What happens when you pre-order from B&H

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What happens when you pre-order from B&H

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Wataru

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Last night I pre-ordered a D800 from B&H. I then checked my credit card statement on-line to see what happened. To clarify what happens when you pre-order from B&H using a credit card:

B&H puts a "Temporary Authorization" on your card. This is not a charge, but it reduces your available credit limit by the amount of the charge. That is to say, if you have a $5000 credit limit, you order a $3000 camera, and you already have $1000 of charges on your card, you will only have $1000 credit limit left.

This is not a charge: you don't need to pay it, but it could mess up the usefulness of your credit card if you exceed your credit limit. You will only be charged and required to pay at the time they ship.

I am not commenting on if this is a good policy for everyone. It works for me, but maybe not for others. The key is that when they are ready to ship, they will be able to because my card is already authorized and I will not have not exceeded my credit limit. YMMV

Posted 1 year ago #
dormant

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If you use an "international" credit card, ie one from a bank outside the US, B&H charge the full amount straight away and can't refund it.

They did this to me, although I'm not bothered about it.

But it taught me to read the small print in future.

Posted 1 year ago #
Wataru

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I just got off the phone with B&H as I want to understand this process better. We discussed the D800, which I have pre-ordered, and the D4 which I will pre-order once I get authorization from my client.

According to the pro camera sales representative, Nikon allocates a certain number of units . These units are then available for pre-order, which they ship as they come in. Once the allocated number is reached, however, the pre-order is stopped and they wait for Nikon to allocate more. Eventually they will have more allocated than pre-ordered, and the camera will be in stock, and B&H will also notify you when cameras are in stock for delivery if you prefer not to pre-order. So pre-ordering is a good way to get the camera early.

Regarding delivery, we discussed the D4 delay, which directly affects my business. Nikon does not tell the resellers about delays any sooner than we can find out, so they have no time to prepare for the flood of calls about delays from those who have pre-ordered. They have been dealing with D4 and D800 want to be buyers all morning.

I hope this helps. It's about as clear as mud to me....

Posted 1 year ago #
msmoto

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I am not certain it is appropriate for us to comment on a supplier, but B & H is one of the biggest because of the consistency of their business practices. The reviews clearly demonstrate a phenomenally positive record, the envy of many large businesses in the US. In a large organization with a high success rate, the usual practices are what reap success for the most people. I will discuss issues with them, but I have felt the decisions at B & H have always been very positive in the long run. Thanks

Posted 1 year ago #
Wataru

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Although I have no financial interest in B&H, we have recently added them as a vendor for our company. It is my job to understand their business practices, including the pre-order process, so I am sharing what I have found.

We have started using B&H just recently because we find it easy to communicate directly with them, and their staff is patient with us and works through our sometimes complex procurement issues carefully with us.

To date we have had positive experiences with B&H, as well as other vendors linked to from this site. The reason I am sharing my experience is that they were one of the first vendors to allow pre-order of the D800, which impressed me very much. Amazon was right there as soon as Nikon announced the D800, and they have also given us promt service. We selected B&H this time because we need other items shipped at the same time and Amazon often breaks or orders into several shipments that arrive over a two or three day period. Also, Amazon does not have a sales person I can call with questions when i need help specifying photographic or video equipment for our jobs.

I don't think I have ever had a problem with any of the major players we have bought from, but we do ask questions before we buy. I know the margins they work on, and they earn every penny they make.

Posted 1 year ago #
Wataru

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I just received this e-mail from B&H: (its all good)

Hello Jack, my name is ----:
Your order is in our system. That being said we do not have a delivery date from Nikon yet, however we hope to have the preorders filled by the end of March. As you can imagine there is a significant amount of preorders, and we will fill them in the order that they were placed. Please let us know if there is anything else we can assist you with.

Thank you, we appreciate your business.

----
B&H Photo Video and Pro Audio
The Professional's Source.
E-Mail Customer Service Department

Posted 1 year ago #
Nikoner

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What does your "Order Status" say?

Does it say Backordered ?

Thanks.

Posted 1 year ago #
Wataru

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Nikoner said:
What does your "Order Status" say?

Does it say Backordered ?

Thanks.

Yes.

Posted 1 year ago #
Rx4Photo

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I joined this board in late 2010 in the midst of the D7000 preorder fiasco. Actually pre-ordered from B&H and waited for 2 months but got lucky and bought from a local camera shop. Called B&H and cancelled. They were very polite and apologetic on the phone. I hope, due to the fact that these are more expensive cameras - assuming fewer people pre-ordered due to price - that it goes smoother with the D4 and D800.

Posted 1 year ago #
Nikoner

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I hope it does not come to that (cancelling online and buying from brick & mortar), cause for $240/- that you end up paying extra in tax, can get a nice 50mm or nice bag and batteries, etc...

Posted 1 year ago #
Wataru

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There has been a bur-ha-ha with Amazon's strange e-mail, but I have this missive from Nikon USA:

We do not anticipate there being any delays in the delivery of the D800. NPS membership always offers members earlier shipment of cameras when they are released. This does not affect the delivery date for dealers.

I hope this information is useful."

