First Visit to B&H at DVinfo.net

Imran Zaidi · June 8th, 2004, 01:27 PM

I was in NYC this past weekend and had the pleasure of swinging by the B&H store for the first time. Man - that place is something else. Conveyor belt tracks pushing inventory up above, busy as a shop could possibly be, great inventory everywhere... it was like being at Willy Wonka's factory. Actually, it really is like being at Willy Wonka's factory - the workers there are ridiculously well organized and seem to be able to keep order in the complete chaos in the midst of all the crazy midtown hustle, but you get the feeling that if you goof up, they'll toss you down the trap door and out of the factory in a moment's notice. They're a tight ship, but they take no nonsense.

It really is a surreal but great experience not to be missed if you're up in Manhattan.

Marco Leavitt · June 8th, 2004, 04:11 PM

Funny. Your reaction was exactly like mine.

Jaime Valles · June 9th, 2004, 01:57 PM

I love that place! Whenever I get a chance I walk over there just to stare at the cameras, NLEs and plasma screens. The employees really know their stuff, too.

It's essentially Toys-R-Us for videographers (and photographers, editors, DPs, Sound Designers...)

Fun, fun stuff!

Imran Zaidi · June 9th, 2004, 02:24 PM

Ooooh, you're in walking distance? Lucky you!

Thom Seaman · June 10th, 2004, 04:39 AM

I want to second the recommendation of others here. I'd also like to point out to any other prospective tourists that finding a camera/electronics retailer in NYC like this one that doesn't seem intent on ripping you off is actually a very big deal, or so it seemed to this visiting Brit. I'm not talking about stores that are merely overpriced or unhelpful; those places naturally exist everywhere. I'm talking about stores that actually set out to deceive you by haggling down from absurdly over-inflated prices and even by misleading you as to the price they are selling something at in the first place - Times Square, anyone??

Maybe it was just my bad experience, but in any case I'm glad I found B&H!

Peace,
Thom

Paul Tauger · June 10th, 2004, 10:12 AM

The rip-off camera stores you saw in Times Square are, sadly, not unique to New York. I've seem similar affairs in Hong Kong and even London. The best defense to stores like this is an informed customer -- no one should buy complicated cameras or electronics without first doing something basic research as to price and model.

Steven Taylor · August 13th, 2007, 06:03 AM

Old thread I know..

I was going to get a friend to pick up a Canon Wide adapter for my XH A1 whilst he was in New York but it's out of stock at B&H... any other options in Manhattan?

Chris Hurd · August 13th, 2007, 06:55 AM

Steven, our other sponsor in Manhattan is Abel CineTech:

http://www.dvinfo.net/sponsors/#abc

June 8th, 2004, 01:27 PM	#1
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	First Visit to B&H I was in NYC this past weekend and had the pleasure of swinging by the B&H store for the first time. Man - that place is something else. Conveyor belt tracks pushing inventory up above, busy as a shop could possibly be, great inventory everywhere... it was like being at Willy Wonka's factory. Actually, it really is like being at Willy Wonka's factory - the workers there are ridiculously well organized and seem to be able to keep order in the complete chaos in the midst of all the crazy midtown hustle, but you get the feeling that if you goof up, they'll toss you down the trap door and out of the factory in a moment's notice. They're a tight ship, but they take no nonsense. It really is a surreal but great experience not to be missed if you're up in Manhattan.

August 13th, 2007, 06:55 AM	#8
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Steven, our other sponsor in Manhattan is Abel CineTech: http://www.dvinfo.net/sponsors/#abc __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

June 8th, 2004, 04:11 PM	#2
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Funny. Your reaction was exactly like mine.

June 9th, 2004, 01:57 PM	#3
Jaime Valles Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 316	I love that place! Whenever I get a chance I walk over there just to stare at the cameras, NLEs and plasma screens. The employees really know their stuff, too. It's essentially Toys-R-Us for videographers (and photographers, editors, DPs, Sound Designers...) Fun, fun stuff!

June 9th, 2004, 02:24 PM	#4
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	Ooooh, you're in walking distance? Lucky you!

June 10th, 2004, 04:39 AM	#5
Thom Seaman New Boot Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 21	I want to second the recommendation of others here. I'd also like to point out to any other prospective tourists that finding a camera/electronics retailer in NYC like this one that doesn't seem intent on ripping you off is actually a very big deal, or so it seemed to this visiting Brit. I'm not talking about stores that are merely overpriced or unhelpful; those places naturally exist everywhere. I'm talking about stores that actually set out to deceive you by haggling down from absurdly over-inflated prices and even by misleading you as to the price they are selling something at in the first place - Times Square, anyone?? Maybe it was just my bad experience, but in any case I'm glad I found B&H! Peace, Thom

June 10th, 2004, 10:12 AM	#6
Paul Tauger Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Los Angeles (recently from San Francisco) Posts: 954	The rip-off camera stores you saw in Times Square are, sadly, not unique to New York. I've seem similar affairs in Hong Kong and even London. The best defense to stores like this is an informed customer -- no one should buy complicated cameras or electronics without first doing something basic research as to price and model.

August 13th, 2007, 06:03 AM	#7
Steven Taylor Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 44	Old thread I know.. I was going to get a friend to pick up a Canon Wide adapter for my XH A1 whilst he was in New York but it's out of stock at B&H... any other options in Manhattan?