My Experience with hvStar.com a.k.a MaxSaver BEstEastern hkDirect hvPhoto VIDEO

Well This is pretty nerdy BUT I wanted to share my experience with Ordering some PRICEY Hoya PRO1 DIGITAL Circular Polarizing Filters DMC CPL and I figured What the heck just shoot a video of the package and contents when i open it so enjoy this boring video I was a bit weary about ordering from Hong Kong and dropping $186.00 so I bet there are some other people out there like me who might want to view my little experience to help them decide if they want to buy from this great company. To make a long story short.. the packaged contents seem to be all legit and not a scratch on them so im very happy with my purchase. To view the Video of me opening the package check out the youtube video below.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=KUAU4OwOxu4

P.S. I will update this thread when i go out and shoot with the CPL on my 70-200 2.8L IS USM lens

http://hvstar.net/

Price List:
Hoya 77mm PRO1 DIGITAL Circular Polarizer Filter DMC *
Manufacturer Part#: Mfr # 040602
(Qty: 1 x $66.90)

Hoya 72mm PRO1 DIGITAL Circular Polarizer Filter DMC *
Manufacturer Part#: Mfr # 040596
(Qty: 1 x $57.90)

HOYA 72mm Clear PRO1 DIGITAL Protector Filter DMC LPF * NEW
Manufacturer Part#: Mfr # 030061
(Qty: 1 x $25.90)

58mm to 72mm Step-Up Ring Lens-to-Filter/Converter Lens
(Qty: 1 x $4.50)

52mm to 72mm Step-Up Ring Lens-to-Filter/Converter Lens
(Qty: 1 x $4.50)

52mm to 77mm Step-Up Ring Lens-to-Filter/Converter Lens
(Qty: 1 x $4.50)

58mm to 77mm Step-Up Ring Lens-to-Filter/Converter Lens
(Qty: 1 x $4.50)

I have purchased form Maxsaver several times. Like you and manyu others i was originally skeptical. I don't like the Hoya, but do like the B+W. I contacted B+W to determine the legitimacy of the company and was assured they were an authorized reseller. Great products at great prices. Each time it has taken 10 days to get to me. So like you say if you are in a hurry don't buy from them. I refuse to buy anything when I am in a hurry as that is when I lost money, so this fits my buying anyway.


BTW I did not have the patience to sit through your video. Nothing personal, but I just need more neuron stimulation.

rklepper wrote in post #3147835
I have purchased form Maxsaver several times. Like you and manyu others i was originally skeptical. I don't like the Hoya, but do like the B+W. I contacted B+W to determine the legitimacy of the company and was assured they were an authorized reseller. Great products at great prices. Each time it has taken 10 days to get to me. So like you say if you are in a hurry don't buy from them. I refuse to buy anything when I am in a hurry as that is when I lost money, so this fits my buying anyway.


BTW I did not have the patience to sit through your video. Nothing personal, but I just need more neuron stimulation.

haha yup the video was a one take thing pretty boring... i wasnt going to spend time and edit it and stick it in after effects and make it all pretty heck i even debated on whether to spend the time encoding it to stick up on youtube.. but since you have already purchased from them you already know how good they are Thanks for the input

rklepper wrote in post #3147835
I have purchased form Maxsaver several times. Like you and manyu others i was originally skeptical. I don't like the Hoya, but do like the B+W. I contacted B+W to determine the legitimacy of the company and was assured they were an authorized reseller. Great products at great prices. Each time it has taken 10 days to get to me. So like you say if you are in a hurry don't buy from them. I refuse to buy anything when I am in a hurry as that is when I lost money, so this fits my buying anyway.


BTW I did not have the patience to sit through your video. Nothing personal, but I just need more neuron stimulation.

P.S. why didnt you like the hoya? just curious so i might look out for the issue wheni shoot with it

rklepper wrote in post #3147835
I have purchased form Maxsaver several times. Like you and manyu others i was originally skeptical. I don't like the Hoya, but do like the B+W. I contacted B+W to determine the legitimacy of the company and was assured they were an authorized reseller. .

That's interesting because when I called B+W, they told me that MaxSaver was NOT an authorized US reseller. The fellow I spoke to said they had heard of the reseller, but B+W does not know where they get their supply from.

