News Changes in "Ask B&H" forum

MRRiley · 06-01-2011, 06:55 AM - **1 Like**

The Ask B&H forum has been changed to allow B&H staff to more simply and efficiently answer member questions. If you have a question, post a new thread and B&H will reply as their policies allow.

After you open your thread, only you, PF staff and B&H will be able to reply or add to the thread. This change is being made to enable B&H to answer questions more efficiently and to eliminate the recent rumors and arguments about their policies.

As with other parts of PF, please refrain from opening multiple threads on the same issue, or repeatedly asking the same question. We understand that you may not like an answer provided by B&H or that you may disagree with their policies, but the place to address those issues is not on Pentax Forums. If you feel a reply from B&H does not satisfy you for whatever reason, please PM them or better yet, contact their customer support directly.

Help Center | B&H Photo Video

Mike
on behalf of the entire PF Staff

TomK · 06-01-2011, 07:36 AM

Good move Mike. I sometimes would check the B&H questions as first presented and then the followups seemed quite often to be just a whining and bashing vehicle. It potentially made a valuable resource trivial and annoying at times. Thanks to you and all of the other moderators who really do monitor this site and actually do things to tweak and improve it. Doesn't happen on a lot of other sites.

SpecialK · 06-01-2011, 07:41 AM

Yep, good move.

gtxtom · 06-02-2011, 03:05 AM - **1 Like**

Aren't there going to be a thousand new threads in that forum? Right now, someone started a thread about 31mm availability and how it was available for 2 hours or whatever. I wanted to ask why I never got an email stating it was available since I had signed up for it. Now I have to make a new thread or PM since I can't add to the thread?

SpecialK · 06-02-2011, 08:38 AM

Originally posted by gtxtom

I wanted to ask why I never got an email stating it was available since I had signed up for it. Now I have to make a new thread or PM since I can't add to the thread?

You should take your specific CS issues directly to them, not through the forum.

Automated email is notoriously unreliable, and there are many reasons for that.

MRRiley · 06-02-2011, 09:17 AM

Originally posted by SpecialK

You should take your specific CS issues directly to them, not through the forum.

Automated email is notoriously unreliable, and there are many reasons for that.

Very true!

gtxtom... you have to remember that the B&H Reps are camera guys, not necessarily internet or computer network guys. If you ask about e-mail issues here they'll just have to figure out who the right people to address the issue are at B&H, and then forward the question to them and then have to relay the reply back to you here... Whereas if you use their support pages the questions should go right to the correct people in the first place and they can reply to you directly.

Mike
PF Moderation Team

Chuck-B&H · 06-06-2011, 06:15 AM

Hello,

I have mixed feelings about this change but understand why it was necessary. Being able to freely speak with our customers without the constraints of commissions or other pressures related to making a sale is what sets B&H apart from other retailers.

Originally posted by gtxtom

Aren't there going to be a thousand new threads in that forum?

We HOPE so !

Originally posted by gtxtom

I wanted to ask why I never got an email stating it was available since I had signed up for it. Now I have to make a new thread or PM since I can't add to the thread?

Our in stock notification system is a software application. As with any artificial intelligence, it has its limitations and cannot discern the ordinary from the extraordinary.

Generally speaking, when an items inventory status goes from being "OUT OF STOCK" to "In STOCK", any E-Mail address that are registered for notification, will get one automatically. For 80-90% of items, the system works competently.

However, when a few pieces of stock are added to our inventory, and 100's or 1000's of notification E-Mails are registered for an out of stock product, this situation may occur. Unfortunately, balancing shipment vs demand is not perfect yet.

If for example there are 1000 names on the notify list and we receive 50 pieces (speaking hypothetically) it'd be irresponsible to send out 1000 notifications, or even 100. We send a quantity of notifications consistent with the inventory on hand and then send additional notifications if people from the first batch don't respond within a given time period. It's not a perfect system and is under review but we do endeavor to be as fair and equitable as possible.

We are sorry gtxtom for any inconvenience this may have caused.

