Place your bets - FS100 arrival

David G. Smith said:
I sent the URL to this thread to my sales contact at Abel Cine. Somebody dealing with B&H might want to do the same, or send it to a decision maker there. They may want to know what is being said about their service.
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Used to work for a chain retailer and I can definitely say that the buyers there neglect such threads like this unless it is a niche business that is closer to the grassroots of their business.
 
ectobuilder said:
Used to work for a chain retailer and I can definitely say that the buyers there neglect such threads like this unless it is a niche business that is closer to the grassroots of their business.
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Yeah, that is what I would guess would be their response, but is might be worthwhile. "I do believe in fairies, I do, I do... Clap your hands!"
 
I called B&H to see when they were expecting the Body only units and someone told me two weeks from now...
just cancelled my order from B&H out of frustration
what a waste of precious frickin time
 
speedracerlo said:
I called B&H to see when they were expecting the Body only units and someone told me two weeks from now...
just cancelled my order from B&H out of frustration
what a waste of precious frickin time
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Sounds like you can order with EC Professional if you hurry. However, to be fair, if Sony doesn't tell B&H anything, what can they do? They are under the whim of Sony.
 
Rick Burnett said:
However, to be fair, if Sony doesn't tell B&H anything, what can they do? They are under the whim of Sony.
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i call shenanigans. every dealer i have dealt with is getting fedex tracking numbers from sony. i know this first hand. i was even given the tracking numbers by EC Pro and Omega to see for myself. B&H is horrible at the customer service game. one (small) step up from the Jersey bait and switch places based on my experience.
 
cheezweezl said:
i call shenanigans. every dealer i have dealt with is getting fedex tracking numbers from sony. i know this first hand. i was even given the tracking numbers by EC Pro and Omega to see for myself. B&H is horrible at the customer service game. one (small) step up from the Jersey bait and switch places based on my experience.
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Maybe B&H uses the cheaper USPS service that doesn't give tracking numbers?
 
ectobuilder said:
Maybe B&H uses the cheaper USPS service that doesn't give tracking numbers?
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that wouldn't surprise me. although i think it would be dumb as they don't provide any guarantee or solid insurance either. fedex ground is actually cheaper than usps and provides solid tracking.
 
Like I said, AbelCine told me they were not sure when it was arriving, or, how many were in the shipment, yet it did come in that day and I had it shipped to me two days later. Maybe not everyone is using the same shipping methods? I have no clue. I don't see how it is in ANY WAY like ANY sort of bait and switch situation. No one makes you pre-order with them, there were plenty of other choices. I specifically chose not to pre-order because of the paying the entire balance off beforehand, that said, you can always cancel with no penalty. I've spent LOTS of money at B&H over the years and will continue to do so for stuff in stock. Never had a problem. But with new technology, I'm sorry but being as they are on the east coast, it takes longer. My camera was shipped to LA. I'd imagine that Sony probably used some sort of ground service after it gets into the US possibly, so I'd expect a few more days between the west coast and east coast shipping, which is precisely what I have been hearing.

Now myself, I overnighted it from LA so I can have it for a shoot on Sunday, but that's me :)
 
B&H couldn't care less about losing a few orders.
I think I've learned a lesson to support smaller businesses which are more intimate with their merchandise and customers.
I've had many times where small retailers had gone the extra distance to ship items to me with expedited shipping because I explained my urgent situation.
 
Rick Burnett said:
I'd imagine that Sony probably used some sort of ground service after it gets into the US possibly, so I'd expect a few more days between the west coast and east coast shipping, which is precisely what I have been hearing.
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Well, at least one person has got their order shipped from B&H, which mean they have received shipment from Sony already. The problem is there's enough sign of B&H shipping out the camera.
 
And I've had smaller retailers be completely incompetent before, as there was a reason these had remained small. I spend A LOT of time vetting out a retailer before I use them, especially on big ticket items. It is true, B&H are way more systematic, totally agreed. Given the camera was supposed to ship May 31 from what I was always told, and today is June 3rd, I think that even getting the camera as fast as I am is WAY sooner than my speculation of when I'd get it. My AF100 took at least 4 more days BEFORE SHIPMENT and I was #3 I think on the list where I ordered from and I *KNOW* I was one of the early few to get theres.

It's sad that people have become so increasingly impatient that they cannot recognize that no, not everything is within B&H's control. Given the weekend, June 6th is Monday. Lots of places are expecting a shipment then. I think that's pretty quick.
 
The shipment from Sony is not under B&H's control, but their representatives' attitudes in handling the inquiries by pre-order customers have been completely lackluster.
I definitely wouldn't go to a random small retailer for this level of equipment; I'd do some research or read some reviews about the store first.
It is true and sad that I'm slowly losing my patience though... Maybe because I have job next weekend that's waiting on the FS100.
 
I understand that B&H is more systematic. They sell $20 items on the same level as $5K items - they have to be.
However, it was my mistake to put a pre-order in with them as they charged my credit card for the full amount. I've asked for a refund, but not sure when that finally kicks in, and the applicable interest rates on 5K don't tickle me and it ties up those funds. So the lack of information from a big retailer doesn't help on pre-orders where you're charged the full amount. Not their fault really, but at the same time, not the right choice for a pre-order like this.

EC Junior seems to be a good source, and I will order with them soon.
 
If B&H doesn't have it Monday, then it will be another week due to their vacation. If it doesn't ship Monday, it's canceled. This is inexcusable.
 
I never heard there was a specific release date to get mad at B&H for missing (thus the title of this thread)

And if there was one, and you scheduled a job utilizing the camera a week after it, that's your bad. Even if you actually got it in time that's not long to learn how to use it.
 
I wasn't betting on B&H being first or even fifth to deliver, but on the same token, I could not get the same person in customer service to help me, and I did pony up $5,500 on good faith. That was in addition to other items I bought totaling almost $10K. I think it would have been nice if they could at least have called me back, but they don't make outgoing calls and I was subject to email correspondence with a different rep every time. Phoning them was just as weak as I got either excuses for no info, or passed along to a VM. I don't buy from them often, but I do spend a lot (for me) when I do, because they have good prices. But after much ado, I canceled my FS order at B&H out of frustration over poor customer service, not timing.... I had questions that were too dumb to post here and even they couldn't help me!
 
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