I had recently purchased a new Nikon from B&H online and stumbled upon their physical location while waiting for an Uber outside Penn Station/Moynihan Train Hall. I was blown away by the interior of the store. I’m used to small local shops but this one covers almost a full block and two stories!
The staff were all extremely friendly and helpful, pointing me to the camera cases upstairs and helping me order the one I needed for my new camera.
10+ year customer; purchased flagship camera, lenses, drives etc
Recent recommendations for purchase have fallen short of expectation (focus motors that aren't compatible with lens system, fluid heads underperforming for described camera setup, barn door missing piece(s) for proper functioning).
Some departments are consistently helpful and knowledgeable (video counter, drive storage & cables), but ultimately have had an increasingly frustrating experience in multiple other areas.
Recently - and the reason for this review - I was looking to review my purchase history before ordering a shipment of CF Express cards and encountered a denial to their website (picture attached).
I sent my Godox V100 flash in for repair in October. For 15 weeks, I received no communication unless I initiated it. I never got confirmation that my repair was received. After reaching out, I was told it would take 8–12 weeks. Eight weeks later, I asked again for an update and was promised I would be notified when the repair was complete and when it would be shipped back.
15 weeks later, I emailed again due to no communication. I was then told it had already shipped and that I had “already received it,” which was false. Only after repeatedly asking did they send me the tracking number.
I asked B&H to confirm my address they sent it to and they could not confirm for me unless I typed out my address. I sent him my correct address and JJ proceeds to tell me yes we sent it there. I then called USPS and they confirmed that the package was not delivered to my address or anything close.
B&H has lied directly, denying the package was sent to the wrong address even though USPS confirmed it. They have taken zero accountability, offered no solution, and made no effort to locate my property. My $340 flash is gone, and they appear unconcerned.
This level of mismanagement, lack of communication, and dishonesty is unacceptable. I would not recommend B&H to anyone.
I rarely choose to order from them and just order from the manufacturer instead, but I've never had an issue when I did. The last two staff members I interacted with were helpful and professional as well.
The store itself is huge and a playground for photographers. The only nicer and bigger camera stores that I've been to have all been in Asia. In my opinion, if you're a photographer or have any interest in it, this place is a must visit staple. If you just want a souvenir, their shopping tote bags are nice. They are designed to look like you're holding a camera strap. You can just get a small accessory.
Just go upstairs, walk past the used section, wait in line to go up to an associate behind the glass displays, and get something cheap like a generic view finder hood. Your item will be waiting for you at the register downstairs. They have a cool rail system to transport products to the register.
I recently purchased RAM from B&H Photo and ran into an issue, but their customer service was absolutely outstanding. B&H was immediately on top of it and made the replacement process incredibly easy. They actually placed the replacement order for me—I didn’t have to log back in or do anything online myself.
The staff was extremely professional and understanding. In the real world, it’s easy for a customer to make a purchasing mistake, and B&H handled my concern without hesitation. They corrected the issue and even shipped the replacement to me for free with two-day shipping.
What really stood out is that they genuinely care about customer satisfaction. I even received a follow-up email from a manager personally asking if I was satisfied with the service I received. That level of care is rare these days.
In my previous business, I purchased tens of hundreds of consumer-grade DSLRs from B&H Photo. Every order arrived on time, accurately, and without issues. That long-term consistency is probably a big reason they’ve been in business for over 50 years.
B&H Photo continues to set the standard for customer service, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
I've been a customer since I worked in NYC more than 25 years ago. My office was like 2 blocks away. Such a great store, huge selection.
Just sold my Canon DSLR to them to help fund the switch to mirror-less. Best trade-in value. Easy process. I accidentally left my SD card in the camera and they were very accommodating to mail it back to me.
There are few brands that I'm a lifetime customer and this is one of them. If I'm ever in NYC again in person, will definitely take a trip to visit their store. Always professional service both online, on the phone or in-person.
B&H Photo Video is the best. I've ordered my computer, a tv, photo albums, and am always pleased with the products and the way the company deals with their customers. I live in Texas but I love dealing with B&H in NY and have used them for years. I've referred others to their store as well. Truly a top notch company. Thank you.
I called regarding the availability of the Canon SX740HS and was able to preorder the camera, and despite saying there being a back order of 5-6 weeks, the camera shipped same day! I was also able to get the camera at market value, and especially in times like this where resellers are upping the camera 300$ or more, this is truly unbeatable. Very satisfied with my experience here at B&H, and I look forward to purchasing from them again.
I am a decades long professional photographer who has been shopping with B&H since the 1980's when I would make a day trip into NYC just to shop here. They were simply the best. They still are. Best prices, best service, best selection. Second to none. Highly recommended.
