PFR
Senior Member
I knew there would be a logical explanation for everything. Maybe I should start scanning some forums myself for irrate customers. 
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Pat
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Pat
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Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
Beware B&H new shipping methods!!!
- Thread starter Shakmatay
- Start date
Troye413
Senior Member
I've never had a problem with B&H or Adorama, but if your order looked that bad, I'd sure write to them about it and call customer service. I might even file a BBB complaint against them. That usually gets attention. I will say they are the only two places in NYC that I would order from. I tried a different place last year (because of a low price), called Sunset Camera, and they were so horrible I hope they go out of business. They had a great price in the Shutterbug ad, but when I called, they wanted almost $100 to ship a $600 lens. I reluctantly ordered it, but when changing my mind two hours later and called to cancel the order, the customer service lady offered to reduce the shipping price. I told her if they could ship it cheaper, they should have given me that price the first time. I should never have to negotiate a shipping price. I would never buy from Sunset Camera again. I haven't ordered from B&H in the last three months, but that kind of packaging sounds pathetic. I wouldn't stand for it.-------Troy
Henry Goh193503
Senior Member
Now that Henry Posner from B&H has come back from PMA and taken the trouble to reply us, I think we should all wait a while and see if B&H makes the change and resolve the problem with poor packing.
In the meantime, I think we should refrain from further posts as it only clutter the forum and thread.
If all is agreeable, I would say a big thank you to Henry Posner and let him keep us updated when more development occurs. Thank you Henry Posner for hearing us and responding.
Henry Goh
Still learning....
In the meantime, I think we should refrain from further posts as it only clutter the forum and thread.
If all is agreeable, I would say a big thank you to Henry Posner and let him keep us updated when more development occurs. Thank you Henry Posner for hearing us and responding.
Henry Goh
Still learning....
mrose #174994
Member
I recieved a 70-200 VR three weeks ago.The only packing inside
was some air bags on top of my merchandise. Nothing on the sides or bottom. Everything seems to be working fine, but I am still left with
an uneasy feeling about what my lens was subjected to.
On another note I returned two items from my $2300 purchase
two weeks ago and have yet to hear from B&H as to if they arrived.
Can anyone tell me what their experience has been with returns.
I e-mailed B&H yesterday,but no reply as of yet. Mike Rose
was some air bags on top of my merchandise. Nothing on the sides or bottom. Everything seems to be working fine, but I am still left with
an uneasy feeling about what my lens was subjected to.
On another note I returned two items from my $2300 purchase
two weeks ago and have yet to hear from B&H as to if they arrived.
Can anyone tell me what their experience has been with returns.
I e-mailed B&H yesterday,but no reply as of yet. Mike Rose
iunknown
Forum Enthusiast
I recieved my 70-200 today in similar packing.. infact the package was torn 3-4 inches on the sides. Although the lens box inside was okay (sigh!!)
as per return, i have returned a few items in the past & the transaction was smooth (i didn't have to call to remind them or anything).
Did you have RMA before you shipped the items back?
I'd not want to take any risk with 2+ grand stuff returns & would call them up immediately to find out.
hth,
-durgi
I read you email
as per return, i have returned a few items in the past & the transaction was smooth (i didn't have to call to remind them or anything).
Did you have RMA before you shipped the items back?
I'd not want to take any risk with 2+ grand stuff returns & would call them up immediately to find out.
hth,
-durgi
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I read you email
jarehmechoe
Active member
Yeah, I'm also a victim of a battered package. I recently bought a flash card and a spare battery and when the package came in, I immediately noticed that the box was crunched very badly. Opening the package, the box for the flash card was deformed. Also, there was only one of those 'air cusions;' 5/6th of the area around the items in the box were NOT secured. It would be totally unacceptable for a product sensitive to shock, but I wasn't too worried about the flash card and the battery (both are working fine).
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N90s
D70 on pre-order
50mm f/1.4 Nikkor-SC
35-70mm f/2.8 D Nikkor-AF
70-200mm f/2.8 Nikkor-AF-ED
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N90s
D70 on pre-order
50mm f/1.4 Nikkor-SC
35-70mm f/2.8 D Nikkor-AF
70-200mm f/2.8 Nikkor-AF-ED
Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video Inc.
Senior Member
Two observations ...
First, I sort-of think that complaining to the BBB because you don't like the retailer's use of peanuts or because the retailer used insufficient bubbble-wrap really isn't what the BBB is for. If a customer feels he/she has been ripped off or cheated or a retailer failed to refund money after a return, that's one thing, but unless I misunderstand,this is another.
