LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Months ago the new Canon R5 was available in stores for a short period and then quickly sold out before I got around to placing an order. It stayed out of stock for a long time so, weeks ago, I signed up with B&H to be notified when it was back in stock. Periodically I would then get an e-mail telling me it still was not in stock, but, they would keep me posted. I also checked the website everyday. Sure enough, this past Sunday evening I checked and it was showing as in-stock. A few mouse clicks later and I had my purchase confirmation and delivery date, Wednesday. Monday I was notified that it had just shipped and Tuesday my FedEx driver handed me the package. Perfect! Never received an in-stock notification but assumed that because I had been so quick to place my order that B&H felt no need to send the notification. Well, yesterday evening I checked my e-mail and there was the usual notification telling me that it still was not in stock, but, stay tuned. We'll let you know when it is. I'm reading it as my new R5 is sitting on my scanner next to me! A quick check of the website last night and today showed that it is still in stock and available for purchase. So, boys and girls, the moral of the story is: Even at a well run company like B&H the left hand doesn't always know what the right hand is doing, so, it doesn't hurt to double-check!

juan_uy Loc: Uruguay

Maybe your stock notification was registered for a different SKU? For example for body+lens or body+accesories in a bundle, or something like that?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Nope, body only.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

B&H sends their inventory update emails every 2 weeks.
So inventory came in between the updates, and sold out before the next update. Sold to folks like you.
Moral of the story: don't rely on the every-two-week updates. Which to your credit, you didn't do.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Well, that's not quite what happened. The R5 was out of stock for months. On Sunday it showed as being available so I immediately ordered it. Received it Tuesday. Wednesday I received an e-mail notification that it was still out of stock except that if you went to the website as I immediately did it was still listed as in-stock, as it was this morning and still is as of about 5min ago. The 5R and 24-105 kit is out of stock but I didn't ask for updates about that. Body only was all I wanted. Who knows what happened. Maybe the notification dept didn't get the word. Maybe the wrong sku# got applied to my request, as someone else mentioned. Doesn't matter. I already had my camera so I found it rather amusing. If I had missed the chance to get the camera because of an incorrect report then I would be a bit less amused. My whole point was: It is often a good idea to double-check.

mymike Loc: Tucson, AZ

The other thing to consider is the pandemic has caused a lot of businesses to have fewer employees in their stores and a lot are working virtually. I have been working virtually since last March as well as all of our staff nationwide.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

I had the exact scenario for an Epson SC P-900. The printer arrived out of the blue two days before a "out of stock" reminder notice appeared in my inbox.

Not the only problem B&H has. I had a box of 100 Entradalopes (Moab cards) on order. B&H was persistently out of stock. I contacted Moab and they immediately shipped them to me. It seems that B&H stops shipments on some items when it thinks or is overwhelmed on it's receiving dock.a (According to Moab).

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Interesting. Thanks!

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Similar to an experience I had a few years ago with Best Buy. They had a photo program (Paintshop Pro) on sale for 50% off. When I went to the store it was out of stock so they gave me a raincheck. I checked the store several times over the next five or six weeks -- always out of stock! I finally ordered the program from their web site at full price. I then took the unopened box to a local BB for a refund (they'll only refund on unopened software). As soon as I got the refund I presented the raincheck and bought it back at half price. Sometimes you just have to work the system!

HOT Texas Loc: From the Heart of Texas

Don't sound like a well run company to me

Nickaroo

B&H Photo is one of the best photography, computer, and electronics stores in the Country. I used to say the same thing, but once you walk in and realize the size of the joint it will make you wonder how in the heck can they keep anything in order. I know a couple of the older guys that have been there since it opened. They are "Give me a Beer and a Shot" kind of guys. Real straight shooters. If you ever were to see the owners, you would walk away shaking your head. They have met the needs for many of the Fashion shooters in New York and Sports Illustrated, when we were on the staff and before we all were whacked off like flies. Great place and so is Adorama. Any business can be good as long as ownership is stable.

HOT Texas Loc: From the Heart of Texas

Your opinion, Not Mine!!!!! They have lost about $3,000 in sails from me, I buy from Adorama now, first class people!!!!

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Everyone is running on short staff so IMHO it is forgivable.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

You must have a big boat to use 3000.00 worth of sails!

HOT Texas Loc: From the Heart of Texas

It's just a 8 ft. flat bottom All I can afford My bad, meant to say sales.