I purchased a motherboard from B&H for my first PC build ever. I was very excited to finally get a PC as a graduation gift to myself. After dealing with their customer service for 2 months, I cannot recommend this business to anyone. Just buy from Amazon; it may be slightly more expensive but their return policy and customer support are 1000 times better and will save you money in the long run. Here is what happened with me: - I purchased and received a motherboard for my PC - The motherboard I received was defective and simply wouldn’t run. (There was NO physical damage at all to the motherboard, simply an internet defect) - I return the motherboard only to hear that it was massively damaged. I provided photo evidence that the motherboard was not damaged but they never addressed it. - They return the motherboard back to me improperly packaged with well over 50 broken and damaged pins on it. - They have still not offered any solution to this.
In short, they took my money, sent me a bad product, and the re-sent me the product after they had smashed it to refuse my return. Not I’m out $200 and have no motherboard. The customer service was not helpful at all and they simply kept referring to their policy. Well their policy also states they will refund defective items but they won’t do that. They pick and choose when it helps them and harms the customer. This was my first and last time with B&H. Do not buy from them
I've always respected B&H and purchased from them in the past. But I was floored to learn that as a premier Apple reseller, there is no return without a massive restocking fee (after just one day). Even with their sometimes compelling deals, I can't recommend anyone ever purchase computer gear from them when there are other options. If I had just purchased from Apple, I could get the equipment I really want instead of having to live with a suboptimal computer.
My wife purchased a Samsung tower speaker from B&H Photo as an early Christmas gift, and the experience was excellent. The price was better than Best Buy, and the shipping was faster than expected. Everything arrived quickly and in perfect condition. I’ve always heard great things about B&H, and this purchase definitely lived up to that reputation. Highly recommend for both pricing and service
Unbelievable, we bought a brand new Sony A7RV with them. Our battery runs out extremely quick and got overheated when charged. Only by then I found out that they sold us a fake battery!!! A reputable place, making dirty money by replacing dummy battery!! They need to get sued!!
My company has been using B and H for 5 years now and have usually had very positive things to say about them. Recently I was in the market for new LED CYC lights and called a customer service representative for help. I was specifically looking for the Altman Spectra CYC 100 lights. I was hoping for them in the RGBW wash. I called the representative and he told me they had the ones I wanted in stock and could ship them within 2 months. I was very excited to see the price of these CYC lights as B and H offers great pricing and an educational discount. I asked about the words "WHITE" written in the description. He assured me that was just the W in the RGBW. I was hesitant as a theater tech major but decided he was the sales representative and ti trust him. I purchased 6 of them and it took more than 2 months to get here. Once I opened and set them up I noticed I was having trouble patching them to color change. No where in the box was there a manual and no where on the website did it explain that these were not color changing. When I called the representatives again they mentioned I might be changing the preset wrong. So I booked an appointment with their free video chat help. They were not able to help me as they do not specialized in stage lighting. This I found to be unhelpful as well because if you market the help to be stage lighting help someone should know how to assist in these products. After an extensive amount of emailing about what could be wrong, I finally reached out to the manufacture who in a quick email was able to tell me that they guided me to buy the wrong product. When I learned of this I was very disappointed as my experience buying them was so great. I emailed the representative and asked them if they would take these lights back as this was not an error I made without guidance. The representative was very nice and willing to look into this, but later said they would not take these back as they were not within the 30 days and that they do not buy back most lighting equipment. I later learned with help from Altman themselves that there were a few other things that B and H left out. They would have to pay a restocking fee if they took these back and sent them to Altman to be restocked. The 30 days starts once these items were delivered, being in shipping transit does not count toward the 30 days. I was very disappointed in this experience and am thankful to Altman for all of their help in getting this straightened out.
B&H has been a longtime resource & supplier for my photography needs for most of my life. After a long hiatus from my hobby, I turned to B&H to turn in my old gear and acquire a mirrorless system and they were exceptionally helpful steering me in the right direction for my needs. They answer their phones, the staff is expert, and shipping is astonishingly fast! Highly recommend this company.
This place is great! Second time here and there’s so much to see! It’s so fun to look around in and the staff is so knowledgeable. They’re online store is just as good, and either online or in store if I have any questions, they are always answered.
What is essentially a playground for anybody interested in photo and film. The staff are courteous and very knowledgeable about the subject at hand. They are patient and let you test equipment, and are eager to teach concepts to you, even if it isn’t directly related to the sale. I would highly recommend anyone interested in photo and film to check this place out!
