B&H Issues!!!

[Sitting Elf]

I sympathize with the OP because regardless of whether it will arrive today, a lens shipment from B&H will almost assuredly require a signature for delivery. Therefore, not knowing the exact delivery date if it doesn't make it today can be a problem because he has to be available for the delivery, unless someone else is always at the shipping location.

Apple, for example, requires a signature for even the cheapest accessories, and I always have to print and fill out a release if I'm not going to be at home. Pain in the rear end!

 

[Kliphten]

I sympathize with the OP because regardless of whether it will arrive today, a lens shipment from B&H will almost assuredly require a signature for delivery. Therefore, not knowing the exact delivery date if it doesn't make it today can be a problem because he has to be available for the delivery, unless someone else is always at the shipping location.

Apple, for example, requires a signature for even the cheapest accessories, and I always have to print and fill out a release if I'm not going to be at home. Pain in the rear end!

Exactly! I've been waiting all day and while I don't mind whether it comes today or not, what I do mind is not having a clear answer as to where it is or when it will arrive!

 

[Kliphten]

Well, tracking has finally updated! Lens is still in New York! The only conclusion I can come up with is that B&H didn't get the package out yesterday and lied to me today about it being sent out! I asked them if it was sent yesterday, twice, and both times they said it was! Very disappointing...

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Well, tracking has finally updated! Lens is still in New York! The only conclusion I can come up with is that B&H didn't get the package out yesterday and lied to me today about it being sent out! I asked them if it was sent yesterday, twice, and both times they said it was! Very disappointing...

What pickup time does it say on the tracking page? B&H can put it out for UPS, but, until the UPS truck gets back to the terminal, unloads, and scans packages, the time might not be set. If the UPS truck breaks down or gets delayed, that can happen.
I ship by UPS and occasionally this happens.
Ask for a refund of shipping after the item arrives.

 

[Kliphten]

Says Order Processed: Ready for UPS 10/11/2012 at around 11p.
Origin Scan around 7:30p today.
Departure Scan around 8:45p today.

Well, I'm glad to know where it is but hugely disappointed in having to wait all day because of what B&H told me. They'll definitely be hearing from me on Sunday.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Says Order Processed: Ready for UPS 10/11/2012 at around 11p.
Origin Scan around 7:30p today.
Departure Scan around 8:45p today.

Well, I'm glad to know where it is but hugely disappointed in having to wait all day because of what B&H told me. They'll definitely be hearing from me on Sunday.

It sounds like UPS issue. B&H loads them into a empty trailer which UPS picks up every 2-4 hours. Apparently, UPS either missed picking up the trailer or left it sitting for a day.
Whatever the reason, its disappointing.
Contact Henry Posner of B&H and ask him for help. He is their Goodwill Ambassador and will do anything he can.
e-mail henryp[at]bhphoto.com Henry is pretty good at helping out.

 

[Kliphten]

Says Order Processed: Ready for UPS 10/11/2012 at around 11p.
Origin Scan around 7:30p today.
Departure Scan around 8:45p today.

Well, I'm glad to know where it is but hugely disappointed in having to wait all day because of what B&H told me. They'll definitely be hearing from me on Sunday.

It sounds like UPS issue. B&H loads them into a empty trailer which UPS picks up every 2-4 hours. Apparently, UPS either missed picking up the trailer or left it sitting for a day.
Whatever the reason, its disappointing.
Contact Henry Posner of B&H and ask him for help. He is their Goodwill Ambassador and will do anything he can.
e-mail henryp[at]bhphoto.com Henry is pretty good at helping out.

Thanks! Will definitely shoot him an email.

 

[comsense]

Says Order Processed: Ready for UPS 10/11/2012 at around 11p.
Origin Scan around 7:30p today.
Departure Scan around 8:45p today.

Well, I'm glad to know where it is but hugely disappointed in having to wait all day because of what B&H told me. They'll definitely be hearing from me on Sunday.

It sounds like UPS issue. B&H loads them into a empty trailer which UPS picks up every 2-4 hours. Apparently, UPS either missed picking up the trailer or left it sitting for a day.
Whatever the reason, its disappointing.
Contact Henry Posner of B&H and ask him for help. He is their Goodwill Ambassador and will do anything he can.
e-mail henryp[at]bhphoto.com Henry is pretty good at helping out.

Thanks! Will definitely shoot him an email.

UPS to be blamed for sure. It has happened to me twice. Last time, I confirmed with UPS directly after talking to Apple and they told me same thing - hang on at your home to receive (signature delivery); their system shows its on delivery truck and would be delivered for SURE today by 7 PM. What's worse, UPS CSR made me wait till 9 PM saying trucks sometime finish deliveries up to 9:00 PM. All the while tracking showed package was in LA and indeed it was in LA being shuttled around to different warehouses for the free tour of city. I don't know what *&%$ information UPS CSR reps had as in the end automated tracking was more reliable. And they pass on the same info to clients (Apple in my case). Obviously, I was fuming. However, Apple rewarded me sufficiently to bring smile back on my face even though it was clearly UPS's fault.

