Visit to B&H in New York
 

Hi,

Inspired by the previous thread on B&H, I will be visiting New York in a month or so and I was planning on visiting B&H. Does anyone have any recommendations on any gizmos worth buying to help video production, beyond the normal accessories. You know, the kind of things that you wouldn't necessarily think about buying but have proved invaluable and you wouldn't live without. For instance, I intend to buy a hoodman for the lcd screen to help visibility outdoors.

Also, are there any other stores worth visiting in New York?

One Sunday morning 2 months ago, I was carried in on a wave of 60 anxious buyers. It's a fabulous place, allow an hour just to look around.

I bought a Travel Smart all voltage world power adaptor with surge protector very cheap, some Hearos earplugs for airtravel and their next to last 50 Panasonic AYMQ83 minute DV tapes. They're now discontinued.

Suggest you visit their website and make a list so you don't waste time and cash. ^ ^

Check their opening times too. Adorama is about a 15 minute walk from BnH.
Cheers.

I like to print the online shopping cart and bring it to the store. It helps them find specific items more easily (and it helps me from getting sidetracked). I can't remember how many times I've had to go back because I bought something else instead of the item I needed.

How about a table top mic stand, or a clip on mic holder? And I always seem to run out of velcro cable fasteners. Tape/head cleaner. Earphones. A pack of LCD protectors. Shoe mount for shockmounts. Onboard light. Clapper/slate. Lens cap keeper (so you don't lose it). Also if you buy tapes in bulk, they come in small retail boxes, nice for keeping tapes organized while travelling -- and regular tape holders/organizers.

I don't think B&H sells them, but a portable labeler is a life saver!


And I hope you realize the BIG CATCH 22. It can be cheaper to pay shipping than to pay NY sales tax in the store.

Hi Mark. I had to chuckle just a bit when I read your post. Believe me, within a few minutes of walking in the door you will find all kinds of cool things you never even realized you needed. In fact, I think you will need the opposite mindset - you'll have to convince yourself that you don't need all the gizzmos you find :-)

As far as other stores, I don't think any of them come close to the selection you'll find at B&H. Wandering around town you will stumble across some of the other places which regularly place big ads in the video magazines. Prepare to be "underwhelmed"...

Have a great trip, and try not to exceed the limit on your credit card!

Damn! now I'll have to go back.

Mark, stay well away from those Brooklyn camera stores. Don't even walk past one carrying a camera. Have a great trip.

Cheers for the comments guys. I can't wait to go to B&H. My expectations are so high now I just hope I won't be disappointed.

The only disappointment you might experience is that depending on the day of week and / or time of day, B&H can be very busy and quite crowded, making it difficult to move around and see everything. The sales staff there is very helpful, but keep in mind that there are other visitors too who will have questions for them, so try not to monopolize the attention of a staff person too much. You'll have a great time at B&H just taking in the place. Be sure to give us a trip report,

Also be sure to check their hours of operation before planning a visit: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/Hel...fOperation.jsp

Does that mean that B & H brochure price for a lens does not include NYC sales tax? What rate is NYC sales tax? If I ask B&H to send it to a business address in NY do I avoid that tax (&pay shipping instead)?

I know in my case it was cheaper to have it shipped than to pay NY taxes.

The prices listed by B&H do not include sales tax. You pay sales tax if you purchase an item in the store, or have it shipped to a NY address. Purchases outside of NY State are not taxed.

You will find more info on sales tax on B&H's site: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/Hel...r/SalesTax.jsp

Lots of other questions can be answered right here as well: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/Hel...helpcenter.jsp

FWIW, it is standard practice in the US to quote prices before sales tax, so prices you see in other catalogs or websites will also be pre-tax. Each state and municipality has the ability to set their own tax rates so don't expect any consistency between different geographic locations. Some states (like Delaware) don't have any sales tax. There is no national sales tax in the US (yet).

Also, if you're a US resident just about every state which has a sales tax expects you to pay them directly at their rate for purchases made out of state. These are called "use taxes"... whether or not you choose to pay and whether you will get caught it is another matter.

We look forward to your visit, but as was noted elsewhere in this thread, PLEASE be mindful of our regular weekly schedule and of our holiday closings. We will be closed on several days during Sept & Oct which are not considered "holidays" in standard secular calendars.

Thanks for the reply Henry. I've checked your calendar dates on your website and although some of the dates fall on holidays, I was planning to visit on a Sunday which I believe shouldn't be a problem. I can't wait. The store is a legend.

Take some pics of the store inside and out. I'm kinda curious to what it looks like.

Someone who visited a while back did:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=10915421

FWIW, we're expanding and the newly enlarged store is due to be unveiled mid-October. We're doubling the square footage.

Opening up the rest of the second floor, Henry? That's great news!

Henry,

As a customer of a few years, I have to comment on something.

Your standards of integrity in dealing with your customers are probably the highest in the photo/video mail/online order industry.

Every order I have placed with B&H has been a positive experience. The one time I made an error in judgement and ordered items that did not have the full compatibility I needed, the process of shipping what I needed, return of what I'd ordered, adjusting charges and credits so the difference was paid was all handled in a friendly efficient and seamless manner. I was surprised how easy your store made it.

Every order I've made has been packed well, shipped quickly, and arrived in perfect condition.

Bottom line: I don't shop mail order or online order competition. If you have what I need and I am willing to pay the price...I order.

Thank you. This is VERY gratifying and much appreciated.

I, living in Sweden, soooo want to go there. I don't know what I really need, I just want to walk around and find out things that comes i boxes, has a small leaflet inside and cost a fortune so I can unpack and pack them at the hotelroom. Call me sick, call me a shopaholic, call me an easy target. But I almost want that as much as my gf (almost - let's not exaggerate here).

