BrianKrebs
Went to order a gadget from B&H Photo and got a message saying they were closed for Shabbat. I don't think I've ever encountered this in a e-commerce store. Is it unusual or do I need to just get out more?
Mar 25, 2023 at 3:09pmWeb
Show threadBrianKrebsMar 29, 2023

Wow, I've never ordered from B&H before (not sure how), but the service at B&H seems very personalized. They called me to verify the order because it was a decent amount, sent an email that they called when they couldn't reach me.

Verified over the phone w/ them that I did order it, and they said great we'll send it out today. It got to me the next day. And they've already sent a message asking for feedback.

Show threadDavid Plisken 🏳️‍⚧️ BLM! 🇵🇸Mar 29, 2023
@briankrebs media producer here, B&H has been my go-to for gear purchases for 17 years. I love that they work on their own terms but that they are also very communicative on this and all aspects.
Show threadklausfiend has movedMar 29, 2023
@briankrebs B&H has a sterling reputation in the film and television industry for a reason. Enjoy!
Show threadMrs RavenMar 29, 2023

@briankrebs

And they sell more than camera equipment. No counterfeit SD cards from them!

Show threadWndlBMar 29, 2023
@briankrebs Orthodox culture there, that they’ve kept.
Show threadWndlBMar 29, 2023
@briankrebs https://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/HelpCenter/AboutUs.jsp
About B&H | B&H Photo Video

Show threadJoelMar 29, 2023
@briankrebs B&H is among the best in the biz. Highly recommend visiting their physical store in NYC
Show threadNicholasMar 29, 2023
@briankrebs B&H customer service is top notch. If you're ever in Manhattan, their store is also very impressive: you can go hands-on with almost everything that they sell! And it has a neat conveyor belt system attached to the ceiling to move merchandise around.
Show threadJohn GriffithMar 29, 2023

@briankrebs

It's just an excellent company in a world of mediocre customer service

Show threadLennart KoopmannMar 29, 2023
@briankrebs and no counterfeit batteries or sd cards!
Show threadJayMar 29, 2023
@briankrebs I’m glad others are discovering B&H. Go in person if you get a chance. Really sparks the late nineties Best Buy emotions.
Show threadcl4ywellMar 29, 2023
@briankrebs I love B&H! I order almost exclusively from them for any electronics purchase. All of my camera and audio gear for sure, but also several laptops and even a tv! Have had nothing but top notch service from them for years!
Show threadkeekMar 29, 2023
@briankrebs I will 100% go out of my way and pay more to order stuff from B&H when possible. they’re OP
Show threadMichaelMar 29, 2023
@briankrebs Dying to know what you bought.
Show thread Sumo   Mar 29, 2023
@briankrebs I have used them for photo equipment and the experience was awesome.
Show thread🐀 ␆Mar 29, 2023
@briankrebs Sounds like they've determined that it's better to check than to suffer chargebacks for certain orders. I'd bet that that determination has some solid numbers behind it, too. Well-oiled machine.
Show threadMichelle (she/her)  🇵🇷Mar 29, 2023
@walshman23 They are an amazing company. Their customer service is stellar especially after all these years…decades even
Show threadThatKomputerKat Mar 29, 2023
@briankrebs B&H is one of the good ones for sure.
Show threadchrisheinonenMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs B&H is closed for every Jewish holiday, but they're the only major retailer I know of that does so.
Show threaddigitalcatnipMar 25, 2023
@chrisheinonen @briankrebs I think Adorama probably does as well.
Show threadRitaMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs normal for B&H
Show threadKilteerMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs it is not new for B&H, but I have not seen anywhere else that does this.
Show threadZMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs Several of the big NYC camera stores close for religious holidays--including their ecommerce stores--and have for many years.
Show threadMichaelMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs Of the dozen or so visits I've made to NY, B&H was closed for more than half of the days. :) I've learned to plan trips to B&H as I would for ocean trips with the tide.
Show threadDon WhitesideMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs it’s not unusual in the NYC othodox run camera business. It’s been that way since I was doing wedding photography in the early 90s.
Show threadgthank 🇺🇦Mar 25, 2023
@briankrebs B&H is the only one I’ve ever encountered.
Show threadsamMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs I’ve only ever seen this with B&H photo
Show threadJohnOCFIIMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs Yep. Standard for B&H. Such a great retailer. It would be great if they could rescue DPReview!
Show threadKenn WhiteMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs +1 to what others are saying here, but also strong recommend - good customer service and fair prices. First time I saw the notice years ago it struck me too, but I respect their ethical follow through in the modern age.
Show threadLuis VillaMar 25, 2023
@kennwhite @briankrebs Lol, no- racist hiring practices settlement in 2016 https://hyperallergic.com/396180/bh-photo-settles-department-of-labor-lawsuit/
Responded to unionization by shutting down a warehouse and moving the work to a different state: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/usw-nlrb-finds-merit-in-bh-unfair-labor-practice-charge-300505277.html and then fired people who complained about COVID issues https://nypost.com/2020/10/18/bh-accused-of-discrimination-by-furloughed-workers/
B&H Photo Will Pay $3.2M to Settle Department of Labor Lawsuit

The Department's February 2016 suit outlined 15 violations, from discriminatory hiring practices to racially segregated bathrooms, at B&H Photo's warehouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Hyperallergic
Show threadWilliam RobisonMar 25, 2023

@briankrebs B&H has always been like this. They are observant Jews a that really means it.

