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Alternatives to B&H - recommended resellers

Chris Ratledge

Chris Ratledge

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Searched and couldn't really find anything addressing this, and I've had good luck with a (new to me) reseller.

If, like me, you've sometimes been frustrated with B&H's Hasidic Jewish holiday closings coinciding with a time-sensitive purchase need, and Amazon isn't cutting it, I recommend checking out Omega Broadcast. They've been mentioned for specific purchases before in other threads I've seen here, but I think they've earned an endorsement from me, even though they don't have online ordering.

http://omegabroadcast.com/index.html

Back in August, I couldn't find the PCD2 Panasonic USB P2 card reader in stock anywhere, but Omega came through, and were cheaper than anywhere else I could find too. Beat B&H's price by $20 dollars. The BMD card I'm looking at is also cheaper from Omega.

If you have any other recommended resellers, please leave a story with your experience.
 
Filmtools.com
 
Kwan Khan said:
Filmtools.com
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Not complaining at all, but make sure if it's time sensitive to check first that filmtools has it in stock. They don't always even if the website says they do, and some items have long wait times from overseas (10-14+ days) if they aren't in CA or NY.

Filmtools has a great selection, and their sales team & shipping folks have always been very helpful.
 
Filmtools sent me two scratched Tiffen filters, but only charged me for one. Kind of a wash. They also have a tendency of delaying my shipments in order to "confirm" I made the order. This has usually taken place while I am 30 miles up into the mountains. So I come back to find out my stuff is still sitting on their shelves. :(
 
abelcine.com

As far as I can tell, they aren't really set up for fast delivery like B&H, but they have a ton of stuff in stock- and they are geared for cinema clients unlike B&H who really caters to ENG/EFP clients.

adorama.com

Adorama isn't geared to film/video professionals- but if they have what you need they are pretty good. Its a big if though.

Film Tools as others have mentioned.

With any of these vendors, make sure and put in a phone call and talk to someone if things are time sensitive.

Also... I've had some luck dealing with manufacturers directly. They are usually reticent- but if you've really tried other options they'll pull through when no one else can. (Be ready to tell them your story of woe and how you tried every rental house in town... but they will pull through.) Of course... it will cost you, usually full MSRP/MAP.
 
Chris Ratledge said:
If, like me, you've sometimes been frustrated with B&H's Hasidic Jewish holiday closings coinciding with a time-sensitive purchase need...
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Looks like B&H isn't the only one that closes for Jewish holidays. I just went to buy an item from Adorama and it looks like nothing will ship until Monday due to Sukkot holiday.
 
Filmtools has a great selection but trying to pay with overseas CC is a pain, they have some special problems with our CCs that neither RED, B&H, Amazon, Abelcine or anyone else has... (for us not in the US).

I give a BIG VOTE to Abelcine, extremly helpful staff, just a joy to do business with them!
 
Markertek.com
 
Filmtools. "They do good work." Homer Simpson
 
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Check the BBB records on any site you buy from. You can find them on almost any site that's been around long enough.

The people (read: idiots) who ran my student production group before I did bought from a sketchy company called US1Photo that sold us a camera for substantially cheaper than B&H/Amazon. The camera did come, but they sold us a "protection plan" that turned out to be a scam.
 
AHHHH B&H frustration is happening right now... need to get an order straightened out asap and they're freekin closed until october 3rd. I have to pay more attention to their holidays.

hmm on second thought.. maybe i'll jump on the band wagon with their holidays.. they get lots of days off.
 
Zach Wilson said:
AHHHH B&H frustration is happening right now... need to get an order straightened out asap and they're freekin closed until october 3rd.
Click to expand...

Lots of other suggestions in this thread, I say try Omega Broadcast!

Sam Eilertsen said:
Check the BBB records on any site you buy from. You can find them on almost any site that's been around long enough.
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Yeah I also suggest checking out resellerratings.com for the same reason. Lots of those too-good-to-be-true vendors are quickly discovered as grey market scammers on that very helpful site.
 
+1 on Adorama. Actually talking to one of their sales reps saved me a good amount on an order once just so they could be "way cheaper than b&h".
 
Curran Giddens said:
Looks like B&H isn't the only one that closes for Jewish holidays. I just went to buy an item from Adorama and it looks like nothing will ship until Monday due to Sukkot holiday.
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Adorama NYC Retail Store will reopen on Sunday October 3 at 9:30 am

Adorama 'phone-sales department will be open:
Tues Sep 28 9:00 - 5:00
Weds Sep 29 9:00 - 3:00

Orders submitted to Adorama during the Sukkot Holiday (Wednesday, September 22 at 12:00pm thru Thursday evening September 30 at 6:00pm) will be delivered to you on the week of October 3. Where necessary, the shipping method will be upgraded at Adorama's expense*

Orders Submitted Thursday evening September 30 after 6:00pm Thru October 2 when the Holiday ends will ship Monday October 4.


* This assurance is not applicable for orders with free shipping. These orders will ship October 4 but with no free upgrade assurance.
Please consider upgrading the shipping option and to use other payment methods to assure quicker delivery time.


Thank you for your understanding and your business

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
 
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