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Archive 2009 · Shipping problems
  
 
sperraglia
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p.4 #1 · Shipping problems


Recently I have ordered from Allen's and they have good packing. Also, their prices seem to be a little less than B&H,

Jun 26, 2009 at 07:02 PM
stanj
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p.4 #2 · Shipping problems


I find that lately B&H packaging has been worse than what I have experienced with them earlier - and definitely nowhere in the same league as it was in the 90s, when even UPS didn't manage to do anything to the package. Right now it's about to the same level as Amazon, which sometimes feels like no packaging

Despite all this, I had only one experience where the actual goods got banged up - and there only the actual box, not the contents of the box. I am not that concerned about the looks of the box so since the goodies checked out I wasn't really concerned.

The only curious thing for me: if I were to send a package like this, even insured, and if it got banged up, FedEx or UPS would tell me to get lost because it wasn't adequately packaged. So it has to work the other way around too - if UPS beats up a B&H shipment to a point where the actual ware suffers, does B&H get to eat the cost or is their insurance somehow "better"?

Jun 26, 2009 at 07:38 PM
reko
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p.4 #3 · Shipping problems


Another vote for Allens. Saved $300 over B&H on my 800.

Jun 26, 2009 at 07:48 PM
stanj
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p.4 #4 · Shipping problems


reko wrote:
Another vote for Allens. Saved $300 over B&H on my 800.


Hmm. When I go to the web site they have 17 Canon lenses listed, none of them is the 800...

Jun 26, 2009 at 08:14 PM
M Vers
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p.4 #5 · Shipping problems


henryp wrote:
GeneO wrote: had two sides of the lens box against the shipping box hed in place by a bubble.. Is that Canon QA or shipping?

And if it IS shipping, was it from the factory to the distributor or there to the retailer or from the retailer to you?

Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video


Considering the fact that the item came poorly packed from B&H one would need to assume that it was B&H's fault. Pack the item well enough where there can't be any blame put on B&H and no one will blame them--pack it poorly expect to hear something. It's like saying "oh, well they do it too...why can't we?". It makes no sense.

Based on personal experience, I hardly ever order imaging equipment from B&H but I do order from other retailers (abes of maine, beach/buydig) and have had poorly packed boxes arrive at my doorstep...sometimes with only one air packet inside, and once it was popped so there was absolutely no padding what so ever besides the lens box and styrofoam encasement. Next time I order they will hear from me.

Jun 26, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Nieuport N28
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p.4 #6 · Shipping problems


to the OP of this topic...........how is the new 5DMKII working so far?

Jun 26, 2009 at 11:35 PM
chesapeake
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p.4 #7 · Shipping problems


I buy a lot of stuff from B&H and while I have not had any shipment damage due to packing, the packing always seems to be poorly done. I hate to have to say this but it is if fact true. To be entirely honest however, all of the major on-line companies have shipped similarly ill packed camera gear. I wish B&H would look at this issue from the customers point of view. A bit more care and material put into the packing would go far in enhancing their image as the premier on-line supplier of imaging hardware. Heck, even an option for white glove packing, at a small upcharge, would be a step in the right direction. Honestly though, I have had similar shiping and packing experience with J&R, Adorama, OneCall, 17th Street, Abes, and Calumet. Curiously when I order directly from a manufacturer like Really Right Stuff, Wimberely or any of the other well known companies, the items come very well packed. Henry P should also know that when I have asked the telephone reps to ask for extra packing, those requests have gone entirely ignored. fortunately no damage but it does subtract from overall satisfaction with the transaction. Come on guys, throw some peanuts in the box.

Jun 27, 2009 at 12:14 AM
pipspeak
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p.4 #8 · Shipping problems


It seems complains about packaging can make a difference. Newegg has had a lot of complaints posted in reviews from people who ordered OEM hard drives that arrive with minimal packging and (surprise) are DoA.

