B&H Photo Any good?

[aparmley]

Hey everyone. I am going to making a significant purchase soon and I am considering B&H photo, bhphotovideo.com. does anyone have any experience with this business?
Thank you
Andy

[Rex914]

They're good for camera bodies, although I've heard stories of them sending out returned lenses instead of new ones. Again, it could just be an isolated case that turned into legend, so take that as you wish.

[aparmley]

It just so happens one item in my purchase is a camera body... the other a lens, waaaohhhhh :D

[Bluedog]

I just ordered a Tenba CF card holder without any problems, although it was a small order. Took about 36 hours for the order to process.

Just make sure the Camera body is the US warrantied one and not Grey Market.

[Rex914]

It just so happens one item in my purchase is a camera body... the other a lens, waaaohhhhh :D

Buy the lens locally, even if it's a Ritz/Wolf camera. The price difference isn't more than $10-$20 is it?

[David Metsky]

I've bought from B&H several times, and they are excellent. I've never heard anything about them sending previously returned lenses, but even if they did I'm not sure that's a problem. They probably have the best reputation of any online/mailorder camera retailer.

-dave-

[Bucksnort]

B&H is dare I say the most reputable dealer. Read about them at BBB. Excellent company, they know it and they are proud of it.

[aparmley]

Thank Guys... wow 36 hours to process a CF case... When did you order it on friday?

[David Metsky]

When did you order it on friday?
As you appear to be aware, B&H closes for all Jewish holidays and the Sabbath, so orders won't be processed late Friday afternoon through sundown on Saturdays plus other times throughout the year.

-dave-

[Bluedog]

No it was ordered before the Jewish holiday. They could've been swamped trying to get orders filled. I placed order on a Monday morning and received it on Friday of the same week. It wasn't a big deal.

[Ray Schnoor]

I would recommend B&H. I have never had any complaints with them.

Ray.

[aparmley]

Ok, I went with B&H... crossing my fingers now... LOL :D

Blue-

I suppose the only way to know if it is grey markey is if it does not claim to come with a US warrenty... It didnt say import like some lenses do.. IDK.. I got the only Canon Black body only.. ?? well, I guess I will find out.

[Rex914]

For reputable sites like this one, it it's gray market, they explicitly say that. If it's not, it says USA.

[Bluedog]

For reputable sites like this one, it it's gray market, they explicitly say that. If it's not, it says USA.

That's correct Andrew. You'd noticed on the cameras description page if it was Grey Market. Don't worry.

[Savannah]

They're good for camera bodies, although I've heard stories of them sending out returned lenses instead of new ones. Again, it could just be an isolated case that turned into legend, so take that as you wish.


, :eek: ........Okay...now you have me holding my breath, Knocking on wood, crossing my fingers,....Damn... where's that four leaf clover when I need it. LOL

I'm waiting for my Sigma 18-200 to get here from BH. So.....how can I tell if its been returned?? :eek:

[David Metsky]

Even if it has, why would it matter to you? B&H is an excellent company, if you are not happy they will take care of you. Don't sweat it.

-dave-

[Savannah]

Buy the lens locally, even if it's a Ritz/Wolf camera. The price difference isn't more than $10-$20 is it?

Try over $100 differnce....
Shopping around can make a huge difference.
This is the price difference I found in a lens I plan to purchase in the very near future. I'm not sure why there is such a huge price difference, but BH is significantly cheaper. I'm sure they are both the same lens.


Ritz/Wolf Price:Canon - 85mm f/1.8 USM EF Lens - Rebate Final Cost $434.95

BH Price: Canon Telephoto EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Our Price After Rebate: $ 324.95
Just my humble opinion, but I like to save money.......so I would take a risk and order online before I went to my local Ritz Camera store.

[aparmley]

I just recieved an email they sent me yesterday requesting that i call for verification. so now my two day shipping is going to turn into 4 day shipping... and it looks like i wont get the camera before the weekend...maybe if i am lucky it will show up on friday...??? i [on hold now] have been on hold for 15 minutes, finally a real person picked up the phone and just said please hold....holding....i have been enjoying george gerswins rhapsody in blue though...[you know the united airlines commerical music]. so sleepy... ... ... 20 minutes...25 minutes...30 minutes and the same person came on the phone again and asked that i hold again...holding...40 minutes and I verified my ship to address and the guy assured me it will arrive on friday...We will see...

[Bluedog]

It should arrive using the two day shipping. Can't believe on hold that long ... :confused: ... Adorama usually gets to calls pretty fast during regular business hours. Oh well don't sweat it as B&H is rated highly.

