Purchase a tripod head on 9/22, receieved confirmation of shipping on the next day great. I'm in a 1 day delivery zone (not far from NY) so I was supposed to get it Tuesday. When it didn't arrived I checked the tracking information on UPS site, and they never received the package, just the "Billing Information Received". Contact UPS, they stated that B&H registered the tracking number but a package was never received.  
 
Later I contact B&H and was told, "this happens all the time", "you will get it sooner or later". Basically I was told it would be up to 8 business days before they consider it MIA and do something about it. I asked for a credit and I was told, "we need the product back". LOL, I never received it since it was never sent to me. In addition, the CS Rep's attitude was very poor which just made the situation worse.  
 
So I ended up buying local, paying more $$, and now have to wait for weeks to get my almost $500 back. UNACCEPTABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. I have never had a company treat a good paying customer like this.

The item I received - a Griffin APS computer speaker extension cable - was manifestly USED: it was filthy and absolutely covered with the kind of nasty greasy smegma often seen on the bottom of a computer mouse, ink stains, and other things probably best not imagined. When I contacted customer "service" I received a perfunctory apology, but no actual service. Their only option for me was to buy another one from them and trust I wouldn't get burned again, and send the nasty one back at my own cost. I am completely unsatisfied with this retailer and will NOT do business with them again, nor can I recommend them to others. You've been forewarned.

I ordered something for Christmas on the 12th and unfortunately we cannot use because the information that is online is incorrect about the camera case. We did not realize this until a few days later. And I did not realize that you had to return within 2 weeks of the purchase date. Well Christmas is the 25th and the return policy is only until the 2nd of January. Give me a Break! I just called as this was the only time I have had to call on this matter and was given much grief about returning it after the Return amount of time allotted has expired! And I have a 15% restocking fee. Because of the companys misinformation the customer has to pay. BOO, that is POOR Customer Satisfaction! I will say I will not order from here again.

I purchased the Nikon SB-600 Speedlite flash imported. Imported was represented to be new,not used, but without the USA manufacturer's warranty. The product I received had scratches on the LCD screen and finger smudges all over the on/off button and the flash button. This was definitely not a new, fresh out of the box flash; more like a used demo or just simply used.  
I talked with customer service, and it will cost me about $12 to return this item. Needless to say, I didn't receive what I thought was described as a "direct import item" on their website. I thought the only issue was the warranty with B&H instead of Nikon, not whether the product was new, demo, or used. I will use what they sent me, but I will not purchase from B&H in the future. It's a trust or confidence issue with whom your doing business, and I don't have it with B&H.

I am not satisfied at all from the customer service at b and h. I ordered a light kit, and a dolly, on january 4th 2006, and it gets shipped out of the store, on January 12th 2006. I payed for 3-5 day shipping, and it didnt even get shipped out in 3-5 days..it got shipped out in 8 days. When I called and asked them what the hold up was, all I got was "i dont know"...i'll go to evsonline next time.

This review was modified by its author, nickatlanta, on 1/16/06 11:40 AM.

This is a company that I have used repeatedly over the last 20+ years. But they have really dropped in quality. This order hasn't shipped- from in stock items, three days later. But In July and August I ordered paper (that took over a month- it wasn't back ordered) and two digital cameras. One arrived 2 weeks later, I called and a two weeks later the next camera arrived. They both cameras arrived a month later. We returned them- only needed and could pay for 2- not 4. I sent them an email hoping they could fix the problems- but at this point- it looks like they have developed some major problems.

I chose to order this item from B&H because, although the listed price was higher than another site with which I have happily done business in the past, B&H claimed to offer the option of shipping via USPS Priority Mail. I ordered the item on Tuesday. The item was shipped on a Wednesday. Three days after the item was shipped (Priority mail takes 2-3 days), there was no item in the mail. The package didn't arrive until Tuesday (Monday was a holiday), and it was shipped via USPS First Class Mail--not Priority Mail. I sent an email to inquire why it was not sent as specified, and received a response saying they were forwarding my question "to the appropriate department for review and processing." After receiving no response for five days, I inquired again. The email response provided their hours of operation--no explanation was offered.  
 
While their item arrived as advertised and was sold at a competitive price, I would never recommend that a friend do business with B&H as they have showed no sense of customer service. I also would strongly advise against using this company by anyone who cares about the manner in which their order will be shipped or its timeliness, as they do not seem to pay attention to your specified shipping preference.

This review was modified by its author, Ryanp1973, on 2/5/06 2:12 AM.

I have had trouble finding a reputable camera dealer, believing that the term might be an oxymoron. My recent experience with B&H supports that conclusion.  
 
I contacted B&H about a new item and was told it was not in stock - and that it would not be in stock until the following week at the earliest – and that I should call back the following week on Monday or Tuesday. Imagine my surprise in getting an e-mail from a friend over the weekend stating that B&H was selling the item. I went to their site late in the evening and sure enough, it stated the item was in stock. Long story short - I had my card charged, received a confirmation, then received another e-mail a little while later stating the confirmation was a mistake, the system had incorrectly stated the item was in stock when in fact it was not. They did not provide any indication of when the item would be available.  
 
