B&H No Longer Shipping Chemistry.

Here's some cheese for your whine!

Here's some cheese for your whine!

Dear Board,

Oh my, how quick we forget? Most if not all of you whiners, gave up on local suppliers when you found out you get stuff cheaper somewhere else, giving strength to B&H, and all the other internet retailers.

Personally, I have no problems with them, or any of their policies. They offer me the opportunity to buy things from one of the only specialized brick and mortar stores left in retail. I have ZERO local options for anything related to photography thanks to all you shrewd shoppers.

Honestly, I've never seen so many people cry about something this insignificant in my life. You made it happen by always seeking the best deal and now you don't like the results? That's simply mind-boggling to me?

I know this will bunch your panties but I have an easy solution for you. Pool your tears and turn them into money and then you can buy out B&H, and run it as you wish. You all seem to think the owner is wrong, now is the time to put up or shut up!

Seriously, do some thinking, and find something for which to be thankful. I'm sure you can if you dig deep enough, and regardless of whether you can or not, find a way to move on.

Regards,

Tim Murphy
 
Folks....could we just lighten up / back off the amount of fuel in the flame throwers on here, Apug, LFPF and Photo.net? Serious photography is niche and anything film related is way niche within that niche.

I get people are upset about this but this adversarial stance...it's just no good and maybe even a bit self destructive. We all need allies in this analog niche.
 
Tim Murphy, I disagree with you entirely. We bought from B&H not because they were cheaper... but because the brick & mortar stores in many cities turned to digital and carried dwindling amounts of chemistry & paper. B&H had great variety in stock selection, & shipped quickly. Freestyle jacked it's shipping costs to an exorbitant level if you weren't close. To stop shipping chemistry is a big change. To characterize all those who reacted as 'whiners'...doesn't show any empathy at all on your part.
 
The penalties for improperly labeling and shipping 'hazardous' materials can be very steep. I can see where the attorneys are coming from. Proper labeling and shipping takes great discipline. But of course it can be done.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/faa-slaps-amazon-with-350-000-penalty-for-shipping-violation-1465847290

In the Amazon incident linked above:

In the Amazon incident, the FAA alleged that the shipment was not properly packaged, was not accompanied by a proper declaration stating the hazardous nature of its contents, and that Amazon had failed to provide emergency response information with the package and that the Amazon employees who handled it had not received proper training.

So, the shippers need proper training, everything needs to be properly labeled. If someone is using untrained seasonal help in the shipping department you are at risk. I suspect BH feels it is not worth the hassle or expense. On the other hand Bostick & Sullivan are happy to accommodate. Their business is for these types of products only (more or less). Those that want to put in a hazardous waste shipping policy, and provide annual hazardous waste training for employees will get the business. And I guess they should be paid a little extra for that effort.
 
Come on Tim, don't sugar coat it. Tell us how you really feel. What Tim said about the big retailers doing in the local stores is certainly true in my neck of the woods. Just was not enough volume to carry the variety of darkroom supplies a B&H type store can.

Fortunately, I have an outlet from a major photographic retailer (Hunts) that is 45 mins away and will stock what I need, so long as I do my part and go there and buy it. A bonus is I get to fondle all kinds of new and used gear.
 
Deardorff38 said:
Freestyle jacked it's shipping costs to an exorbitant level if you weren't close.
Click to expand...

Exhorbitant compared to what, free shipping? Freestyle's shipping rates are actually quite reasonable.
My last order for $50+ worth of liquid darkroom chemicals shipped from California to New York for $8.99.
The shipping charge was in fact less than the sales tax B&H would have added to my order.

Chris
 
It's exorbitant for Canadians. The price for shipping a gallon of TF-5 to Ontario was more than the cost of the fixer itself. That's all kinds of ridiculous.
 
newsgrunt said:
It's exorbitant for Canadians. The price for shipping a gallon of TF-5 to Ontario was more than the cost of the fixer itself. That's all kinds of ridiculous.
Click to expand...

