Phoning B&H Photo Video

In article <co5a8m$6lu$>,
"Matt" wrote:

After not receiving an email reply from customer services B&H in New York, I decided to phone them.

The problem is, they always seem closed. I have tried on two occasions, and get an automated reply stating their opening hours.

So, if I phone them from the UK at 7PM, surely the time there is 2PM? Therefore, why would they be closed? Am I missing something?

Jewish holidays, are you phoning on Friday they close at 12 or 1pm every Friday and are away any Jewish Holiday.
—
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."–Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918

Ah, got it. Today is Thanksgiving day!

I feel a bit ignorant now not knowing that.

For anyone who is interested, found a cool site for calenders, public holidays, dialing codes, etc from around the world.

http://www.timeanddate.com

Matt wrote:

After not receiving an email reply from customer services B&H in New York, I decided to phone them.

The problem is, they always seem closed. I have tried on two occasions, and get an automated reply stating their opening hours.

So, if I phone them from the UK at 7PM, surely the time there is 2PM? Therefore, why would they be closed? Am I missing something?

On Friday they close at about 14:00, they are closed Saturday and have limited hours Sunday. They also close for various Jewish Holidays. Their website always has the details of their regular and holiday hours. I’ve never had a problem reaching them by phone.

Cheers,
Alan

—
— r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm — r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm — [SI] gallery: http://www.pbase.com/shootin — [SI] rulz: http://www.aliasimages.com/si/rulz.html — e-meil: there’s no such thing as a FreeLunch.

"Matt" wrote in message

After not receiving an email reply from customer services B&H in New York,

I

decided to phone them.

The problem is, they always seem closed. I have tried on two occasions,

and

get an automated reply stating their opening hours.

So, if I phone them from the UK at 7PM, surely the time there is 2PM? Therefore, why would they be closed? Am I missing something?

Happy Thanksgiving.

Alan Browne wrote:

Matt wrote:

After not receiving an email reply from customer services B&H in New York, I
decided to phone them.

The problem is, they always seem closed. I have tried on two occasions, and
get an automated reply stating their opening hours.

So, if I phone them from the UK at 7PM, surely the time there is 2PM? Therefore, why would they be closed? Am I missing something?

On Friday they close at about 14:00, they are closed Saturday and have limited hours Sunday. They also close for various Jewish Holidays. Their website always has the details of their regular and holiday hours. I’ve never had a problem reaching them by phone.

Is that common? Down here very very few shops close on Sunday and none close on Saturday before 5pm even far from the city center. Many shops are open past 6pm on a Sunday night in the center of Melbourne which is a city of about 3 million.

—
Ben Thomas
Melbourne
Australia

BenOne© wrote:

Alan Browne wrote:

Matt wrote:

After not receiving an email reply from customer services B&H in New York, I
decided to phone them.

The problem is, they always seem closed. I have tried on two occasions, and
get an automated reply stating their opening hours.

So, if I phone them from the UK at 7PM, surely the time there is 2PM? Therefore, why would they be closed? Am I missing something?

On Friday they close at about 14:00, they are closed Saturday and have limited hours Sunday. They also close for various Jewish Holidays. Their website always has the details of their regular and holiday hours. I’ve never had a problem reaching them by phone.

Is that common? Down here very very few shops close on Sunday and none close on Saturday before 5pm even far from the city center. Many shops are open past 6pm on a Sunday night in the center of Melbourne which is a city of about 3 million.

No. But devout Jews are often strictly observant. Despite this, B&H is arguably the most successful photo, video, audio retail/mail order specialty house in North America (if not worldwide). I can attest personally for their high standard of service.

Cheers,
Alan

—
— r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm — r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm — [SI] gallery: http://www.pbase.com/shootin — [SI] rulz: http://www.aliasimages.com/si/rulz.html — e-meil: there’s no such thing as a FreeLunch.

BenOne

On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 19:06:53 -0000, "Matt" wrote:

After not receiving an email reply from customer services B&H in New York, I decided to phone them.

The problem is, they always seem closed. I have tried on two occasions, and get an automated reply stating their opening hours.

So, if I phone them from the UK at 7PM, surely the time there is 2PM? Therefore, why would they be closed? Am I missing something?

They are closed on Saturdays. If I recall, the times are posted on the website

Well the B&H seems reputable and very good. Their website is great (apart from being a little slow) and I want to buy from them! But there are a few small factors which mean that even though I am ready to buy from them, my money is still in my bank.

1) I tried to buy over $3000 of camera equipment from them, but when I tried to submit my details, they told me that they don’t accept Visa, only American Express and some other. I don’t have those cards, so no good to me.

2) They want me to email them a copy of my bank card to them (if they actually accepted it). But, Email is not a secure way to send sensitive details such as bank details. And I am surprised they can not think of a more secure way of verifying bank details. Sorry, but emailing bank details is not acceptable.

3) I emailed Customer Service regarding the above two issues, asking what other alternatives there were to pay them, but never had a response.

