Posted by David Schoen on April 12, 2016 at 1:14 PM
After seeing all the wonderful results our members have presented with the Sigma 150-600 mm Contemporary lens I decided I would get one for myself. I have been doing business with both B&H and Adorama in New York City since 1970. I have never had a bad experience with either business until now. Most of my business has been with B&H but I must admit that I have concerns about their current press issues with respect to their employment relations. As result I decided to buy the lens at Adorama. Both stores offered exactly the same price although I don’t think B & H included the $59 USB dock.
Adorama sent me an email this week advertising the lens at $989 with the USB dock. Same price whether Nikon or Canon. In a box at the bottom of the advertisement was a bundle price which included several filters, software, and other accessories for the same $989 price. If one click on this button for the bundle price, it indicated the item was in stock.
I placed my order for the lens with the USB dock. The next day I called to check on the bundle price and was told by the first person I spoke with that the bundle was backordered indefinitely. I couldn’t order it. Even more unusual, when I ordered the Nikon mount and pressed the bundle order for the Nikon mount, it only offered me the Canon mount with the bundle. In my phone call, I verified that this was a mistake and that the Nikon mount qualified for the bundle price of $989. But once again I was told the bundle had been backordered indefinitely. There was no way I could get it even though it was indicated as being in stock.
This is very reminiscent of the bait and switch practices of many New York City photographic companies from years past prior to the Internet.
To be fair, I called again and spoke to a different customer service representative who told me the bundle did not include the dock. The first person I spoke with told me it did include the dock. Regardless, the second customer service representative did admit it was wrong to have the item listed as being in stock when it was backordered indefinitely and not available. She also agreed that it was not clear that the dock was not included with the bundle.
For me, this is a matter of ethics and integrity. I had thought Adorama was more reputable but after this experience, I am not sure I would buy there again. I certainly would like to know more about the B&H story. I have always been treated well there as a customer and have never had a problem with any purchase. I feel they have always been honest with me and have fairly answered my questions. If there are issues with employee relations at B&H, I really hope they make an effort to solve the problems and honestly address their customer base about the issues that are currently appearing in the press. It would make it a lot easier for me to feel better about my purchases.
David, Sorry to hear about the order going bad for you. As for B&H I still buy from them and will continue to. I've NEVER had a bad order from them to date.
Posted by David Schoen on April 12, 2016 at 5:48 PM
As I said Paul, I've never had a bad experience at B&H either in 46 years of doing business with them. My concern is the validity of complaints lodged against their employment practices. As with any work situation, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle; however, neither party has handled the press or the publicity well. The issues have continued to be present in the media. It isn't good for business or for the affected employees. The whole situation should be resolved in a fair, amicable, and open manner ASAP.
I've also never had trouble previously with either B&H or Adorama - this is truly disheartening if they have both deteriorated so.
Thanks for the heads-up!
Sandy
Posted by Keith Bauer on April 13, 2016 at 10:22 AM
This is precisely why 100% of my purchases are from B&H. I don't see any "deterioration" from B&H and my personal opinion is that folks are jumping to conclusions on the B&H story without hearing both sides of the story. Folks can do what they want, but I plan to continue with my photographic needs all coming from B&H.
This is precisely why 100% of my purchases are from B&H. I don't see any "deterioration" from B&H and my personal opinion is that folks are jumping to conclusions on the B&H story without hearing both sides of the story. Folks can do what they want, but I plan to continue with my photographic needs all coming from B&H.
Not to soapbox too much, however, I've followed this for quite sometime now on an all analog site I visit. With that said I've read a lot of the details and as always there are two sides to all stories. My only concern for the workers would be with regard to legalities, hazardous environmental exposure and all around safety issues. That truly is of concern for all workers world wide. I suspect NYC has B&H under review on that aspect possibly as formal complaints were lodged.
