[Birding-Aus] A response from B&H re. non-shipment of some brands of Binoculars
Carl Clifford
Below is a response from B&H regarding non-shipment of some brands of
binoculars to outside of the USA. Unfortunately, it seems that most of
the brands preferred by birders are affected.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
Begin forwarded message:
From: Henry Posner <hen...@bhphoto.com>
Date: 21 December 2011 6:28:52 AM
To: "carlsc...@gmail.com" <carlsc...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re B&H Photo Video no longer shipping Biins
The binoculars section of our site at http://bhpho.to/sDiMCo has 950
products from 30+ brands. Most can be shipped anywhere. In some cases
the manufacturer or their licensed US distributor limits where we may
ship their product and as an authorized retailer we’re honor-bound to
honor that agreement. That said, there are hundreds of binocs in all
price ranges which we can ship anywhere.
It is not our job to police the behavior of other retailers, but in my
opinion honoring our contracts with our vendors is as important as
honoring our agreements with our customers.
-- -
regards,
Henry Posner
Director of Corporate Communications
B&H Photo-Video, and Pro-Audio
http://www.bandh.com/
I have just had a look binocular prices at B&H's web site. Every pair
of bins I checked (even low end Barska and Kenko models) had a note
saying that they can not be shipped outside the USA. Strangely enough,
spotting scopes are can still be shipped. Anyone who is thinking of
buying bins from B&H should factor in the cost of using USA address
providers such as Shipito.
I have checked Adorama's site and there seems to be no problems with
them.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
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Peter Shute
I know you can't get Sennheiser stuff from them either. Perhaps the online free for all is coming to an end.
I'm sure you'll always be able to find someone who'd be willing to do it, but I'm not sure I'd trust them.
Peter Shute
Dave Torr
to try and cut down on internet sales - inevitable I suppose.
brian fleming
> I guess the local retailers have been putting pressure on the manufacturers
> to try and cut down on internet sales - inevitable I suppose.
>
> On 21 December 2011 11:06, Peter Shute<psh...@nuw.org.au> wrote:
>
>> I wonder why the change. Perhaps those manufacturers alway had
>> restrictions, and one or several have decided to start enforcing them, so
>> they started following the rules for them all. If so, then we should expect
>> this to start affecting all the reputable dealers
>>
>> I know you can't get Sennheiser stuff from them either. Perhaps the online
>> free for all is coming to an end.
>>
>> I'm sure you'll always be able to find someone who'd be willing to do it,
>> but I'm not sure I'd trust them.
>>
>> Peter Shute
I'm after a pair of Minox binoculars and am having the same trouble as
there doesn't seem to be an Australian distributor. "Gimmedigi" who seem
to be in HongKong can do them.
Any thoughts as to Gimmedigi's performance?
Brian Fleming
Melbourne
Allan Richardson
There are also issues with warranties, although I would have thought that if a customer is prepared to put up with the period of time it takes to affect repairs in the region a warranty covers, then it shouldn't be any skin off the manufacturer's nose to sell to other areas. This would certainly be the warranty policy for companies not large enough to have repair facilities in remote or undeveloped countries; across Africa or South America for instance. I would suggest that companies in this circumstance, i.e. who have their centre of operations based in one country alone at the moment, might make up the bulk of businesses willing to trade across borders.
The level global playing field that corporations are often begging for, doesn't seem to be that level at the end of the production line, or why would we bother looking over the fence for a better value for money deal. Buying equipment in some of the out of way areas of the world, as mentioned above, must be horrendous when compared with our circumstance, and I suspect that while a better deal occurs elsewhere, many folk are going to find a way to avail themselves of the often significant savings in another patch.
It has always been the policy of many companies to encourage buying locally, and as such local service is better able to meet the needs of the customer, and that is agreed, but surely choice of vender is the prerogative of the customer. I'm sure many customers follow such a policy when the prices are not ridiculously different, as they often are.
I wouldn't be surprised if the business relationship of B&H with some company's sales teams might be coming into play here. We've seen how sales duty policy on internet trading has been complained about by corporations in Australia in recent times.
It is interesting that corporations utilise the internet and other means to build their global branding, but there may be vested in-house interests (in the marketing departments perhaps) that are bent on keeping their global business segregated. I can never work out why Australia should pay more than America for anything since distance can't be a factor in relation to items of Asian origin. I guess it must be the turn over factor, due to a bigger pool of customers, and the size of the American economic juggernaut at higher trade levels that gets them a better seat at the economic table
Allan Richardson
Morisset NSW
Ed Williams
Hi all,
There are a number of businesses easily found on the web that by-pass this issue in the states. They act as a US postal address for you and will then post it on to you. It does add to the cost - but with the overall savings are still definitely worth it.
