My First order with B&H

[FlyingPete]

Well just a little over two weeks ago I placed an order for a EF50mm 1.8 from B&H from little ol New Zealand down here.

After some intial credit card validation hassle (a first order only event), I opted for the chapest postage - air freight, as it takes about a week to courier gear to this part of the world, so hey, what is an extra week!

Sure enough arrived all safe and sound, well packed and a 2/3rds the cost of buying locally, my thoughts in a word about the experience - nice :)

[Belmondo]

Well, we always like a happy ending. Now go take some photos.

[FlyingPete]

Well, we always like a happy ending. Now go take some photos.

Absolutely! Now if I can find a way to get out of work, and stop it raining (it has been raining here now for at least six weeks).

[tim]

Absolutely! Now if I can find a way to get out of work, and stop it raining (it has been raining here now for at least six weeks).

Really? I was in the bay of islands for new years, we had half the days wet, the other half lovely.

I use UPS when I order from B&H, it usually arrives about 5 days after B&H send it - usually a week overall. I did a return once, a Sigma 70-300 I should have kept, they did that very quickly and refunded to my credit card very quickly too, no hastle at all.

[FlyingPete]

Really? I was in the bay of islands for new years, we had half the days wet, the other half lovely.

Well I wasn't at home the first half of the holidays, but I have it on good authority that it did rain most days. I was down Taupo way, nice there most of the time, still alot of snow on the mountains, at least on field was still open!

Every fine moment up here I was working outside on the external improvements ready for the summers entertainment, should summer ever arrive :rolleyes:

I use UPS when I order from B&H, it usually arrives about 5 days after B&H send it - usually a week overall. I did a return once, a Sigma 70-300 I should have kept, they did that very quickly and refunded to my credit card very quickly too, no hastle at all.

I have used UPS for a couple of things (batteies & X'S-Drive), 5 days is about right for me too, however it seems to spend half that in NZ Customs! Nice to know on the returns.

[aam1234]

How was the condition of the lens, was it "really" brand new. The reason for asking is because I'm waiting for a lens from them in the next day or two, but B&H always worries me as there are many people who return their lenses. I'm worried that I'll get one of the returned ones.

What do you guys think.

[FlyingPete]

How was the condition of the lens, was it "really" brand new. The reason for asking is because I'm waiting for a lens from them in the next day or two, but B&H always worries me as there are many people who return their lenses. I'm worried that I'll get one of the returned ones.

What do you guys think.

Looks brand new, it included all the packaging, there are no marks on the mount (plastic) to ever indicate that it has been on a camera, so if it is a return, it was never mounted.

[Moppie]

Good to hear you can reliably buy from them down this way, alot of places in the states simply won't send things to this part of the world, I think they're scared were part of the 3rd world.

However Im surprised it was that much cheaper, with the removal of import duties prices for most things here in NZ have dropped a lot, to the point they are often the cheapest in the world.

[tim]

Buying from B&H generally costs about 2/3 what buying in NZ costs, even taking a courier into account. We're really being ripped off here... or maybe we're just taking advantage of our strong NZD. Could be stuff was bought when the dollar was weaker so now they have to sell it for more.