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Archive 2012 · B&H What are you thinking???

rscheffler
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p.3 #1 · B&H What are you thinking???

Robert's Imaging http://robertscamera.com I've visited them in Indy while passing through and service was good, which I expected because they have a very solid reputation in the sports photography community (sportsshooter.com). They're not as big as B&H obviously, nor is their website as slick, though it looks like it was recently overhauled, but what I've heard from others is that they're much more connected with their longtime customers.

Mar 15, 2012 at 12:29 PM

wayne seltzer
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p.3 #2 · B&H What are you thinking???

netexpress wrote:
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

Ahh the rush to be the first one to post a bench shot taken with the D800E/ZF21 combo! The suspense is killing me!

I'm sure B&H will rectify this soon for you after all this is seen, but just in case you can always try Keeble and Schucat in Palo Alto who is a great local dealer in Bay area which I use a lot when I don't buy from B&H. They get new models in pretty quickly and quicker than B&H sometimes, especially for CaNikon stuff.
Good Luck! Maybe sometime I will run into you out taking pictures here in the Bay area. I will keep my eyes open for someone with a gigantic size camera bag!

Mar 15, 2012 at 12:41 PM

netexpress
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p.3 #3 · B&H What are you thinking???

michaelwatkins wrote:
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.

Hopefully you'll get a personal contact soon!

Especially since none other than Mr. Fred M. himself has pinged the brass at B&H on my behalf I will sit tight and see if they can re-confirm my Canon/Nikon back order(s) today. I've actually had good dealing with B&H for many years. Maybe it's a computer glitch or I just happened to hit the wrong employees on the wrong day.

Mar 15, 2012 at 12:42 PM

etg9
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p.3 #4 · B&H What are you thinking???

I think by posting here and the response you should get some results by end of day. B&H is huge and you were just run through a system. I'm sure they wouldn't want to lose someone who has been so great for their business.

They are my local camera shop so I'm keeping an eye on this thread.

Mar 15, 2012 at 12:42 PM

netexpress
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p.3 #5 · B&H What are you thinking???

wayne seltzer wrote:
Ahh the rush to be the first one to post a bench shot taken with the D800E/ZF21 combo! The suspense is killing me!

I'm sure B&H will rectify this soon for you after all this is seen, but just in case you can always try Keeble and Schucat in Palo Alto who is a great local dealer in Bay area which I use a lot when I don't buy from B&H. They get new models in pretty quickly and quicker than B&H sometimes, especially for CaNikon stuff.
Good Luck! Maybe sometime I will run into you out taking pictures here...Show more →

Well I gotta be the first to post a shot of a brick wall don't I?

Mar 15, 2012 at 12:45 PM

Alf Beharie
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p.3 #6 · B&H What are you thinking???

netexpress wrote:
I've been a B&H customer since the 1980's. I've spent over $200K with them. See my profile. This is gear for my own use. You would think they would appreciate the business. I placed a back order for a Canon 1D X yesterday and they canceled my order without explanation. I contact sales and they say that they can not help me. So I contact customer service and they say they can't help me. I just get the run around. They say I've purchased too much gear so I must be a reseller. I say that's silly I have all...Show more →

I would change your FM name before pointing them at your equipment list because you have to admit, "netexpress" does sound a lot like the name of a company, possibly a reseller company, so they have point

Mar 15, 2012 at 12:50 PM

netexpress
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p.3 #7 · B&H What are you thinking???

Fellow FM'er Jorge (Zeissimages) is giving me his D4 back order which just came in since my back order from January 9th is canceled by B&H. So I should have it early next week! You can't get better friends than this.

I owe you one! Thanks so much Jorge!!!

No word from B&H.

Mar 15, 2012 at 02:15 PM

pjbuehner
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p.3 #8 · B&H What are you thinking???

I am sure that there is another side to this story.
There are people out there who have no interest in the camera itself. They simply want to get a hot item so that they can post it on ebay for a ridiculous price to take advantage of the supply and demand.
If Canon/ Nikon/ or my CEO had given a directive to look out for people that seem to be looking to do this (presumably B&H wants to serve photographers), I think I would be suspicious of your buying history too (not saying that is right or accurate).

the question is, who should be policing this? In a way it is rather remarkable that a company is willing to lose a sale in order to do what they think is a service to the photo community...

Just a thought to try to explain what seems to be irrational behavior. However, everyone deserves to be able to spend their money and one could argue that in America if someone is willing to pay $500 over retail, let them.

Mar 15, 2012 at 02:31 PM

Jacob D
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p.3 #9 · B&H What are you thinking???

pjbuehner wrote:
the question is, who should be policing this?.
Policing what exactly? The freedom to buy and sell? We need police for that?

