New camera frustration (vent)

[mhm]

So last Wednesday, I order online a new Rebel XTi from a certain Manhattan camera store that starts with "T." Thursday they call and leave a message, but I got home too late to call back. Friday they apparently close an hour earlier, which the guy failed to mention in the voicemail, so I call 10 minutes after they closed. They are closed for the weekend. I call back this morning, only to find out that they have delayed shipping my order--to point out that I didn't order any memory!

Had I realized when I was talking to the guy that it hadn't shipped, I would have either cancelled the order or made them give me 2-day shipping for the price of standard. I now won't have the camera for the holiday weekend!

 

[Master Mason]

hmm.... sorry about that, not sure which one starts with a "t"

b&H
Beach/Buydig
Adorama

those are the ones that I usually look at....

 

[Anewman]

Tri State Camera???

Be cautious with them.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Several camera shops are blatant scammers. The two most likely scams are refusing to ship until you buy some overpriced extras or breaking up the normal camera packaging and making you buy things like body cover, battery, software, etc at exhorbitant rates. Deal only with the reputable sellers. Check www.resellerratings.com before ording anything.

 

[mhm]

Several camera shops are blatant scammers. The two most likely scams are refusing to ship until you buy some overpriced extras or breaking up the normal camera packaging and making you buy things like body cover, battery, software, etc at exhorbitant rates. Deal only with the reputable sellers. Check www.resellerratings.com before ording anything.

OK, now I am truly frightened. When the camera gets here, how can I tell if they've sent me a grey market camera? Would it be absence of US Warranty paperwork?

 

[SharonLowe]

OK, now I am truly frightened. When the camera gets here, how can I tell if they've sent me a grey market camera? Would it be absence of US Warranty paperwork?

you are right - it wouldn't have a US warranty.

I never order from anyone other than B&H - you might find it "cheaper" but B&H shipping is the best - pay for 3 days and it usually arrives in 1 day for me (Boston area); they will never try to stiff you or make you buy some expensive extra; and they are clear about which are USA and which are imports.

 

[jann1033]

just to make you feel better B& H was closed till tues as well for some kind of holiday

 

[Master Mason]

just to make you feel better B& H was closed till tues as well for some kind of holiday

Jann, I think they are taking an extended Memorial day

 

[jann1033]

yeah since it started last weekend really extended . really i think it may be an Orthodox or Hasidic Jewish operation due to the Friday eve-sat eve closing and they closed around Passover and a few other Jewish holidays i knew about so maybe if you have any Jewish friends check with them or a Jewish calender before planning on ordering.

 

[tinksdad]

This is such a bummer and comes up on all the photography sites from time to time. Some of the "less ethical" dealers will strip accessories from boxes and sell them at inflated prices. Some offer the gray market products and don't offer manufacture warranties, some bait and switch and verbally abuse the caller for more business (this NEVER made any sense to me). Bad stuff!!!

I have used B&H for almost all my photography products and have never been dissatisfied or suffered any regret on their products OR their service.

From their website:

B&H Holiday Schedule

The B&H Superstore will close Tuesday, May 22nd at 2:00pm EDT, and reopen Friday, May 25th at 9:00am EDT.

I'd call and cancel that order!! Sounds like a heart ache waiting to happen.....

 

[AndrewWG]

From what I have read, (I haven't dealt with anyone but Beach Camera and they are great) they may not "allow" you to cancel the order. If this happens, call your credit card company and have them refuse the charge. That will cancel the order pretty quickly I would guess.

Andy

 

[jann1033]

that's weird about b&H cause is know when i was looking on there last week eyeing lenses i can't afford it said they were closed as well...unless someone put the closed sign up the wrong week that pop up has seemed to come up so much lately i don't even read it anymore since i'm not buying,just looking. i know they always close on Fridays since i like to "window shop" there, well did till i got their gigantic catalog in the mail yesterday that already has slobber marks from me drolling over it

i do agree though, order from someone you know, is rated good or is affiliated with someone ie paypal, amazon,who has some clout to get your money back if need be.

 

[MICKEY88]

, well did till i got their gigantic catalog in the mail yesterday that already has slobber marks from me drolling over it

.

I got their catalog a few weeks ago, and my first comment was WOW this is the adult version of the Sears Wish book..

 

[Master Mason]

I got their catalog a few weeks ago, and my first comment was WOW this is the adult version of the Sears Wish book..

It was discribed as "camera porn" on another site, I thought that was funny.

Lots of good info about the cameras, instead of a "we have it" they spend 3 pages of info on the 30d.

It was light in some areas that I have an interest in though, I have been looking at possibly getting a light frame (probably not the tech term) but they only had 1 or 2 listed.

 

[mhm]

i do agree though, order from someone you know, is rated good or is affiliated with someone ie paypal, amazon,who has some clout to get your money back if need be.

This one had pretty good ratings on Pricegrabber. I now know to check multiple sites for ratings, and go with B&H in the future. Hopefully I'm worrying over nothing, and if they give me flack, I'll make them deal with Visa!

 

[SharonLowe]

yeah since it started last weekend really extended . really i think it may be an Orthodox or Hasidic Jewish operation due to the Friday eve-sat eve closing and they closed around Passover and a few other Jewish holidays i knew about so maybe if you have any Jewish friends check with them or a Jewish calender before planning on ordering.

Shavuot started May 22 in the evening and runs until the 24th - the Feast of the Pentecost (I'm not Jewish - I just have a Jewish ical calendar because I order way too much stuff from B&H ). Then, of course, there is the normal Friday close, etc.

They still are the best; just have to work around their schedule.

And, if you think the catalog is porn, you should visit their store in NY Just don't buy there because you'll have to pay NY sales tax which is way higher than shipping charges.

 

[tinksdad]

It was described as "camera porn" on another site, I thought that was funny.

I don't care who you are, that there is FUNNY!!!

 

[Steve's Girl]

I don't care who you are, that there is FUNNY!!!

...please bless the pigmees in New Guinea.