B&H No Longer Shipping Chemistry.

[traveler_101]

The ingredients are different. D-76 is a metol/hydroquinone formula, Xtol is a phenidone/isoascorbate formula. FWIW, they will no longer ship DD-X either. That's a phenidone/hydroquinone formula, which suggests that hyroquinone may now be restricted. I'm not sure about metol.

Freestyle appears to be prepared to ship both D-76 and DD-X. I just checked.

 

[Gregm61]

That's because Freestyle, unlike B&H, are willing to ship via GROUND. It's air shipping where those chemicals cannot go.

On the digital side of things, B&H sells the 2 ounce bottle of Eclipse fluid for cleaning sensors, but you can't get it shipped, because B&H does not do ground shipping, so.....I ordered it from Adorama, who was perfectly willing to ship via ground.

B&H obviously must have so much of the market they believe they can dictate to everyone the way things can and cannot be shipped.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

That's because Freestyle, unlike B&H, are willing to ship via GROUND. It's air shipping where those chemicals cannot go.

On the digital side of things, B&H sells the 2 ounce bottle of Eclipse fluid for cleaning sensors, but you can't get it shipped, because B&H does not do ground shipping, so.....I ordered it from Adorama, who was perfectly willing to ship via ground.

B&H obviously must have so much of the market they believe they can dictate to everyone the way things can and cannot be shipped.

But they do Ground shipping because it's an option when you checkout lol.

 

[Gregm61]

If it was anyone else I would say ask them, but from posts here and the chat I had with a rep, you won't get a straight answer other than, other people are doing things illegally, which I don't buy for a minute.

 

[Huss]

weird thing is they also no longer ship Li batteries. I tried to buy some Sony 950s and a message popped up saying they do not have a carrier that accepts to ship them. I am in CA, they are in NY.
Same thing for a little Nikon remote release! Cannot ship as it has an Li battery.

But they will ship you a Leica M10 that has an Li battery, or a D750 etc etc

 

[sepiareverb]

weird thing is they also no longer ship Li batteries. I tried to buy some Sony 950s and a message popped up saying they do not have a carrier that accepts to ship them. I am in CA, they are in NY.
Same thing for a little Nikon remote release! Cannot ship as it has an Li battery.

This is somewhat encouraging, it isn't simply chemistry, but...

they will ship you a Leica M10 that has an Li battery, or a D750 etc etc

Well, who wouldn't ship a 6K+ item regardless of the "rules"...

A lot of obfuscation remains unanswered by B&H. I continue to purchase film and paper from them, and wish I could still purchase DD-X from them. Not sure where I'd buy a battery now. Are such dangerous items as batteries allowed to be brought across the Canadian Border back into the US?

 

[______]

Not sure where I'd buy a battery now. Are such dangerous items as batteries allowed to be brought across the Canadian Border back into the US?

You can buy batteries almost anywhere as long as they are shipped by ground. B&H claims they don't ship by ground, but every package I ever received from them was shipped UPS Ground.

 

[MikeMGB]

weird thing is they also no longer ship Li batteries. I tried to buy some Sony 950s and a message popped up saying they do not have a carrier that accepts to ship them. I am in CA, they are in NY.
Same thing for a little Nikon remote release! Cannot ship as it has an Li battery.

But they will ship you a Leica M10 that has an Li battery, or a D750 etc etc

You can ship lithium batteries all day, as long as they are in the equipment they power. Batteries separate from equipment are different but it is simply a matter of correct labeling, there is no reason for B&H not to ship.

I used to buy almost everything through B&H, a couple of weeks ago when I needed some chemistry I went to my local store and asked if they could order it for me. They replied that they actually keep that chemistry in stock for local colleges but don't advertise it because the public generally don't want it. It cost me a little more than B&H charges but I didn't have to wait for it.

 

[Mark C]

I had respected B&H's continued support of film photography, and hope they will sort these issues out. In the mean time, I just ordered from Freestyle and was happy to pay the $10 shipping to stock up on some items I couldn't easily get otherwise.

 

[Huss]

You can ship lithium batteries all day, as long as they are in the equipment they power. Batteries separate from equipment are different but it is simply a matter of correct labeling, there is no reason for B&H not to ship.

Not according to B&H. They won't ship the Ml-13 remote release because it comes with a lithium battery in it. Same thing with the Vello knock off.

 

[henryp]

Not according to B&H. They won't ship the Ml-13 remote release because it comes with a lithium battery in it. Same thing with the Vello knock off.

The IATA sets basic rules and restrictions. If a carrier or shipping vendor wants to impose more strict regulations the IATA is almost certainly gong to approve them.