I've ordered from them (under the Besteastern name on eBay) and everything is legit. You can buy filters from them 1/2 price what B&H and all of the US companies charge. The ONLY negative is that shipping takes about 2 weeks.

I would definately order from them again

I've ordered an B+W filter from them too and it looked OK. Even so, I'm a little skeptical because:
1) They used to sell fake LV bags
2) The currently sell fake Canon lens caps
http://hvstar.net …ction=VIEWPROD&​ProdID=226
3) It seems they sell fake lens hoods
http://hvstar.net …ction=VIEWPROD&​ProdID=188
I just can't see how they could get them for so much cheaper.

I purchased two 77mm UV Haze filters from him... one of the best deals I have ever gotten at the time a local camera store was tryng to sell the same ones for $289 ea CDN.. I don't get it???? I got two for something like 90 bucks. They don't look like fakes at all to me.

Well, I've been wondering about this fo a while, so I emailed Schneider Optics today and got two response from them. I don't like copying and pasting emails and posting them on the web because I personally don't think it's "polite", but I will paraphrase.

1st email:
- Maxsaver is based in HK and does not buy from Schneider Optics USA.
- They could not comment on the "authenticity" of the products.

2nd email:
- Got an email for the german head office (whom I plan to write to)
- They told me to buy from an Authorized dealer (no surprise there)
- B&H imports from a European distributor. So it seems the ones from B&H are real, but do not carry a US warranty.

I just ordered a 77mm Kenko Pro-1 (same as the hoya) CPL from them and it came and looked perfect.

I checked it out on my L and noticed no flare or issues and the filter itself is in awesome condition and feels like it should (no rattles, tight, turns easily, and the threads are quality).


I would assume they can get them cheaper since they are in Asia and probably can source them direct or near direct somehow.

Ordered a few times from them and excellent. Agree that the Kenko CP is better value than the Hoya given it is the same item with a different name. We had a similar 'too good to be true' thread a while back. Truth is business is about margin and cash flow. If they have fewer/reduced costs of sale then margin higher and able to offer deeper discounts. B&H have higher costs of sale I expect so won't discount to same degree. Not rocket science!

condyk wrote in post #3154394
Ordered a few times from them and excellent. Agree that the Kenko CP is better value than the Hoya given it is the same item with a different name. We had a similar 'too good to be true' thread a while back. Truth is business is about margin and cash flow. If they have fewer/reduced costs of sale then margin higher and able to offer deeper discounts. B&H have higher costs of sale I expect so won't discount to same degree. Not rocket science!

Not sure what you mean by, "business is about margin and cash flow", but I would argue that margin isn't as easy to calculate as you would think. Retail margin is generally calculated as (selling price - wholesale cost)/wholesale cost. This range that stores will accept is generally determined by the stores fixed costs, reputation (because it costs money to build retail brand equity), etc. I agree that a reseller like MaxSaver will have lower fixed costs and operating costs than a reseller like B&H. That said, I wouldn't be sure that B&H sells less than MaxSaver because for all the people that frequent this board, there are many more that just buy from B&H because of the convenience and perceived security. If we assume that, and also assume that the purchasers at B&H are not monkeys, I would highly doubt that B&H's per unit cost is much higher than that of MaxSaver.

I'm not saying that MaxSaver's products are definitely fake. It may not be rocket science, but I don't think it's that smple to figure out who's able to sell a legitimate product for less...I've bought from MaxSaver myself, and the stuff looks real, but anyone who's done business in Asia will tell you that they the MASTERS in copying anything they want. At the very least, one should be cautious and aware of the signs of fake products:
- super cheap prices
- other fake products sold (there are some things they sell which are 100% fakes)
- region (Asia is notorious for fakes)

One other explanation is that the products are real, but not "legitimate." Often in the manufacturing world, the company that markets and sells the product, is not the same company that owns and/or controls manufacturing. Sometimes, unscrupulous manufacturers will manufacture a little extra more than has been asked of them and then go and sell those on their own.

Man, if you don't like them or don't want to buy from them or don't trust them then let it go and shop at B&H. Have we seen any actual complaints from the many buyers here?

1) what is up with all these youtube videos of people opening boxes???
2) i bought from them before and was very pleased with the service and price.
3) if someone is looking for the Hoya pro-1 CPL, i have one for sale that was used once.