 

[Kliphten]

Says Order Processed: Ready for UPS 10/11/2012 at around 11p.
Origin Scan around 7:30p today.
Departure Scan around 8:45p today.

Well, I'm glad to know where it is but hugely disappointed in having to wait all day because of what B&H told me. They'll definitely be hearing from me on Sunday.

It sounds like UPS issue. B&H loads them into a empty trailer which UPS picks up every 2-4 hours. Apparently, UPS either missed picking up the trailer or left it sitting for a day.
Whatever the reason, its disappointing.
Contact Henry Posner of B&H and ask him for help. He is their Goodwill Ambassador and will do anything he can.
e-mail henryp[at]bhphoto.com Henry is pretty good at helping out.

Thanks! Will definitely shoot him an email.

UPS to be blamed for sure. It has happened to me twice. Last time, I confirmed with UPS directly after talking to Apple and they told me same thing - hang on at your home to receive (signature delivery); their system shows its on delivery truck and would be delivered for SURE today by 7 PM. What's worse, UPS CSR made me wait till 9 PM saying trucks sometime finish deliveries up to 9:00 PM. All the while tracking showed package was in LA and indeed it was in LA being shuttled around to different warehouses for the free tour of city. I don't know what *&%$ information UPS CSR reps had as in the end automated tracking was more reliable. And they pass on the same info to clients (Apple in my case). Obviously, I was fuming. However, Apple rewarded me sufficiently to bring smile back on my face even though it was clearly UPS's fault.

Sorry to hear that. I think in this case, though, it was B&Hs fault. They were the ones that told me it was shipped and would be delivered. UPS told me they didn't have the package and didn't know where it was. Sure, they could have had it but "misplaced" it but I just can't assume that. What I do know is that B&H told me it was shipped and would be delivered and that they spoke with UPS to confirm.

 

[CharlieB]

If its any consolation - I just got two waterproof Fuji cameras from Amazon.

Shipped by Amazon, not 3rd party. Amazon handed off to FedEx.

FedEx handed off to the US Post Office. Tracking on FedEx says out for delivery.

No delivery, I had folks at the house, waiting for the package. No slip left... no nothing.

Finally - at 10pm, FedEx reports "Delivery Attempt Made".

So, I call FedEx. They say, sorry call the Post Office. Post Office says... Sorry, call FedEx.

I go to the local Post Office. Guy at the counter takes the info, says it ought to be in the back. He looks for about half an hour. Nope. No clue where it is. Then he says... they're only supposed to make one delivery attempt, but "it may have gone back out". Ok, so we wait again. Nothing. Next day, I go back to the Post Office. Same guy looks again. Nothing. So I ask... "is it lost". No, its not lost, since its still in their system. He says, don't file a claim, give it another day. Went home, and its raining really hard at that point. Cats go nuts at the front. I look out. Nothing, no vehicle. Open the door, and stuffed down inside my bougainvillaea bush (thorns!) is an Amazon box... soaked. Inside, I open the box and it has OBVIOUSLY been tampered with. First off, an Amazon box is a sort of fold up affair that doesn't even have tape all the way around it. You can slide out a "wing" and get to the contents. In fact, small contents can fall out. So I'm going thru things... one memory card had been opened, and inserted into the one camera, as also its battery. Hang tag gone. Sticker in the box with empty battery plastic bag. There was one shot on the memory card - which had been erased, but ... was recoverable. Shot of the inside of the Post Office!

I probably have some sort of case, but I thought for a second... I got the cameras, and they're disposable to me anyway. Not worth me losing more money taking off from work to go fight the Post Office.

 

[cpsico]

Number one if the shipper can't provide a tracking number it's not shipped, ups tracks from pick up to delivery and every point in between. Same with fed ex, no tracking number, it's the shipper who is not to be taken at their word

 

[comsense]

Sorry to hear that. I think in this case, though, it was B&Hs fault. They were the ones that told me it was shipped and would be delivered. UPS told me they didn't have the package and didn't know where it was. Sure, they could have had it but "misplaced" it but I just can't assume that. What I do know is that B&H told me it was shipped and would be delivered and that they spoke with UPS to confirm.

Sorry, I did not clarify well. UPS CS gave me conflicting reports. Local driver and people with just outside access were (yes, you call them and they just read what you see on web; different topic but infuriating none the less) insisting the package is in LA, as shown in web tracking. It was these people with extra internal information (level 2, supervisors etc) who were insisting it will be delivered today and is on delivery truck. Apple CSR (and I am sure B&H too) communicates with these guys and told me the same thing. Looks like local driver and web tracking (and CSR reps reading from it) were right, it was higher ups who were wrong. However, unlike you I don't believe UPS was lying to me. They are just inefficient and have f***** up internal communication.

