OK thanks for the advice. So the consensus is to be a squeaky wheel and ping the brass at B&H and sing a bit on forums/twitter/facebook. By the way I did email B&H back and told them I was posting this on fredmiranda.com's alt forum. No reply.
I would say to hell with B&H. Why would you want to be a customer to a business that so clearly doesn't want your business? They aren't the only reputable outfit in town. Take your money and business elsewhere.
Disgusting. How far away is it to drive there? (I live in the UK, excuse my ignorance). I would be tempted to put everything in a massive case, or some of it, then take some pictures of everything else, shove it in their face, and ask them if you can now please give them some more of your money. Idiots.
Seriously, BH are not the only online ordering business. And, they're too big, and the service is very impersonal. Probably what happened to the OP is a computer glitch. A computer has decided that he's a reseller based on a certain pattern and just ditched him.
I personally buy from them as a last recourse. I prefer to order from a small online seller in Germany and I actually talk to the owner personally and he gets me exactly what I want and no waiting lists. If I spent that much money at one place I would expect some more respect, but try to tell that to the computer, or to the employees who couldn't care less. There are probably hundreds of them.
As someone that used to run a social media for a retail company, I can tell you that putting this on facebook or twitter will probably get it resolved by the end of the day. I would say something along the lines of: So here's what happened, this is how long I've been a customer, and "can anyone suggest where I can buy from now on since they no longer want my business?"
This will force them to do something, because if they don't, they are saying that they indeed do not want your business (or anyone elses really). And since they are in business to make money (and I would guess that a lot of members here are customers of theirs, myself included), they will find a way to work it out with you right away to save face.
You know what really kills me? I've got a back orders since the first day - front of the line for:
1D X
D800E
D4
5D Mark III
The new Canon speed lights, grips, etc
And I've had some of these in since January 9th. So why couldn't they have told me when I was back ordering all this gear that they wouldn't accept the order? At least then I could have placed the back order with another vendor. Why wait until the week before the ship date to tell me That causes real damage to me. Now it'll take many months to get back on the front of the line. If they had just told me when I placed the order there would have been no damage done. But instead they took the orders and let me assume I was first in line. That's really where the damage is done. They could have avoided all this hassle.
And if it can happen to me it can happen to anyone doing business with B&H.
Nozzleforward wrote:
As someone that used to run a social media for a retail company, I can tell you that putting this on facebook or twitter will probably get it resolved by the end of the day. I would say something along the lines of: So here's what happened, this is how long I've been a customer, and "can anyone suggest where I can buy from now on since they no longer want my business?"
This will force them to do something, because if they don't, they are saying that they indeed do not want your business (or anyone elses really). And since they are in business to make money (and I would guess that a lot of members here are customers of theirs, myself included), they will find a way to work it out with you right away to save face....Show more →
It's great to feel all the support! You guys are helping to bring my blood preasure down. Thank you so much! You guys are great.
OK I have to concede I'm a Luddite and I don't have a facebook or twitter account. Ouh faaa... So I'm signing up for twitter now. So I post this on B&H's twitter account? Or I just tweet it on mine?
I've always been lucky dealing with B and H, but by far my favorite is KEH. They send me personal emails after every order, heck, in my last order I got a note thanking me for my purchase and I am far from a big spender (college student).
If you don't have f***book or twitter, then don't bother. Stay away from those sites. The exposure you have achieved through this site alone is worth much, MUCH more than anything you can do on other sites in the immediate future. It's only if you have an established following on those other sites that airing your grievances will accomplish anything--otherwise, it just gets lost in all the noise.
Remember, FM is a major site for photographers. It's already self-selected for the audience you are interested in communicating with. The other sites have all kinds of topics, with a broad and large discussion volume. So this is the place to get your issue publicized and resolved.
I like Roberts camera in IN. They seems to have things that are not available somewhere else (just bought nikon 85mm 1.8g and 50mm 1.8g). Good luck, B&H is not the only seller. They are stupid to loose you as a customer.
Before launching a full frontal assault on-line, maybe give Fred Miranda's contact at B&H a little time to respond. They - meaning senior management - will no doubt be grateful for the opportunity to make things right.
Your situation is a classic case where escalation to senior management is required; the folks you've been talking to are likely just dealing with a policy edict designed to help stop grey market supply lines from originating from B&H. To be sure, they definitely should have looked at your case more carefully and listened more.
Roland, with all that gear, you really need to post a photo once in a while
Good luck with B&H, although to be honest, I would just ditch them at this point. I know you have some important pre-orders, but I guess you can get your photos taken some other way until you can get the stuff from another dealer.
There is a B&H rep on this forum, I am pretty sure...
mcbroomf wrote:
Roland,
I'm horrified and would be pretty put out in your shoes as well. I hope it gets rectified but have my doubts.
I really hope they've not cancelled the D800e on you too as I'm still hoping to hear from you on the image quality before mine shows up.
Good luck
Mike
Thanks Mike! Well it looks like I may be looking on from the bleachers instead of playing on the field this year. I think Jorge will be getting a D800 next week so at least he can post some Zeiss ZF 25/35/50/100 + D800 shots. Although he doesn't have a ZF 21 and he's not getting the D800E. I really want to see the D800E Z21 ZF combo too
Allen's Camera
4401 New Falls Road Levittown, PA 19056
(215) 547-284
No online web site but call him, he is as good as B&H, not that he will put you in front of others but your order for those four cameras will certainly get some attention.
John
That causes real damage to me. Now it'll take many months to get back on the front of the line. If they had just told me when I placed the order there would have been no damage done. But instead they took the orders and let me assume I was first in line. That's really where the damage is done. They could have avoided all this hassle.
Thank you so much! You guys are great.