While I understand that mistakes happen, my main gripe is with the misleading communication from B&H. When one of their representatives stated the item would not be available until the following week, I took them at their word - which turned out to be a mistake on my part.  
 
My other issue with B&H is that in talking with others who had the same issue - those who called and got the right person were still able to get the item - while people like myself waited several days for a reply and have been provided with nothing other than "oops - cancel if you don't like it".  
 
I guess I've got to find another place to purchase future items as I do not recommend B&H given their inconsistent customer treatment and poor / misleading communication.

This review was modified by its author, ads-here, on 12/20/05 5:11 PM.

I was very unhappy due to the fact that my large purchase was a Xmas gift. This company never bothered to tell me that I would need to be home to sign for my package. Therefore I was not home, the package was delayed and my Xmas present for my wife was ruined. I even gave them explicit instructions with my order to leave the package at my doorstep if I was not home. Upon verification, they spoke to me and again never told me to be home or change the order so that I wouldn't need to sign. A thorough representitive would have seen my instructions and made sure my package arrived or at least straightened things out in time for Xmas....UPS told me that this is ONLY B&H's policy and not theirs...they would happily just leave our packages at our doorstep if we wanted....way to go B and H!

This review was modified by its author, randsom1, on 1/3/06 11:56 PM.

Worst Experience buying a Nikon. I have used Nikon's for years.  
Order not complete, had to call 8 times and got non- English rude no nothing clerks.  
Only way to get what I wanted was to order through B&H extra filters. I suggest you avoid this company!!!!!!!

This review was modified by its author, camberry, on 12/6/05 8:36 AM.

This item was "in stock" according to the site and still is listed as such on the website. It's now November 18th, a month later, and no item received. I sent an email on November 14th...no reply from them.  
 
I phoned and was transfered to various departments. The final verdict from them was, "everything is ok." I ask if it has been shipped...no response, I asked if it would be shipped soon and the response was, "I am showing everything is good." What ever that means....  
 
So no email, no apology for being late, and no info on when my order would be shipped or even it it ever would be. I'm not a happy camper with this company so far.  

I tried ordering from this store. They hassle their customers with very difficult process in ordering such as faxing the copy of the credit card. This I can accept as it is for protection. But now, I have to call them and confirm the shipping address? It is not the first time I am ordering from this store. I ordered from them numerous times. I think they are one of the worst in delivery.  
 
Store Replied  
We regret this customer's dissatisfaction. Our Verification system is designed to deter credit card fraud and identity theft and helps to protect our customers from these scourges. The system is efficient and unintrusive and the customer's compliance should be almost effortless and take but a moment.  
 
An aside -- it took this customer more time and effort to post this here than it would to reply to our Verification inquiry.  
 
That said, we do regret this customer's dissatisfaction.  
 
Henry Posner  
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.  
 
 
The system is efficient only when the customer feels that it is efficient. Since I don't think it is efficient, I think your system Totally SUCKS! Your comments on my review sounds like you are making fun of my remarks!  
 
GET THIS!  
You've lost one customer. And if you keep that kind of attitude, I won't be the last!

This review was modified by its author, wtcho0125, on 11/20/05 8:31 PM.

They sure like their holidays at B&H. They are open for business only 4 full days in October.  
 
I ordered a body and lens on 10-12-05. They requested telephone number verification the day after, which I sent the same day. But because they were on holiday, they replied by email that they could not "receive email at this time" and to re-submit once they re-open, a full week away. And why should one have to re-submit an email? Don't they know how an IN box works?  
 
I have ordered from B&H before and had orders shipped to the same address -- why are we going through another telephone number verification process?? I'm sure they keep records.  
 
B&H charged my card $1570 on the day of my order, but as it appears, my gear will not likely ship until they re-open on 10-27 or 10-31, nearly 18 days after the order!!!!  
 
How convenient that they charged my card and have my money -- as now I am not quite able to cancel this order and buy elsewhere in the meanwhile, but rather, I have to sit and wait 10-12 more days until I receive the body and lens I paid for a week ago. Is it legal to charge someone's card before you know the purchase is complete? Most online merchants explicitly state they will not charge your card until the order ships. Not B&H. They get your money up front, making it more cumbersome to cancel an order. This is a poor way to treat customers and one which you won't notice until you're in a bad situation with them.  
 
B&H's policies and painfully delayed responses made shopping with them a miserable experience.  
 
Let's get Henry started, shall we: "We regret Hantek's dissatisfaction and apologize for the inconvenience. [insert standard policy bs here]..."  
 
Hope you guys had a great holiday.

This review was modified by its author, hantek, on 10/19/05 10:37 PM.

Absolutely disgusting. Absolutely dumb and retarded. Absolute slackers and worst service rendered.  
 
There is no total dedicated customer service at all. As the store decided to go on their holiday from 17th to 27th October, it stated that the following as I quote from their website:  
 
"The B&H superstore will close on Monday October 17, 1:00pm EDT and will remain closed through Wednesday, October 26. We will reopen on Thursday, October 27, 9:00am.  
All orders submitted after Sunday, October 16, 11:00pm will be shipped when we reopen."  
 