 

[comsense]

If its any consolation - I just got two waterproof Fuji cameras from Amazon.

Inside, I open the box and it has OBVIOUSLY been tampered with. First off, an Amazon box is a sort of fold up affair that doesn't even have tape all the way around it. You can slide out a "wing" and get to the contents. In fact, small contents can fall out. So I'm going thru things... one memory card had been opened, and inserted into the one camera, as also its battery. Hang tag gone. Sticker in the box with empty battery plastic bag. There was one shot on the memory card - which had been erased, but ... was recoverable. Shot of the inside of the Post Office!

Ah, you have proof to nail USPS down then......
Otherwise, amazon is also notorious for shipping returned (and sometimes used and visibly abused) merchandise. Once, I had to go through three return cycles to get something that I was almost convinced was brand new (their price was so good that I put up with the hassle). With surge of such experiences in recent years, I have just stopped buying anything sensitive like optics from Amazon (esp. Since price is always matched by big camera retailers).
In my case the package was not tempered in any way, so I don't think someone working at shipper was playing with them like in your case............,

 

[CharlieB]

There were no people in the picture. But, I know what a picture of green brick walls, USPS stickers on shelves and carts, and overhead catwalks with peep-slits and visors look like, and I know where they're found.

My guess, someone was going to make themselves a present. I was on it, and insistent, and somebody got looked at closely, so the package got "unlost" rapidly. For all I know, "someone" may have "delivered" the package in non-USPO uniform, and non-USPO vehicle, on non-USPO time, just to avoid any problem. They did not know enough to reformat the card.

I'll confess... hehehe... when I saw the card in the camera, I thought there was a possibility of something "juicy"... or really just curious as to why things were, as they were. Thats what got me to peep the card and unerase the file.

I got two cameras, one silver for the GF, and one black for moi. Use - on motorcycle. Don't care if they get wet, get knocked about, get abused. Really don't care for the best image quality. The cameras primary purpose - survive and make reasonably ok snapshots. The Fuji's have lousy detail resolution due to anti-noise softening, but have above average color and contrast, will shoot in B&W mode without fiddling, and... important... have LCD's you can actually see in daylight, with a "boost" LCD button for momentary full brightness mode if needed.

That chapter is over... move on. Sorry to drift the OP's thread a bit. Just... he's not alone. Shipping mysteries... remain such for the most part, in my experience.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

There were no people in the picture. But, I know what a picture of green brick walls, USPS stickers on shelves and carts, and overhead catwalks with peep-slits and visors look like, and I know where they're found.

My guess, someone was going to make themselves a present. I was on it, and insistent, and somebody got looked at closely, so the package got "unlost" rapidly. For all I know, "someone" may have "delivered" the package in non-USPO uniform, and non-USPO vehicle, on non-USPO time, just to avoid any problem. They did not know enough to reformat the card.

I'll confess... hehehe... when I saw the card in the camera, I thought there was a possibility of something "juicy"... or really just curious as to why things were, as they were. Thats what got me to peep the card and unerase the file.

I got two cameras, one silver for the GF, and one black for moi. Use - on motorcycle. Don't care if they get wet, get knocked about, get abused. Really don't care for the best image quality. The cameras primary purpose - survive and make reasonably ok snapshots. The Fuji's have lousy detail resolution due to anti-noise softening, but have above average color and contrast, will shoot in B&W mode without fiddling, and... important... have LCD's you can actually see in daylight, with a "boost" LCD button for momentary full brightness mode if needed.

That chapter is over... move on. Sorry to drift the OP's thread a bit. Just... he's not alone. Shipping mysteries... remain such for the most part, in my experience.

File a complaint with the postal inspector, they are very keen to catch whoever is doing it. They have a lot of resources, including surveillance photos, but they can't look at every one. Your info will tip them off to time and place. If you do not report it, then the perp will keep right on doing it.

 

[Loswr]

File a complaint with the postal inspector, they are very keen to catch whoever is doing it. They have a lot of resources, including surveillance photos, but they can't look at every one. Your info will tip them off to time and place. If you do not report it, then the perp will keep right on doing it.

+1. Maybe the next time, it will be something you value more, and/or need on time for a shoot.

 

[Dylan777]

I ordered compact flash card and card reader from BH about a week ago. Yesterday, Oct 15th around 7:30AM, I received an email from BH indicated my order has been shipped - with tracking number.

Today, Oct 16th, I still can't track the order.

Wonder if this is UPS or BH issue????

 

[comsense]

To Dylan:
Hard to say. Usually, all big retailers ship the item same day as their shipped email. However, your tracking # indicates its not a regular UPS shipment. It's one on those things where the end part of shipment is carried by USPS (FedEx has it too). It has horrible tracking but to my surprise delivered faster than UPS ground (of course I have just one data point to fit to a line in this case). I hope this helps.......