Early Fall Snow (Olympus E 510 Zuiko 11-22mm f2.8)

There are very few retailers on this planet anymore that care for their customers and strive for excellence.

B+H photo is clearly one of those businesses.

I have previously described my issue with the Panasonic DMW-LVF-1 View Finder. I called the center suggested in the letter sent by the first Panasonic facility that had returned the finder unrepaired. They claimed to be a parts center and had no repair options. I called Panasonic support again and explained the situation. They told me that they would get back to me. They haven’t as of yet. And its been over a week.

Feeling really frustrated, I contacted Henry Posner, who many of you may recognize as B+H Photo’s web troubleshooter. Henry
is active on web forums addressing the few problems people have with this
iconic NYC photography retailer. He’s helped me out in the past.

At first, Henry offered to put me in contact with Panasonic people. I’m not sure what happenned with that idea.

Now I have been given a return authorization for the item, even though it is well beyond the point where B+H would be obliged to deal with me.

On receipt of the viewfinder, they will replace it. Wow! And thanks.

Now having said all of that, I not naïve. There’s a business model at work here, and it’s a good one.

I don’t know whether B+H is operating on the moral code of taking care of their loyal customers, or whether they are merely looking at statistics and deciding that I buy enough stuff from them that this gesture is worthwhile fiscally. If they’re smart, and they are, it’s
both.

In general, if you hunt around the web, you can find photo (or computer, audio, or audio visual) gear a few bucks cheaper than the price on the B+H site.

If you truly count on your equipment however, those few dollars are absolutely worth it.

Trust me on this.