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B&H no longer shipping chemistry.


mikemgb

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As of today, I know they haven't shipped colour chemistry in a while but now all processing chemicals are showing in store pickup only.

 

I got very lucky that the Perceptol I ordered yesterday is showing shipped.

 

What is going on? Some kind of legislation against shipping chemicals?

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There is a post about this on social networks, too. Most recommended instead is Freestyle which charges for shipping and it might take much longer to receive the order depending on the delivery location. Even I live close to NYC getting there for store pickup is a hassle coming from NJ. Tolls and parking or going there by bus or train is not cheap either. IMO this whole store pickup is not a good idea what B&H implemented here likely just for some less liability and cost for shipping of chemicals. I hope they will consider changing this policy when they see their wet chemical sales dropping severely over the next couple of months.

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I wasn't familiar with Freestyle, I may have to try them as well, they have an incredible range of chemicals.

 

I ordered now a few times with them, they were always reliable. Annoying part is just the shipping fees which will be always included no matter how much you order from them. In this aspect B&H is better due to no shipping fees above a certain amount of payment.

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I opened an Adorama account last night, I'll give them a try for my next couple of orders

 

My experience with Adorama was not the best. I was trapped a few times with them that an item was listed as being available but after I ordered it online and received the order confirmation it stated that it was unavailable and back-ordered. I had to cancel the order then first before I could shop for this item somewhere else where it was still available.

Edited by Martin B
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It could have to do with insurance rates. Insurers will focus on specific aspects of a business and bring whatever pressure they can to reduce liability associated with an account. I would imagine, given the rest of  B&H operations, shipment of film chemistry probably stuck out like a sore thumb during underwriting review. Also, they are located in NY,NY.....a place where you can't purchase a 16oz soft drink.....or maybe 16oz is the limit :)

 

I have used Freestyle on numerous occasions. The are pretty much dedicated to film photography supply. They do charge for shipping, but they are reliable and responsive. I encourage anybody in US, who is dedicated to film, to do some business with them......Even if you transact with other businesses as well.

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Henry Posner from B&H responded on a couple of other forums...

 

"In the wake of the ValuJet Flight 592 crash on May 11, 1996, the federal government began cracking down on safety regulations for many different chemicals in airplane cargo holds. We don't ship ground so every order has to conform. We elected to observe the safety restrictions scrupulously and the result is a range of chemicals and similar items we cannot ship. Compressed air products like Beseler Duster fall under the same restrictions. More recently there have been similar issues with lithium batteries.

I am sorry this is new information for some of you and regret the inconvenience it causes."
 

 

Jeff

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Unfortunately B&H has nearly a monopoly position regarding photo gear here in the US especially after Calumet shut down a few years ago. There is only Adorama as second biggest supplier, and both companies are sort of connected through family connections of the owners. Since the photo market is less profitable for a number of years now, B&H (and Adorama as well) opened business up more to other areas like video, computer systems, and sound. Hard to tell how much profit B&H has made just with sales of wet chemistry and film-related gear. Maybe the liability and insurance cost for shipping was simply too high and no longer seen worthwhile for them to follow.

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Henry Posner from B&H responded on a couple of other forums...

 

"In the wake of the ValuJet Flight 592 crash on May 11, 1996, the federal government began cracking down on safety regulations for many different chemicals in airplane cargo holds. We don't ship ground so every order has to conform. We elected to observe the safety restrictions scrupulously and the result is a range of chemicals and similar items we cannot ship. Compressed air products like Beseler Duster fall under the same restrictions. More recently there have been similar issues with lithium batteries.

I am sorry this is new information for some of you and regret the inconvenience it causes."

 

 

Jeff

 

Doesn't apply everywhere - I always get my orders from B&H (including chemicals when it was still available) via ground shipping since it only takes a day to ship via UPS from NYC to NJ. The above cited paragraph likely applies to locations further away or when a faster shipment method was selected.

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Doesn't apply everywhere - I always get my orders from B&H (including chemicals when it was still available) via ground shipping since it only takes a day to ship via UPS from NYC to NJ. The above cited paragraph likely applies to locations further away or when a faster shipment method was selected.

 

You'll have to speak with Henry....his quote was in response to the recent policy, as here.

 

Jeff

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You'll have to speak with Henry....his quote was in response to the recent policy, as here.

 

Jeff

 

Standard general company policy implementation response. Would we really expect a response regarding points I raised in my earlier comment regarding sales and shipment of wet chemicals? I don't think so.

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Standard general company policy implementation response. Would we really expect a response regarding points I raised in my earlier comment regarding sales and shipment of wet chemicals? I don't think so.

 

Rather than complain here, better to contact B&H if you're really that concerned.  How many top execs even take time to follow and respond to customers on public forums?  

 

Jeff

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Rather than complain here, better to contact B&H if you're really that concerned.  How many top execs even take time to follow and respond to customers on public forums?  

 

Jeff

 

I doubt contacting B&H will get an adequate answer, they have made a decision not to ship chemicals, we'll never know what the real reason was. I'm not going to worry about it and simply take my business elsewhere.

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From posts #29 and 37 of the thread below, it sounds like B&H may be back to shipping chemistry next week, which makes what Henry said even more puzzling. I've bought chemicals from them this year and some in the thread below have as recently as earlier this week.

 

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=158654

Edited by Gregm61
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From posts #29 and 37 of the thread below, it sounds like B&H may be back to shipping chemistry next week, which makes what Henry said even more puzzling. I've bought chemicals from them this year and some in the thread below have as recently as earlier this week.

 

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=158654

 

I ordered some Monday and it shipped Tuesday, but on Tuesday you could no longer have chemicals shipped.

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