5D Mark 3 Queue @ B&H

[takoman46]

With any luck, with the huge amount of pre-orders they're getting around the world, canon rump up production at all their factories to fill al those orders quickly (before people get tired of waiting and jump to the D800).
Then, once all the pre-orders are filled, production stays ramped up for all the people ordering once the reviews come out (up to june-sept or so)
After that, production stays ramped up for a while (like the xmas rush), but everyone who wants one (or two) has already got them, the market gets flooded by early next year, the street price falls to $2.5k, then I can afford one...

That's quite a theory you have here lol. I'll give you a +1 for optimism . I have been meaning to call B&H to upgrade my pre-order to next day air shipping and to hopefully get some insight on where my pre-order stands. If it is true that the first shipment will be at most 1000 units, then I'm not sure if I ordered soon enough. I placed my order at 12:34am EST... approx. 14 min. after the original poster (who may already be between 350-450 on the list. I suppose a lot can happen in 14 min. so we'll see what the B&H customer service rep tells me when I call on sunday (they're already closed today and tomorrow). Will post findings.

 

[frisk]

I do wonder - how many of the orders in the various queues are going to be cancelled?

I have seen several posts from people saying that they placed an order with multiple retailers, and intend to cancel all but the one first to deliver.

So, maybe some of us who placed just a single order will move up in the queue just before shipping actually starts- just speculating, though.

 

[Crapking]

Got my initial order in very quickly RIGHT after announcement (backorder NOT pre-order screen) and I received a confirmation email AND an email with billing info, AND my CC was actually charged.
When I looked at my CC statement this week, I saw the original bill posted,BUT a few lines later, I also saw a "credit" reversing the original charge ??? Tried to reach B&H to see what's up, but they are closed today. Have ordered a few other things from them in the past, but never a pre-order (backorder) item like this.
Should I be more worried than everyone else ??

 

[Tkshotz]

I pre-ordered the camera at approximately 12:20am EST the night that it was announced at B&H. I called up B&H today and asked them where I stood in the pre-order queue. He couldn't give me an exact answer, but he indicated that I was in the first 500 pre-orders, but in the latter half (so around position 350-450). He also stated that the current queue has ballooned well past 10,000 pre-orders (but again, didn't give me the exact figure).

When I asked him how many units they will receive in the first shipment, he said that they were still unsure as to the number as of this point. Anywhere from 100 to 1000 was the ballpark number that he gave me, but said to take those figures with a grain of salt.

Fingers crossed that they receive at least 350 in the first shipment.

I just checked my email I per ordered 12:19 est on march 1

 

[swampler]

I also have to wonder how many of those are body only Vs kit? I haven't ordered yet, figuring the kit would be in less demand.

 

[RKang]

I've been reading some posts about telling where you stand on the queue. How can you tell based off the confirmation number? I want to know where I stand.

 

[hoousi]

2 thumbs up for a thread full of PRO mkIII! Was at the local shop (Basel, Switzerland) yesterday one day after a mkIII preview session, everything seems on time, maybe even earlier according to the Canon rep, everybody raved about the camera. Promising!

 

[FyreStorm]

I pre-ordered the camera at approximately 12:20am EST the night that it was announced at B&H. I called up B&H today and asked them where I stood in the pre-order queue. He couldn't give me an exact answer, but he indicated that I was in the first 500 pre-orders, but in the latter half (so around position 350-450). He also stated that the current queue has ballooned well past 10,000 pre-orders (but again, didn't give me the exact figure).

When I asked him how many units they will receive in the first shipment, he said that they were still unsure as to the number as of this point. Anywhere from 100 to 1000 was the ballpark number that he gave me, but said to take those figures with a grain of salt.

Fingers crossed that they receive at least 350 in the first shipment.

I just checked my email I per ordered 12:19 est on march 1

12:18 EST!!! LOL!!

 

[wookiee2cu]

Got my initial order in very quickly RIGHT after announcement (backorder NOT pre-order screen) and I received a confirmation email AND an email with billing info, AND my CC was actually charged.
When I looked at my CC statement this week, I saw the original bill posted,BUT a few lines later, I also saw a "credit" reversing the original charge ??? Tried to reach B&H to see what's up, but they are closed today. Have ordered a few other things from them in the past, but never a pre-order (backorder) item like this.
Should I be more worried than everyone else ??

Same situation as you (but I haven't checked my cc statement regarding the credit), I think B&H ran an authorization to see if the funds were there and your card will actually be billed once it ships, I think that's what the "credit" means. For confirmation though it is best to check with B&H. I'll be a little ticked if my order is scratched because I got it in too early but the only email I have received is my order confirmation so I'm assuming everything is good to go.