So it was with some trepidation that I ordered an OEM drive from them this week. It arrived today, wrapped four times in taped bubble wrap and then placed in a box full to overflowing with peanuts. Now that's overkill

Jun 27, 2009 at 12:21 AM
RCicala
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p.4 #9 · Shipping problems


Just as a point of interest, my business ships ships and receives about 60-90 lenses and cameras a day. We have spent more time and effort on determining the best way to pack than any other aspect - more than marketing, purchasing, you name it. Packing and packaging supplies are one of he largest expenses we have. Figuring out how to do it best is more complex than I could have dreamed: what has the least impact on the environment, what are the supply costs versus the manpower costs to pack different ways, the costs of storing the supplies (bubble wrap and peanuts take up an incredible amount of space), and the change in damage rate with different kinds of packaging.

We're lucky in that our products come back so we can use and reuse temperfoam padding (which would be way too expensive for one way shipping). Before we settled on that we changed packing methods 3 or 4 times figuring out what was the best. I'll echo what Henry said earlier: nothing beats the box and packaging the manufacturer makes specifically for each lens. As long as you put that in something stiff enough to keep the manufacturer's box from getting crushed the item inside is perfectly protected. If those held up for repeated shippings, we'd keep on using them forever, but they don't.

Jun 27, 2009 at 12:57 AM
jhom
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p.4 #10 · Shipping problems


I received a Gitzo 3541LS from B&H yesterday. Instead of being underpackaged, it was filled with airbags surrounding the Gitzo box. It was filled so that the outer box bulged outwards. The airbags caused the Gitzo box to be pushed in on the sides of the box and the top lid opend and deformed. The Gitzo made it here fine in its cloth bag. I've noticed that Gitzo does a poor job of packaging their legs. This is the 3rd set of Gitzo legs I've purchased. In each case, the legs are only wrapped up in the cloth dust bag and then placed in the Gitzo box. I seriously doubt a Gitzo box would make it through shipping without additional help from additional external packaging help. Fortunately, I'm not a manufacturer box collector.

Jim


Jun 27, 2009 at 01:33 AM
 



EA6B
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p.4 #11 · Shipping problems


Lately it seems that they tape the box closed, but the majority of the tape doesn't actually contact the box. I burnish all the tape so it makes good contact.

E

Jun 27, 2009 at 02:03 AM
toddmitchell
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p.4 #12 · Shipping problems


I have not been a large fan of b&h over the last few years but did just order a couple of things from them and they shipped fast, well packed and damage free.

They seem to pack as good or better then most



Jun 27, 2009 at 03:07 AM
GeneO
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p.4 #13 · Shipping problems


henryp wrote:
GeneO wrote: had two sides of the lens box against the shipping box hed in place by a bubble.. Is that Canon QA or shipping?

And if it IS shipping, was it from the factory to the distributor or there to the retailer or from the retailer to you?

Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video


It is a moot point if the last leg is packed poorly. You will get blamed.

Gene


Jun 27, 2009 at 03:12 AM
Peter Le
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p.4 #14 · Shipping problems


henryp wrote:


Peter Le wrote:
I`m still dealing with crushed corners on very expensive Epson paper that was very poorly packed by B+H. Never will buy paper from them again. Every time I try to smooth a corner before printing I curse B+H. Do they realize what the crackheads in shipping are doing to their rep


Peter, I appreciate your situation but please do not refer to my colleagues, who are human beings, as "crackheads." It's denigrating and certainly not necessary. I checked every order I could find from you over the past 2 years and see several with Epson paper. What I don't see is any indication you contacted customer service to let us know about this. We'd certainly have replaced any damaged boxes you received.

Henry......It was 2 boxes of Epson Velvet Fine art paper and 1 box of Ultra Smooth paper. The Ultra Smooth was fine....only because of Epsons packaging of this paper. I needed it for a show....didn`t have time to be shipping back and forth. Some of it still sits on the shelf because it is a real pain to work with. Each sheet has to be worked on to flatten the crushed corners and still hits the print head on most sheets causing ink bloches. Luckily it was just the corner on would be under the mat.
I don`t think I was far off on the description of the packer ( I guess I could have chose better words).....if you would have seen how this was packed you would agree. You just had to pick up the box and hear everything inside sliding back and forth. It had actually cut through the outer box in one spot. I do like the speed of your service and shipping.....but I would gladly wait an extra day to get better packing. I am glad as I`m sure all FMers are that you address these problems posted on this forum. I am not a retailer or manufacturer basher....you can see this in my postes..........My reasoning here like others.....is to weed out the packers that are giving you a bad name.......Peter
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video