Mar 15, 2012 at 02:45 PM

netexpress
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p.3 #10 · B&H What are you thinking???

pjbuehner wrote:
I am sure that there is another side to this story.
There are people out there who have no interest in the camera itself. They simply want to get a hot item so that they can post it on ebay for a ridiculous price to take advantage of the supply and demand.
If Canon/ Nikon/ or my CEO had given a directive to look out for people that seem to be looking to do this (presumably B&H wants to serve photographers), I think I would be suspicious of your buying history too (not saying that is right or accurate).

the question is,...Show more →

What I spend with B&H is a small pittance compared to most studios, news outfits, etc. I buy one Nikon D4 and they'll buy dozens for every one I buy.

I can see if a red flag comes up - that's fine. However, I don't understand why when I contact B&H and I tell them - B&H just canceled my order and I ask them - hey I'm in the waiting room while my wife is having surgery so I can't go from person to person to person trying to fix this - can you just find out what B&H needs from me and let me know? You would think that they would have the honor to say - yes sir I'll find out for you and take care email you what we need.

I offered to PDF up copies from Canon and Nikon's site showing them that every piece of gear I've purchased is registered in my name. What more could they want? And you would think after doing this much business they would at least try to help, wouldn't you? I don't think that's too unreasonable.

Mar 15, 2012 at 02:45 PM

Roger Whitehead
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p.3 #11 · B&H What are you thinking???

Badger Graphics, Samy's, Penn Camera, Roberts, etc.......

RWW

Mar 15, 2012 at 02:49 PM

pjbuehner
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p.3 #12 · B&H What are you thinking???

Jacob D wrote:
Policing what exactly? The freedom to buy and sell? We need police for that?

I agree with you, I was just trying to fathom why they even would do this. I was just assuming that they were thinking that they were doing something good? Maybe I am biased but I have had nothing but great service and great prices from B&H. I want to think that they either had an employee making a decision alone or some misguided request from someone.

Mar 15, 2012 at 02:51 PM

netexpress
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p.3 #13 · B&H What are you thinking???

Thanks for the list guys!

I have to concede I thought B&H would be proactive about this but no word still.

Mar 15, 2012 at 02:51 PM

pjbuehner
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p.3 #14 · B&H What are you thinking???

netexpress wrote:
What I spend with B&H is a small pittance compared to most studios, news outfits, etc. I buy one Nikon D4 and they'll buy dozens for every one I buy.

I can see if a red flag comes up - that's fine. However, I don't understand why when I contact B&H and I tell them - B&H just canceled my order and I ask them - hey I'm in the waiting room while my wife is having surgery so I can't go from person to person to person trying to fix this - can you just find out what B&H...Show more →

Not unreasonable at all...unless you got the guy on the phone who makes 8 bucks an hour and doesn't want to do the legwork to make it right because he doesn't feel that much loyalty to his employer. I may be wrong but my guess is that you just needed to get beyond the first line to get a response that will remedy this.
Best of luck.

Mar 15, 2012 at 02:54 PM

DoubleNegative
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p.3 #15 · B&H What are you thinking???

Sounds like a few Facebook/Twitter shares might get them moving. That's horrible.

I used to buy things from them now and again, but to be honest - they're in New York (as I am) so the local sales tax pretty much rules them out. I've been there countless times, and yeah - it's big and all. But they are to photography what Home Depot is to boxes of nails.

I prefer brick and mortar shops and places like Freestyle Photo for my needs.

Mar 15, 2012 at 03:02 PM

gpop
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p.3 #16 · B&H What are you thinking???

odd thing is that it doesn't (shouldn't) matter how much you have spent, gear is gear and they need to provide you with top notch customer service in order to set themselves apart from any other seller. I say it's odd because I believe they have done that in the past.

the fact you have spent mega-coin there should set you apart from the tire-kickers. and they should show you the same loyalty.

I'll bet it gets sorted out.

Mar 15, 2012 at 03:10 PM

acoll123
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p.3 #17 · B&H What are you thinking???

I've purchased the majority of my gear from B&H but a respectable amount from Adorama and even Amazon. I returned one lens to B&H without issue but haven't had any other customer service interaction. Returned a few things to Amazon also without issue.
Thanks for sharing your story. I've never been put in a position to "ask" for any kind of preference from anyone so I don't have any perspective in that regard - I will think about your story when I place my next order.

Mar 15, 2012 at 03:19 PM

thedigitalbean
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p.3 #18 · B&H What are you thinking???

Like I said, at this point I don't think you should continue to do business with them even if they do rectify this particular situation.

Here's another great dealer with fantastic service and great prices. Profeel:

http://www.profeel.com/

Mar 15, 2012 at 03:30 PM

cogitech
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p.3 #19 · B&H What are you thinking???

thedigitalbean wrote:
Like I said, at this point I don't think you should continue to do business with them even if they do rectify this particular situation.

Indeed. The only thing that might inspire them to change their policy/training to avoid this in the future is to lose your business entirely and suffer the bad press around places like FM.

Based on this, I certainly won't be considering any more purchases from them.

Mar 15, 2012 at 03:33 PM

henryp
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p.3 #20 · B&H What are you thinking???

Dan Grisez wrote:
Send a PM to Henry and see what he can do.

He did. I replied.

Henry Posner
[email protected]
B&H Photo-Video

Mar 15, 2012 at 04:14 PM

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