WARNING: B&H is selling HVX Japanese Rejects!

T

TheThe

Well-known member
********************************
E D I T ** E D I T ** E D I T ** E D I T
********************************

Since this original post B&H has solved all
problems & reimbursed all money owed to
me to my complete satisfaction.
DATE: October 22, 2006
********************************
********************************


DON'T BUY A USED CAMERA FROM B&H.

This is a post from another topic but I thought it qualifies as a public service announcement. So here goes:

***

I just purchased a used HVX from B&H (to be our second camera) and we got someone elses returned japanese model camera. The thing was all in japanese!!! We have bought a TON of stuff from them before so therefore I was VERY anoyed that they didn't indicate on their website or on the phone that these used cameras are all the japanese rejects that people in this forum are returning to them.

So anyway, after bitching insesently to them over the phone they agreed to take it back (they first sugested that they could send me replacement instruction manuals in english). In the end I refused to get a new one from them and asked for my money back. I am now buying it from specialized communications. I hope I don't get screwed by them too as I already sent in a bank check to get the additional 2% discount.

By the way, B&H made me pay return shipping and I am sure they will not reimburse me for the original shipping. I am losing close to 100 bucks for their non-disclosure. I could KILL!!!

SO BEWARE... They will most likely try to unload all these turkeys in the upcomming weeks on unsuspecting and cash-strapped filmmakers. DON'T BUY A USED CAMERA FROM THEM!

You have been warned.
 
Last edited:
Any comments from Panasonic on the subject?

Maybe B&H should be put in temporary hold of their "Authorized Dealer" status...
 
Buy from www.evsonline.com They have a store in Burbank I have been to, and i've bought all my video equipment from them, ive never had any problems, and their customer service is very good

You pay more, but I think its worth it
 
I buy from EVS now after growing weary of B&H and have been really happy with EVS.

Make sure you ask for your DVXUser discount as well. You can save some nice coinage. :)
 
I had called around to a few different "Sponsers", looking for a bag and slick. I was told by one place that B&H sells grey market, which is how they sell so low. Now, two things crossed my mind- it's a shame that a site sponser would say that about another sponser, and there have been many shining comments about B&H. It does make you wonder though.
 
The Hvx200 new is $6000 at EVS vs $5500 at B&H; that is a significant price difference. I bought alot of new equitment at B&H and like my friends i have not had a problem with them.
 
Spec Comm has it listed for $5400 plus a free battery (~$100 value) plus free shipping plus 2% off if you pay by certified check. They're an authorized dealer, active on this site, and a lot of people here have had good experience with them. No brainer.

No I don't work for them, but I did buy an HVX from them last week.
 
Does your serial number have a NC or TC in it ?

We actually have both in use, and they seem exactly the same except for the Serial number sticker. Does anyone know the actual differences between a Japanese distributed and a US distributed camera (except of course the US warranty) ?

Thank. . .
 
I also bought a new HVX last week from Specialized Communications with the 2% discount. Arrived in fine shape, can't think of anything that was missing or dissatisfying. All of the people there were pleasant to deal with and very patient. I never got any kind of attitude from them. I've been shooting stuff since I got it...I've noticed that the lens doesn't pick up a whole lot at night. It's like a 4+ f-stop.
 
dusterdoo said:
Does your serial number have a NC or TC in it ?
Click to expand...

Haven't received my camera yet.


dusterdoo said:
We actually have both in use, and they seem exactly the same except for the Serial number sticker. Does anyone know the actual differences between a Japanese distributed and a US distributed camera (except of course the US warranty) ?
Click to expand...

If it's anything like still cameras, there's no difference except the documentation, pricing, and warranty. (Fortunately they use NTSC in Japan). But a seller like B&H needs to disclose to their customers if it's grey market or open box/refurbished.
 
Sumfun said:
But a seller like B&H needs to disclose to their customers if it's grey market or open box/refurbished.
Click to expand...

I completely agree. And B&H usually does advertice the diference, like, for example, with still photography lenses. They'll have the US version and then the "imported" version which will be like $20 to $40 bucks cheaper.

But for some strange reason they don't seem to be doing this with their Panasonic cameras. I almost consider this bait-and-swich.

