B&H Return Policy - no more 200-shutter-count restriction?: Open Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review (2024)

I've purchased regularly from B&H and been happy with them for a long time, but stopped buying cameras from them when they changed their return policy to refuse returns of cameras with more than 200 shutter clicks.

Just recently, I took a look at their return policy, and I can no longer find that restriction. I did some quick searching, here and elsewhere on the web, and I haven't found any mention of a change in their return policy.

Can anyone confirm that they have, in fact, changed the policy?

My apologies if this is old news, or I've somehow mis-read their return policy, and it hasn't actually changed.

Here's the text of the current Return Policy page:

At B&H, our goal is to ensure your complete satisfaction with your purchase. If, for whatever reason, you are dissatisfied with your purchase, you can return it to B&H within 30 days of purchase date. Claims for missing items or items damaged in transit must be received within two business days of receipt of merchandise.

You have the option of exchanging the item(s) or receiving a refund for the full amount of the item purchased . Refunds on returned items will be issued in the same payment form as tendered at the time of purchase. If payment was made by credit card, once we receive the product we will credit your account. Please allow 7-10 days for a credit to appear on your credit card statement. If payment was made by check, the refund check will be issued after 10 business days from the date of purchase.

Please read all conditions below. If conditions are not met, B&H reserves the right to refuse the return or to charge a restocking fee not less than 15%.

How to return or exchange an item:

• In order to return an item you need to first obtain an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number.
• To request an RMA number online click here.
• To request an RMA number by phone, call Customer Service at 800.606.6969 / 212.444.6615 .
• Place the original package into a shipping carton.
• Please do not place stickers or shipping labels on the original manufacturer’s package.
• The RMA number must be clearly written on the outer box. If you received a label in the email, print the label and tape it to the carton.
• We recommend you ship via insured ground service with a tracking number. Return shipping charges are the responsibility of the customer. We are not responsible for lost or damaged packages.
• Send pre-authorized returns to:
  BLDG 664 DOOR A - B&H RET
  63 Flushing Ave
  Brooklyn, N.Y. 11205
  Items purchased from our Used Department are to be returned to:
  B&H Photo Used Dept.
  420 9th Ave.
  New York, NY 10001
• Alternatively, you may return an item to our Returns Department at our New York Superstore.

Rules :

• All returned or exchanged items must be in new condition, in their original box, and must include all packing material, blank warranty cards, manuals, and all accessories.
• B&H is not responsible for personal data or items left in returned merchandise.
• Defective items may be repaired or exchanged at our discretion for the same model or manufacturer's equivalent model.
• RMA numbers are valid for 10 days.
• B&H is not responsible for any consequential or incidental damage resulting from the sale or use of any merchandise bought from us. We are responsible for the monetary value of the merchandise only.

No Return/Exchange On:

• TVs, combos and monitors 37" and larger once any of the packaging has been opened.
• Computers, Software and Hardware once any of the manufacturer's packaging has been opened.
• All consumable items (e.g., film, tapes, paper, bulbs, CD, DVDs, etc.) once unwrapped.
• Any computers built or modified by B&H to customer's specifications.
• Special Order merchandise.
• Underwater equipment that has been submerged.
• Educational tapes and books once unwrapped.
• B&H Gift Cards are redeemable for merchandise only and may not be redeemed for cash.

4

That's too bad they changed it. 200 clicks is more than enough to determine if there's an immediate manufacturing defect. 30 days no questions asked opens it up to an effective month-free rental, but I see they can charge a 15% restocking fee so that should discourage that sort of behavior.

Mark

1

• All returned or exchanged items must be in new condition, in their original box, and must include all packing material, blank warranty cards, manuals, and all accessories.

I think this is a pretty broad statement and allows B&H to decide what new condition means. I think they could easily and personally I believe rightfully claim a returned camera with more than 200 shutter clicks is no longer in new condition.

DigitalPlatonist wrote:

I've purchased regularly from B&H and been happy with them for a long time, but stopped buying cameras from them when they changed their return policy to refuse returns of cameras with more than 200 shutter clicks.

