Buy canon lens from B&H

[neech7]

Also, are you sure they 'charge' your CC for the amount? Or did they just place an authorisation (not sure if it's the correct term) for the amount? I believe the latter is just to 'reserve' that amount of credit so that if you are near your CC credit limit, that amount will be available for the actual charging once the goods ship. Very common practice with hotels and restaurants in the US.

 

[tabako]

When I bought from Adorama, no credit card verification is required, I think maybe because I bought via Amazon.

 

[etegration]

Thank you; and don't forget that you are always welcome to email me directly for after-sales support or advice if there is ever a problem with an order.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
http://helenoster.blogspot.com


helen.oster@adoramacamera.com

nice to have a ambassador from Adorama here! :thumbsup:

 

[etegration]

Thank you.

:thumbsup:

 

[henryp]

This is a known practice with B&H for Singapore credit card users. Not sure if this is for selected overseas countries or across the board for ALL overseas countries. Perhaps HenryP can help clarify?

It's a requirement for any order paid with a non-US issued credit card the first time a particular card is used here. Thereafter if you use the same card number for subsequent purchases, this will not be necessary.

We appreciate this is an inconvenience and we understand some card-issuing banks give conflicting and inaccurate information about whether this is advisable or legal. It is legal and while advisable is an opinion I know in the 15 years I've been here countless customers have complied and I am not aware of one who has had cause to regret having done so.

 

[tony_teo]

share my recent first time experience with B&H

11-Jan: Made my purchase online
12-Jan: "processing"
13-Jan: "processing", I emailed to enquire
14-Jan: B&H responded saying that had charged to my CC, but need me to scan the front and back of my CC for verification
14-Jan: I emailed back to ask them to cancel my order. How could they have charged to my CC and withhold my purchase while waiting for verification. What practice is that? I had made many purchases from the big boys in US before, no such experience using the same CC.

first and last time with B&H, something for you guys to reflect on, henryp

I'm also not comfortable giving photocopies of my credit card to strangers. Isn't that like giving the actual card out? Anyone within the transaction process can use your card to make purchases. If faced with a similar, I'll cancel the order also.

 

[freezy1977]

It's a requirement for any order paid with a non-US issued credit card the first time a particular card is used here. Thereafter if you use the same card number for subsequent purchases, this will not be necessary.

We appreciate this is an inconvenience and we understand some card-issuing banks give conflicting and inaccurate information about whether this is advisable or legal. It is legal and while advisable is an opinion I know in the 15 years I've been here countless customers have complied and I am not aware of one who has had cause to regret having done so.

your company may have your own sets of operating procedures, and i respect that.
but this practice may make some ppl uncomfortable in revealing too much of their credit card information...

on the other hand, i think your office should make it clear of your practice to consumers at the point of purchase, rather than they finding out themselves...

also, why there is a need to verify and the charge already went through? verify whether i enter my data correctly? :thumbsd:

 

[freezy1977]

just to add, our local banks still stand strong in this financial crisis... singapore issued cc need verification for that?

 

[henryp]

I'm also not comfortable giving photocopies of my credit card to strangers. Isn't that like giving the actual card out? Anyone within the transaction process can use your card to make purchases. If faced with a similar, I'll cancel the order also.

You are mistaken. First, a photocopy of your card is no more or less a cause for discomfort than reading your card number and exp date to a stranger over the phone, and it's actually far less a risk than handing your card to a restaurant waiter or waitress who can easily clone the mag stripe from a beeper-size gadget on his/her belt while talking your card across the restaurant to the cashier. Any time you buy something with your credit card, you're either giving out the actual card or giving enough indo to strangers for them to do what they want with it.

i think your office should make it clear of your practice to consumers at the point of purchase, rather than they finding out themselves...

We reveal as much as we thing is necessary without tipping our hand in such a way our system could be misused. Most orders don't require verification. Of the very few which do, the majority are verified by B&H with no additional input from the customer at all. of the very few which do require customer input a mere handful require a copy of the card and then, as I said, it's only the first time a particular card is used here. And, as I also said, "in the 15 years I've been here countless customers have complied and I am not aware of one who has had cause to regret having done so."

also, why there is a need to verify and the charge already went through? verify whether i enter my data correctly?

I think it's obvious I cannot reveal every aspect of our security measures. Suffice it to say it's done to deter credit card fraud and identity theft and protects you as much as the retailer.

 

[NMSS_2]

i have done the same type of verification for oversea purchases. Rest assure that it is for the protection of the customer and the company to do so. If the company is not the "big and reputable" type then precaution is advised.

In any case, i would not even trust our local paypal.

 

[CS TAN]

I think one question left unanswered is that if this security verification is so important, why Adorama does not require such credit card verification? Perhaps Helen Oster is in a better position to answer that.

 

[HelenOster]

I think one question left unanswered is that if this security verification is so important, why Adorama does not require such credit card verification? Perhaps Helen Oster is in a better position to answer that.

Actually, we do also ask for this, but not always; there are different levels of security procedure that I am not permitted to share - or it would no longer be secure!

We are obliged by the banks to take certain precautions when accepting credit cards, particularly if a customer is asking for shipping to an address that isn't the same as the billing address.
It is all too easy for someone to acquire an individual's cc details and place a $$$ order that he or she ships to his/her own home.
Providing a copy of the card ensures that we know that the card is actually in the possession of the holder - the number hasn't, for example, simply been noted down by someone who processed your card in a theatre, restaurant or from another online retailer.

 

[CS TAN]

Ok, so Adorama has a different requirement than B&H. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[rendition]

All these said, I've made purchases with both Adorama and B&H with absolute zero problems.

 

[HelenOster]

Ok, so Adorama has a different requirement than B&H. Thanks for the clarification.

No, what I said was

..... we do also ask for this, but not always

 

[CS TAN]

Ok, so Adorama has a different requirement than B&H. Thanks for the clarification.

Actually, we do also ask for this, but not always;

Well, I was trying to point out the difference between Adorama and B&H (If I understand correctly):
- B&H requires photocopy of credit card for ALL overseas buyers when the credit card was being use for the first time. (No exception - even if the ship-to address is the same as the credit card's bill-to address)
- Adorama MAY requires photocopy of credit card for SOME overseas buyers (criteria not disclosed) when the ship-to address is NOT the same as the credit card bill-to address.

Correct me if I am wrong...

 

[HelenOster]

Well, I was trying to point out the difference between Adorama and B&H (If I understand correctly):
- B&H requires photocopy of credit card for ALL overseas buyers when the credit card was being use for the first time. (No exception - even if the ship-to address is the same as the credit card's bill-to address)
- Adorama MAY requires photocopy of credit card for SOME overseas buyers (criteria not disclosed) when the ship-to address is NOT the same as the credit card bill-to address.

Correct me if I am wrong...

That about covers it.....