wickerprints wrote:
I'm not really sure how to quantify it, but after having ordered multiple items from both retailers (in all instances directly from their websites, and at least once each over the phone), I am left with the impression that Adorama tends to send items out to ship about 12-24 hours faster than B&H.

Whether that's actually the case, it's hard to know. When a retailer indicates an item has "shipped," it may simply have been assigned a tracking number. It's impossible for the buyer to know exactly when the package leaves the retailer and is handed to the shipper.

Ultimately, the only thing that matters is that the item is delivered by the date it is claimed it will arrive. Could a better impression be made by showing prompt delivery? Absolutely. Does this actually correspond to faster receipt? I have no way of knowing.

For what it's worth, my overall purchasing experience with both companies has been excellent. My advice though, if you want fast response from either retailer, the best way is to simply call and put in the phone order. Make sure they get the right contact info and send you confirmation.

As I noted above, if we receive your order before 6:00pm Monday - Thursday, the item is in stock and there are no verification issues, it will be on the truck that evening!
The only difference is for used items; these are warehoused in NYC, and have to go by road down to NJ for shipping out, so the cut-off time for ordering is 1:00 pm, for same-day shipping.

jjsterling wrote: I wonder if Adorama is on the up and up.

IMO they certainly are "on the up and up." I've shopped there at least once.

wickerprints wrote:
When a retailer indicates an item has "shipped," it may simply have been assigned a tracking number. It's impossible for the buyer to know exactly when the package leaves the retailer and is handed to the shipper.

As far as I know 99.9999999999999% of the time an order leaves our warehouse the same day it gets a tracking number. I'd say 100%, but I suppose there's the slimmest chance one package didn't one time.

And, with UPS you can "know exactly when the package leaves the retailer and is handed to the shipper," because with the UPS package tracking number that info's available from the UPS web site.

Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video

PS I Said I'd look into pogi-one's claim we'd been late shipping. Unfortunately I cannot ID "pogi-one," and therefor cannot reply further.