Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)?

Good luck Mark, I hope it's sooner than May! I hear you about B&H. I'be
been buying all my big ticket items from them, but I must say that their
reps never seem to be too interested in talking to you or providing much
information. Not that they're rude or anything, I just almost always feel
like they're in a hurry to get me off so they can get to the next order.

The guys at Hunt's are good people and very willing to spend time with you.
I was in there the other day in my search for the mystical perfect camera
bag and in the hour or so that I was fiddling around, one rep was back and
forth helping me whenever I needed, but giving me the space to try things
out on my own.




"Mark²" <mjmorgan(lowest even number here)@cox..net> wrote in message
news:wU6Fh.64179$6L3.41868@newsfe08.phx...
> Jeff wrote:
>> They have probably one of the two best brick and mortars in the Boston
>> area - prices are close on some things relative to B&H, but overall
>> more expensive. Calumet in Cambridge also is great.
>>
>>
>> "Pudentame" <no.one.DeleteThis@no.were.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:45e3bc35$0$28083$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>> Mark² wrote:
>>>> I checked reseller ratings, and there's only one entry.
>>>> This place does have a decently brick & mortar shop, but I haven't
>>>> found much in terms of reviews.
>>>>
>>>> Any experience out there?
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Mark²
>>>>
>>>
>>> Bought Photoshop CS2 from them; got a discount price because of one of
>>> the groups I belong to.
>>>
>>> No problems with the transaction.
>>>
>>> AFAIK, they're a regular local dealer that also does internet/mail
>>> order.
>
> Thanks, Jeff, and many many others here for your input. Based on
> responses here, I placed a deposit on a 1DmIII with them a few days ago.
> I've now talked with several people there (you get the store...just like
> it's down the street...) and they've all been great. They've called me
> back when they said they would, and faxed me just as they said.
>
> It seems to be a very decent group of folks there, so I'm happy to do
> business with them. I'm usually almost exclusively B&H, with the
> occasional Adorama or Calumet...but these folks just made my "good" list.
> We'll see how they actually pan out once this new Canon beast actually
> starts shipping.
> -B&H's page now predicts May...
>
> --
> Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark² at:
> www.pbase.com/markuson
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

Jeff wrote:
> Good luck Mark, I hope it's sooner than May! I hear you about B&H. I'be
> been buying all my big ticket items from them, but I must say
> that their reps never seem to be too interested in talking to you or
> providing much information. Not that they're rude or anything, I
> just almost always feel like they're in a hurry to get me off so they
> can get to the next order.

It's funny, because that's something I actually like about B&H. It probably
depends on what style of shopper people are. By the time I call B&H, I have
spent so much time figuring out EXACTLY what I want, that I'm sometimes off
the phone with them in (literally) less than two minutes...having placed a
rather large ticket order. I find it amusing... For someone with
questions, they may be a rather difficult choice. If you want what you want
because you know it...B&H is great.

> The guys at Hunt's are good people and very willing to spend time
> with you. I was in there the other day in my search for the mystical
> perfect camera bag and in the hour or so that I was fiddling around,
> one rep was back and forth helping me whenever I needed, but giving
> me the space to try things out on my own.

Sounds like they've got it figured out.
I like help when I want it, but I hate being "hovered over" by over zealous
commission-seekers. I wish Hunts wasn't only on your coast...


> "Mark²" <mjmorgan(lowest even number here)@cox..net> wrote in message
> news:wU6Fh.64179$6L3.41868@newsfe08.phx...
>> Jeff wrote:
>>> They have probably one of the two best brick and mortars in the
>>> Boston area - prices are close on some things relative to B&H, but
>>> overall more expensive. Calumet in Cambridge also is great.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Pudentame" <no.one RemoveThis @no.were.invalid> wrote in message
>>> news:45e3bc35$0$28083$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>>> Mark² wrote:
>>>>> I checked reseller ratings, and there's only one entry.
>>>>> This place does have a decently brick & mortar shop, but I haven't
>>>>> found much in terms of reviews.
>>>>>
>>>>> Any experience out there?
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Mark²
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Bought Photoshop CS2 from them; got a discount price because of
>>>> one of the groups I belong to.
>>>>
>>>> No problems with the transaction.
>>>>
>>>> AFAIK, they're a regular local dealer that also does internet/mail
>>>> order.
>>
>> Thanks, Jeff, and many many others here for your input. Based on
>> responses here, I placed a deposit on a 1DmIII with them a few days
>> ago. I've now talked with several people there (you get the
>> store...just like it's down the street...) and they've all been
>> great. They've called me back when they said they would, and faxed
>> me just as they said. It seems to be a very decent group of folks there,
>> so I'm happy to do
>> business with them. I'm usually almost exclusively B&H, with the
>> occasional Adorama or Calumet...but these folks just made my "good"
>> list. We'll see how they actually pan out once this new Canon beast
>> actually starts shipping.
>> -B&H's page now predicts May...
>>
>> --
>> Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark² at:
>> www.pbase.com/markuson

