B&H Photo Video - Can't Find It? Try B&H!
Written: Feb 16 '08
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| Full Review |
I needed a flash for my camera, and after doing research, decided on the Metz Mecablitz 58 AF-1 instead of the Canon Speedlite 580EX II. The Metz line of flashes were not as widely available as Canon flashes from my trusted retailers, and eventually I nailed down two trusted retailers that had the flash. They were Adorama and B&H Photo Video. Even though the flash sold for $359.95 from both, shipping was $3.00 cheaper from B&H Photo Video. I also wanted to try out this retailer and see if it's as good as everyone claims it to be. How does it stack up?
-BRICK & MORTAR VS. ONLINE-
*Believe it or not, B&H Photo Video does actually have a store in midtown Manhattan located on 9th and 34th streets. Sadly enough, I was unable to visit it on my last New York City visit since it was closed for the Sabbath. Nonetheless, if you are used to online shopping only, it is very surprising that B&H Photo Video does actually have a store since it offers online prices! So if you do prefer to shop in a store, by all means visit it since you won't be ripped off like you would be at Ritz Camera or a "Big Box" retailer where you will be paying possibly hundreds of more dollars!
-PRICES-
*Simply put, B&H Photo Video has great prices. The prices are very comparable to the rest of the trusted retailers that offer similar prices. Therefore, prices can actually end up varying based on an item. Sometimes it maybe a few bucks cheaper on Amazon.com, or it might be cheaper at B&H Photo Video. While it is comparable to Beach Camera, Adorama, and others, you always can end up being a few dollars cheaper or more expensive than others. So ultimately, there is no guarantee that B&H Photo Video will be the cheapest, but the prices are obviously a far cry from the highly-popular Ritz Camera. So just shop around, but be assured, without any doubt, the prices at B&H Photo Video are amongst the lowest. If you don't necessarily trust other retailers, you can probably trust B&H Photo Video since just about every professional photographer would swear by B&H Photo Video.
-PRODUCTS-
*B&H Photo Video is a huge (OK, huge is an understatement) photography and video equipment retailer. This is indeed where they truly excel at. They have one of the largest varieties of products that I have ever seen. Therefore, when I had trouble finding Metz flashes elsewhere, B&H Photo Video had a hearty selection with excellent prices. So, if you can't find exactly what you're looking for elsewhere (aka Ritz Camera), you can surely find it at B&H Photo Video.
B&H Photo Video also offers used products and describes their overall condition. The prices are also quite good, so I wouldn't hesitate looking for used products on the website.
-SHIPPING-
*I was given the tracking number immediately once the product shipped. It shipped via UPS ground shipping and arrived in three days, well within the 3-5 day shipping period I paid for. The box containing the flash was also carefully wrapped in bubble wrap and had bags filled with air to keep it safe. It looked like a great deal of effort was placed in prepping the flash for shipment. The shipping charges were $9.00. Even though that may seem pricey, considering how much I saved on the product, this did not impact my wallet too much. I wish though, like with Adorama, that B&H Photo Video would offer saver shipping like Amazon.com or Beach Camera. Nonetheless, the low prices make up for this anyhow, especially when you are purchasing a product you can't find elsewhere.
-CUSTOMER SERVICE-
*When ordering with B&H Photo Video, I received an e-mail confirming my order. They said that if I wanted to quickly cancel or do anything to the order, to call the store, no further confirmation was needed. I then received an e-mail once the product actually shipped. It provided me with a direct link to UPS's website where I could actually track my order. This was quite nice since I was fully informed on the process. Also, since I never encountered a single problem with the process, there was no need to actually call customer support. In terms of being informed about my expensive purchase, I could not be more satisfied.
-THE VERDICT-
*Does B&H Photo Video stack up to its reputation? By all means yes! I purchased a product that I had difficulty finding elsewhere, at an excellent price, and it shipped quickly in perfect condition as promised. I was also well-informed about the entire process through the e-mails sent to me. If you are in New York City, it would be a great experience visiting the store. Even though they have a store, they still offer some of the best prices you can find. I am very satisfied with my overall experience and B&H Photo Video and would shop there again. This is definitely one of my favorite New York retailers which were used to construct my photography equipment collection.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Metz Mecablitz 58 AF-1
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soupcraze
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
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I enjoy many of life's passions... Music, medicine, people, and life itself.
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