4) I tried to phone them, but I got an automated message. This was at 11PM GMT (6PM their time). The message said they close at 5.30, even though on their website it said 7PM.

5) I tried to phone them again tonight at 7PM GMT (2PM their time), and got another automated message. I had to look on the internet to see that it is ‘Thanksgiven’. Petty, you may think, but if you look at their holiday closure dates, they only list until October. Ordering internationally, people don’t know that. And, if I had a reply in a decent amount of time, this wouldn’t have been an issue.

What I am trying to say, is that this has not been an easy way to depart with my money. I am not saying they are a bad company, just that I want to buy from them, but these small issues are making be sway to stay with my trusty 35mm SLR because I can’t be bothered with messing around.

Please. Do not be deterred from buying from this company, because I think they are very good most of the time, and I have been unlucky. However, B&H employees, take note, because at the moment you have lost a very easy sale..

"Matt" wrote in message

Well the B&H seems reputable and very good. Their website is great (apart from being a little slow) and I want to buy from them! But there are a

few

small factors which mean that even though I am ready to buy from them, my money is still in my bank.

1) I tried to buy over $3000 of camera equipment from them, but when I

tried

to submit my details, they told me that they don’t accept Visa, only American Express and some other. I don’t have those cards, so no good to me.

2) They want me to email them a copy of my bank card to them (if they actually accepted it). But, Email is not a secure way to send sensitive details such as bank details. And I am surprised they can not think of a more secure way of verifying bank details. Sorry, but emailing bank

details

is not acceptable.

3) I emailed Customer Service regarding the above two issues, asking what other alternatives there were to pay them, but never had a response.
4) I tried to phone them, but I got an automated message. This was at

11PM

GMT (6PM their time). The message said they close at 5.30, even though on their website it said 7PM.

5) I tried to phone them again tonight at 7PM GMT (2PM their time), and

got

another automated message. I had to look on the internet to see that it

is

‘Thanksgiven’. Petty, you may think, but if you look at their holiday closure dates, they only list until October. Ordering internationally, people don’t know that. And, if I had a reply in a decent amount of time, this wouldn’t have been an issue.

What I am trying to say, is that this has not been an easy way to depart with my money. I am not saying they are a bad company, just that I want

to

buy from them, but these small issues are making be sway to stay with my trusty 35mm SLR because I can’t be bothered with messing around.
Please. Do not be deterred from buying from this company, because I think they are very good most of the time, and I have been unlucky. However,

B&H

employees, take note, because at the moment you have lost a very easy

sale..

I don’t know that all of this is inaccurate…but I do know that some of it is…so try it for yourself. B&H did not get to be the best by being difficult.

Matt wrote:

Well the B&H seems reputable and very good. Their website is great (apart from being a little slow) and I want to buy from them! But there are a few small factors which mean that even though I am ready to buy from them, my money is still in my bank.

1) I tried to buy over $3000 of camera equipment from them, but when I tried to submit my details, they told me that they don’t accept Visa, only American Express and some other. I don’t have those cards, so no good to me.

May be an overseas issue or the size of the order. I buy from them frequently (biggest single order around $1500) and only use Visa.

You might want to try a few smaller orders rather than one large one — assuming it is multiple items.

Phil

"YAG-ART" wrote in message

On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 19:06:53 -0000, "Matt" wrote:

After not receiving an email reply from customer services B&H in New

York, I

decided to phone them.

The problem is, they always seem closed. I have tried on two occasions,

and

get an automated reply stating their opening hours.

So, if I phone them from the UK at 7PM, surely the time there is 2PM? Therefore, why would they be closed? Am I missing something?

They are closed on Saturdays. If I recall, the times are posted on the website

Closed on Saturdays, but open on Sundays.

"Matt" wrote in message

Well the B&H seems reputable and very good. Their website is great (apart from being a little slow) and I want to buy from them! But there are a

few

small factors which mean that even though I am ready to buy from them, my money is still in my bank.

1) I tried to buy over $3000 of camera equipment from them, but when I

tried

to submit my details, they told me that they don’t accept Visa, only American Express and some other. I don’t have those cards, so no good to me.

They take Visa if you live within the country (US).
It should be quite understandable to you that there are greater limitations when shipping internationally.

2) They want me to email them a copy of my bank card to them (if they actually accepted it). But, Email is not a secure way to send sensitive details such as bank details. And I am surprised they can not think of a more secure way of verifying bank details. Sorry, but emailing bank

details

is not acceptable.

When fraud is rampant, this is to be expected.
Once it’s on file, btw, you won’t have to do it again.

3) I emailed Customer Service regarding the above two issues, asking what other alternatives there were to pay them, but never had a response.
4) I tried to phone them, but I got an automated message. This was at

11PM

GMT (6PM their time). The message said they close at 5.30, even though on their website it said 7PM.

5) I tried to phone them again tonight at 7PM GMT (2PM their time), and

got

another automated message. I had to look on the internet to see that it

is

‘Thanksgiven’. Petty, you may think, but if you look at their holiday closure dates, they only list until October. Ordering internationally, people don’t know that. And, if I had a reply in a decent amount of time, this wouldn’t have been an issue.