 

[takoman46]

Ok so I just spoke to a customer service rep at B&H. Basically, he did not provide any specific information but did tell me this:
1) They do not know how many units they will be receiving in the first shipment. But it will be "a lot". (Um... ok... a lot is good lol).
2) The customer service rep apparently has some idea of the number of units they are expecting to receive and stated that since I ordered within the first hour of the 5dmkIII going live on their site, i would be at the top of the list. (speculating this means that if you got you order in within the first hour, you should be within the first shipment ;D).

Anyone hear anything different?

 

[Crapking]

Followed up with B & H today - they acknowledged they do a credit hold x 48 hrs then reverse the charge. They did not cancel the order , but they would not let me know where I was in the pre-order line, nor when they expected to ship

 

[takoman46]

I did a routine check on my online banking statement and noticed that there is now a hold on the funds for my 5DmkIII preorder. My method of payment for the preorder was with my debit card and the temporary charge has appeared and removed a within a few days of placing my order on March 2nd. But now the funds are on hold again? They weren't on hold until now.

Could this mean that B&H has received stock or at least has a figure from Canon regarding the number of units they are receiving in the first shipment?

Has anybody else noticed that the funds for the pre-order being suddenly put on hold like a pre-charge? I hope this means that B&H is sending out the charges to customers that have made the initial shipment!

 

[5dmk.iii]

Spare a thought for the rest us who ordered very late... i.e. March 5th ;D

What does it mean when BH says the status = Back ordered; does it mean I missed the first batch?

 

[takoman46]

Spare a thought for the rest us who ordered very late... i.e. March 5th ;D

What does it mean when BH says the status = Back ordered; does it mean I missed the first batch?

No my order status also shows "backordered". I think the general consensus was that it shows that because the product is not yet available. Supposedly nobody knows how many units will be available in the first shipment so I wouldn't say that it's impossible for you to have made the first shipment.

 

[t.linn]

What does it mean when BH says the status = Back ordered; does it mean I missed the first batch?

B&H has already said they don't know how many they are receiving so it would be impossible for them to indicate one way or another whether your order will be filled from the first batch. It may be possible for them to tell you where you are in line but nothing else.

 

[erfon]

I did a routine check on my online banking statement and noticed that there is now a hold on the funds for my 5DmkIII preorder. My method of payment for the preorder was with my debit card and the temporary charge has appeared and removed a within a few days of placing my order on March 2nd. But now the funds are on hold again? They weren't on hold until now.

Could this mean that B&H has received stock or at least has a figure from Canon regarding the number of units they are receiving in the first shipment?

Has anybody else noticed that the funds for the pre-order being suddenly put on hold like a pre-charge? I hope this means that B&H is sending out the charges to customers that have made the initial shipment!

as soon as you order, they put that hold on there. it's just a temporary thing though. they will charge your card for real once your item is ready to ship.

 

[Crapking]

I re-checked but no 'second' posting of charges yet - only the initial 'hold' with prompt cancellation of the hold.
My original email time was 12:28 AM, 3/2, and mine also states 'backordered' but the customer service rep told me they all say that.

 

[SomeGuyInNewJersey]

I preordered at 12:13am on the 2nd so I have a relatively good place in the line.

I ordered body only but changes in my lens plans means I'd kinda like to change to the kit... I guess I can't because I'd go to the back of the kit line... Oh well, body only it is

 

[takoman46]

I did a routine check on my online banking statement and noticed that there is now a hold on the funds for my 5DmkIII preorder. My method of payment for the preorder was with my debit card and the temporary charge has appeared and removed a within a few days of placing my order on March 2nd. But now the funds are on hold again? They weren't on hold until now.

Could this mean that B&H has received stock or at least has a figure from Canon regarding the number of units they are receiving in the first shipment?

Has anybody else noticed that the funds for the pre-order being suddenly put on hold like a pre-charge? I hope this means that B&H is sending out the charges to customers that have made the initial shipment!

as soon as you order, they put that hold on there. it's just a temporary thing though. they will charge your card for real once your item is ready to ship.

I think you misunderstood my post. I have already gotten the temporary charge the day after I placed my order (March 2nd) and that charge has been removed a few days after that. What I have discovered is new and just occurred today when I checked my account balance.

 

[takoman46]

I re-checked but no 'second' posting of charges yet - only the initial 'hold' with prompt cancellation of the hold.
My original email time was 12:28 AM, 3/2, and mine also states 'backordered' but the customer service rep told me they all say that.

Did you pre-order with a credit card or debit card? Maybe what I'm seeing on my account only affects debit card pre-orders? My order confirmation from B&H came in at 12:34am EST so a few minutes after yours. I dunno. Just thought it strange that the funds are have been reserved when the camera isn't supposed to be getting shipped until next week.