B&H Photo and Video has what you are looking for
Written: Feb 06 '04 (Updated Nov 13 '07)
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B&H Photo and Video has one of the largest selections of photography related merchandise and one of the best reputations of photography merchants out there.
I’ve used B&H over the years to purchase hard to find little extras along with other photography related merchandise. This includes filters, developing chemicals, photo paper, along with some items. Out of all the times I have shopped at B&H, only once have I had a problem with the ordering process.
Site Details
B&H’s website is set-up in a manner that makes it easy to browse through the large inventory. Offering merchandise in film photography, digital photography, darkroom equipment, video, along with associated merchandise like printers, memory cards and the like, B&H has just about anything that someone could imagine related to these fields. Site navigation is based on the major topics at first (Photography, Video, Digital, etc) and as you click down through the site, the merchandise you are seeing becomes more and more specific (Digital Camera to D-SLR to 5 Megapixels to Canon to Canon Digital Rebel for example). This makes it very easy to find different types of merchandise, even if you only have a general idea of what you are looking for because you can continue to refine and refine the more you go down into the site. B&H also offers a search function if you already know the name of what you are looking for.
Once you find a product that you want, all you have to do is identify how many you want and then add it to your shopping basket. If there are other options available on the merchandise, the site will ask you at that time. After having placed a product in the shopping cart, you can either continue shopping or check out. If you click on “continue shopping,” you are brought back to the top of the website.
Product information generally includes a picture of the product, a detailed description, and the specifications of the product if they are available. Suggested accessories are also shown, along with other products that people bought when they bought the product you are reviewing. Some prices are not shown on the website and you must enter an email address and B&H will send you the price. I’m not sure why this is done, other than to not advertise very low prices. Generally though, most prices are shown directly with the product and if there is a sale price, it is shown.
When you have finished with your shopping and are ready to finish your order, all of you have to do is click on the “check-out” button at the top to go to your shopping cart. Once there, you can review the items in your cart, change the quantities, delete items, or continue along with the checkout process.
You will then be asked to complete personal information that includes your name, your billing address, your shipping address, along with an email and billing information. You will also be asked to enter a password if you wish to save your personal information on the site so if you shop there again, you do not need to re-enter it. B&H does have a privacy policy that protects your personal information.
Once you have finished entering all the information, you order is processed and if your credit card (or other payment method) is approved, you are given a confirmation page for your records and a confirmation email is sent to your email account. Once the product you ordered is shipped, information on the shipping is sent to you so that you can track your package.
Various shipping options are available for your order, from standard shipping to overnight express shipping. Prices are reasonable and in line with most other online retailers. I do not believe that B&H offers free shipping specials.
Return information is shipped with your package and customer service is always willing to help if you should have a problem with your office. Customer service is available both online through email and over the telephone. Response on email is fairly quick, but having never used the telephone service, I do not know how long you will have to wait.
My Experiences
When I’m looking for harder to find photographic equipment (such as certain filters) or just equipment in general, B&H is the first place that I look. I’ve purchased items such as developing chemicals, camera filters, photo paper and more. I even tried to purchase a digital camera on the site and that’s the one place that I ran into a problem, but in the end, I’m not sure if it was the site, or it was my credit card company. I had tried to use my Discover Card (which is accepted by B&H), but each time I tried to process the order, it came up as not going through. I emailed B&H about the problem and they couldn’t explain it, but a day later I checked with Discover and low and behold there was the charge. I wrote back to B&H and they said that their records didn’t show the charge, but they contacted Discover and the charge was cancelled. I didn’t bother purchasing the camera there and instead just bought it at a local brick and mortar retailer.
My one bad experience aside (mostly because I don’t know who to blame and B&H did take care of the problem), I have only had positive experiences with my purchases at B&H. I’m able to find what I’m looking for, it’s easy to purchase and it quickly gets to me to start using.
Final Take
B&H has one of the most extensive inventories of any photographic retailer and offers just about any product that you could be looking for.
A good reputation and customer service, quick shipping, and an easy to navigate website all add up to a great online merchant when you are looking for photographic or video products.
11/13/07 Update
I have continued to shop at B&H as I have needed various items and I have been consistently pleased with the service. Their website is easy to navigate, the purchasing process is clear and easy and I have always gotten what I have ordered.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Various photographic accessories
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