Hey... didn't realize there was a B&H fan club here...!

I'll be in New York for the first time in my life next week. I've been putting off the trip for years and so I have a bunch of places and sights I want to see... Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park etc etc... but guess what's on top of my list?

B&H.

... guess I'm exploring my inner nerd...

ahhh!

I just checked the holiday hours for B&H - I'll be visiting New York for the first time in 10 years Sept 28th-Oct2 and also had it down on my list of sites

The store looks to be closed the entire time! What are the odds.

Any suggestions on another local equivalent? sigh

Trish

There's no such thing as an equivalent to B&H's retail space, but be sure to drop in on our other New York sponsor, Abel Cine Tech (http://www.dvinfo.net/sponsors/#abc) -- they have a comprehensive touch & try demo area and a very helpful staff.

We've just returned from New York after visiting B&H. What a great experience. The absolute best thing about the store is that everything is out on the floor. This gives you an opportunity to see cranes, steadicams, microphones, professional cameras, high end lighting, pretty much everything I had read about but had never seen apart from photos on the internet. To truly appreciate the size of these things you have to see them first hand. For instance, I had always wanted to see and have a play with a Panasonic DVX100 and a steadicam merlin, both available. There are drinks and sweets around the store which is a nice touch.

I have to say though that the store is the victim of its own success. Although it is very efficiently run, with merchandise sold being transported overhead on conveyor belts, the store was incredibly chaotic. I have never seen so many people in a store in my life. Think Christmas rush hour at its worst. This meant that although there were loads of staff around willing to help, it was difficult to spend enough time and concentration on areas. It was a truly overwhelming experience. I guarantee that if it was less congested and I hadn't felt so claustophobic and pressured, I would have bought considerably more than I did. Indeed, having left, I am kicking myself for not spending more time looking at things in more detail but the overwhelming and uncomfortable feeling was to get what I had planned and get out.

My partner hated the place. She had bought a camera from J&R (another great store) and felt that she had a personal service with great advice. However, at B&H, she asked about batteries for her camera and was advised to buy a particular one. Later, in Best Buy she found a package which included both a battery plus other accessories at a similar price. She was not too pleased. She felt B&H was like a cattle market.

Anyway, I recommend anyone paying a visit to New York to go to B&H but be prepared for huge crowds. Have a list of items you want before you visit otherwise you will stuggle. It's a shame B&H doesn't offer a more personal service.

I think your experience may have been due to the time of day, and/or day of the week.

I have had a pleasent, non-rushed, experience every time I've been there.

Their sales associates never rushed me in any way.

We visited the day after a 2 day holiday which probably explains the crowds and the rushed atmosphere. Shame really, although I definitely plan to go back. It's a wonderful place.

Since being back home my partner has gone back on the B&H website and found that B&H actually sell the accessory kit she saw in Best Buy. The accessory kit includes canon battery and camera case for $49. She was advised in the store to buy the canon battery alone at $46 and had no idea that this deal was available. I mention this, not only to underline the fact that the service was lacking but to give caution to anyone else planning to visit with their partner. I am getting grief big time !

I do not want to be too quick to defend B&H, but before your wife gives you too much grief, please consider the following.

B&H is generally, but not always, the low price leader for quality retailers in the camcorder, camera, and audio fields (and others).

They are a quality outfit that backs what they sell.

There are not a lot of quality retailers in this business, but there are some.

Now, specifically on your accessory kit, there are many accessory kits out there for popular cameras. If it was the same exact kit, with the same exact Canon brand battery, in the same capacity, with the same exact camera case, then Best Buy probably had a good deal.

However, if the battery was a battery that fit a Canon camera, but not the Canon brand, or a different capacity, then the price may be much less.

If you found a better price on the same item elsewhere, then consider it.

Canon likes for you to use their own brand batteries. This is probably due to the fact that batteries are profitable items. Also, it is due to safety. A poorly designed lithium-ion battery, one with out the proper and required built-in safety features can be dangerous. For serious reading and an education on this point, search for Battery University.

One more item to consider before your wife gets too upset. It is generally recognized that B&H is the leading place to buy professional gear. Their prices, service and support policies have gone into making their reputation. B&H is not always the lowest price on all merchandise.

There are other great retailers in this field, including other DVInfo.net sponsors, but none are as large as B&H.

Is B&H perfect? No, but they do have a great reputation, one which has been well earned over the years.

Thanks for your feedback. Unfortunately Sept-Oct is prime-time for Jewish holidays and shortened work-weeks and the result is we're busier than usual when we are open. It can be as busy as the pre-Christmas rush we all know and love. :-)

If you can email me with your partner's transaction number and the kit she wasn't offered I can review this with the sales associate and sales manager. I'm not sure I can fix this for her, but hopefully I can for the next couple.

BTW, before the end of the year, we're opening the 2nd floor and will double the retail store space. That, coupled with wider aisles and more sales associates, should make it less pressing.

"There's two kinds of problems in business... growth problems and liquidation problems. And you'd rather have GROWTH problems!"

Congrats on the expansion

I was one of the guys who spent there 3 days plus about 20 hours a day before they opened in this location :O) We did outside and inside light boxes and canopy on top of the main entrance. We left in a morning an half hour before grand opening :O)
Funny... :O)

Btw, B&H was (and I think still - wasn't there for last 5 years) a magic place with a lots of professionals, smooth service and tons of wishful equipments.

I just hope they have now more trained guys in vcr/vtr department, 'cos in last my visiting I have spent about 20 minutes on explanation to few guys from Boropark about different between RCA and SVHS connectors :O)))

But at pro video/audio departments they have really pro guys, who may answer almost any of your questions and will help you out a lot.