So I made my purchase of a Canon 20D at 10.30 pm last night on the 16th October and I got a subsequent email from the company about my credit card this morning at about 10.20 am stating that my international credit card needed to be verified. So the email stated that the company needed pictures of the front and back of my credit card, which to me was a total unnecessity and ludicrous. Also it needed a scanned picture of my utility bill to prove that I stayed at the address that I had entered upon purchasing the camera.  
 
I was in college at the time when I got my email and knowing that they would close at 1 pm, I called the company to verify the situation and was told that they would close soon in a couple of hours. (Bear in mind, it was then 11 am) As I needed the camera urgently, I rushed back and proceeded to take the 3 pictures required and sent the email at 12.45 pm. Upon then, I called the company again to verify the urgency and the email, I was told that they had since then closed their email and shipping departments. WHAT THE HELL? Is 12.45 pm even 1 pm now? He said he couldn't do anything at all and that I would only receive my camera after the store opens on the 27th of October.  
 
Incensed, I cancelled my transaction and lo and behold, I got an email from the company confirming my cancellation. Isn't the email department closed now?  
 
Seriously, what kind of service is it? As far as I am concerned, it's pathetic. Everybody needs to know about this and please do stay clear of them. A company with no customer dedication is one that's not to be trusted.  
 
UPDATE: No matter what Henry Posner stated about the way B&H deals with credit card verification, it is still wrong to request for pictures of the creit card. Still Mr Posner failed to address the email and customer dedication issues that I've mentioned. As I have noticed, all the company does is to express apologies. Sometimes words mean nothing at all, action does.

This review was modified by its author, lyonlionel, on 10/19/05 2:06 PM.

I came to B&H for the great price of their Sanyo PLV-Z1 multimedia projector. What should have been a simple purchase has turned into a month-long tangle of phone calls and waiting.  
 
The first order I placed was late in September. Since B&H was on a holiday, it took a week for them to respond to my order: an email was sent to me telling me that my order could not be verified and that they had contacted me via telephone with instructions on how to proceed. Normally this would have been resolved problem-free but the phone number they listed as my contact number (the number to which they apparently sent the verification instructions) was one owned by my father, and it had not been in use for over 2 years. This confused me because I hadn’t listed such a number in my registration info with B&H.  
 
Hoping to resolve the issue, I called the verification dept: I gave the gentleman my order number and he informed me that my order had been cancelled. I asked why and he told me that he called the said phone number and talked to a "Bill" (fake name to protect my privacy) who had informed him that no such order with B&H had ever been placed.  
 
This is impossible because:  
a.) the line had been out of commission for 2 years  
b.) I am the only “Bill” in the household, and I never spoke to B&H prior to my call to them.  
 
Anyways… Since my order had apparently been cancelled by a ghost figure on a ghost line, I asked if I could go online and place another order with B&H. The gentleman then informed me that I could not. He told me that they needed a phone call from the ghost line to fully cancel the number. I said OK, goodbye and hung up.  
 
I called again and talked to a different gentleman explaining that B&H apparently “Cancelled my order” which really meant “we looked up a phone number registered to your father and lied about talking to you, and now we require you to call us from a line that doesn’t exist to tell us that the order is really cancelled.” Oddly, however this new gentleman told me no, your order has simply been cancelled and you can go online and re-order the product.  
 
Easy enough? Well apparently even though B&H had never verified my order, they saw fit to charge my debit card the $624.00. So I waited another full week and a half for them to refund me for my order (during this time they had taken another week holiday).  
 
With the money back in my account, I placed my latest order on October the 13th. On October 14th, I received an e-mail notifying me that my newest order had been cancelled. This was outrageous because there wasn’t even a verification email… it was just cancelled. I waited for another one of their holidays to pass and I called them this morning October 16 to ask why they had cancelled my order once again. After supplying Customer Service with both order numbers, my registration number, my address, and my phone number (all of which I had registered correctly and identically to that registered with my debit card), the gentleman told me that my order had been cancelled because my debit card was permanently banned from B&H. I asked why and he told me he didn’t know why but it had something to do with “problems with the bank.” This left me extremely angry & baffled because a couple weeks prior, they had no problem whatsoever charging me for a product they wouldn’t ship me.  
 
This experience has left me angered and unwelcome as a customer. Their constant inconsistencies on the telephone and their holiday breaks have made buying from them nothing short of an epic struggle.  
 
 
------  
Added October 9th 2005:  
THEY HAVE BILLED MY ACCOUNT $624.00 AGAIN, LEADING ME TO BELIVE THAT "WE COULD NOT VERIFY YOUR ORDER" AND "WE HAVE BANNED YOUR DEBIT CARD" ACTUALLY MEANS "WE ARE GOING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY AND NOT GIVE YOU A PRODUCT."  
 
B&H is truly the worst online company I have ever dealt with in my life. I purchased a different Projector from Mwave, they verified my card/information seamlessly and I recieved the product in 2 days.

This review was modified by its author, eneimy, on 10/19/05 5:20 PM.