site and it makes no mention of this $120 fee. I think its a greece only thing.

Given the price of an ultrapod and most filters, I'd suggest having B&H credit you for the price of those items and go to a local Athens camera store, and get your pod and filter. Expecting B&H to pay the $120 would be unreasonable given they stand to make very little on those items.

rockhopper-fan · Jan 19, 2004

[snip]

Rebelwithoutaclue said:
I just looked at the UPS web site and it makes no mention of this
$120 fee. I think its a greece only thing.

Just a thought, but could it be possible that he means the shipment cost (at express delivery or something with extra insurance transatlantic) instead of 'tax'. The amount seems about right for that.

Anyway I'm still curious on how things are handled, in my opinion he's just ventilating what's going on. So I'm glad he continues with his updates. A more accurate description of what he wrote when would be nice though, no need to get on his back over it though.

unforgiven · Jan 19, 2004

Ed Chaban said:
There's no guarantee they were available when your order shipped.
Have you taken the order information and checked what was to be
included in the replacement order? Email [email protected]
and put the order number in the subject line. This should tell you
if it's a backorder situation or not.

Two items were available, I checked the Â&Ç site. Yesterday I got an email saying that the two items were shipped in a different box, no explanation given.

Rebelwithoutaclue said:
Is it possible that B&H was under the impression that you were
keeping the filter and ultrapod from the previous order because you
made no mention of their being damaged? That's also a very likely
scenario.

I was clear: I didn't get anything. I told them that they have to send everything again. And they did so.

Rebelwithoutaclue said:
I think the $120 is indeed another "tax". The reason I say so it
that it's based on the value of the package, not size, weight,
content or whatever. Probably a customs inspection fee (A very high
one!) that was probably put in place by business interests in your
country who wanted to prevent (or at least make very costly) the
very type of transaction you're attempting. Protectionism pure and
simple. If it looks like a duck... UPS should not care about a
package beyond the size, weight and distance it needs to go.

I just looked at the UPS web site and it makes no mention of this
$120 fee. I think its a greece only thing.

Maybe it is a EU thing. When a parcel arrives you pay for storage (even if it one day left in them), for their paperwork and their fee to pass the parcel from the customs+VAT+taxes. On September I got another parcel from USA via USPS. At this time, the greek postel service did the paper work and I paid nothing, only the VAT and the taxes. That proofs that the extra cost comes from UPS. Meanwhile, the parcels from USPS come in Greece via DHL, so I have to pay them to do the paperwork. And they want more than $120.

unforgiven · Jan 21, 2004

The package with the ultrapod and the filter arrived, no taxes or fees paid (they found that the package was low value), everything is ok untill now

Tomorrow I will get the lens...

Freeman-Jo · Jan 21, 2004

dang, it take almost a whole month.

unforgiven said:
The package with the ultrapod and the filter arrived, no taxes or
fees paid (they found that the package was low value), everything
is ok untill now
Tomorrow I will get the lens...

--
I love Michelle Kwan

J D Rebel · Jan 21, 2004

Cant tell you how many times i received something smashed from UPS. They really handle packages quite poorly

unforgiven · Jan 22, 2004

Today irrived the lens and the mack warranty. Everything seems ok. I am at work, so I cannot check if it is ok...

Something strange: The ultrapod and the filter was packed in a huge box, full of "penuts". The lens was in a small package without "penauts", but with a small airbag in!

I have to thank you all for your help. B&H proved it's reputation, although we had some problems.
I hope that the next post will have samples with my new toy!

Paul Cheang · Jan 22, 2004

unforgiven said:
Today irrived the lens and the mack warranty. Everything seems ok.
I am at work, so I cannot check if it is ok...
Something strange: The ultrapod and the filter was packed in a huge
box, full of "penuts". The lens was in a small package without
"penauts", but with a small airbag in!
I have to thank you all for your help. B&H proved it's reputation,
although we had some problems.
I hope that the next post will have samples with my new toy!

--
PC writes:

Man, even without cushion aribags and peanuts it should not be looking like that in a normal shipping. It must have been run over by a truck or a 600 pound gorilla sat on it. Glad you got everything squared away now. Happy shooing.
Paul

Jane B. · Jan 23, 2004

Except if you lived in my area you wouldn't see her when she delivered your package. They put the packages down and walk away without even ringing the door bell as standard procedure. I was told by local UPS that it is company policy - they don't haven enough time to ring bells and deliver the number of packages they are expected to. If a shipper wants a signature, they have to pay extra for that service.
Jane

Max Savin said:
Max Savin said:

Guillaume in Paris wrote:
...they hired people like this!
http://www.newsfilter.org/user_submit/uploads/UPS_1.jpg

Guillaume
http://www.at-sight.com
Sports & general event photography

Click to expand...

--

Anthony14707 · Jan 23, 2004

I was just kidding.
Pretty messed up lookin' box.
Geez.

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...

Kyle Burt · Jan 29, 2004

B&H's Handeling of the change from Fed-ex to UPS is one of the reason's I'm buying my 1d MKII from somewhere else. B&H should have asked thier customers before making the change. Sure Fed-ex is still available (only becuse we complained), but the Fed-ex price is much higher than it used to be. Once B&H go's back to the way things were before I'll be happy and will buy from them on a regular basis once again.

Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video said:
PaulyOly said:

, i use usps or fedex, doesn't B&H use
fedex?

Click to expand...

UPS is our shipper of choice, but FedEx is available with us also.

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

Edward Karaa · Jan 29, 2004

I received last week a lens, CF card, and a spare battery from B&H. The goods arrived in good condition, but I did notice that the box was too big for the items, and the only cushioning used was a little air bubble sheets.

Certainly not enough to protect against movement inside the box, but luckily my lens seems good so far.

Sharon said:
Sharon102827 said:

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

Click to expand...

I think you are right. I have purchased many things from B&H and
they have all come packaged within an inch of their lives.>

--
Sharon
http://www.digitalabyrinth.com
http://www.pbase.com/sharonh/profile

--
http://edwardkaraa.smugmug.com

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

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