For the first time that Ive seen, B&H is listing gray market Nikon lenses (including large format) in its printed ads. This is good news, as the sa vings can be substantial, especially on the most expensive lenses (e.g., a 500mm 35mm lens costs $4299 gray, $5139 USA). The catch is that they may not tell you about the potential savings unless you mention it.
I found out about this on January 5, when I ordered a 120mm Nikkor large-format lens over the phone; the guy said (note the euphemisms for gray vs. USA) "If you want the B&H warranty, its $1120; if you want the Nikon warranty its $1130" (I had not ventured a price). I said, "Well, if its only 10 bucks e xtra Ill take the Nikon warranty" and placed the order, shipped 2nd Day Air.
Later that morning, I checked the new issue of Shutterbug and discovered that th e B&H ad lists this lens for $1020 gray, $1120 USA, both of which prices are les s than I was quoted over the phone. I called them immediately, pointing out that I would have chosen to save $100 if they had been honest with me; they said, Oo ps, did we give you the wrong prices?--must have been "a computer problem"(!) an d told me that when the lens arrives I should "simply" send it back with a copy of the invoice and theyll send me a gray market version and "credit the differe nce." Unfortunately, by that time Ill have paid the cost of 2nd Day Air shippin g to me (twice)--I need the lens yesterday--plus return shipping to them (once). Thats at least $50 total, plus Ill have lost a week without the lens I need, plus Im out in the field where its not so "simple" to find a place that will s hip it for me.
After stewing over this for awhile, I decided I had no sensible alternative but to keep the lens, pay $100 more than I would have if theyd been honest with me, and curse them yet again. I got to wondering whether, if Id paid $1120 for the "B&H warranty" (gray) version that actually sells for $1020, they would have cr edited me $100 when I called them on it. (To be fair, I should note that when I called them back one more time and pointed out that Id been overcharged $10, th ey promised to credit my MasterCard for $10.)
Grrrr. Why arent there more alternatives to B&H? Ive gotten screwed by them mo re times than I can count, always in the $40-100 range (i.e., enough to infuriat e me but too small to make it worth returning the problematic item). I know that many photo.netters (including Philg) dont have problems with B&H, and I agree that you can do well (pricewise) there BUT ONLY IF YOU WATCH EVERY SINGLE MOVE, which is why Im post ing this: so other buyers can be better informed than I was. The folks at B&H se em to be masters at the art of slipping little things through and only admitting their "mistake" if you call them on it; otherwise the buyer will never find out . Of course, thats probably why theyre so profitable....
Caveat emptor, alas.
(P.S. If Henry Posner or anyone else at B&H ever monitors Photo.net, an explanat ion of the companys official policy on this would be much appreciated....)
Asked by Micah (MicahMarty@aol.com) on January 06, 1998.
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