Second, complaining to the BBB really doesn't do a whole heckofalot to "get attention." There's often a real time gap between when you complain and when the retailer gets a copy of the complaint from the BBB. And, the retailer's obligation is to reply. If the retailer's reply is "Go bang your head against a wall," it's still a reply.
Jus thought you'd like to know.
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Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.
Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video Inc.
Senior Member
While I am sorry you're uneasy, the fact that "Everything seems to be working fine" is an indication that everything is working fine. And, you have two weeks to test-drive the lens and if there is a problem, we'll have UPS pick the return up so you're not inconvenienced nor out-of-pocket.
It's worth noting that most damage during shopping is due to stuff moving within the shipping carton. If the lens is securely wedged into one corner of the shipping carton by the airbags, damage from internal movement (inertia) is minimized.
It's like a boxer taking a punch to the head. The bruise on the cheek isn't as bad as the brain bouncing around inside the skull.
Even so, we understand the issue and, as I said earlier, have addressed it internally. If necessary, we will again.
Our database shows we received and replied to an e-mail inquiry on Feb 17th, but that the retunr had already been processed and a refund issued to your credit card by then. I'll e-mail confirmaiton
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Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.
While this is not an expensive equipment delivery from B&H, I did just receive it from B&H, and photographed the unopened box and the open box for the heck of it. The outside box tape was almost severed from rough handling. It was packed poorly with plastic airbags. What you can not see in the second photo is that one of the two plastic bags was completely flat, and squished under the one that still had air. I think this has been a problem with every package I’ve ever received using these plastic air bags, and this is Not just from B&H, but from anyone who uses this type of packing. The 512mb Lexar package was freely banging around inside the box before I opened it. Lexar does a good job of packing their CF cards, and that box and CF card are just fine.
Tho I don’t care for the peanuts, I would much rather see them return to B&H shipping practices than receive another package packed like the one I received today.
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Gary
Will Fly for Food
Tho I don’t care for the peanuts, I would much rather see them return to B&H shipping practices than receive another package packed like the one I received today.
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Gary
Will Fly for Food
Larry H. Smith
Veteran Member
It looks like the thread has been deleted. I wote something about my experiences with UPS and it isn't showing up in my threads. What caused the censorship?
Jsimmons
Leading Member
In typical B&H fashion, I opted for for 3 day shipping and the glass was here in two...
The packing: The shipping carton and tape were intact but showed signs of wear. (This is certainly more a UPS issue than B&H.)The lens box was wrapped in small-diameter bubble wrap and it was wedged securely against the edge of the carton with three air bags and showed no sign of trauma. There was a small amount of "play" in the carton ( the lens moved slightly when the box was shaken) but it seemed generally appropriate. I think one of the issues with these air bags in that, this time of year, they are packed at room temperature but shipped at much colder temperatures which reduces the effective volume of the packing. (It's well below freezing at my house!) This circumstance puts a premium on careful and tight packing. All in all, I would say that this shipment was acceptable, but there is still room for improvement. There seem to be a significant "human factor" at work here, but I see no reason not to order from B&H because of it.
Jeff
The packing: The shipping carton and tape were intact but showed signs of wear. (This is certainly more a UPS issue than B&H.)The lens box was wrapped in small-diameter bubble wrap and it was wedged securely against the edge of the carton with three air bags and showed no sign of trauma. There was a small amount of "play" in the carton ( the lens moved slightly when the box was shaken) but it seemed generally appropriate. I think one of the issues with these air bags in that, this time of year, they are packed at room temperature but shipped at much colder temperatures which reduces the effective volume of the packing. (It's well below freezing at my house!) This circumstance puts a premium on careful and tight packing. All in all, I would say that this shipment was acceptable, but there is still room for improvement. There seem to be a significant "human factor" at work here, but I see no reason not to order from B&H because of it.
Jeff
mrose #174994
Member
Thank you for your responce Mr Posner. Your concern gives me the
the confidence that I'm doing business with right company.
Sincerly, Mike Rose
the confidence that I'm doing business with right company.
Sincerly, Mike Rose
Larry H. Smith
Veteran Member
I asked the same thing in a new thread, ...no clue. Conjecture only, ...but consensus seems to think deletion unwarranted. Possibly a "complainer"(?) ...some suggest that that's all it takes anymore. Certainly no one 'in authority' has offered any explanation.
Discussion here:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1032&message=7692034
Larry
Hi,
Sorry about the post above hit the wrong button..
Now, I've been following this post from its start and have to say that it's pretty funny that everyone has noticed B&H has a problem here. I've ordered 2 lenses from BH in the last 3 months and both were ship with one or two airbag. It was a complete joke for $10.00 shipping, hell I’ll pay more if they can ship it better.