--
Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark² at:
www.pbase.com/markuson
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:00:16 -0500, Jeff wrote:

> Good luck Mark, I hope it's sooner than May! I hear you about
> B&H. I'be been buying all my big ticket items from them, but I
> must say that their reps never seem to be too interested in talking
> to you or providing much information. Not that they're rude or
> anything, I just almost always feel like they're in a hurry to get me
> off so they can get to the next order.

Have all of your dealings with B&H been on the phone? They
probably should be in a hurry to get to the next caller, otherwise
holding time would get out of hand. And speaking of hands, on the
other hand, whenever I've had a need for specific information,
whether about products or about why products shown as "In Stock"
aren't available (or vice-versa) they've taken enough time to
provide good explanations rather than trying to brush me off with
facile or disingenuous information.


> The guys at Hunt's are good people and very willing to spend
> time with you. I was in there the other day in my search for the
> mystical perfect camera bag and in the hour or so that I was
> fiddling around, one rep was back and forth helping me whenever
> I needed, but giving me the space to try things out on my own.

Hunts sounds like a really good store, much better than the local
store where I bought my first Nikon F. Only years later when they
relocated did I actually set foot in B&H (at their Union Square
location). But my experience in B&H in many of their areas such as
bags, tripods and electronics is the same. There's no rush, and if
any of the sales staff aren't completely knowledgeable about all of
the products, all of them seem to be much more knowledgeable than
most of the staff in other stores. And the on-floor selection that
you can play with is huge. Once when I was being helped at one of
the camera counters, it was amusing to see a couple of the older
guys fall over themselves trying to be helpful to a customer that
had some fairly tough requirements for film equipment. They
probably don't have that opportunity much anymore.
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

I've shopped both in-store (on the are occasion that I make it to NYC) and
on the phone. Don't get me wrong, they're not at all unfriendly or
unhelpful on the phone, but compared to stores like Hunt's they're kind of
abrupt. I'm like Mark. By the time I pick up the phone to call I've
usually researched the thing I'm buying to death. And I refer ANYONE who
asks me where to buy camera equipment to them. Period.




"ASAAR" <caught.DeleteThis@22.com> wrote in message
news:lupcu29oufo3ipjvpi98hruhruph1uqlgg@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:00:16 -0500, Jeff wrote:
>
>> Good luck Mark, I hope it's sooner than May! I hear you about
>> B&H. I'be been buying all my big ticket items from them, but I
>> must say that their reps never seem to be too interested in talking
>> to you or providing much information. Not that they're rude or
>> anything, I just almost always feel like they're in a hurry to get me
>> off so they can get to the next order.
>
> Have all of your dealings with B&H been on the phone? They
> probably should be in a hurry to get to the next caller, otherwise
> holding time would get out of hand. And speaking of hands, on the
> other hand, whenever I've had a need for specific information,
> whether about products or about why products shown as "In Stock"
> aren't available (or vice-versa) they've taken enough time to
> provide good explanations rather than trying to brush me off with
> facile or disingenuous information.
>
>
>> The guys at Hunt's are good people and very willing to spend
>> time with you. I was in there the other day in my search for the
>> mystical perfect camera bag and in the hour or so that I was
>> fiddling around, one rep was back and forth helping me whenever
>> I needed, but giving me the space to try things out on my own.
>
> Hunts sounds like a really good store, much better than the local
> store where I bought my first Nikon F. Only years later when they
> relocated did I actually set foot in B&H (at their Union Square
> location). But my experience in B&H in many of their areas such as
> bags, tripods and electronics is the same. There's no rush, and if
> any of the sales staff aren't completely knowledgeable about all of
> the products, all of them seem to be much more knowledgeable than
> most of the staff in other stores. And the on-floor selection that
> you can play with is huge. Once when I was being helped at one of
> the camera counters, it was amusing to see a couple of the older
> guys fall over themselves trying to be helpful to a customer that
> had some fairly tough requirements for film equipment. They
> probably don't have that opportunity much anymore.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)?