[Rhizo]

Just wanted to share my experience/review with B&H recently. Trying to keep it short...

I purchased a Tamron lens, but accidentally ordered a Nikon mount. Called back right away after it came. An exchange was approved to the correct mount. Everything is good so far felt great about my experience. B&H closed for a week, and not exactly sure why?

Today I got a call asking to pay $30 more to have the correct lens sent. I asked why if when I made my purchase both lens were priced the same. Honestly $30 is not a lot of money. Granted the easy thing to do was pay it. I like to value service over anything when purchasing from any store. B&H just lost a loyal customer today.

[ChrisPlatt]

Anyone who knows enough to shop at B&H surely must know that they're closed on major Jewish holidays.
Store closings are posted prominently on their website.

Did you try calling their customer service department to explain your problem?

Chris

[raoulzg]

Well... to be honest, it's your fault. You have ordered the lens with the wrong order. They did not ship you the wrong lens. 30$ is for the shippment?

[Wheatfield]

Just wanted to share my experience/review with B&H recently. Trying to keep it short...

I purchased a Tamron lens, but accidentally ordered a Nikon mount. Called back right away after it came. An exchange was approved to the correct mount. Everything is good so far felt great about my experience. B&H closed for a week, and not exactly sure why?

Today I got a call asking to pay $30 more to have the correct lens sent. I asked why if when I made my purchase both lens were priced the same. Honestly $30 is not a lot of money. Granted the easy thing to do was pay it. I like to value service over anything when purchasing from any store. B&H just lost a loyal customer today.

If the $30.00 is the shipping and restocking fee, write it off as not knowing the difference between Nikon and Pentax and get on with life.
When I ordered my Nokton 58/1.4 Stephen Gandy shipped me the Ultron 40mm f/2 by mistake (nice lens, BTW).
He sorted it out really fast and got the right lens shipped even before I had shipped the Ultron back, but I was still on the hook for the return shipping of the Ultron from my home in Canada to California or wherever he is.
Sometimes these things happen.
Now, if you were going to say that you have decided to stop shopping at B&H because you've finally seen the light and have decided to support your local retailer, I'd applaud your decision to do the right thing.

[newmikey]

Just wanted to share my experience/review with B&H recently. Trying to keep it short...

I purchased a Tamron lens, but accidentally ordered a Nikon mount. Called back right away after it came. An exchange was approved to the correct mount. Everything is good so far felt great about my experience. B&H closed for a week, and not exactly sure why?

Today I got a call asking to pay $30 more to have the correct lens sent. I asked why if when I made my purchase both lens were priced the same. Honestly $30 is not a lot of money. Granted the easy thing to do was pay it. I like to value service over anything when purchasing from any store. B&H just lost a loyal customer today.

So let me get this straight: you ordered a banana when you wanted a pear. The greengrocer was nice enough to let you send back the banana so he could exchange it for a pear, charged you a nominal fee and now you are mad at the greengrocer for not using telepathy to second-guess your initial order? Moreover, you are of the conviction the greengrocer should suffer the cost not only of administrating this exchange but also of putting the banana back on sale?

I suppose nobody can blame you for not knowing about the Passover holiday although that too is information that's freely available.

[Peter Zack]

So let me get this straight: you ordered a banana when you wanted a pear. The greengrocer was nice enough to let you send back the banana so he could exchange it for a pear, charged you a nominal fee and now you are mad at the greengrocer for not using telepathy to second-guess your initial order? Moreover, you are of the conviction the greengrocer should suffer the cost not only of administrating this exchange but also of putting the banana back on sale?

I suppose nobody can blame you for not knowing about the Passover holiday although that too is information that's freely available.

Exactly. Having spent the last 23+ years servicing the retail industry, you nailed it. Plus the B&H site explains their holiday closings very clearly with a pop up window.

[Ron Boggs]

Wow, B&H proves once again what a great retailer they are...you order the wrong thing and their response is "no problem, we'll take it back for full credit. You'll need to pay shipping for the replacement item though..."

Sounds like great service to me.

Perhaps ordering via phone would be preferable? Ordering online, it's fairly easy to click the wrong box. Via phone, I just can't imagine that you would say out loud the wrong brand...

Anyone who knows enough to shop at B&H surely must know that they're closed on major Jewish holidays.

Sorry to derail the topic. As I'm not very familiar with major Jewish holidays, how many are there exactly in a year? It seems that about every single time I go to the B&H website, there's a note about the shop being closed until this or that time.

[newmikey]

Sorry to derail the topic. As I'm not very familiar with major Jewish holidays, how many are there exactly in a year? It seems that about every single time I go to the B&H website, there's a note about the shop being closed until this or that time.