UPS Section II Battery Requirements Changing

 

[______]

More misdirection by B&H. The first sentence of the referenced UPS regulation reads as follows:

"Effective January 1, 2017, UPS will change its requirements for shipping lithium batteries by air." (emphasis added).

You can ship lith ion batteries by ground. That's how everyone does it now. More from the same cited regulation:

"This requirement does not apply to UPS® Ground shipments."

B&H says they don't ship by ground. The fact is every package I have ever received from B&H was shipped UPS Ground. More misdirection and misinformation by B&H. Its behavior is why I am shifting my business elsewhere. They are simply not honest in their dealing with the public.

By the way, both the B&H rep and B&H management spokesperson Henry Posner are wrong about their own policies. I checked their site this morning. They do ship lithium ion batteries. They ship them with free standard shipping, just not with free expedited shipping. If they don't know what their own policies are, how can they be expected what UPS's policies are?

 

[Huss]

I checked their site this morning. They do ship lithium ion batteries. They ship them with free standard shipping, just not with free expedited shipping. If they don't know what their own policies are, how can they be expected what UPS's policies are?

Not when you get to the check out stage. Then they say they do not ship.

Mr. Posner, I am curious. How is it that you can ship a camera with LI batteries, but not a remote release? They both contain LI batteries.

"The change will require that all U.S. Air and international Air shipments of lithium ion or metal cells and batteries shipped without equipment by a UPS Air service be prepared and shipped as fully regulated dangerous goods."

 

[______]

B&H is blaming their inability to ship things like developer and lithium ion batteries on federal regulations and shipper restrictions, which is absurd. These things can be shipped UPS Ground all day, every day. They just do not want to take the time and make the effort to make the necessary shipping arrangements. It is always easier to blame others and blow smoke than to do it the right way when it is inconvenient.

 

[Huss]

I don't have a beef w/ B&H, I like them and use them all the time. Just placed an order a few days ago. I just am curious as to how I cannot order a remote release that has a battery in it, but I can order a camera that has a battery in it!

 

[traveler_101]

Info from UPS:

https://www.ups.com/media/news/en/us_lithium_battery_regulations.pdf

Seems shipping battery(ies) on equipment is different than shipping batteries by themselves. Worried about battery by itself shorting out, heat and possible fire. Packaging imporant and labeling of shipping carton and other stuff. Not simple, can't just throw them into a box, tape up and ship.

Airlines are nervous to have passengers carry li ion batteries by themselves. They are OK to transport if (big IF) they are properly protected and stored. But it may not be OK by certain transport. My stuff has the older nickel metal hydride batteries but I keep them protected at all times when not in a device.

In the Navy I trained with how to deal with class D fires, burning metals. Not a pretty picture especially during circumstances that could allow a fire to very quickly get out of control.

What do you think?

I think (indeed I know since I have sent them via USPS) that batteries must be packaged SEPARATELY from the camera and well packed to withstand a blow to the package without being damaged. The battery must not have been damaged previously (obviously). There is no difference between sending the battery alone and sending it with the camera. In both instances it must be able to withstand possible damage to the package. They are worried that the battery will become damaged and start a fire.

In terms of B&H: their policies don't make sense. They are using a lot of misdirection in explaining what they will and will not ship. I have done a good deal of business with them in the past; certainly they were my "go to" place. But their decision not to ship chemicals means that I am now switching to Freestyle. I have absolutely no problem waiting the four or five days it takes to ship ground across the country.

 

[Huss]

Ok, this just got weirder. I just received my LI Ion batteries from Istockonline, shipped ground via UPS.
Inside the shipping package is a safety document with tracking number with the name of their supplier. i.e. who shipped it to them.
B&H shipped it to them!

On the outside of the package next to the UPS info is a warning label describing that it contains Li Ion batteries and the correct handling procedures with a 1-800 number.

 

[Rob-F]

I just checked Adorama. DD-X, XTOL, T-Max developer, D-76, all available with free shipping over $49.00. (D-76 is on backorder, but no shipping restrictions noted.) HC110 is not listed, I don't know why. They are showing it as a discontinued product.

 

[sepiareverb]

Ok, this just got weirder. I just received my LI Ion batteries from Istockonline, shipped ground via UPS.
Inside the shipping package is a safety document with tracking number with the name of their supplier. i.e. who shipped it to them.
B&H shipped it to them!

the next response from B&H will likely be taken from this script.

 

[newsgrunt]

I just checked Adorama. DD-X, XTOL, T-Max developer, D-76, all available with free shipping over $49.00. <snip>.

I wonder if this applies to Canadian orders ala B&H and their $99 + free shipping offer ?