But it's funny because at first I was upset, but I didn't think much of it is because it was my first time buying from B&H and I just said “Okay it's NY.”
Now, I just placed an order for the Nikon 70-200 VR and than I sent an emailed to the B&H customer service department asking them politely if they could have my package packed a little better. Now lets be serious a Lexar memory card doesn't need that much protection, there built like a tank. But I do think lens and camera are very fragile at time, and are an investment no matter what the cost.
Now I will post my package shots of my VR when it arrives in 2 days and I'm hopping if anyone else out there is about to order from B&H. Just ask them politely to better pack you order and hopefully we can see a change. Take some snapshots of your package.
Great Post,
John
Sorry about the post above hit the wrong button..
Now, I've been following this post from its start and have to say that it's pretty funny that everyone has noticed B&H has a problem here. I've ordered 2 lenses from BH in the last 3 months and both were ship with one or two airbag. It was a complete joke for $10.00 shipping, hell I’ll pay more if they can ship it better.
But it's funny because at first I was upset, but I didn't think much of it is because it was my first time buying from B&H and I just said “Okay it's NY.”
Now, I just placed an order for the Nikon 70-200 VR and than I sent an emailed to the B&H customer service department asking them politely if they could have my package packed a little better. Now lets be serious a Lexar memory card doesn't need that much protection, there built like a tank. But I do think lens and camera are very fragile at time, and are an investment no matter what the cost.
Now I will post my package shots of my VR when it arrives in 2 days and I'm hopping if anyone else out there is about to order from B&H. Just ask them politely to better pack you order and hopefully we can see a change. Take some snapshots of your package.
Great Post,
John
I was just about to order the Nikon 85 mm f/1.4 ( $999) from them but will now wait until they return to their old good packing methods or order from Norman Camera which does use peanuts and shipped my D2H a month ago packed very, very well.
Tom
'The opportunity to catch your images and fulfill your visions is today, not tomorrow.' (quote from Bjørn Rørslett)
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pbase supporter
Tom
'The opportunity to catch your images and fulfill your visions is today, not tomorrow.' (quote from Bjørn Rørslett)
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pbase supporter
frankh138191
Senior Member
just wanted to share . sorry to here about the conditon of youre packages. maybee they got a new guy in the shipping department who is incompetent.
Craig H. north jersey
http://www.pbase.com/craigh
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Craig H. north jersey
http://www.pbase.com/craigh
E
edbetz
Guest
I for one can only say good things about B&H.
Over the years I've bought from many camera stores and I think B&H is about the best there is. I only wish they had a store out here on Long Island where I live.
Their price is always fair.
Their service is second to none.
I've had to return things to them too, and I'll say, I was never made to feel bad about the return. The refunded me my7 money on the spot, or exchanged the item with out a problem.
I've had little experience with them shipping me stuff, because I go and pick it up myself, but I'm sure if there is any problem, B&H will stand behind whatever you buy from them.
With all of the horriable camera and electronics companies there are (and I won't waste any band width listing them all), we should all be luckey that a place like B&H exists, where you know what you are buying and they stand behind it.
It's too bad you had this experience, but I really think you do a dis-service to your fellow photograhers trashing a fine place like B&H.
Ed Betz
Ed Betz
http://www.edbetz.com
Over the years I've bought from many camera stores and I think B&H is about the best there is. I only wish they had a store out here on Long Island where I live.
Their price is always fair.
Their service is second to none.
I've had to return things to them too, and I'll say, I was never made to feel bad about the return. The refunded me my7 money on the spot, or exchanged the item with out a problem.
I've had little experience with them shipping me stuff, because I go and pick it up myself, but I'm sure if there is any problem, B&H will stand behind whatever you buy from them.
With all of the horriable camera and electronics companies there are (and I won't waste any band width listing them all), we should all be luckey that a place like B&H exists, where you know what you are buying and they stand behind it.
It's too bad you had this experience, but I really think you do a dis-service to your fellow photograhers trashing a fine place like B&H.
Ed Betz
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Ed Betz
http://www.edbetz.com
Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video Inc.
Senior Member
Offhand I don't recall if this is the same one, but a day or two ago some chap who couldn't find my e-mail address in my forum profile posted a public question about some B&H shopping procedures which he prefaced by freely admiitting should rightly have been e-mailed to me and which were VERY off-topic for the forum. Subsequently he did find my address and sent me an e-mail.
If this is the thread in question it was rightly removed since it was very much off topic and not consistent with the forum regs to which we've all agreed to abide.
I am the biggest FREE SPEECH advocate you'll ever meet, but IMHO (if we ARE talking about thge same message) this was not censorship, it was editing and there was nothing improper about it.
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Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.
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