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Rudeness from B&H Used Gear Purchasing
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Mar 23, 2015 21:11:25   #
AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA
 
Anyone else been treated rudely by B&H when trying to get information about selling them a camera and (say) bonuses offered by manufacturers?

I ended up on the phone with a guy who kept acting like I was an idiot because I didn't see what he was seeing on their web site. No "look here/click there" helpfulness; just pure rudeness. I was really surprised, given all the good things that are said about b&h here, but maybe I was talking to the wrong side of the organization.

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Mar 23, 2015 21:19:57   #
sshinn1 Loc: Phoenix
 
AlohaBob wrote:
Anyone else been treated rudely by B&H when trying to get information about selling them a camera and (say) bonuses offered by manufacturers?

I ended up on the phone with a guy who kept acting like I was an idiot because I didn't see what he was seeing on their web site. No "look here/click there" helpfulness; just pure rudeness. I was really surprised, given all the good things that are said about b&h here, but maybe I was talking to the wrong side of the organization.
Anyone else been treated rudely by B&H when tr... (show quote)


Not B&H specifically, but if their used department is anything like Adorama I'm not surprised. I have purchase from both Adorama and B&H and never been less than thrilled with them... however, I called Adorama about selling some gear and it was like talking to the sleaziest used car salesman in the world. He wouldn't give me anything in writing to back up what he was saying, wouldn't even give me a quote for the gear until it was in the store for inspection. I called KEH next and recommend the same to you - night and day difference. I told them what the gear was and the condition I was self assessing it at, they gave me a quote depending on the condition holding up and a pre paid shipping label... Sent my stuff in, they agreed with my ratings except 1 lens which they deemed one grade lower, promptly contacted me with a new offer which I excepted and had a check in a few days... Great experience and no hassling with the general public, well worth a few bucks to me.

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Mar 23, 2015 21:51:57   #
OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR
 
AlohaBob wrote:
.... trying to get information about selling them a camera and (say) bonuses offered by manufacturers?


I wonder if the (say) mis-communication was from you being (say) as vague about what you wanted as you are (say) here?

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Mar 23, 2015 21:53:51   #
Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.
 
Somehow I think that the B&H rep, who is a member here, will chime in at some time.

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Mar 23, 2015 21:59:16   #
tamalero Loc: Mexico
 
OddJobber wrote:
I wonder if the (say) mis-communication was from you being (say) as vague about what you wanted as you are (say) here?


I wonder the same too.

Besides, we only have one side of the story.
Its not the first time someone exaggerates to try to prove their point and gather support in a forum/group.

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Mar 23, 2015 22:10:07   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
sshinn1 wrote:
Not B&H specifically, but if their used department is anything like Adorama I'm not surprised. I have purchase from both Adorama and B&H and never been less than thrilled with them... however, I called Adorama about selling some gear and it was like talking to the sleaziest used car salesman in the world. He wouldn't give me anything in writing to back up what he was saying, wouldn't even give me a quote for the gear until it was in the store for inspection. I called KEH next and recommend the same to you - night and day difference. I told them what the gear was and the condition I was self assessing it at, they gave me a quote depending on the condition holding up and a pre paid shipping label... Sent my stuff in, they agreed with my ratings except 1 lens which they deemed one grade lower, promptly contacted me with a new offer which I excepted and had a check in a few days... Great experience and no hassling with the general public, well worth a few bucks to me.
Not B&H specifically, but if their used depart... (show quote)


I used to help a friend out in his police supply, gun shop and auction business. We wouldn't give prices over the phone either. We needed to see it to know what we were giving a price on. We might do something like "It is worth from $25 to about $2000 depending on if it is real and not a copy and the condition." We once had a guy who called up to get a price on an old Colt revolver. He was told to just bring it in, don't do anything to it, even though he said it was rusty. Well he took it to work and buffed off the rust (and most of the surface and finish) with a wire rotary brush. He got told that before he did that it was actually worth about $2500 to a collector who would then spend several hundred having it cleaned and restored by an expert. But now we would only offer $50 to strip for parts. You can guess what kind of things he said as he went out the door. (Of course, nothing was his fault, we were crooks.)

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Mar 23, 2015 22:22:55   #
sshinn1 Loc: Phoenix
 
robertjerl wrote:
I used to help a friend out in his police supply, gun shop and auction business. We wouldn't give prices over the phone either. We needed to see it to know what we were giving a price on. We might do something like "It is worth from $25 to about $2000 depending on if it is real and not a copy and the condition." We once had a guy who called up to get a price on an old Colt revolver. He was told to just bring it in, don't do anything to it, even though he said it was rusty. Well he took it to work and buffed off the rust (and most of the surface and finish) with a wire rotary brush. He got told that before he did that it was actually worth about $2500 to a collector who would then spend several hundred having it cleaned and restored by an expert. But now we would only offer $50 to strip for parts. You can guess what kind of things he said as he went out the door. (Of course, nothing was his fault, we were crooks.)
I used to help a friend out in his police supply, ... (show quote)


I get that - but if they won't even give you a price quote, based on condition, it feels wrong to me. What happens if I ship them my gear... And a week later someone calls and offers $150 for a $1,000 lens, and I say no, but my lens is sitting somewhere in New York and I have to hope it comes back timely... Not saying that would have happened, but the refusal to give me an estimate based on my conditioning left a bad taste in my mouth. kEH, on the other hand, had NO issue doing this, in fact I didn't even have to request it, just the way they do it... It was very clear the quote given was conditional upon my equipment meeting the rating condition I quoted them, but that quote was sent to me in an email and I simply felt much more comfortable doing business that way.