Jun 27, 2009 at 04:22 AM
chesapeake
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p.4 #15 · Shipping problems


For peace of mind, whenever I order an expensive piece of equipment from B&H (or anyone for that matter) I use next day or second day delivery. I do this even when UPS ground is offered free. It makes no sense to me to have an expensive camera or lens kicked around by UPS for an extra day or two or three. I know to many the additional shipping costs seem like a waste of money but IMHO the few extra dollars spent on fast shipping are well worth it. Since B&H was mentioned specifically, I would like to say that having dealt with them for over 25 years and spending lots and lots of money with them, all for shipped merchandise, I have never ever received merchandise that was damaged in shipment. This does go to to support what Henry P has said elsewhere above on this topic. I expect that in the not to distant future, the carriers themselves will become more sophisticated and packaging will become more scientific and engineered like the OEM package. Until then I'll pay for next day air and keep my fingers crossed.
Cheers

Jun 27, 2009 at 12:01 PM
henryp
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p.4 #16 · Shipping problems


chesapeake wrote: Henry P should also know that when I have asked the telephone reps to ask for extra packing, those requests have gone entirely ignored.

Probably not ignored by the phone sales associates who have an option to include a message to the individual selecting the item from the warehouse shelf or to the individual packing the shipping box. The sales staff is in Manhattan and most of our merchandise is shipped from our Brooklyn warehouse so a message is attached electronically to the transaction.

jhom wrote: I received a Gitzo 3541LS from B&H yesterday. Instead of being underpackaged, it was filled with airbags surrounding the Gitzo box. It was filled so that the outer box bulged outwards. The airbags caused the Gitzo box to be pushed in on the sides of the box and the top lid opend and deformed.

Changes in air pressure, altitude and temperature while the package is in transit will do this and it's one of the drawbacks to air bags and bubble wrap. There is no perfect packing materiel and no perfect packing method.

Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video

Edited on Jun 30, 2009 at 02:29 PM · View previous versions


Jun 29, 2009 at 01:53 AM
princeeric2
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p.4 #17 · Shipping problems


+1 for B&H poor packaging job.

I have stopped all my business with B&H due to its poor & careless packaging. My 17-55 IS came in a fairly small shipping box, the canon box was placed in one corner of the shipping box, the rest of the empty space in the shipping box was filled with one air packet. My 100 2.8 Macro was packed in the same way! I remembered some one posted a photo of the B&H shipping box & packaging on dpreview a while ago.



Jun 29, 2009 at 04:02 AM
timpdx
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p.4 #18 · Shipping problems


I have never had a problem with B&H shipping.

I just bought a 26" monitor here on B&S, now what fedex does with that has me a bit worried. But I think B&H has always been on the better side. Amazon, on the other hand... They pack a nearly indestructible CF card like its the Mona Lisa and then on another order throw an art book in the box with one air bag and the thing is just bouncing around in the box, 3 corners of the book smashed in.

Jun 29, 2009 at 04:46 AM
tanglefoot47
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p.4 #19 · Shipping problems


Allens is great I think the way they package an item it could be thrown off a roof and not be damaged. They ship in an over sided box with tons of peanuts another great place is Canoga they offer the same well packaged item. I have been disappointed in B&H many times for their lack of concern for packaging

Jun 29, 2009 at 06:31 AM
henryp
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p.4 #20 · Shipping problems


princeeric2 wrote: My 17-55 IS came in a fairly small shipping box, the canon box was placed in one corner of the shipping box, the rest of the empty space in the shipping box was filled with one air packet. My 100 2.8 Macro was packed in the same way!

Packing appearance aside, was either in any way harmed by this, or did they work fine out of the box and continue to do so now?

Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video

Edited on Jun 30, 2009 at 02:29 PM · View previous versions


Jun 29, 2009 at 02:38 PM
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