C h u c k C a p r i o l a
Live Chat and E-Mail Sales Manager B&H Photo-Video

Thank you, we appreciate your business.
*** Peace on Earth ***

06-01-2011, 06:55 AM - 1 Like	#1
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	Changes in "Ask B&H" forum The Ask B&H forum has been changed to allow B&H staff to more simply and efficiently answer member questions. If you have a question, post a new thread and B&H will reply as their policies allow. After you open your thread, only you, PF staff and B&H will be able to reply or add to the thread. This change is being made to enable B&H to answer questions more efficiently and to eliminate the recent rumors and arguments about their policies. As with other parts of PF, please refrain from opening multiple threads on the same issue, or repeatedly asking the same question. We understand that you may not like an answer provided by B&H or that you may disagree with their policies, but the place to address those issues is not on Pentax Forums. If you feel a reply from B&H does not satisfy you for whatever reason, please PM them or better yet, contact their customer support directly. Help Center \| B&H Photo Video Mike on behalf of the entire PF Staff

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06-01-2011, 07:36 AM	#2
TomK Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NJ USA Posts: 281	Good move Mike. I sometimes would check the B&H questions as first presented and then the followups seemed quite often to be just a whining and bashing vehicle. It potentially made a valuable resource trivial and annoying at times. Thanks to you and all of the other moderators who really do monitor this site and actually do things to tweak and improve it. Doesn't happen on a lot of other sites.

06-01-2011, 07:41 AM	#3
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Yep, good move.

06-02-2011, 03:05 AM - 1 Like	#4
gtxtom Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Philly Posts: 395	Aren't there going to be a thousand new threads in that forum? Right now, someone started a thread about 31mm availability and how it was available for 2 hours or whatever. I wanted to ask why I never got an email stating it was available since I had signed up for it. Now I have to make a new thread or PM since I can't add to the thread?

06-02-2011, 08:38 AM	#5
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Originally posted by gtxtom I wanted to ask why I never got an email stating it was available since I had signed up for it. Now I have to make a new thread or PM since I can't add to the thread? You should take your specific CS issues directly to them, not through the forum. Automated email is notoriously unreliable, and there are many reasons for that.

06-02-2011, 09:17 AM	#6
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275 Original Poster	Originally posted by SpecialK You should take your specific CS issues directly to them, not through the forum. Automated email is notoriously unreliable, and there are many reasons for that. Very true! gtxtom... you have to remember that the B&H Reps are camera guys, not necessarily internet or computer network guys. If you ask about e-mail issues here they'll just have to figure out who the right people to address the issue are at B&H, and then forward the question to them and then have to relay the reply back to you here... Whereas if you use their support pages the questions should go right to the correct people in the first place and they can reply to you directly. Mike PF Moderation Team

06-06-2011, 06:15 AM	#7
Chuck-B&H B&H Photo Specialist Join Date: May 2010 Location: New York Posts: 935	Hello, I have mixed feelings about this change but understand why it was necessary. Being able to freely speak with our customers without the constraints of commissions or other pressures related to making a sale is what sets B&H apart from other retailers. Originally posted by gtxtom Aren't there going to be a thousand new threads in that forum? We HOPE so ! Originally posted by gtxtom I wanted to ask why I never got an email stating it was available since I had signed up for it. Now I have to make a new thread or PM since I can't add to the thread? Our in stock notification system is a software application. As with any artificial intelligence, it has its limitations and cannot discern the ordinary from the extraordinary. Generally speaking, when an items inventory status goes from being "OUT OF STOCK" to "In STOCK", any E-Mail address that are registered for notification, will get one automatically. For 80-90% of items, the system works competently. However, when a few pieces of stock are added to our inventory, and 100's or 1000's of notification E-Mails are registered for an out of stock product, this situation may occur. Unfortunately, balancing shipment vs demand is not perfect yet. If for example there are 1000 names on the notify list and we receive 50 pieces (speaking hypothetically) it'd be irresponsible to send out 1000 notifications, or even 100. We send a quantity of notifications consistent with the inventory on hand and then send additional notifications if people from the first batch don't respond within a given time period. It's not a perfect system and is under review but we do endeavor to be as fair and equitable as possible. We are sorry gtxtom for any inconvenience this may have caused. C h u c k C a p r i o l a Live Chat and E-Mail Sales Manager B&H Photo-Video Thank you, we appreciate your business. * Peace on Earth *