I'm not saying they should issue payment prior to getting and assessing the gear because that would be, well, stupid. But the refusal to even say what they would pay for a specific piece of gear if it fell into a specific rating category? I'd love to hear how that sets them up for anything.

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Mar 23, 2015 23:55:58   #
jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ
 
sshinn1 wrote:
I get that - but if they won't even give you a price quote, based on condition, it feels wrong to me. What happens if I ship them my gear... And a week later someone calls and offers $150 for a $1,000 lens, and I say no, but my lens is sitting somewhere in New York and I have to hope it comes back timely... Not saying that would have happened, but the refusal to give me an estimate based on my conditioning left a bad taste in my mouth. kEH, on the other hand, had NO issue doing this, in fact I didn't even have to request it, just the way they do it... It was very clear the quote given was conditional upon my equipment meeting the rating condition I quoted them, but that quote was sent to me in an email and I simply felt much more comfortable doing business that way.

I'm not saying they should issue payment prior to getting and assessing the gear because that would be, well, stupid. But the refusal to even say what they would pay for a specific piece of gear if it fell into a specific rating category? I'd love to hear how that sets them up for anything.
I get that - but if they won't even give you a pri... (show quote)


Do you try to trade in a car before the dealer sees it?

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Mar 24, 2015 00:04:03   #
BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA
 
AlohaBob wrote:
Anyone else been treated rudely by B&H when trying to get information about selling them a camera and (say) bonuses offered by manufacturers?

I ended up on the phone with a guy who kept acting like I was an idiot because I didn't see what he was seeing on their web site. No "look here/click there" helpfulness; just pure rudeness. I was really surprised, given all the good things that are said about b&h here, but maybe I was talking to the wrong side of the organization.
Anyone else been treated rudely by B&H when tr... (show quote)

I would simply have hung up and called back. Then, when B&H sent you a survey (I always get one), you could have explained your problem. I don't know for sure, but I have been told that B&H does not immediately fire recalcitrant employees, but first offers remedial training (I certainly hope this is correct).

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Mar 24, 2015 00:53:46   #
sshinn1 Loc: Phoenix
 
jethro779 wrote:
Do you try to trade in a car before the dealer sees it?


I think you got the reading part down ok... Work on the comprehension next.

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Mar 24, 2015 01:02:37   #
OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR
 
sshinn1 wrote:
... Not saying that would have happened,


Pretty well sums it up.

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Mar 24, 2015 01:43:52   #
BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA
 
robertjerl wrote:
I used to help a friend out in his police supply, gun shop and auction business. We wouldn't give prices over the phone either. We needed to see it to know what we were giving a price on. We might do something like "It is worth from $25 to about $2000 depending on if it is real and not a copy and the condition." We once had a guy who called up to get a price on an old Colt revolver. He was told to just bring it in, don't do anything to it, even though he said it was rusty. Well he took it to work and buffed off the rust (and most of the surface and finish) with a wire rotary brush. He got told that before he did that it was actually worth about $2500 to a collector who would then spend several hundred having it cleaned and restored by an expert. But now we would only offer $50 to strip for parts. You can guess what kind of things he said as he went out the door. (Of course, nothing was his fault, we were crooks.)
I used to help a friend out in his police supply, ... (show quote)

Had a guy once try to sell me a rough, but restorable Colt 1873 SAA. He wanted $2500, but turned down my offer of $1500. So he had it bead-blasted and micro-blued. Next show he was going around trying to get $3500; my bid was the top at the show - $250. He thought the same thing about us.

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Mar 24, 2015 02:07:24   #
AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA
 
Mogul wrote:
I would simply have hung up and called back. Then, when B&H sent you a survey (I always get one), you could have explained your problem. I don't know for sure, but I have been told that B&H does not immediately fire recalcitrant employees, but first offers remedial training (I certainly hope this is correct).


Yes, I agree that's what I should have done. I did hang up ;). If I had waited 15 or 20 minutes, I probably wouldn't have vented about it. In the overall scheme of things, it's pretty insignificant. I was just mightily irritated at the moment.

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Mar 24, 2015 04:44:47   #
HelenOster Loc: New York
 
sshinn1 wrote:
......I called Adorama about selling some gear and it was like talking to the sleaziest used car salesman in the world. He wouldn't give me anything in writing to back up what he was saying, wouldn't even give me a quote for the gear until it was in the store for inspection......


Thank you for leaving your feedback regarding your attempts to sell gear to the Adorama Camera used department. I was deeply concerned to read the description of your experience, and if it's not too much trouble I'd like to gather some additional information from you.

Could you please contact me: Helen@adorama.com with the date and time of your call, plus the number you called from, so I can listen to the call.

Thanks so much for your patience – please accept my apologies for the inconvenience caused, and I very much look forward to hearing from you

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera

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Mar 24, 2015 04:50:29   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
AlohaBob wrote:
Anyone else been treated rudely by B&H when trying to get information about selling them a camera and (say) bonuses offered by manufacturers?

I ended up on the phone with a guy who kept acting like I was an idiot because I didn't see what he was seeing on their web site. No "look here/click there" helpfulness; just pure rudeness. I was really surprised, given all the good things that are said about b&h here, but maybe I was talking to the wrong side of the organization.
Anyone else been treated rudely by B&H when tr... (show quote)


it's a NY Thing :)

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