Cheers,
Ed
> Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:08:27 +1100
> From: flam...@labyrinth.net.au
> To: birdi...@lists.vicnet.net.au
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] A response from B&H re. non-shipment of some brands of Binoculars
Peter Shute
> -----Original Message-----
> From: birding-a...@lists.vicnet.net.au
> [mailto:birding-a...@lists.vicnet.net.au] On Behalf Of
Ed Williams
Good question and I'm not sure - but you'd still be buying it in your name but just delivered to a different address.
Would that be any different from buying it over in the US while on holiday warranty-wise?
(I'm no US warranty law expert - I'm sure there's one on the B-A mailing list somewhere though!).
Cheers all,
Ed
Ed Williams,
Kingsville VIC
Ian Martin
In the one I belong to, my address includes my name at the top (and no
other business name on it).
That means for guarantee purposes my name is on the invoice , along with
my "US address". No confusion at all who bought or owns it.
Ian
Chris Sanderson
own expense) to the USA.
On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 2:56 PM, Ian Martin <ian.m...@exemail.com.au>wrote:
> Hi Peter,
> In the one I belong to, my address includes my name at the top (and no
> other business name on it).
> That means for guarantee purposes my name is on the invoice , along with
> my "US address". No confusion at all who bought or owns it.
>
> Ian
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Shute" <psh...@nuw.org.au>
> To: "'Ed Williams'" <edwilli...@hotmail.co.uk>**; <
> flam...@labyrinth.net.au>; <birdi...@lists.vicnet.net.**au<birdi...@lists.vicnet.net.au>
> >
> Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 2:46 PM
>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] A response from B&H re. non-shipment of some
> brands of Binoculars
>
>
> Would that make the warranty even more difficult to claim than it already
>> is when you buy from OS? It might look like you aren't the original owner.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: birding-aus-bounces@lists.**vicnet.net.au<birding-a...@lists.vicnet.net.au>
>>> [mailto:birding-aus-bounces@**lists.vicnet.net.au<birding-a...@lists.vicnet.net.au>]
>>> On Behalf Of
>>> Ed Williams
>>> Sent: Wednesday, 21 December 2011 1:41 PM
>>> To: flam...@labyrinth.net.au; birdi...@lists.vicnet.net.**au<birdi...@lists.vicnet.net.au>
>>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] A response from B&H re.
>>> non-shipment of some brands of Binoculars
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> There are a number of businesses easily found on the web that
>>> by-pass this issue in the states. They act as a US postal
>>> address for you and will then post it on to you. It does add
>>> to the cost - but with the overall savings are still
>>> definitely worth it.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Ed
>>>
>>>
>>> > Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:08:27 +1100
>>> > From: flam...@labyrinth.net.au
>>> > To: birdi...@lists.vicnet.net.**au<birdi...@lists.vicnet.net.au>
>>> > ==============================**=
>>> >
>>> > To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
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>>> > unsubscribe
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>>> > to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.**net.au<birding-a...@vicnet.net.au>
>>> >
>>> > http://birding-aus.org
>>> > ==============================**=
>>>
>>> ==============================**=
>>>
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>>
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>
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Peter Shute
Peter Shute
--------------------------
Sent using BlackBerry
Ian Martin
> What you may find is that to get them serviced you have to mail (at
> your own expense) to the USA.
That is normally if you want to get the service **under warranty**
Usually the normal "you pay for it" servicing is OK here no matter where
purchased. After all most reputable brands offer world wide servicing -
but you have to pay full price.
Otherwise long term tourists (eg 6 mo visa) would have to wait until
they got home for repairs, wherever that might be.
Ian.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Shute" <psh...@nuw.org.au>
To: <chris.s...@gmail.com>; <ian.m...@exemail.com.au>
Cc: <birdi...@lists.vicnet.net.au>
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 4:52 PM
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] A response from B&H re. non-shipment of some
brands of Binoculars
> I'd always assumed that could be the case when buying direct from
> overseas suppliers. I was just concerned that this indirect delivery
> method might result in no warranty at all. Apparently not.
>
> Peter Shute
>
>
> --------------------------
> Sent using BlackBerry
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: birding-a...@lists.vicnet.net.au
> <birding-a...@lists.vicnet.net.au>
> To: Ian Martin <ian.m...@exemail.com.au>
> Cc: birdi...@lists.vicnet.net.au <birdi...@lists.vicnet.net.au>
> Sent: Wed Dec 21 16:23:56 2011
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] A response from B&H re. non-shipment of
> some brands of Binoculars
>
> What you may find is that to get them serviced you have to mail (at
> your
> own expense) to the USA.
>
> On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 2:56 PM, Ian Martin
> <ian.m...@exemail.com.au>wrote:
===============================
Andrew Taylor
> There are a number of businesses easily found on the web that
> by-pass this issue in the states. They act as a US postal address
> for you and will then post it on to you. It does add to the cost -
> but with the overall savings are still definitely worth it.
