jackus

Have dealt with both Adorama and B&H for over 15 years; primarily with B&H. I have NEVER had any difficulty with either one. I have received non pressured advice, excellent service both on purchases as well as returns, next day free delivery in most cases (if ordered early enough in the day), always within two days. They are my go to company with NO regrets.

markjay

H & H is a NYC based bagel store.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Horn & Hardart used to be an automat. Kind of a cafeteria. They would put a food item in a cabinet with a glass door. You put your money in and you can open the door and take the food. New York and Philadelphia as far as I know. They were around in the '40s. Haven't seen one for a few decades.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Both are going to charge you sales tax based on your delivery location. Is there some other tax you are avoiding?

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

They send the collected tax to your state.

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

When I purchased my Nikon D5 a couple of years ago, I was faced with the same decision. Do I save a lot of tax money and buy from B&H or do I support my local camera shop and pay the taxes. I decided to support my local camera shop. they threw in an extra battery and a few other things that would have cost over $300.00. While my taxes was a lot more, they showed they value my purchasing it there.

That is just me. Not to say I have not purchased from B&H, I have.

John Maher Loc: Northern Virginia

Let's just leave the taxes out of it and focus (pun) on the stores. Any reputable firm is going to abide by the tax law changes going into effect now.

As I said before, I am very happy with District Camera with three locations in the DC metro area. If I become dissatisfied, I believe there are a couple more. If I don't like any of them, then I will have to use the online stores.

At that point, I am going to be interested in the quality of service I want from a local store (e.g., knowledgeable advice, expertise, customer service, return policy, warranties). I will be looking at not only B&H and Adorama, but also some of the others with high praise (e.g., Roberts).

Prices would be higher for everyone without competition. Don't blame the stores for the tax laws.

gdamant

California law now requires tax on all mail order sales. So you do not avoid tax and more by buying out of State.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I kind of doubt that they didn't require tax on mail order sales before. In all the states I have lived in over the last few decades, I was required to pay the tax when I bought something outside the state for use within the state. The state had no way to know what I bought outside the state, so it was up to me to offer them the tax. What has changed is that recent rulings have required vendors to collect that tax even if they had no physical presence in the state.

Shooter313

They have claimed that for years..never received one yet.
Unless it's done voluntarily, it would never work. Just no way to really keep track of it all.
Normally everything I buy on line is taxed anyway. Almost everyone has a footprint in NYS. And if they have one here then they charge you just like you were at your local Walmart! :)
But, now and then I get lucky and buy something from a company with no NY connection. Hey..9% is money in my pocket to spend again! On what I WANT, not what NYS says I NEED!
I haven't paid less than 50% of my income in taxes in my whole life! Usually more! That's damn sure enough!
It's nice to be able to buy a new big screen monitor for MYSELF, instead of one for some big shot state worker, that's tired of their "tiny 27" one! Like my sister's boss does! He replaces better stuff than she will EVER get! They BOTH work for the state! So when they fix THAT crap..then maybe I will consider paying it..but not until.
Sorry for the rant pal..I know you were just passing on information. 😉
Take care!

Shutterbug57

States come in varying levels of liberty. Moving might help that rant.

Shooter313

That's always been the MAIN problem with this state. Moving. (Or as I see it, quiting!)
Be it moving out because of taxes, as most of the businesses have done over the last 50 years or so.
Or moving into it because it has always been know as "the welfare state".
I'm not a mover. I don't leave when things get bad, I do my best to try to change them.