B&H Return/Exchange Experience
bma...@my-deja.com
a 5 month process and choosing and saving
for my first "real" camera, I've found
it's not suitable for my needs. Specifically,
I bought a Canon Rebel 2000, I am primarily
interested in artistic applications and
I've just run across a footnote in the
user's manual that says the camera cannot
be used with infra-red film.
I bought the camera and a 28-105 zoom
lens from B&H. I spent a couple of weeks
choosing the company; some were cheaper,
but I was swayed by the excellent reputation
of B&H. My own experience could not have
been better; I got the items I wanted at
a good price, the salesman on the phone
was helpful without pushing products I didn't
need and the package got here the day they
said it would. They were everything people say.
Here's my question. I ordered my camera & lens
14 days ago (12/13) and it arrived 12 days
ago (12/15.) I want to exchange them for a
comparably priced set-up, perhaps a Nikon.
My items are in mint condition.
Does anyone have any experience with returning
or exchanging items through B&H? Do you
know if the exchange period starts with the
day the order was made, was sent, or arrived?
Thanks,
Manor Folsom
Ma...@snez.net
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Chuck Ross
I've found the B&H return policy to be quite liberal, even if
the time has been exceeded. Call customer service and explain;
chances are you're ok. I returned a digital camera after 3 weeks
even tho they said it was covered for 7 days.
--
ckr...@home.com
http://www.members.home.net/ckross
Digital and film-based photography
Marc S. Fogel
important is that the warranty card was not filled out.
If the above criteria is met you SHOULD be ok. Call customer service.
Cheers
--
Marc S. Fogel
http://www.fogel.net
jonathan burrows
1). 5 months of research and you didn't know it couldn't take IR pictures?
2). Rather than post the question... why not call B&H???
<bma...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:848n7u$oo7$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Roro75
B&H. After a few days it was going off by itself, called B&H and asked for an
exchange, they said they have none in stock. I explained that I need this flash
for a wedding. They said to keep the SB28 flash, until they get the new ones
in. I was about 3 or 4 weeks later, they finally got the news ones in, and we
exchanged them. so it did go past the 14 days period. Although the second flash
also went off by itself, I sent it in to Nikon for repair, received it back
from Nikon about 13 days later. It has since go off by itself only once. I
purchased a SB-17 Cable for it and the problem has not since occured. Maybe the
problem is localized to the flash/shoe connection??
Stan
BandHPhoto
B&H? Do you know if the exchange period starts with the day the order was
made, was sent, or arrived?>
I see an notation in our customer service database that you've contacted them
about a return. Let me know how it goes.
===============================
regards,
Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video
http://www.bhphotovideo.com
hen...@bhphotovideo.com
David Enzel
I have returned 2 items within the 14 day period with no problem. B&H
delivers what it promises in my experience.
bma...@my-deja.com
Well this is surprising. Thanks for your interest.
From what I can tell, B&H is not a small operation,
so to find that they have representatives of the company
following up on posts such as mine is impressive to
say the least. While my Rebel & zoom lens represented
a very large expenditure for me, this kind of purchase
can't be more than a drop in the bucket of an average
day for B&H.
I'd like to also thank the others who have been kind
enough to reply to my post, relating their own experiences.
All of these reports are very encouraging. I sent
my camera and lens back yesterday, via UPS 3rd day.
I expect to have settled on a new purchase in the
meanwhile, I want to be able to get the order in by the
time they receive my package (I'm leaning towards a
Pentax ZX-7 or ZX-10 and a 28-105 zoom.)
The posts from B&H customers were a great help to me
in choosing a vendor, as well as with the return process.
I'll post a summary of my own experience at the conclusion
of my transaction in hopes that I may be of similar help
to those in future who are trying to decide where to buy.
Thanks again.
Glenn Woodell
>
>I've just run across a footnote in the
>user's manual that says the camera cannot
>be used with infra-red film.
What is the basis for this?
Gdoces
>>user's manual that says the camera cannot
>>be used with infra-red film.
>
This might be true if the camera in question uses infrared as part of its auto
focusing system. If so, Kodak HIE (B&W) may be fogged in use with that camera.
bma...@my-deja.com
NOSPAMg....@larc.nasa.gov (Glenn Woodell) wrote:
> In article <848n7u$oo7$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>, bma...@my-deja.com says...
> >
> >user's manual that says the camera cannot
> >be used with infra-red film.
