CoastandCactus
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: On
|
 p.4 #3 · Amazon vs BH Photo vs Adorama | |
I've been reading these comments with great interest. Here is my $.02 (+ tax on Amazon).
1. B&H: Whatever I've ordered from B&H and selected free shipping has taken up to two days to be shipped. Yes, it is stated in the fine print that choosing the free shipping option can (and usually does) result in extended processing and shipping times. In other words, you're on their clock, they're not on yours, if they are paying the shipping.
In the case of a recent order, I checked shipping for a camera that I'd ordered (with free shipping) two days prior, and the status reflected that the order had been "sent to the warehouse". I jumped on the "chat" function to inquire as to why the item hadn't yet shipped, and the chat person said it would ship that day (What a coincidence - too bad I didn't get on chat the day I placed the order!). Sure enough, within minutes, here came an e-mail that the item had shipped. It took some complaining to get the desired result. It shouldn't have.
That said, B&H usually does have a great selection, their site is well-organized, we in Texas don't have to pay sales tax, and their prices are competitive. As well, they offer at least a 2% reward on most if not all items.
2. Amazon: After years of happily paying no sales tax and getting speedy free shipping at Amazon, my ordering of costly items sold by Amazon has come to a screeching halt. Texas residents now must pay sales tax on items sold by Amazon (NOTE: Items sold by another vendor but FULFILLED by Amazon incur no sales tax). If it's a small amount and I need something quickly, I'll order from Amazon.
Also, for me their site is not well-organized, and their comment section can be less than a credible source for legitimate feedback on true experiences with products. They do offer rewards, but that amount is usually not enough to offset the sales tax.
3. ADORAMA: Whether you select free shipping or not, your item is shipped that day as long as you order by a certain time, which is specified on the front page of the site. And, if you ordered during the recent Passover closing period, they graciously assured that they would ship promptly on the day after the holiday concluded, and do so with two-day shipping at NO CHARGE. I know this because I placed an order during that period, precisely because of that assurance. Lo and behold, I received a shipping notice the day I expected to, and the item was indeed shipped via two-day air, which I hadn't selected. I don't believe B&H offered such a courtesy.
I also don't pay sales tax for items ordered from Adorama, though their selection doesn't seem to be as broad as that of B&H. But, their site is well-organized which I like. There is a scarcity of reviews vs. B&H, and it does seem that they don't offer rewards as liberally as B&H does. But, their emphasis on customer service is the magnet that draws me back there. When it came down to where I was going to buy my new Nikon 500mm f/4, Adorama got the nod.
I've also had excellent experiences ordering from Roberts Camera. They had stock when others didn't, and their shipping was lightning fast.
|