[aparmley]

I work afternoons... So when I order an item and if its highly anticipated the carrier usually does not attemp delivery until sometime after I leave for work! I blame the FBI for this... There watching, don't assume they aren't; keep your eyes peeled :eek: This is always a real pain in the turd cutter.. I use to work firsts and everything was attempted delivery before I got home and now its after I leave.. I can never win! Well, I am counting down and hoping they deliver it early friday so I can at least look at it before I leave for work...Maybe I should see about a half day.. :cool:

[Savannah]

Even if it has, why would it matter to you? B&H is an excellent company, if you are not happy they will take care of you. Don't sweat it.
-dave-
RE: receiving lenses that have been returned......


What would it matter to me?? What you don't know can make a difference!! It matters a lot......You can't sell something as new, if its used and returned. .........and Most likely returned because its defective!! I'm sure BH is good. I've never had a problem, but let me give you an overly dramatic example of "why would it matter" knowing where its been.......(again a little overly dramitic here"

Years and years ago, my uncle (my grandmother's brother) was caretaker of the Rose Dhu Plantation near Bluffton/ Hilton Head SC. He worked for the wealthy Sturgess (I hope I remembered that name correctly). Anyway, one day Mrs. Sturgess was checking on one of her fine horses which she dearly loved, when the horse ate her 5 carrot diamond right out of her ring. My uncle had to follow that horse around for days, searching thru the poop until it came out. And it did a day or two later. Naturally, Mrs. Sturgess was not going to wear that diamond on her hand again, so off it went to be sold. And guess who bought that diamond........One of Liz Taylors boyfriends. I can't help but laugh everytime I see her advertise her "Diamonds" perfume. If she only knew what I know, and now you know........I don't think she would be selling a perfume called "Diamonds". I've heard my grandmother tell this story a few times and it was one of my favorites!!!

So......if its been is somebody elses posession, I want to know where its been!! ......and why it was returned.....That's the difference.

[aparmley]

Would everyone think less of me if I said I would gladly follow a horse around and search through its excriments knowing a 5 karot diamond ring was going to pop out... and I would gladly accept it... :D Ofcourse I would turn around and sell that bad boy for some dough! ;)

[aparmley]

Well, BH updated my order status from processing to shipped and also gave me a tracking number via UPS, but when I click track it takes me to UPSs tracking page were it tells me that is an incorrect tracking number... Perhaps it has not had enough time to enter into UPS's system. The waiting game gets the better of me, I admit! LOL I just want my XT... is that too much to ask :o

update:
Status: In Transit
11:02 P.M. MASPETH, NY, US DEPARTURE SCAN

:) :rolleyes: :D

Hourly XT update... Really, I am trying to get UPS to do an RSS for me but no response... LOL. just after midnight and the XT is in Jersey now... UPS schedule delivery, May 6th... 1.5 more days til old betty gets here...

[aparmley]

I sat waiting for the UPS driver today from 8:30 AM until 1:45PM.... never came... GRRRRRRRRR Doesn't that just chap your two seater...Golly-G Beav! Well, I am spending my lunch hour and going up to UPS to get it!
hrhrh rhahfaahmnrmbgahb,b,sdfhba,rbfahbfghakgheklnrjgand masf~ :mad:

[aparmley]

All appears to be well, looks like a new lens, camera is brand new... Time to read. :D

[Bluedog]

LOL ... have fun and get busy posting some images.

[aparmley]

There is a lot to learn here people, geography, social studies, long division, this is gonna be tough! :p

[cwphoto]

I bought most of my gear from B&H a few years ago when the A$ was buying around US$0.8. Flew all the way from SYD/LAX/JFK/BOS/LAX/SYD in three days. The money I saved in the cross-rates paid for my air-fare and significant change.

[speaklightly]

The coin turns 180 degrees when you make a return to B & H! They were great on delivering the goods, but hopeless on returns!

I am still fighting with them some fivemonths after I made the purchase. At least for me, it has to work both ways - when ordering and when returning.

I would advise you to be very careful indeed with B & H. Yep, they are good at getting the orders out, but HOPELESS at dealing with returns.

Please be very AWARE!

Sarah Joyce

[Bluedog]

That's very interesting to know Sarah. On the other hand I returned an item to Adorama (no RMA needed) and they credited my CC the same day.

[speaklightly]

Blue Dog-

Many thanks for you input. It is not very lady-like, but making a return to B & H is a bitch! I am heading for Adorama!

Sarah Joyce