Not only do they have a large assortment of brands and styles, but the staff is really knowledgeable and wants to be helpful. The sales person that worked with me gave me great advice that I tried out the next day and I was so happy. I was thinking of going back just to chat with him lol. Here’s a photo I took this weekend with my new lens.
Update this is what I'm talking about see images 9/29/2025. 1 day in transit and $850 drone looking like an open box item.
Really bad customer service. Returns are a hassle. I carrier option. So when your stuff arrives in poor condition you have to do these RMAs which take forever. You tend to shop when you need something and have a use. Working, getting paid and spending time and money so other people can rob you of joy is no longer cool in my book. So until you stop being cheap and give people the option of shooting UPS or USPS for free I'm out. Added I asked you to check with me 1st. No respect and a the sorry for the inconvenience. You can take your inconvenience and shove it you know where. Civil society is dead.
I was apprehensive about dealing with B&H but I called the Used Department and spoke with Daniel who was very capable and offered a quote for my Panasonic GH5M2 camera & accessories. I had spent approximately $1300 -and got $790 in store credit. I used that store credit to pay the difference to buy the Canon Powershot V1 which I got today (Friday, 9/26/25). I would do business with them again and I’m very satisfied with the outcome.
Walking into B&H is truly a unique experience. Every aisle feels like stepping into a technological theme park: cameras, lenses, drones, entire studios ready to be tested. The best part is that you can actually touch, try, and feel the power of each piece of equipment.
The staff is incredibly attentive and makes you feel right at home. The used section is full of hidden gems and is always worth checking out. And the logistics? Absolutely fascinating! You get a ticket, pay at the register, and then watch your product arrive on tracks straight from the stockroom to your hands it’s impossible not to be impressed.
I’ve shopped there before and was always very well taken care of. Besides selling, they also buy used equipment at fair prices, which only adds to the trust and the excitement of coming back.
B&H is not just a store it’s a must-visit destination for anyone passionate about audiovisual. I simply love being there.
This is for their used photo department. Never ever ship your item to B and H. I sent a well working camera to them that was broken during transit. They denied my claim saying item was not properly packed. The camera was broken as if run over by a truck. They have no insurance and they are very unprofessional. They block all your FedEx claim if anything happens to your item by accident.
Review of B&H Photo and Electronics, New York City
During a recent trip to New York City, I stumbled upon B&H Photo and Electronics while walking back to our hotel after breakfast, and I couldn't be more thrilled! As a longtime fan of their online store, I was excited to explore their massive physical location. The scale of the store was astonishing; it truly felt like a playground for anyone interested in photography and electronics.
One of the coolest features was the overhead rail system that transports orders directly from the stockroom to the sales staff (check out one of the videos I made of the rail system). It was fascinating to watch in action!
My wife, who usually isn't as enthusiastic about these kinds of places, even found herself enjoying the visit, and our son couldn’t get enough of the driving video games set up throughout the store.
The staff were incredibly kind and helpful, making our surprise stop a delightful experience. Even though we hadn’t planned on such an impromptu visit, we ended up having a fantastic time exploring.
I highly recommend stopping by B&H Photo and Electronics if you’re in New York City—it’s an experience you won't want to miss!
A dangerous place if you like photo equipment or tech in general—you will want to buy everything! The staff are very helpful and friendly, and KNOWLEDGEABLE! I am a professional photographer with >$30k of gear and a decade of experience, and I was impressed with how much everyone knew about the latest tech. They also didn’t try to sell me anything and were very willing to let me hold cameras and try things out. This is a must-visit place just to look at things, but there are also some good deals on used and refurbished equipment, too!
I've been purchasing from B & H Photo Video for many years yet have never left a review which I'm doing at the present. B & H is a very fine retailer providing outstanding service in accompaniment with the customer service. Their prices are compatible with all other retailers and sometimes are far better. The quality of merchandise is excellent. I've never had any issues with B & H over the years and their shipping rates are more than reasonable. We would highly recommend B & H Photo Video as their products excel many other vendors. Actually, B & H provides concierge service.Thank you very much B & H for the continued support and service.
* On my recent purchase for the Seahorse SE230, the quality is outstanding as there is ample room for a full size Beretta 92FS and ammo to boot. Some have stated there is not enough room for a full sized 9mm Beretta which is untrue as exhibited by the enclosed photo. In addition there is one padlock hole in the middle for a lock. There are two layers of foam padding on the bottom as the top layer can be cut to the dimensions of the item placed within.The 'plastic' locking mechanism is excellent. We would strongly recommend the Seahorse SE230 without any doubt, none.
Mar 27, 2025
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