As far as statements from workers about having to work hard and put in long hours I would just say investigate your options. After having worked for 45+ years starting at the legal age at that time of 12 years old for working on farms / ranches my empathy for hard work and low pay does not resonate for me. It's called work, we don't like it and it's darn tough most days, but it is a serious part of our lives and is required for us to survive in most cases. As you age it does not become any easier either.
Again, always two sides to the story and not taking either side beyond I will continue to buy from B&H. If that is thought to be taking their side then let it be.........
btw: .........of course as we we continue to buy from B&H we're also helping to employ the complaining workers too.
One serious point for me is taking it to the customers to air issues like this. All the years I worked interfacing with customers daily, I NEVER aired issues about coworkers, management, or a given company employing me, EVER. Not that I did not complain daily, but not to a customer.
I would recommend that you contact the New York Weights and Measures office. Mike Sikula is the Director who I have actually worked with in a past life. He is a great and reasonable person in dealing with this kind of issue. A note or call from them might get them straightened out. Mike.Sikula@agriculture.ny.gov Director, (518) 457-3146
Discussion
6 repliesAdorama sent me an email this week advertising the lens at $989 with the USB dock. Same price whether Nikon or Canon. In a box at the bottom of the advertisement was a bundle price which included several filters, software, and other accessories for the same $989 price. If one click on this button for the bundle price, it indicated the item was in stock.
I placed my order for the lens with the USB dock. The next day I called to check on the bundle price and was told by the first person I spoke with that the bundle was backordered indefinitely. I couldn’t order it. Even more unusual, when I ordered the Nikon mount and pressed the bundle order for the Nikon mount, it only offered me the Canon mount with the bundle. In my phone call, I verified that this was a mistake and that the Nikon mount qualified for the bundle price of $989. But once again I was told the bundle had been backordered indefinitely. There was no way I could get it even though it was indicated as being in stock.
This is very reminiscent of the bait and switch practices of many New York City photographic companies from years past prior to the Internet.
To be fair, I called again and spoke to a different customer service representative who told me the bundle did not include the dock. The first person I spoke with told me it did include the dock. Regardless, the second customer service representative did admit it was wrong to have the item listed as being in stock when it was backordered indefinitely and not available. She also agreed that it was not clear that the dock was not included with the bundle.
For me, this is a matter of ethics and integrity. I had thought Adorama was more reputable but after this experience, I am not sure I would buy there again. I certainly would like to know more about the B&H story. I have always been treated well there as a customer and have never had a problem with any purchase. I feel they have always been honest with me and have fairly answered my questions. If there are issues with employee relations at B&H, I really hope they make an effort to solve the problems and honestly address their customer base about the issues that are currently appearing in the press. It would make it a lot easier for me to feel better about my purchases.
Thanks for the heads-up!
Sandy
Not to soapbox too much, however, I've followed this for quite sometime now on an all analog site I visit. With that said I've read a lot of the details and as always there are two sides to all stories. My only concern for the workers would be with regard to legalities, hazardous environmental exposure and all around safety issues. That truly is of concern for all workers world wide. I suspect NYC has B&H under review on that aspect possibly as formal complaints were lodged.
As far as statements from workers about having to work hard and put in long hours I would just say investigate your options. After having worked for 45+ years starting at the legal age at that time of 12 years old for working on farms / ranches my empathy for hard work and low pay does not resonate for me. It's called work, we don't like it and it's darn tough most days, but it is a serious part of our lives and is required for us to survive in most cases. As you age it does not become any easier either.
Again, always two sides to the story and not taking either side beyond I will continue to buy from B&H. If that is thought to be taking their side then let it be.........
btw: .........of course as we we continue to buy from B&H we're also helping to employ the complaining workers too.
One serious point for me is taking it to the customers to air issues like this. All the years I worked interfacing with customers daily, I NEVER aired issues about coworkers, management, or a given company employing me, EVER. Not that I did not complain daily, but not to a customer.