Just recently, I took a look at their return policy, and I can no longer find that restriction. I did some quick searching, here and elsewhere on the web, and I haven't found any mention of a change in their return policy.

Can anyone confirm that they have, in fact, changed the policy?

My apologies if this is old news, or I've somehow mis-read their return policy, and it hasn't actually changed.

If you are going to buy from them, call and make sure. That is the only way you are going to be sure. Personally I think 200 shots is plenty to find out if there is a problem with the camera.

Happy Reading!

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/42557140

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50128822

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50334643

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50577613

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50579816

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50495284

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50740346

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51677479

DigitalPlatonist wrote:

I've purchased regularly from B&H and been happy with them for a long time, but stopped buying cameras from them when they changed their return policy to refuse returns of cameras with more than 200 shutter clicks.

Just recently, I took a look at their return policy, and I can no longer find that restriction. I did some quick searching, here and elsewhere on the web, and I haven't found any mention of a change in their return policy.

Can anyone confirm that they have, in fact, changed the policy?

Yes. You are correct. The restriction has been lifted. Each return will be evaluated individually.

henryp wrote:

DigitalPlatonist wrote:

I've purchased regularly from B&H and been happy with them for a long time, but stopped buying cameras from them when they changed their return policy to refuse returns of cameras with more than 200 shutter clicks.

Just recently, I took a look at their return policy, and I can no longer find that restriction. I did some quick searching, here and elsewhere on the web, and I haven't found any mention of a change in their return policy.

Can anyone confirm that they have, in fact, changed the policy?

Yes. You are correct. The restriction has been lifted. Each return will be evaluated individually.

I like clear definitions and want to know if I will have to pay for a restock fee. I have bought almost every lens and accessory from B&H and only returned 1 lens because it was defective but I have never bought a camera because of 200 click limitation. This appears worse. So B&H will not be getting my next camera sale (I was considering a referbed D800 but was not quite sure and decided to wait until black friday) But now there was mention of a restocking fee, it seems I will not be buying any more lenses or anything anymore.

2

Richard wrote:

henryp wrote:

DigitalPlatonist wrote:

I've purchased regularly from B&H and been happy with them for a long time, but stopped buying cameras from them when they changed their return policy to refuse returns of cameras with more than 200 shutter clicks.

Just recently, I took a look at their return policy, and I can no longer find that restriction. I did some quick searching, here and elsewhere on the web, and I haven't found any mention of a change in their return policy.

Can anyone confirm that they have, in fact, changed the policy?

Yes. You are correct. The restriction has been lifted. Each return will be evaluated individually.

I like clear definitions and want to know if I will have to pay for a restock fee. I have bought almost every lens and accessory from B&H and only returned 1 lens because it was defective but I have never bought a camera because of 200 click limitation. This appears worse. So B&H will not be getting my next camera sale (I was considering a referbed D800 but was not quite sure and decided to wait until black friday) But now there was mention of a restocking fee, it seems I will not be buying any more lenses or anything anymore.

If you have a defective item, it will of coursenot be restocked so no restocking fee. Given what you just said, you're not the type to return something because you simply "didn't like it", so you've nothing to worry about.

Mark

Mark B. wrote:

Richard

Yes. You are correct. The restriction has been lifted. Each return will be evaluated individually.

I like clear definitions and want to know if I will have to pay for a restock fee. I have bought almost every lens and accessory from B&H and only returned 1 lens because it was defective but I have never bought a camera because of 200 click limitation. This appears worse. So B&H will not be getting my next camera sale (I was considering a referbed D800 but was not quite sure and decided to wait until black friday) But now there was mention of a restocking fee, it seems I will not be buying any more lenses or anything anymore.

If you have a defective item, it will of course not be restocked so no restocking fee. Given what you just said, you're not the type to return something because you simply "didn't like it", so you've nothing to worry about.

Mark

That does not mean I have not returned something somewhere else because it did not meet my expectations. I do my homework to make sure this does not happen, but I do not buy anything from a place that has a restocking fee.

