Ordering from B&H

[sacentre]

I know some guys out there order from B&H. Can I get some advice about ordering on-line with a credit card from them?

Seems they want a photo of the front and back of the Visa card and a tel/fax number of the bank so they can verify my billing address.

When I asked my bank about this, they said "NO WAY should you send them a photo of your card as it may fall into the wrong hands". Also, no use giving them a phone number or fax number as we don't entertain enquiries of this nature from merchants. WTF? Loads of people do business with them, so how is it normally done?

Sacentre

 

[CS TAN]

Perhaps we should direct this question to Mr. Posner from B&H. He is a member in this forum.

Henry, care to clarify this for us once and for all? I seem to have read about this from more than one forum member here and no one seems to have the answer.

 

[maxtheevil]

I know some guys out there order from B&H. Can I get some advice about ordering on-line with a credit card from them?

Seems they want a photo of the front and back of the Visa card and a tel/fax number of the bank so they can verify my billing address.

When I asked my bank about this, they said "NO WAY should you send them a photo of your card as it may fall into the wrong hands". Also, no use giving them a phone number or fax number as we don't entertain enquiries of this nature from merchants. WTF? Loads of people do business with them, so how is it normally done?

Sacentre

give B&H a call to clarify,

i did this once to, but it's a purchase of another kind, not camera-related,

the sales girl just took my credit card numb verbally and processed my order.

BUT

i don't recommend that for purchases

i did that only because the company is a very big scale co.

otherwise, no.

 

[maxtheevil]

give B&H a call to clarify,

i did this once to, but it's a purchase of another kind, not camera-related,

the sales girl just took my credit card numb verbally and processed my order.

BUT

i don't recommend that for purchases

i did that only because the company is a very big scale co.

otherwise, no.

and while u are talking to the sales, tell them to write your item as gift and under declare it. below SG$400

 

[sacentre]

Maxtheevil, I would do that only I don't think they'd do that for an expensive item eg USD5000.

sacentre

 

[CS TAN]

and while u are talking to the sales, tell them to write your item as gift and under declare it. below SG$400

Not sure why you tell people publicly to cheat Singapore government. I don't think this is right at all.

And, I don't believe B&H will under declare the value just you ask them to.

 

[sacentre]

I just "chatted" with B&H about the best way to pay via credit card. Their response was they always ask for a photo or fax of both sides of the credit card and do "x" (I suppose this means "a lot") amount of transactions this way.

I guess I could live with that (despite my bank saying they advise against it) as I can always cancel the card and get a replacement if I'm worried. The problem for the bank is if the card details did fall into the wrong hands, and any fraudulent transactions made, they would accept no responsibility to reimburse me. However, be that as it may.

The other difficulty is that they also request a fax/phone number of the bank so they can verify the billing address. When I contacted my bank to make sure this was ok, they said they would not entertain such requests from vendors. I've asked B&H if there's a way around this.

sacentre

 

[lightning]

The last time I deal with them I just send fax them a bill that has my mailing address and name to verify that I have a "real" person staying in Singapore.

 

[havocidal]

I know some guys out there order from B&H. Can I get some advice about ordering on-line with a credit card from them?

Seems they want a photo of the front and back of the Visa card and a tel/fax number of the bank so they can verify my billing address.

When I asked my bank about this, they said "NO WAY should you send them a photo of your card as it may fall into the wrong hands". Also, no use giving them a phone number or fax number as we don't entertain enquiries of this nature from merchants. WTF? Loads of people do business with them, so how is it normally done?

Sacentre

That policy only applies for non-US purchases. It is to protect them rather.

 

[maxtheevil]

Not sure why you tell people publicly to cheat Singapore government. I don't think this is right at all.

And, I don't believe B&H will under declare the value just you ask them to.

sorry, if they agree to do it, i don't think it's cheating.

cause it's classified as a gift to oneself...

legal.

 

[maxtheevil]

Maxtheevil, I would do that only I don't think they'd do that for an expensive item eg USD5000.

sacentre

my item was over US$2000.

live in hope, don't say no before u try...

 

[CS TAN]

sorry, if they agree to do it, i don't think it's cheating.

cause it's classified as a gift to oneself...

legal.

Legal? What kind of logic is that. :dunno:

So if you ask a tax consultant to prepare your Singapore income tax return and ask them to under declare your company's income, who do you think the IRA people will come after? The tax consultant? :nono:

BTW, gift which has a value over S$400 is still taxable in Singapore.

 

[maxtheevil]

Legal? What kind of logic is that. :dunno:

So if you ask a tax consultant to prepare your Singapore income tax return and ask them to under declare your company's income, who do you think the IRA people will come after? The tax consultant? :nono:

BTW, gift which has a value over S$400 is still taxable in Singapore.

CS tan, u win.

i am not here to prove i am right.

thanks , bye.

 

[havocidal]

i got a problem with fraudent behaviour

coming from him from another thread. Interesting.

 

[CS TAN]

coming from him from another thread. Interesting.

:bsmilie:

 

[HeiPiGu]

Hi TS, I don't think it's advisable to give your personal credit card details over the net. I wanted to buy something from B&H earlier this year and they request the same information from me.
I told them sending my credit card info over the net will increase the risk of credit card fraud, they boh chap.

In the end I ordered from Adorama, same item, no hassle, no need to send them anything :thumbsup:

 

[CS TAN]

Hi TS, I don't think it's advisable to give your personal credit card details over the net. I wanted to buy something from B&H earlier this year and they request the same information from me.
I told them sending my credit card info over the net will increase the risk of credit card fraud, they boh chap.

In the end I ordered from Adorama, same item, no hassle, no need to send them anything :thumbsup:

So, why is there such a discrepancy between two NYC online photo stores? Is Singapore in a credit card blacklist or something?

 

[HeiPiGu]

So, why is there such a discrepancy between two NYC online photo stores? Is Singapore in a credit card blacklist or something?

I also don't know. I even emailed the B&H sales personnel the address of HSBC office in the States if they want to verify my credit card, they also boh chap.

Adorama very good, never disturb me for credit card details.

 

[CS TAN]

I don't have this problem since I usually ask friends in USA to get the stuff for me and ship over.

 

[krishna91]

my family is based in singapore and i study in the united states.. i used my dads credit card number ( singapore credit card ) to buy and they asked for the same thing even though it was being shipped to a california address.. well i think due to the recent nigerian scams and credit card frauds they want to verify the identity of the buyer.. i don't see anything wrong with that..

anyways... i thought you don't have to pay tax if you buy the item online.. maybe it's a different rule in singapore.. anyways, never be on the wrong side of the law