B&H Photo

Haven't bought much lately, but yesterday decided I wanted the Nikon 10-20 for my D 7200. Looked around online and found a Refurb at a good price at B&H. I also wanted a couple of new SDHC cards, so gave them a call. Quick, efficient, knowledgeable - remembered why they and Roberts are my favorite vendors. The salesman mentioned that I had not bought since 2016, but had a $29 credit on the books that he would apply. Wow! I got an email Order Confirmation almost immediately, followed by a shipment notice. Great price and service!

1st class people with a 1st class operation.

Have they started charging state sales tax yet?

Have they started charging state sales tax yet?

Don't know, not on the confirmation - anyway, no sales tax in Montana.

I just bought a refurb D810 from B&H. Same experience, as always. Excellent customer service. No Utah sales tax yet, but I'm sure it's coming. The state has been grubbing for a long time about the loss of revenue due to online sales versus in-state, brick & mortar sales. For our small population (just over 3 million), it makes a big difference. It gets made up by taxes and fees in other areas, but it does give the online sellers a price advantage, at the expense of the rest of us taxpayers. I just hope the solution is fair and equitable. We foresee the same kind of problem as electric vehicles become more popular. They won't pay gas tax, but they will use the roads the gas tax pays for. They're already talking a per-mile tax in lieu, but how does one deal with hybrids? Or do we do away with the gas tax and only charge per-mile? Do heavy trucks pay the same rate as a Honda Fit? Complexity, complexity. But I digress. +1 to B&H and Adorama (from whom I received my new lens yesterday!).

Have they started charging state sales tax yet?

 

I think it'll take a little time before they get a workable system in place.

The vast majority of my purchases from B&H (and Amazon) have billed NY State sales tax. I am sure that the large online retailers will have no problem collecting sales tax for all states that require it, but smaller venders may need to find a third party solution to comply. I would also agree that B&H is a 1st class operation.

B & H = 1st Class

I bought a used Tamron 18-270 lens but it had a malfunction: every 200 shots or so it would shut down and throw a "clean contacts" error code. I contacted B&H on the third day and within minutes I had a return shipping label in my e-mail. The lens is enroute back to them as I type, but after I get reimbursed I'm going to get a new Sigma 18-300 from them.

 

It's the service after the sale that makes or breaks the seller.

B&H is my goto source. I've spent tens of thousands with them.

Visit their store in NYC if you ever get a chance. It's like going to an amusement park. First off they have everything from telescopes to computers to film to whatever. When you buy stuff, a salesman on the floor, and there are huge numbers of them so you don;t wait, will "post the product you want to buy on a local computer and give you a receipt. Then you move on to buy something else. You get another receipt. After you are done, you go to the checkout area pay your bill and then pick up your stuff. WHile you;ve been shopping, the products you bought are being transported by an overhead conveyor system to the front of the store where people pack up your stuff ready to go right after the bill is paid. Whenever I'm there, I'm looking around for the pinballs and flippers. One other thing. If you spend more than $100, you can park your car for free across the street at the parking lot. I think if you spend like $200 or more, you get two hours free. If you go over, there is a charge for subsequent hours. But if you stay focused on what you want to buy, you can get out of there faster. Then again you might want to get lost playing with everything and blow a bundle.

I've had good luck with KEH & Adorama, but B&H is my favorite too.

 

i bought a monitor from them a while back, and the representative caught that I had chosen a less suitable connection than that was possible with my computer. Saved me dollars and frustration.

 

(snip)

No Utah sales tax yet, but I'm sure it's coming. The state has been grubbing for a long time about the loss of revenue due to online sales versus in-state, brick & mortar sales. For our small population (just over 3 million), it makes a big difference. It gets made up by taxes and fees in other areas, but it does give the online sellers a price advantage, at the expense of the rest of us taxpayers. I just hope the solution is fair and equitable.

(snip)

 

When this was first explained to me by my father, over 50 years ago, the shipping charges, to the buyer, about made up for the taxes.

(Yes it doesn't help the state, but does decrease the advantage.)

 

But that was when mail order meant mailing an order form in, waiting a week or so, and getting what you ordered.

 

With instant web ordering, and fast shipping methods, I do agree that it is time to change things.

 

Gasoline taxes conveniently charge more per mile for heavier, less efficient, vehicles that also cause more road wear.

 

For electric vehicles, a new taxing method will be needed.

I thought the electricity in electric vehicles was free.

Isn’t it provided by unicorn farts?

 

Yes, according to Voltaire...

About state sales taxes, B&H has a warehouse in New Jersey, charges NJ customers NJ sales tax. Until things finish changing, this gives, for example. Samys, an advantage for NJ buyers for purchases of expensive items.

You would deal, not just the states, but 10,000 state and local taxing bodies. In Illinois, any state employee with a door on their office is a taxing body. Per the Supreme Court decision, South Dakota established a uniform tax, collected by a single state agency, with exemptions for small business (< $100K/year in that state). Others will have to conform to that basis in order to qualify under this decision. Congress can act too, as the sole agent in control of interstate commerce, to collect and distribute sales tax revenue. New York would scream, among others, but that's what happens when you're addicted to spending other people's money.

 

Most people will continue to purchase from B&H to benefit from their comprehensive inventory, accurate and informative web catalog, and effective business model.

Yes, according to Voltaire...

I like your wit....;)