Message from discussion B&H has the worst customer service on the planet.

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Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm,rec.photo.equipment.medium-format,rec.video.desktop,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.advanced,rec.video.desktop
Subject: Re: B&H has the worst customer service on the planet.
From: Jeff Shoaf <jeffsho...@-alltel.net>
References: <oBVOb.3241$Kp5.2507@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com>
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NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 15:24:09 EST
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 20:24:09 GMT

"      bozak" <bo...@mail.com> wrote in news:oBVOb.3241$Kp5.2507
@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com:

> I bought a Panasonic stand alone dvd recorder from them
> (their top of the line unit for the home consumer) and it came
> when they said it would.  This product came with a rebate
> from Panasonic which included 2 DVD-RAM and 8 DVD-R
> discs.  When i bought the recorder they had the rebate form
> on their site for downloading.  Once I received the product
> I went back to the site and it was no longer there.  I spent
> a ridiculous amount of time waiting on their phone lines for
> someone to talk too.  Never happened.  I sent three emails to
> them.  One to the guy who sold it to me (he forwarded it to
> the so called customer service department), and two to their
> customer service department, both of which went unanswered.
> 
> The whole problem with the matter is that Panasonic is no
> longer participating in the rebate, but I called Panasonic and
> they told me that they would honor the rebate if B&H sent me
> the form.  This isn't a huge problem, but if they cant take the
> time out to send me a rebate form through fax or email, I wonder
> what would happen if I had a real problem that they needed
> to fix.  Their customer service department is none existent.
> 
> I'm now in the market for an external Sony 510UL dvd recorder.
> I told the guy who i intially bought the Panasonic recorder that
> I would buy it from them if all went well with that purchase.
> I would buy it from them if i was into aggravation.
> 
> Just in case they want to say I'm lying about it, this is
> their reference number...
> 
> control no. 109178360
> 
> They are good for communicating with you as long as you
> have received your product.  Once you receive it you are
> on your own.
> 
> 

I'll have to disagree with you. I recently bought a fairly expensive lens 
from them. When I received it, they had included a manufacturer's rebate 
form for the lens. I quickly noticed that the lens had dust in it. I took 
some test shots with it and didn't notice any adverse affects from the 
dust, but I knew that it would affect the resale value of the lens so I 
decided to exchange it. It did take a while to get through to a customer 
service rep, but this was between the Christmas and New Year's holidays 
so I assumed they were overloaded.

When I finally got through to a CS rep, he took my information, gave me 
an RMA number, and e-mailed me a web link where I could print out a pre-
paid UPS label. I printed the label, packaged up the lens, attached the 
label, and dropped the package off at a nearby Staples on a Tuesday. I 
received the replacement lens the next Tuesday.

I'm so happy with their service that I placed another order from them 
last night.