Ollieboy

Please explain how using PayBoo avoids taxes. They are paid by BH and not the buyer. The State still gets their pound of flesh.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

The people who pay through Payboo do so specifically to avoid their paying lawful taxes, and reap the results. We hear again and again about the negative results of using the banks that support Payboo. There is nothing wrong with B&H - just with the banks behind Payboo.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

The taxes aren't avoided - they are paid by the merchant since they can't offer new camera equipment at lower than the manufacturer's list prices.

Ollieboy

You're statement of tax avoidance makes no sense. The taxes are PAID, regardless of who pays them. If your conscious bothers your for having someone else pay the taxes, then pay them and move on.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I avoid the companies who would pay taxes on my behalf; that alone makes my paying the taxes wise. That alone makes infinite sense. If you cannot see that, there is no point in trying to reason with you, so I won’t. [unwatch]

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

...and the customer pays the tax... It is simply buried into the price.

Whenever you see "free," it means the "free" thing or feature is included with everything else. The PRICE is all-inclusive. The vendor is not paying your tax (or shipping, if that's "free") out of their profits. They are discounting the price of the item to the point where what you're paying for the item and the normal add-on is the same as you would pay elsewhere. It makes it easy to see what you're getting. YOU think you're getting a bargain, THEY make a sale, and the state still gets paid their taxes and a shipper still charges for shipping. Everyone is happy.

"Free shipping?" That's a discount so you won't have to worry about a cost difference between the price in your local store and the cost of ordering on line, on the phone, or through the mail.

"We pay the tax?" They're just letting you think you're getting away with something you used to, while giving you a legal discount by paying the tax for you. The tax still comes from your wallet.

Businesses that deal in enough volume are able to have a lower margin on each item they sell and still make a profit. Another way they give you a break is to include a bunch of freebies with a camera, such as a cheap bag, table tripod, cleaning kit, extra off-brand batteries and charger, memory cards... The price paid is the same, but you get stuff that some of their low volume competitors cannot afford to include. Whether the add-ons are usable is another story.

Price has an important psychological effect on our perception of value. Maintaining a high price by adding value (discounting an item by including tax, shipping, or other goodies) is a way to protect brand image while recognizing shifts in market conditions and passing on volume discounts.

Most businesses do some form of this. The portrait photo lab I worked for had a price list and a discount schedule. If you bought a million dollars a year in school portrait photofinishing services, you got an obscenely high discount. One of our dealers paid 22% less than the low volume folks. (He had 50+ teams of photographers and a HUGE retail volume.) His prices to parents could be lower than most competitors' prices because his costs were lower. Of course, there is a point at which such a customer becomes a huge tail, happily wagging the little dog...

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

sm24: Plus I have a hard enough time putting credibility in a company called “Payboo.” Either way, I paid no tax for some time until the law was changed, I pay it now as required but in the long run I still think I’m ahead… :

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Sorry you had a problem with them. I have used them several times in past years. Had no problems & received purchases in great condition in a timely manner.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

pendennis

I've used Adorama and B&H for years, and have never had a problem. Their on-the-phone service is not "homey", but that's not why I use them. And for the most part, I stick to on-line ordering.

Of course, today is a far cry from the 70's and 80's. I usually bought from the New York stores, mostly because they were far less expensive than my local dealers. That savings also brought with it the brusqueness of folks at the seller, and all business, no B-S interaction.

To wit: When Ma Bell owned the telephone system, and there were real differences between "area code" and "1-800" calling, I can remember many of the New York stores advertising two different call-in numbers. The first, an "area code" call (usually 1-212-nnn-nnnn) was for getting information, price, accessories, specs, etc.; in other words, on your dime, literally. When you wanted to order only, there was the "1-800-nnn-nnnn" number, and they weren't hesitant in telling you which number to use.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

They wanted you to go to your LOCAL camera store for information, then get on the 800 number to order from NY! Many folks did just that.

Chiroman8

I deal with B&H. Am I wrong or did B&H buy out Adorama ?

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

Actually, someone shot him.

Burkley Loc: Park City

I’ve had nothing but good experiences with Adorama. B&H and Adorama have been my go to stores. We now have an excellent local store, so they will have the lion’s share of my business going forward. I will always support the smaller local guy when possible.

pego101

I have bought from abes with no problems