shiva das
2011-05-18 17:10:56 UTC
I wanted to get my hands on the Fuji GF670 folding 6x6 / 6x7 120 film
camera to see what the excitement is all about. (photos of it are posted
here, more than available on Fuji's website:
<http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/00OF7F>)
I also wanted to see how it fit my hands, how the rangefinder focusing
is, how heavy it is, how its meter reads out, and other standard
pre-purchase questions.
So I went to B&H to talk to their medium format people. In essence, this
is how the conversation went:
Me: I'd like to look at the Fuji GF670, please.
B&H Salesman: Umm, well, we do have it in stock, but I can't show it to
you.
Me: Hunh?
B&H: We don't have a demo camera. In fact I can't even call one up from
the warehouse unless you buy it first.
Me: WHAT?
B&H: I'm sorry, but I can't even show you the box unless you buy it
first. But you know, you can buy it and then you have 14 days to return
it.
So, I went to Customer Service.
Me: (Explanation of above)
B&H Customer Service: Yes, that's correct. You have to buy it, then you
can stand right here in front of me and test it.
Me: Umm, first of all, so we are both talking about the same thing,
you're saying I have to give you $1,662.00 + 8.375% sales tax first,
then I can look at it to see if I want to buy it??
B&H CS: Yes.
Me: OK, in the past when I have tried to avail myself of your 14-day
return policy the old guys in Returns would give me a terribly hard time
if a corner of one page of the instruction manual was torn, or if there
was a tiny dent in the box, or if anything sealed had been opened. So
you want me to risk in excess of $1,600.00 on the slim chance that you
will take it back -- this is an electro-mechanical camera so the first
thing I have to do is unseal and install the battery. The
non-rechargeable battery.
B&H CS: Yes.
Me: See ya.
So having invested who knows what in bringing out a new folding medium
format film camera, Fuji apparently isn't too concerned about actually
selling any of them.
camera to see what the excitement is all about. (photos of it are posted
here, more than available on Fuji's website:
<http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/00OF7F>)
I also wanted to see how it fit my hands, how the rangefinder focusing
is, how heavy it is, how its meter reads out, and other standard
pre-purchase questions.
So I went to B&H to talk to their medium format people. In essence, this
is how the conversation went:
Me: I'd like to look at the Fuji GF670, please.
B&H Salesman: Umm, well, we do have it in stock, but I can't show it to
you.
Me: Hunh?
B&H: We don't have a demo camera. In fact I can't even call one up from
the warehouse unless you buy it first.
Me: WHAT?
B&H: I'm sorry, but I can't even show you the box unless you buy it
first. But you know, you can buy it and then you have 14 days to return
it.
So, I went to Customer Service.
Me: (Explanation of above)
B&H Customer Service: Yes, that's correct. You have to buy it, then you
can stand right here in front of me and test it.
Me: Umm, first of all, so we are both talking about the same thing,
you're saying I have to give you $1,662.00 + 8.375% sales tax first,
then I can look at it to see if I want to buy it??
B&H CS: Yes.
Me: OK, in the past when I have tried to avail myself of your 14-day
return policy the old guys in Returns would give me a terribly hard time
if a corner of one page of the instruction manual was torn, or if there
was a tiny dent in the box, or if anything sealed had been opened. So
you want me to risk in excess of $1,600.00 on the slim chance that you
will take it back -- this is an electro-mechanical camera so the first
thing I have to do is unseal and install the battery. The
non-rechargeable battery.
B&H CS: Yes.
Me: See ya.
So having invested who knows what in bringing out a new folding medium
format film camera, Fuji apparently isn't too concerned about actually
selling any of them.