I’m in New York City for business and pleasure and to do some photography. It turns out that I am staying about a ten-minute walk from the renowned B&H Superstore. Since this blog is a B&H affiliate and because I had recently been in touch with someone from B&H, I mentioned to them that I would be in the area… and was invited to take a tour.
I am going to write more about this later when I can type on something other than my iPad “virtual keyboard,” but I thought I’d share a few things today.
We started in a building close to the one housing the well-known store. My guides took me through several areas that you might not think about – several floors teeming with employees handling the technical aspects of their online presence and other information systems, and a floor where customer support takes place. (As I understand it, support desks are staffed by people who have expertise in particular product areas.)
Next we took a short walk over to the store. I had been there briefly the day before with my son, but I had missed a lot since the two of us had headed straight to areas of the store focusing on our individual interests. Today’s tour showed me much of what I had missed – for example a very impressive video studio facility. (To my brother Ed who is a video guy… you have to see this!) The range of products available is remarkable, both in terms of the types of gear (video, audio, computers, and, of course, cameras and related equipment) and the levels of equipment available – at one information/demonstration booth you could ask about and handle a $99 point and shoot camera… or the $6000 DSLR body about two feet away. You can also see and handle just about any tripod made, and the same holds true for a large range of other products.
As I mentioned above,there is much more to write about this, but I’m going to save more for later. For now I’ll end by thanking Yechiel and Herschel for a very complete and informative tour!
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
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Greg, I can’t give you a definitive answer, but the price of the lens I purchased was the same.
Dan
Oh Dan, you do have nerves of steel to be able to walk out of there with just only one lens purchase…good for you!
I’m curious, are the in-store prices the same as on-line?
If I visited B&H, I would have to leave my credit card at home, the temptation would be too great!
I was living in New York around the time Velvia came out — long before you could order anything online. A friend back in Santa Barbara had me buy him a couple bricks at B&H and send ’em back. What a dangerous store to roam around in. ;)
John and Greg: yes,dangerous, indeed – but in a good way. In the end I “escaped” having acquired only one new lens, and that was one I had been planning to get and which I will use to photograph a concert tonight and tomorrrow.
Dan
Thank you for visiting and for your kind words. This is very gratifying and much appreciated.
—
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video
Henry, I was already a customer, but I’m even more impressed with the store, the operation, and the people.
Dan
I can also now report that if you arrive at the store right when it opens that it is possible to spend your money much more quickly than if you wait until later when everyone else arrives. :-)
Yes, I was hoping for perhaps a 1Ds3 ( oh, heck, maybe a 1Ds4!) but alas… :-)
I hope you got a free sample of something good.