Posted 1 year ago #
msmoto

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Aren't we all funny.... just like buying a lottery ticket and thinking we will win... the same kind of anxiety about getting our camera first. And, I AM NO DIFFERENT!
But I do have a very reliable source outside of NR which confirms there is a delay in the D4 from Nikon, without saying exactly why. But the fact is, it is only my anxiety and anticipation which is the issue for me. I will get my camera exactly when I am supposed to get it and not a second sooner. The real task for all of us is to live life on life's terms. Not easy for me, but it seems to work best that way.
Maybe I will have my D4 by mid-March, I hope!

Posted 1 year ago #
Wataru

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MSMOTO, The D4 delay is really a problem for me. I want to order one for a client, but the client told me to wait...Which will put us behind. Anyway, I get to enjoy the wait.

"Having is not so pleasing as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true."

--Mr. Spock to T'Pring, "Amok Time"

Posted 1 year ago #
Nikoner

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B&H updates ETA on their site to March 22, 2012.

How come Amazon is getting them 12 days earlier on March 10, 2012 :-(

Posted 1 year ago #
supergimp

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Amazon is telling me that my D800E is now going to ship on March 20th. FWIW.

Posted 1 year ago #
msmoto

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Wataru said:
MSMOTO, The D4 delay is really a problem for me. I want to order one for a client, but the client told me to wait...Which will put us behind. Anyway, I get to enjoy the wait.

"Having is not so pleasing as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true."

--Mr. Spock to T'Pring, "Amok Time"

I do remember the days with deadlines and such. In the furniture industry, shooting all the new lines we worked 14 hour days for several weeks before the market in High Point, North Carolina, producing all the material for the salesmen. Then during the market the fun began with the shooting 35mm in the showrooms with folks all around, using only bounce reflectors to help out. At night , well it was called PARTY TIME.

But the fact we all want stuff immediately.... at least today I got some new Elinchrome lights form B & H to play with while I wait for the D4. I think I will replace my D90 with the D300s replacement (D400?) instead of a D800 as the D800 seems so very studio oriented with the huge files and such.

Well, I hope your client is able to stick with you and be happy.

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveyJ

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I have dealt in fairly large quantities with some of the biggest photo firms in the world. As my finances tightened I have been much more vigilant about what photo equipment suppliers I dealt with. B&H has been the ONLY one of these I have been absolutely amazed as to the veracity of their practices, for pre-order and every thing else.....including advice to a serious pro like myself. Everyone else seemed very eager to take my money and some i would not in retrospect deal with again. B&H has simply been the best of the best. Nikon MAP policies have not really helped Nikon prices. Another glitch is there is a delay been announcements and DSLR camera availability. Now we seem to be heading toward an era of more body only serious DSLRs from Nikon and I regard that as a very good thing. I for one am not interested in "kit" lens from any manufacturer. I know lens quality and Nikkor glass is usually a great investment.

Posted 1 year ago #
Scott

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I finally pre-ordered a D800 today and I chose B&H. At first, I was dying to order Feb. 8th, but didn't have the money. Then I wasn't sure whether to get the basic or the E version. Yesterday I got a big commission and was ready to order the E. Really thought hard about it and went for the Basic D800. I love the choice Nikon is offering, but I am going the safe route. I picked B&H because they have an excellent reputation with Pro photographers and I think Nikon wants to keep them happy. The guy who took my order was great. Got an email conformation right away.
I asked him if paying in full now would help speed up anything and he said no. Hopefully I'll still be in the first batch. BTW, I am an artist- oil painter who loves MY photography as a source of reference for making paintings. Love detail and Nikon.

Posted 1 year ago #
msmoto

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A note about B & H.... In the past year I have ordered 15 times from them. I received a defective umbrella, the catch was not working right. So, I sent the email response for "request return" and within a few minutes had my RTA and label for UPS with instructions. I am getting a credit as I continue to order equipment.

This customer care is so good, much better than 90% of retailers in general. As noted, B & H sells to professionals and they are professionals themselves. There may be some who advertise lower prices but the cost in the end is lower from B & H in my opinion. Sometimes, the hassle with less reliable retailers is very costly in psychological terms.

Oh, did someone say they sponsor NR?

(I wonder if this post will help me get my D4 sooner, ha, ha, ha.)

Posted 1 year ago #
Nikoner

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So if Amazon starts to fulfill their D800 pre-orders from March 10th as advertised, any chance of B&H guys doing the same, i.e. earlier than March 22nd?

Posted 1 year ago #
spraynpray

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Looking back to the content of the OP in terms of B & H putting a 'reservation' on your credit card for the full amount of the camera. If it arrives in stock within that month, then that is fine, but if it turned out these rumours were to be true and the lead times went out ten months, then that is a l-o-n-g time to have ones credit limit reduced as in the example given.

Posted 1 year ago #
Ade Barkah

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Typically there is a "pre-authorization" time limit imposed by the credit card processor, after which any amounts held are automatically released.

I assume B&H has a preferential agreement with their processor so they can hold pre-auths for long while (many weeks), but I doubt even B&H can hold pre-auths for 10 months.

Posted 1 year ago #
mordrid52

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The pre-authorization B&H put on my credit card went away after about 10 days.

Posted 1 year ago #
spraynpray

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Thanks for the info.

Posted 1 year ago #
Wataru

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I confirm that there is no pre-authorization reducing my credit limit at this time. I imagine if this were a problem a quick call to the credit card company would result in an increased credit limit. I've never had them say no.

Maybe I can add a pre-order for a D700 at the new price!

Posted 1 year ago #