What businesses are you used to dealing with who pick up the phone when they are not there????

From this e-mail, Matt, it is clear that you have international and timing issues.
It is rather silly of you, in my view, to spew about them here.

What I am trying to say, is that this has not been an easy way to depart with my money. I am not saying they are a bad company, just that I want

to

buy from them, but these small issues are making be sway to stay with my trusty 35mm SLR because I can’t be bothered with messing around.

The alternative is a company that makes fraud easy for criminals. I’ll take the careful approach, thanks.

Please. Do not be deterred from buying from this company, because I think they are very good most of the time, and I have been unlucky. However,

B&H

employees, take note, because at the moment you have lost a very easy

sale..

They are surviving quite well with their careful ways.

"Matt" wrote in message

Well the B&H seems reputable and very good. Their website is great (apart from being a little slow) and I want to buy from them! But there are a few
small factors which mean that even though I am ready to buy from them, my money is still in my bank.

1) I tried to buy over $3000 of camera equipment from them, but when I tried
to submit my details, they told me that they don’t accept Visa, only American Express and some other. I don’t have those cards, so no good to me.

B&H accepts Visa.

I have lived in SE Asia for the past 16 years. I have been doing business with B&H Photo for many of those years, and with great satisfaction.

Yes, I did have to send them a photocopy of my credit card, but I sent it by FAX.

Yes, I do have to take into consideration that there is not only a time difference but a DAY difference between us as well. And quite surprisingly, most of the Thai people don’t celebrate Rosh Hashanah or Yum Kippur, so I do have to be aware of the Jewish holidays as well. (They do have a sort of Chanukah, or ‘Festival of Lights’ which is going on right now as it happens, but has nothing to do with Judda Macabe or temple oils lasting eight days.)

However, all things considered, I have been served quickly, courteously, accurately, and well by all the people I have talked with over the years at B&H, some more friendly than others, but all professional and easy to deal with. Certainly more so than the folks at the Thai Customs Office!

Remember, when you are dealing from one country to another, you have to be flexible. Otherwise you will go nuts! :o)

Steve Kramer
"PhotoEnvisions" Freelance Photography
Chiang Mai, Thailand
http://www.photoenvisions.com
—
"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." – Marcel Proust

On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 22:12:02 -0000, "Matt" wrote:

1) I tried to buy over $3000 of camera equipment from them, but when I tried to submit my details, they told me that they don’t accept Visa, only American Express and some other. I don’t have those cards, so no good to me.

They take a Visa card with a UK billing address because they have taken mine.

Yes they do on the first order ask for a copy of the credit card, understandable with so much fraud going on.

They were happy that I sent the back and front of mine in two separate emails and just as happy if I wanted to fax it the same way.

You can of course eliminate all risk from life , and pay UK prices 🙂

Great people to deal with.

Don’t forge to allow for VAT and if applicable customs duty at this end, plus the couriers fee for handling the custom clearance.

–
Lansbury
www.uk-air.net
FAQs for the alt.travel.uk.air newsgroup

Now I in a calmer mood, I apologise for that post, but I have had nothing but problems with numerous on-line retailers recently.

It was unfortunate for B&H that they were at the end of the line, and the end of my patience. Like I said, I want to buy from them, and there is a reason for this, and not just price. Amongst other things, they seem a very good company, and I hear very few bad things about them.

"Matt" wrote in message

Well the B&H seems reputable and very good. Their website is great (apart from being a little slow) and I want to buy from them! But there are a

few

small factors which mean that even though I am ready to buy from them, my money is still in my bank.

1) I tried to buy over $3000 of camera equipment from them, but when I

tried

to submit my details, they told me that they don’t accept Visa, only American Express and some other. I don’t have those cards, so no good to me.

2) They want me to email them a copy of my bank card to them (if they actually accepted it). But, Email is not a secure way to send sensitive details such as bank details. And I am surprised they can not think of a more secure way of verifying bank details. Sorry, but emailing bank

details

is not acceptable.

3) I emailed Customer Service regarding the above two issues, asking what other alternatives there were to pay them, but never had a response.
4) I tried to phone them, but I got an automated message. This was at

11PM

GMT (6PM their time). The message said they close at 5.30, even though on their website it said 7PM.

5) I tried to phone them again tonight at 7PM GMT (2PM their time), and

got

another automated message. I had to look on the internet to see that it

is

‘Thanksgiven’. Petty, you may think, but if you look at their holiday closure dates, they only list until October. Ordering internationally, people don’t know that. And, if I had a reply in a decent amount of time, this wouldn’t have been an issue.

What I am trying to say, is that this has not been an easy way to depart with my money. I am not saying they are a bad company, just that I want

to

buy from them, but these small issues are making be sway to stay with my trusty 35mm SLR because I can’t be bothered with messing around.
Please. Do not be deterred from buying from this company, because I think they are very good most of the time, and I have been unlucky. However,

B&H

employees, take note, because at the moment you have lost a very easy

sale..