I've successfully used hopshopgo.com several times to reship items from
the US. Most recently they reshipped some running shoes for me. All up it
was under 50% of the sale price for the same shoes in Australia, and
took about 10 days total. The shoe manufacturer (ASICS) doesn't allow
US retailers to ship to Australia. Some well-known bushwalking gear
manufacturers have similar policies. And many Amazon sellers (unlike
ebay) just don't ship to Australia.
Andrew
Ben Allen
Concerning the matter of cost, my experience has been that the on-line retailer (B&H etc) will normally post the article for free within USA. The forwarding agent's fee is not that much more than the normal cost of transporting the item to Australia (ie the fee B&H etc would normally charge for sending to Aus) which is included in their cost. As a result the extra cost is pretty negligible in my experience. The time delay is also minimal.
Concerning the matter of warranty, many of your Asian retailers are offering a third party warranty that is not dissimilar to that offered by Harvey Norman and other Australian retailers for the payment of an extra fee. This is designed to get over the concern buyers may have of not having a manufacturers' warranty. I think the local company is more likely to deal sympathetically with genuine USA stock then they are to some of the stock out of Asia which has not been sourced properly from the original manufacturer.
The big advantage of dealing with a reputable USA firm such as B&H is that they are very up-front and honest about the stock you are purchasing and the prices reflect that. I am not sure that the same can be said about many of the on-line retailers who are possibly sending you "grey stock" etc..
regards
Ben
Jenny Stiles
My husband has been following this thread with interest [as he is intending
to purchase binoculars for me]. After the response from B & H he decided to
see just how many binoculars could be shipped to Australia. He selected the
following binoculars as a test & found that NONE of them could be shipped.
He has emailed this list to them to ask if they actually intended to
restrict all these models and brands.
I will let you know if we get a response.
Jenny Stiles
Due to the manufacturers restrictions, we are unable to accept orders with a
shipping address in AUSTRALIA for the following item(s):
1. Vortex 10x42 Crossfire Binocular
2. Vixen Optics 10x50 CFW Ascot Binocular
3. Vivitar Aqua View AV-1025 10X25 Binocular
4. Vivitar 10x25 Chrome Binocular
5. Vanguard 10x50 FR-1050W Binocular
6. Tasco 10x25 Essentials Binocular (Black)
7. Steiner Predator Xtreme 10x26 Binocular
8. Simmons ProSport Roof Binocular (10x,
Black)
9. Simmons 10x25 ProSport Binocular (Black,
Clamshell Packaging)
10. Pentax 10x25 DCF-SW Binocular
11. Olympus 10x42 EXWP I Magellan Binocular
12. Olympus 10x21 Outback RC II Binocular
13. Nikon Travelite VI 10x25 Binocular
14. Nikon 10x25 Sportstar Binocular (Black)
15. Minox 10x25 BD BR Binocular
16. LaScala Optics LS 10x50 Binocular
17. Fujifilm Offroad 10x25 Binocular
18. Coleman 10x50 Wide Angle Binocular
19. Celestron 10x25 UpClose Binocular
20. Carson 10x42 JK Close-Up Binocular
21. BARSKA 10x42 WP Crossover Binocular (Black)
22. Bushnell 10x42 Powerview Binocular (Black,
Clamshell Packaging)
23. Kowa 10.5x44 Genesis XD44 Binocular
24. Leica 10x32 Ultravid HD Binocular
25. Leica 10x42 Ultravid BL Binocular (Black
Leather)
26. Leica Silverline 10x42 Binocular (Silver and
Black)
27. Nikon EDG 10x42 Binocular
28. Steiner 10x44 Peregrine XP Binocular
29. Swarovski 10x32 WB EL Binocular
30. Zeiss 10x32 Victory T* FL Binocular (Black)
31. Zeiss 10x42 Victory T* FL Binocular (Black)
32. Canon 10x42 L IS WP Image Stabilized
Binocular
33. Nikon 10x42 Premier Binocular
34. Nikon 10x70 Astroluxe Binocular
35. Steiner Nighthunter XP 10x56 Roof Prism
Binocular
36. Vortex Razor HD 10x50 Roof Prism Binocular
37. Zeiss Conquest 10x56 T* Binocular
38. Bushnell Fusion 1600 ARC 10x42 Binocular
39. Leica Ultravid 10x25 BCL Compact Binocular
(Black Leather)
40. Meopta 10x32 MeoStar B1 Binocular
41. Meopta 10x42 Meostar B1 Binocular
42. Pentax 10x50 DCF ED Binocular
43. Steiner 10x42 R Tactical Binocular
44. Steiner 10x50 Nighthunter XP Binocular
45. Steiner Nighthunter XP 10x42 Roof Prism
Binocular
46. Steiner Predator 10x56 C5 Binocular
47. Swarovski 10x25 B Pocket Binocular (Black)
48. Swarovski 10x25 B Pocket Binocular (Green)
49. Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 Binocular
(Black)
50. Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 Binocular
(Green)
51. Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 Binocular (Tan)
52. Swarovski Pocket Traveler 10x25 Binocular
(Tan)
53. Leica 10x25 Ultravid Binocular (Black)
54. Nikon 10.5x45 Monarch X Binocular
55. Pentax 10x50 DCF SP Binocular
56. Steiner 10x50 Merlin Binocular
57. Steiner 10x50 Military/Marine Binocular
58. Vortex Viper HD 10x42 Roof Prism Binocular
59. Zeiss 10x30 B T* Conquest Binocular
60. Zeiss 10x40 T* ABK Conquest Binocular
61. Zeiss Victory Compact 10x25 T* Binocular
62. Fujinon 10x70 MT-SX Poseidon Binocular
63. Kowa 10x42 BD42-10B Binocular (Green)
64. Fujinon 10x70 FMT-SX Polaris Binocular
65. Fujinon 10x50 FMTR-SX Polaris Binocular
66. Steiner 10x42 Police Binocular
67. Steiner 10x50 Police Binocular
68. Vanguard 10x42 Spirit ED Binocular (Dark
Green)
69. Vanguard Endeavor ED 1045 10.5x45 Binocular
70. Vanguard Endeavor ED 10x42 Binocular
71. Vortex Talon HD 10x42 Roof Prism Binocular
72. Zeiss 10x25B Conquest Binocular with leather
Case
73. Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42 Team REALTREE
Binocular (REALTREE APG HD Camo)
74. Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42 Binocular (Black,
Clamshell Packaging)
75. Nikon 10x56 Monarch ATB Binocular (Black)
76. Minox BV 10x42 BRW Binocular
77. Minox BL 10x44 BR Binocular
78. Meopta MeoPro 10x42 Binocular
79. Leica 10x25 BCA Trinovid Binocular
80. Celestron Granite 10x42 Binocular
81. Carson 3D Series TD-050 10x50 Binocular
82. Carson 3D Series TD-042 10x42 Binocular
83. Carson 10x50 XM HD Binocular
84. Canon 10x30 IS Image Stabilized Binocular
85. Bushnell Elite 10x42 Binocular
86. Pentax 10x43 DCF SP Binocular
Please provide a different ship to location or remove these items from your
cart.
Chris Ross
technically if you import from overseas you are the importer and
therefore responsible for warranty. I suspect they are tightening
policies because sales volumes in general are down and pressure has come
from importers to head office for some relief.
Australia will generally be more expensive for a number of reasons,
including market volume, higher costs locally (people in retail get paid
a living wage here, in the US, generally not or at least not as well
paid). The importer also provides warranty service and often needs to
pay for that from their margin here, they hold stock of spares and to a
greater or lesser degree maintain service divisions with trained
staff. Some of it is also tradition, importers of some optical
equipment used to behave like fiefdoms with royal privileges, the worst
have gone by the wayside these days, for example Nikon cut off
arrangements with their distributor and setup on their own as
importers. The warranty arrangements vary depending on the importer, a
lot of Chinese imports the suppliers just replace, no attempt at repair,
other provides parts or an allowance. Bintel I know sends staff on
training overseas to learn how to service some equipment they import.
Recently JB HiFi started direct imports (Grey) of selected Canon items.
Canon Australia was apparently quite concerned at that, issuing a press
release as I recall. Ultimately it could lead to local divisions
shutting down and service only being available from the factory.
Direct imports have really taken off since the $1000 limit was
introduced, used to be that anything over $250 would require
GST/duties. I've seen indirect evidence that some of the dodgier
overseas suppliers and even some that sell in Oz but direct ship from
China will understate value leaving you open to prosecution/fines. Also
less than totally honest disclosure on warranty, generally it's hidden
deep in FAQs or T&Cs where they will state that warranty is available
from the local agent for items for example from Nikon which in Australia
which will definitely not provide warranty cover on grey imports. At
least it's better than Nikon USA which will not even service grey items
for payment.
Also you will find Hong Kong sites or Australian based sites that ship
direct from Hong Kong based that have the statement that the buyer is
responsible for import charges , GST etc. buried deep in terms and
conditions. Then you will have grey importers that hold stock here and
are quite upfront about warranty arrangements. What's the saying;
"caveat emptor?" I would suggest digging into the T&Cs and also
googling for reviews before buying items from such sources. Or if you
want local service, support and like to try stuff out before buying, buy
from local stores.
Chris Ross