B&H Photo-Video B&H Damaged Sony EX1 XDCAM Camera during trade in evaluation refuses to take responsibility New York New York

B&H damaged the battery terminal of my Sony PME-EX1 while it was in their position for trade in evelautaion and denies responsibility.

I brought in a a Sony PMW-EX1 XDCAM EX for trade in eveluation. They responded within their standard 72 hour period that the camera didn't have the current firmware which they'd prefer to use the current SxS cards.

I took the camera back and broght it to Sony Pro Service Center in Teaneck NJ and had the firmeware updated. They check the camera and found no additional problems.

When I returned home with the camera I attached the camera battery and personally confirmed the firmware had been updated.

The following day I brought in the camera again for eveluation again. They quoted me an $1875 offer to buy. A full week went by and they did not contact me. As noted about their standard reveluation time is up to 72 hours. Concerned, I called them. I was told their technician was out sick. I waited another entire week and still they had not contacted me. 12 day had now transplred in their "72 hour" evaluation report. At now point did they contact me.

Once again I had to take the responsibility of contacting them. At that point they claimed any attempt to use a batter resulted in an Error message presenting the camera from turnning on.

Not only did Sony check the camera when they updated the firmware, I also check the camera with the camera before I brought it in. At no other point did the camera leave its box so it was securely packed.

Yet during the unnacccountable and irregularly long period kept at B&H and ,without taking any responsibility to communicate with me and apparently without the technician for much of that time (assuming they were honest about his being out sick and I find that suspect), the camera was damaged. That ONLY upon my initiated phone call after the camera had been their 12 days, did they state the camera errored and failed to turn on. One might conclude they only just bothered to check the camera or otherwise checked it prior to the call and continued their negligence by not contacting me.

Given their above innaction, that both Sony and I checked the camera, including battery, whether inadverntly or irresponsibly, they damaged the camera. It's abundently and resolutely clear to me that they were reckless every step of the way in handling the camera.

I went to pick up the camera and checked it there myself and it was clear the camera no longer booted with the battery. Additionally they didn't return the original manual I had included, just one more sign of careless treatment on their part.

I argued with the Director of the Used Deptarment (name available upon request) for an hour as they contorted through rationaliizations deny they could have damaged the camerra when I know FOR A FACT, PERSONALLY CHECKED that they receieved a working camera. In fact they had attached a report claiming that a repair was estimated at  $1817 including a $1000 cost for parts.

I then broght the camera back to Sony Pro Service Center in Teaneck, NJ. The following day Sony responded that the battery terminal assmebly needed to be replaced for $220.47 tax included.

I believe B&H should pay for the $220.47 repair and, additionally buy what would now be a working camera for the accepted $1875. Personally I think they owe addintionally for the agrivation and inconvenience of breaking the batter terminal.

FACT - Sony Pro Service updated the firmware and checked the camera functions and found no issues.

FACT- I subsequently check the camera with the battery and it booted and I confirmed the firmware update

FACT - The next day I brought in to B&H a working camera that had remained securly packed.

FACT - B&H was neglicient by not keeping to their 72 hour eveluation period

FACT - 120 hours (5 working days) transpired and B&H made no effort to contact me

FACT - I then called and was told the techniician was out sick.

FACT - Another 7 days transpired (roughly 5 business days) and B&H still hadn't initiated contact.

FACT - I then called (now 12 full days from when I brought in the camera) and only during that call did they then state they would not buy the camera due to the battery error.

FACT - Their internal document attached to the camera lists an estimated repair cost of $1817

FACT - I brought the camera back to Sony Pro Service who confirmed the damaged battery terminal with a repair of 220.47

Conclussion - B&H was grossly negligent ein very step by not acknowleding the camera had been damaged during an unaccountable 12 day period.

B&H should pay for the repair, buy the camera and, if they have any sense of integrity and courtesy offer some compensation for forcing me to go through this.

This is not how one treats a customer who often spends $5000 or more a year there going back close to 20 years. They are negligent and dishonest and, additionally, reckless in treating the equipment brought in for evalution for used sale.