As part of my business I ship to Canada daily, UPS and Fedex rates across the border are ridiculously high compared to domestic US rates, Freestyle are probably just passing along what it costs them.
 
Yes, international shipping rates are indeed high for all carriers.
Your free shipping to Canada deal at B&H was good while it lasted.

There have already been some recommendations in this thread
of good Canadian dealers for Canadian customers.

Chris
 
Wow, that could be a real problem for many analog photographers in the US.

Luckily, I'll be in NYC in two weeks so I can pick up a few bottles.

Does anybody know how long chemicals last if stored in a dry, cool and dark place?
 
Had to go to Amazon to get my Ilford paper developer, fulfilled by Adorama at a high shipping cost. Still cheaper than driving to Portland OR. or Seattle to try to find it 'locally'.
The one thing that ticks me off with so many places is the need to register and have a password so you can order. I can't remember passwords I use every 6 months. At least B&H let you check out as a 'guest'. All this registering is just data mining and I say "no thank you" I'll start just calling their toll free phone number and ordering the old fashion way or be a real pill and send a MO with a paper order via snail mail. I'm going to call Freestyle next Monday to order some more chems.
 
One more thing. It took me enough time to slog through B&H's website and I don't want to order from Adorama, their site is a trainwreck.
 
thart2009 said:
The penalties for improperly labeling and shipping 'hazardous' materials can be very steep. I can see where the attorneys are coming from. Proper labeling and shipping takes great discipline. But of course it can be done.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/faa-slaps-amazon-with-350-000-penalty-for-shipping-violation-1465847290

In the Amazon incident linked above:

In the Amazon incident, the FAA alleged that the shipment was not properly packaged, was not accompanied by a proper declaration stating the hazardous nature of its contents, and that Amazon had failed to provide emergency response information with the package and that the Amazon employees who handled it had not received proper training.
Click to expand...

Bloomberg opens, “Retailer violated hazmat regulations 24 other times since 2013.” It goes on to say, “U.S. aviation regulators are seeking a $350,000 fine…” I wager Amazon doesn’t think $350,000 is more than an inconsequential slap on the wrist.


[FONT=&quot]http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/09/amazon-fined-shipping-dangerous-goods-by-air-caa/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]http://fortune.com/2016/06/22/amazon-fined-shipping-hazardous-products/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-s-faa-for-shipping-dangerous-cargo-on-planes

[/FONT]
 
I don't see why B&H wouldn't keep open the option for ground shipping. Maybe the volumes aren't worth the hassle for them? Never mind...

At any rate, it's the attitude of their rep that is surprising. I don't think he "gets it". But then again I can remember an attitude-response from him in the late 1990s when I wrote some suggestions how to improve their website that was behind times back then. Funny how those things stick with you even years later. Basically they know best and we should fall in line or move on. I suggest we move on.
 
So what is the first article B&H cites for its decision to stop shipping photographic chemicals: a UK fine against Amazon for shipping lithium batteries by air. Yet B&H will happily sell and ship you by air cameras, computers and other items containing lithium batteries, and even the replacement lithium batteries themselves. So more obfuscation and BS. Repeatedly lying about the reason they decided to stop shipping photographic chemicals isn't going to win them customers. In addition to my usual orders of film, paper, and chemicals, I was going to order an Epson V850 scanner and P800 color printer from them for Christmas, but now I'll shop elsewhere. And of course down the road I will need replacement ink for the P800 which I would otherwise have bought from B&H, so they'll lose out on those sales too. And its not really because they decided to stop shipping chemicals; it's because they are not being honest about the reasons they're doing so. They are now simply untrustworthy and do not deserve my business.
 
Henry,

Your insistence that B&H does not ship via UPS Ground is simply untrue.

I have a package on my table right now that arrived about an hour ago at my door via UPS Ground.



 
"There have already been some recommendations in this thread
of good Canadian dealers for Canadian customers."
None have the selection of B&H or Freestyle..unfortunately.
 
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