The reason I quit buying from Best Buy and turned to the internet was the restocking fee they imposed. They no longer have one now and now they say they will match prices with B&H with a 15 day return, I may have to return to them or have to look at other Adorama I heard was a pretty good place. I will have to check their policies

Richard wrote:

Mark B. wrote:

Richard

Yes. You are correct. The restriction has been lifted. Each return will be evaluated individually.

I like clear definitions and want to know if I will have to pay for a restock fee. I have bought almost every lens and accessory from B&H and only returned 1 lens because it was defective but I have never bought a camera because of 200 click limitation. This appears worse. So B&H will not be getting my next camera sale (I was considering a referbed D800 but was not quite sure and decided to wait until black friday) But now there was mention of a restocking fee, it seems I will not be buying any more lenses or anything anymore.

If you have a defective item, it will of course not be restocked so no restocking fee. Given what you just said, you're not the type to return something because you simply "didn't like it", so you've nothing to worry about.

Mark

That does not mean I have not returned something somewhere else because it did not meet my expectations. I do my homework to make sure this does not happen, but I do not buy anything from a place that has a restocking fee.

The reason I quit buying from Best Buy and turned to the internet was the restocking fee they imposed. They no longer have one now and now they say they will match prices with B&H with a 15 day return, I may have to return to them or have to look at other Adorama I heard was a pretty good place. I will have to check their policies

Unless I'm missing something in their return policy, they reserve the right to charge a restocking fee if the return conditions are not met, which are still very liberal. It looks like they eliminated the 200 shutter actuation limit for cameras, but the rest seems the same AFAIR - complete satisfaction, 30 days to return the purchase, etc. Did I miss something?

You sound like the type of customer they would want to keep.

Edit: forgot to add the policy link.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/HelpCenter/ReturnExchange.jsp

Best regards,
Doug

Doug J wrote:

Unless I'm missing something in their return policy, they reserve the right to charge a restocking fee if the return conditions are not met, which are still very liberal. It looks like they eliminated the 200 shutter actuation limit for cameras, but the rest seems the same AFAIR - complete satisfaction, 30 days to return the purchase, etc. Did I miss something?

That pretty much sums it up. We reserve the right to charge a restock fee but rarely do so. In the infrequent situation where we would, the customer is informed beforehand. A restock fee might be applied, hypothetically, when the returned item shows sufficient signs of use it has to be sold as an open-box or used item at a lower price. As I said, it happens very rarely. We would not normally charge a restock fee for a product being returned due to our error or an out-of-the-box defect.

Richard wrote:

(I was considering a referbed D800 but was not quite sure and decided to wait until black friday) But now there was mention of a restocking fee, it seems I will not be buying any more lenses or anything anymore.

A refurbished D800 would come to us from Nikon USA and then sold to you. If upon inspection you wished to return it for exchange or refund I cannot offhand think of a normal situation for which a restock fee would be applicable.

I order a lot from B&H. Sometimes I return things. I don't take a piece of gear out of the house until I know I plan to keep it. If I return it, it's in pristine condition. I've never been charged a restocking fee.

I consider returns to be a normal part of Internet shopping. It's not like you can examine the item in person before buying. Unless you have the ability to perfectly envision how a piece of gear will work before you actually hold/use it, some purchases are going to go back. (If you preview in a brick-and-mortar store and then buy online, shame on you.)

I always felt like the 200-activation rule was a fair one. As a previous poster noted, you can tell whether a camera is defective (or whether you like it) within 200 clicks of the shutter. There is certainly some potential for abuse now that the rule has been eliminated, but B&H is run with integrity. I can't imagine them not making it right if a subsequent buyer purchased a returned item and wasn't satisfied with it.

they will get the restock fee, that we will not know about, then offer the camera at a discount and make money again. Seems the restock and resale may end up making them more money!

Go HenryP go!

Personally, I think these types of returns with more than 100 clicks or so, are abusive.

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