>
>
The manual itself gives no explanation. After reading it,
I did a search on the newsgroup which turned up this link to
a FAQ page for infrared photography:
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/photos/FAQ_IR.html
The FAQ page has a link to info on the Canon EOS line.
The link is:
http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos&ir.htm
The following is taken from that page:
**************************************************************
"EOS bodies & Infrared Film
----------------------------
Some EOS bodies use an infrared LED to count the
sprocket holes for film transport purposes. Since
this LED operates in the infrared spectrum, the
combination of infrared film and EOS body can cause
fogging on the film.
************************************************************
An important note - some people report the fogging
going no higher than the sprocket holes and thus having
no real effect on the image. Others variously report
about 3-4mm being fogged, 1/4th of the film being fogged,
etc.. I shot a test roll with high hopes of only sprocket
hole fogging, but my experience was that roughly the bottom
third of the frame was fogged.
One other note - apparently not all EOS bodies have this.
I gather some older models do not. I'm pretty much a novice
photographer and I'm sure there are others on the newsgroup
who can comment with far more exactitude on this topic
than I. Also, the links given above have a good bit of detail.
Hope this helps.
Manor
bma...@my-deja.com
and 28-105 zoom.)
The package is due to arrive to them today. At the time
I mailed it, I had not decided on a new camera and lens.
Now I have - a Pentax ZX-7 and 28-105 zoom. I called
B&H to ask about changing my "return" to an "exchange."
The customer service rep I spoke to was helpful and, for
as far as we got, it seemed to be an uncomplicated process.
However, they are out of stock on the lens I want. It would
have to be back-ordered. If I understood her correctly though,
they have the lens as a grey market item. She was unable
to say how long the back-order would take, though I later
spoke to a person in sales who said "we hope to have it in
about 2 weeks."
I really want to buy from B&H -they've met or exceeded all
of my expectations so far and the reports I read on other
companies leave me uneasy. However, I hate to have to wait
2 weeks. Also, they are not able to guaranty they'll have the
lens by then.
Here's my question - should I have reservations about
ordering a grey market lens? They guy that taught my photo
class was adamant in advising "US- no grey market."
However, I read a post on one the pages that rates photo
sales places that said B&H offers their own warranty on grey
market items. The gist of the post was that grey market buys
from B&H do not have the downside that they would from other
places.
I'm very grateful for any input anyone can offer.
Thanks,
Manor Folsom
Ma...@snez.net
(please send emails to this address, not the "bmanob" one)
Earl Fieldman
items like the lens you describe. If you were laying
out 5 grand for a D1, it might be a different analysis.
On the other hand, B&H's "estimated arrival times"
seem to come in exactly two flavors "about two weeks"
and "we don't know and can't take the back order".
A boolean, if you will. Two values.
I've agreed to a backorder from B&H three times.
Each time it was "about two weeks".
Actual times ranged from a minimum of 5 weeks to
a maximum of 10 weeks, but they did all come
eventually.
It may be that they use "about a week" and "about
two weeks" depending on the particular sales person
on the line.
Earl F.
bma...@my-deja.com wrote in message <84ilbq$ii5$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>...
ClassicVW
downside that they would from other
>places.
I would agree with that statement, considering B&H's track record.
BTW- at the risk of sending Liam back into electric-shock therapy, I'd suggest
you "try" the grey market lens, if it's fine (which it will be) keep it. You
can always exchange it in two weeks for the US warranty lens if that one comes
in,...no?
George S.
Andrew Koenig
Glenn Woodell <NOSPAMg....@larc.nasa.gov> wrote:
>In article <848n7u$oo7$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>, bma...@my-deja.com says...
>>I've just run across a footnote in the
>>user's manual that says the camera cannot
>>be used with infra-red film.
>What is the basis for this?
The typical reason is that the camera uses an infrared-based rather
than a mechanical sensor to count sprocket holes in the film
to determine how to space the frames.
--
Andrew Koenig, a...@research.att.com, http://www.research.att.com/info/ark
Christopher J. Christian
accurate. I have waited between two days and 13 weeks. In the case of
the 13 weeks, they were up front in telling me that they could not
honestly estimate the arrival to the point of suggesting to me that I
order the item later. FWIW
Earl Fieldman wrote:
> >market items. The gist of the post was that grey market buys
> >from B&H do not have the downside that they would from other
> >places.
> >
BandHPhoto
lens?>
You should read http://www.bhphotovideo.com/greymkt.html
Our warranty on "grey" camera equip. is one (1) year.