B&H Photo shipping time for MacBook Pro

[PotentPeas]

Ordering a maxed-out MacBook Pro 16" (in the U.S.) — M2 Max w/ 38-core GPU, 96GB RAM, 8TB SSD. Getting it directly through Apple will take two weeks. B&H Photo says that they have it in stock and can ship it immediately.

Funny situation. I normally buy stuff direct from Apple and pick it up from the local Apple store. I'm traveling soon so if I order it through Apple, I'll have to wait more like four weeks to pick it up, but if I order it from B&H and they can ship immediately as they claim then I can have it before I leave.

My question —
Has anyone ordered from B&H? Do they tend to ship when they say they will?

I looked around for information on this and mostly found people complaining about delayed shipment around the time of a new model launch. Since this isn't one of those times, I am hoping that they are really able to ship promptly. Still, out of curiosity I tried many different spec variants at the B&H web site and for almost all of them they claim to have it in stock for immediate shipment. Do they really stock all of these different configurations, when Apple doesn't?

 

[ttran88]

I ordered through B&H last Sunday. Shipping confirmation was sent to me same day and I received it Wednesday.

 

[PotentPeas]

Thanks. For anyone else who might run across this, here is my story — It looks to be good.

I realized that they had the config that I wanted in stock late Friday, but I had to wait until Saturday evening to order, because they observe the Jewish Sabbath and don't take orders during that period.

Yesterday (Sunday), a while after I posted the message above, I got an email from them about order verification. They said that they had tried to call me and left a voicemail, but the number that they said they tried to call was not mine — not even the right area code. I didn't have a voicemail. I'm not sure what was up with that. I looked up their main customer service number and called that (just to make sure I was not being phished, I did not use a number in the email that I received). The rep passed me to their order verification department, and that guy just asked if it was my first time ordering with them (yes) and if my address was residential or commercial. Then, he said that he verified the order.

Anyway. This morning (Monday) I got notice that the order is shipped, so that is that. FedEx already has tracking activity in their system, so they have the system in-hand. It should be here tomorrow. As fast as one could hope for given that I ordered it during the weekend. Hopefully it is a good unit, as I understand that B&H has a more restrictive return policy than Apple does.

I got an AppleCare "proof of purchase" email from Apple at around the same time that I got the shipment notice from B&H.

I've done work with Macs and macOS professionally, so I feel that I know my way around quite well, but this is my first Mac as a personal "daily driver" after about 30 years using Windows. I've been disappointed with the direction of Windows especially since around the announcement of Windows 11, but it took a bit of research to see if I could satsify all of my workflows on macOS + Apple's recent Game Porting Toolkit to push me over the edge. Looking forward to diving in!

 

[dizmonk]

I've occasionally bought Macs from BH. The 14 MBP I'm working on now is one. They often have excellent prices... BUT... and this is a significant BUT... their return policies are terrible!!!! If the box is opened and you decide to return it, they WILL charge you a restocking fee. It doesn't matter if you've had it for a day or a week. I've had quite a few fights with them, given that Apple's return policy is much more generous. If you are 100% sure you want to keep it, go for it but if you have a doubt I'd buy from Apple and wait.

 

[Jackbequickly]

B and H is a solid company and you do not need to worry. They will do as they say.

 

[PotentPeas]

Yeah, I'm just sort of surprised at the number of different spec combinations that they have in stock and ready to ship at a given moment. Apple only seems to keep three or four spec combinations "ready to go" for MacBook Pro 16" and the rest you have to wait on.

Anyway, I got the machine today, and it appears to have been spec'ed as I asked, so all good! (I was expecting it to arrive yesterday, but that is on FedEx and not B&H.)

 

[cbdilger]

I have never been disappointed with B&H and I know multiple video professionals who simply refuse to buy from anyone else.

 

[tcphoto1]

I saw that B&H refunds the sales tax when you use their credit card, I applied for one, added it to my cart and paid the $37 for overnight shipping. I think that it took about two hours to receive the tracking information which I've come to expect from my decades of purchasing photo gear from them.

 

[wilberforce]

Just remember B&H return policy on computers is much worse than Apple's. No (free) returns once it is unsealed. Totally different from their return policy on photographic equipment which is very generous. B&H will charge you a restocking fee to return computers/tablets if you open it at all (if they let you return it), plus you pay the return shipping.

Whereas for Apple you can return in 14 days for no reason at all, free return shipping, even if you simply change you mind.