Calumet has been good to me the last few times I have used them . I did a internet order shipped overnight with a credit card and not so much as one problem . I didn't even have to jump through any hoops for them either . The prices were also better than B&H too .
If you are on the west coast, Samy's Camera blows all the NY stores away. Courteous sales staff and same prices as B&H. Got my Mark II from them on first release day with a substantial discount.
for customer service samy's has my vote as well. all voice and email communication with them is a pleasure. for a few orders where i've needed the equipment on short notice for a shoot, they have been very helpful in locating the right equipment or offering advice on alternatives.
for consistent online ordering experiences b&h has my vote. i've purchased well over $10K in products from the two combined and the only gripe i have is with samy's handling of online orders when items are not in stock.
i, personally, prefer to place my orders online - it is vastly more efficient and much less frustrating to place an order via the web when compared to attempting to communicate part numbers, catalog numbers, etc. through a language gap.
Sent B&H an email because I had some questions about a lens I had my eye on. That was several weeks ago. I have yet to receive a response and have since purchased the lens elsewhere.
B&H will refuse the returns if you have more than 5 returned items per year. They have not included this in their return policy at their website but I know it from my personal experience. Also they recently started practicing selling used items as new. Bought Nikon DF from B&H and the shutter count was greater than 500 plus the pc terminal cap was missing.
vovkinson wrote:
B&H will refuse the returns if you have more than 5 returned items per year. They have not included this in their return policy at their website but I know it from my personal experience. Also they recently started practicing selling used items as new. Bought Nikon DF from B&H and the shutter count was greater than 500 plus the pc terminal cap was missing.
I am happy to report that neither of these allegations has an iota of truth. The person who posted this also created this thread: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53258336 where you can read more on this, if you have the patience or inclination.
henryp wrote:
I am happy to report that neither of these allegations has an iota of truth.
Ironic he'd append this to a decade-old thread.
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video
Thanks for pointing out the age of the thread. I didn't notice that beforehand. It certainly calls into question the veracity of the claim and the motives of the poster.
I also wonder why anyone would need to return more than 5 items in a year to a seller. I've dealt with B&H enough to know that they get their orders right, so I'm ruling out shipping wrong items as the source of the excessive returns. If you're returning that many items, perhaps you should do your homework first so you know what the hell you're buying before you order, especially if you're posting in a "pro" forum.
dmacmillan wrote:
Thanks for pointing out the age of the thread. I didn't notice that beforehand. It certainly calls into question the veracity of the claim and the motives of the poster.
You are ever the gentleman, dmacmillan. You put it kindly. "...calls into question..."
More bluntly: WTF?
I do so respect Henry's (and Helen's) responses to nonsense like this. Very cool that two such fine companies have such thorough, level-headed, on-top-of-their-game members on their team.
Yes, Henry Posner!
B&H sold me a used camera (Nikon DF) as a new one. Have guts to admit it! The PC terminal cap was missing and the shutter count was about 500 upon delivery.
You're trying to use your influence in this forum to make my report look bad but it does not change anything that B&H sales team did.
.. And after I started the thread at DPreview.com , you just posted your "perfect speech" and asked the administration of dpreview.com to lock the thread not giving me chance to respond with the facts. Right after that, you kicked me out of B&H for "abusing return policy" for year of 2009 (it was 5 years ago).
henryp wrote:
I am happy to report that neither of these allegations has an iota of truth. The person who posted this also created this thread: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53258336 where you can read more on this, if you have the patience or inclination.
vovkinson wrote:
Yes, Henry Posner!
B&H sold me a used camera (Nikon DF) as a new one. Have guts to admit it! The PC terminal cap was missing and the shutter count was about 500 upon delivery.
You're trying to use your influence in this forum to make my report look bad but it does not change anything that B&H sales team did.
.. And after I started the thread at DPreview.com , you just posted your "perfect speech" and asked the administration of dpreview.com to lock the thread not giving me chance to respond with the facts. Right after that, you kicked me out of B&H for "abusing return policy" for year of 2009 (it was 5 years ago). ...Show more →
One item at a time:
We did not sell a used Nikon Df. When I found your comments in dpreview I checked the serial number for the camera we sent you. It was brand new and sent from Nikon USA to us to you, with no other intermediate steps. I do not know why the PC terminal cap was missing (if indeed it was) but the likely explanation is a lapse in Nikon's QC. The dpreview thread, Is a "high" shutter count on new Df normal? clearly demonstrates that numerous others received brand new Df cameras with higher than anticipated shutter counts.
I have no more influence here than anyone else except that I've been a participant here since June 2003 and hopefully have established some degree of credibility among the forum members. I don't think I need to use my "influence in this forum" if there is any to make your report look bad. From the replies here and in the dpreview thread I cited above, it seems everyone else has easily been able to draw their own conclusions.
I did not ask dpreview to lock the thread. I've never asked dpreview to lock a thread. Dpreview is owned by Amazon.com and I doubt they're interested in any request of that nature from me anyway. A forum moderator locked the thread. Complain to them.
We did not "kick you out" of B&H. We told you your return privileges were suspended until further notice because of a consistent multi-year pattern of egregious abuse which I showed you via email. Without posting data which should remain private I will say that your pattern of buying and then returning has become intolerable whether measured by number of transactions or by the dollar values. Our conversation about your abusive pattern of returns began last June.
nolaguy wrote:
You are ever the gentleman, dmacmillan. You put it kindly. "...calls into question..."
Kudos, Henry.
Thanks, I don't get called that much.
However, if he continues to defend himself, I'll resort to the use of Anglo-Saxon.
To the whiner: Dude give it up. None of us believe you. I've been watching Henry's posts for over a decade now and by every indication he's a stand up guy. I'll take his word over yours any day.
dmacmillan wrote:
Thanks, I don't get called that much.
That's because with the two beginning consonants none of us are really sure how to pronounce your name but in our heads you kinda sound like a Roman warlord. It's intimidating.
dmacmillan wrote:
To the whiner: Dude give it up. None of us believe you. I've been watching Henry's posts for over a decade now and by every indication he's a stand up guy. I'll take his word over yours any day.
I'd take Henry’s word over mine every day. I’m far more logical than I am sanctimonious.
nolaguy wrote:
... none of us are really sure how to pronounce your name but in our heads you kinda sound like a Roman warlord. It's intimidating.
That would be a Scots warlord. MacMillan's sheltered Robert the Bruce (Bruce is my middle name) when he was forced to flee to the Highlands. MacMillans have a long history of bravery on the field of battle (I'm an exception). You should be intimidated. ;-)
Fittingly intimidated and very glad to enjoy the banter. I hope one day we do battle (whether as adversaries or allies) over a fine bottle of scotch, Bruce.
I have bought many items from B & H over the years and never had a problem with them. Almost all of my gear has been ordered online because I always know exactly what I'm going to buy. Their shipping has always been prompt and reliable, and they've always taken back returned items with no questions asked.
I'm not suggesting that others have not had issues with them, but my experience has been a positive one for over a decade.
Archive 2004 · B&H bad experience