By the way, when I first ordered the used HVX they didn't have the new one in stock. I then asked my sales rep if there was any danger that the used camera that I was getting (which I thought they had only one) might be sold by another sales agent while I was on the phone with him... well, he answered that I shouldn't wory because they had a "ton" of these HVX's used... WHERE ARE THEY ALL COMING FROM????
 
This topic seems to surface from time to time when someone gets burned. My sense of it is that (in most cases) it's not because the indivdual is not careful or doesn't do his/her research.

The part that really troubles me about this is that it is apparently our problem (or job) to police Panasonic worldwide and I, for one, am getting becoming weary of it.

And the problem can really grows legs when you then, after buying a non-US camera unknowingly, have to deal with sending your camera off to some forign land for service (I do realize that there are some venders that will do this for you, but not that many as I understand it).

But I certainly know how I feel about it. It's not like these cameras are being stolen off the loading dock -- they are being shipped (one would presume) to an authorized dealer in some country or another . . . and every single one of them has a serial number.

I don't know what Panasonic (or Matsushita) is doing about it, if anything. But I think that if it's a problem for them that if one of those authorized dealers sells off inventory to a party in a different country where the warranty will not be honored, they should punch that "authorized dealers" ticket, right then, right there, period.

And I wonder just how much trouble it would really be for Panasonic US to post a reasonably easy to find COMPLETE list of their authorized dealers on their website? This business of being referred to one of these "bad dealers dot com" sites is ridiculous--post the freaking list or police the dealers that represent you.

Note: In regard to the original posters issue, I certainly feel your pain. I have purchased thousands upon thousands of dollars of equipment from them and not had any problem--and I would be most surprised if they did not rectify this for you if you will pursue it just a bit further.
 
TheThe said:
I am now buying it from specialized communications. I hope I don't get screwed by them too as I already sent in a bank check to get the additional 2% discount.
Click to expand...

Spec Comm is great. $5400 is a great deal from a authorized dealer, and on top of that you get 2% off your order with the check, a free battery, and free shipping (though I don't recommend it; having to wait 5-7 business days for a toy like this is torture)! And they're nice!!!
 
TheThe said:
I just purchased a used HVX from B&H (to be our second camera) and we got someone elses returned japanese model camera. The thing was all in japanese!!!
Click to expand...

B&H bought several cameras from another retailer who was overstocked. At the time, that retailer assured us the cameras were 100% "kosher." Apparently they were not. We regret this and certainly apologize for your distress and inconvenience.

By the way, B&H made me pay return shipping and I am sure they will not reimburse me for the original shipping. I am losing close to 100 bucks for their non-disclosure. I could KILL!!!
Click to expand...

According to our database we had UPS send a pre-paid merchandise return tag and instructed UPS to collect the package from you so sending it back to us should have cost you nothing. If your original s&h was not refunded, let me know and I will see it's done.
 
Capt Quirk said:
I had called around to a few different "Sponsers", looking for a bag and slick. I was told by one place that B&H sells grey market, which is how they sell so low. Now, two things crossed my mind- it's a shame that a site sponser would say that about another sponser, and there have been many shining comments about B&H. It does make you wonder though.
Click to expand...

I am always disappointed when another retailer says or suggests something like this to explain the difference between their price and ours. Manufacturers offer retailers different prices depending on the quantity of each item purchased and also depending on the overall range and quantity of items purchased. B&H buys a lot of cameras and also buys a lot of accessories which other retailers may not stock. We get favorable prices and pass them on.
 
Sumfun said:
If it's anything like still cameras, there's no difference except the documentation, pricing, and warranty. (Fortunately they use NTSC in Japan).
Click to expand...
The NTSC used in Japan is not the same as the NTSC in the US and Canada -- the IRE black levels (master pedestal) are different. NTSC-J uses a black level of 0, whereas NTSC-US uses 7.5.
 
True, but....

Correct me if I'm wrong, but for digital video there isn't any differnce - for the analogue output there is. You'd have to adjust the level of your analogue outs, for actual recording/editing you should be good to go. As I don't have an ntsc camera here, I cannot check if it's possible to adjust the blacklevel of the analogue outs...

Gunleik
 
Please let us know if this is resolved to your satisfaction. This is the other story are deaply disturbing. I have bought from and trusted B&H for years. If they are turning into just another one of these crap electronics places, I will be really sad --- and take my business elsewhere.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top