URJ - Calendar of Jewish Holidays

[EDIT]
I just noticed I copied the URJ's calendar (Reform Judaisme). As with christianity, there are many denominations in Judaisme. B&H are Satmar Hassidim (Orthodox++) so there may be the odd day or so thrown in beyond the above calendar although these would be the more orthodox holidays - there cannot be more than a few throughout the year. My apologies for the oversight.

[reeftool]

Sorry to derail the topic. As I'm not very familiar with major Jewish holidays, how many are there exactly in a year? It seems that about every single time I go to the B&H website, there's a note about the shop being closed until this or that time.

B&H closes on Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath. If you are shopping online on Saturdays that's probably why you see the message.

[Optigrab]

So let me get this straight: you ordered a banana when you wanted a pear. The greengrocer was nice enough to let you send back the banana so he could exchange it for a pear, charged you a nominal fee and now you are mad at the greengrocer for not using telepathy to second-guess your initial order? Moreover, you are of the conviction the greengrocer should suffer the cost not only of administrating this exchange but also of putting the banana back on sale?

I agree the OP is being a bit harsh in his criticism of B&H, but he's not criticizing their lack of telepathy, as you put it. He's just peeved about the second-part; the $30 which is probably the cost of administration and placing the banana back on the shelves. I agree that the restocking fee is at least customary (if not reasonable) and certainly B&H seems be playing by the rules they (and most retailers) set. But there certainly are situations where one might expect a retailer to call it an "even exhange" and just swap out one unused item for another of equal value. But the OP probably didn't choose to purchase from B&H for that "No problem, we're on a first-name basis!" type of customer service, because places like that charge a bit more at the register. B&H is an excellent vendor, and the OP probably got a nearly un-beatable price, but he later decided he'd rather have more "forgiving" customer service. Too late, I'm afraid. But if he knows where to find both, I'm sure we'd all be interested.

On another thought, is it possible the $30 was not a re-stocking fee, but reflects a price change that occurred after the OP accidentally messed up his order? This quote makes me wonder: "when I made my purchase both lens were priced the same. " Notice the OP specifies the lenses are the same price at the time he placed his original order. It could be that the OP wanted B&H to honor the earlier price. That's chutzpa.

[redpigeons]

just BC they are so big .. every time I am there I am trying really hard to find wrongs.
its a hobby of mine in every mega store I'm socialist like that .

this store is as close to perfection as it can be for camera shopping.

I wish they would have more used film Pentax lenses thou. then it would be the perfect store for me and I would never have to shop anywhere else.

but that's not their fault that's the annoying Pentax market... every thing is rare

[henryp]

Today I got a call asking to pay $30 more to have the correct lens sent. I asked why if when I made my purchase both lens were priced the same. Honestly $30 is not a lot of money. Granted the easy thing to do was pay it. I like to value service over anything when purchasing from any store. B&H just lost a loyal customer today.

I am sorry for your dissatisfaction. I'm not in the office today but as soon as I can I'll investigate this. There's not much in your forum profile with which I could ID you or this transaction. It'd be simpler to resolve this if you could e-mail the B&H order info to me.

The 2009 B&H holiday closing schedule.
An informative discussion on our schedule in another forum I frequent.

Hope this helps.

[X Man]

Here I go again on my own...

Let me just start by saying that the "Politics" of this forum as it relates to B&H or any other vendor mean absolutely nothing to me. Secondly, I'm a bona fide Atheist too, so a vendor's religion means absolutely nothing to me as well. That type of honesty and terseness will not endear me to the horde.

I think you have every right to feel or think that what you experienced with B&H was an annoying hassle. The good news is they appear embarrassed and you should get the extra touch now that you've made this thread. Even better news is that there are many other legit vendors that are open when you're shopping and may have better shipping prices and return policies.

Regards,
Mike

Just wanted to share my experience/review with B&H recently. Trying to keep it short...

I purchased a Tamron lens, but accidentally ordered a Nikon mount. Called back right away after it came. An exchange was approved to the correct mount. Everything is good so far felt great about my experience. B&H closed for a week, and not exactly sure why?

Today I got a call asking to pay $30 more to have the correct lens sent. I asked why if when I made my purchase both lens were priced the same. Honestly $30 is not a lot of money. Granted the easy thing to do was pay it. I like to value service over anything when purchasing from any store. B&H just lost a loyal customer today.

[henryp]

I think you have every right to feel or think that what you experienced with B&H was an annoying hassle. The good news is they appear embarrassed and you should get the extra touch now that you've made this thread.

I have no idea how you developed the misconception that B&H is, or that I am, "embarrassed," in any way at all. We're concerned, as is appropriate. Further, it's my intention the OP receive the same "touch" he'd have the right to expect whether he posted here or not.