I highly respect them for it.

Show threadClay DowlingMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs I appreciate B&H putting something above money.
Show threadSamer FarhaMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs normal for B&H, very much unusual anywhere else.
Show threadSteve MoscarelliMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs B&H takes security very seriously, they have been my customer at 2 cyber vendors. They are mostly Hassidic great guys.
Show threadJeroen-bart EngelenMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs There are several dutch stores, which also have a website where you can order stuff, which is also closed on sunday. Not because the website just sends it to the store, because the website works 24/6. Just not on "the day of the Lord".
Show threadopkopkMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs try a Chic-Fil-A on Sunday. Same thing.
Show thread@infosec_jcp 🐈🃏 done differentlyMar 25, 2023

@briankrebs

This is ultra normal for B&H.

Show threadAlan BucknamMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs they shut down every week, and for all the holidays. I certainly don’t begrudge them that, but I DO begrudge their heinous labor and anti union policies. I prefer Freestyle Photo or Adorama. Many reported stories, but here’s a taste: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2020/10/23/bh-photo-continues-its-long-history-of-discrimination/
Guess What B&H Photo is Being Accused of Again...

B&H Photo is facing major accusations of discrimination yet again. This is truly a company that will never learn how to fix itself.

The Phoblographer
Show threadAkkana PeckMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs It's normal for B&H, yes. They also close for many Jewish holidays. Just something I keep in mind when ordering from them. I don't think I've seen it in any other retailer.
Show threadSam GrossMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs They close for a whole week for Passover and Sukkot!
Show threadMark Willard Mar 25, 2023
@briankrebs not super common with most e-retailers in my experience, but that's *long* been the case for B&H. Photographers know that if you want to order from B&H (or Adorama as well, I believe) and you need something urgently, you need to plan around Jewish holidays!
Show threadDavid MeissnerMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs I saw this once too when ordering from B&H. I’m not religious but I respect them so much for pausing commerce and foregoing revenue for a spiritual purpose.
Show threadIt’s worse, much worse…Mar 25, 2023
@briankrebs :)) you probably never walked in their store .
If had, you'd have never doubted they close on EVERY jewish holiday.
I'm atheist but I was always amused by the sight of their jewish orthodox personnel.
Show threadProf. G.Mar 25, 2023
@briankrebs -- B&H has been keeping the sabbath for as long as I can remember. 👍🏼
Show threadn1fflerMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs It’s the most B&H thing ever, but thats the only place I’ve ever seen it.
Show threadMax FlightMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs For the decades I've been buying from B&H, they have always observed certain religious days. It doesn't really seem to have hurt their business.
Show threadThiago FigueiróMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs while we’re on the topic: Shabbat shalom!
Show threadSensibleOtterMar 25, 2023

@briankrebs

Only B&H in my experience

Show threadAnton PiatekMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs they've had the for many, many years. Never seen it anywhere else though
Show threadCCKDADDYMar 25, 2023
@briankrebs happens all the time at B&H. Only place I have ever run into it. They are closed for all of them so I pay attention. Only a couple of other places I will order gear from.
Show threadgh0sti Mar 26, 2023
@briankrebs they are a jewish family run store. They take a lot of the jewish holidays off. They have a list of holidays that they partake in on their website.
Show threadquixoteMar 26, 2023
@briankrebs B&H did that when they were only bricks and mortar. They've done it from their earliest web days. Unusual, but not for them.
Show threadklausfiend has movedMar 26, 2023
@briankrebs standard for B&H as long as they've had an e-commerce platform. Blew my mind the first time a colleague told me.
Show threadn4Mar 26, 2023
@briankrebs I think this is pretty standard for B&H. I have not encountered any other retailer that does this.
Show threadTWMar 26, 2023
@briankrebs they also close for holidays like Passover. i actually love it (even though i was surprised when i couldn't check out the first time)
Show threaddortMar 26, 2023
@briankrebs if you’re ever in the city I recommend stopping by the retail location if it’s ever convenient. It’s a wild operation they’ve got set up there. I’m like a kid in a candy store every time.
Show threadJ-Michael Roberts Mar 27, 2023
@briankrebs That is normal and has been for as many years as I can recall shopping with them.
Show thread0bondo7Mar 27, 2023
@briankrebs This is completely normal from BH but their service is really good and quick