Tetenal C-41 Kits - why won't B&H ship them?

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council
Advertiser
Joined
May 24, 2005
Messages
11,546
Location
Washington DC
Format
Multi Format
I find it incredibly ironic that B&H lists the Tetenal C-41 kit as "in-store pickup only" yet in their own description, describe it as safe for air travel:


Henry Posner, what gives? It's safe for air travel, yet you won't even put it on a truck to Washington DC?
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,389
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
It will be interesting to see how long it takes for B&H to respond.
 

ignatiu5

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
334
Location
Philadelphia, USA
Format
Medium Format
A representative on their Live Chat told me recently that their cost structure/accessibility for some things that _might_ have hazmat ratings, including things that had previously shipped (I was looking to buy more Adonal which I had purchased from them before), had changed. As a result, more items have recently moved to a "store only" status.

Have there been recent hazmat changes for the tunnels out of Manhattan? Tunnels often have more restrictive limits regarding chemical transport than aircraft. It was the only reason off the top of my head that made sense to me as to why Freestyle would ground ship it, but B&H couldn't or wouldn't.
 

mrred

Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
1,251
Location
Montreal, Ca
Format
Multi Format
My last job entailed writing software to deal with paperwork for cross border shipments. There is no issue with shipping the goods. There are issues with the willingness of the vendor with actually completing the paperwork. Often it is just an excuse and a reason for the carriers to jack up the cost of shipping.
 

Trainmaster

Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2015
Messages
7
Format
4x5 Format
Rumor has it that B&H got caught shipping on the plane a long time ago. Therefore they have never shipped a hazmat again. Adorama shipped plenty of chemsitry, albiet they always used ground!
 

Roger Cole

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
6,069
Location
Atlanta GA
Format
Multi Format
The only explanation I ever heard that made sense to me (the "official" one from B&H does NOT make sense and just to be blunt, I don't believe it) is that B&H is so huge, and their shipping department so correspondingly large, that it's cost prohibitive to train everyone in the needed hazmat procedures, or to separate out such shipments into a smaller sub group. That makes sense to me, and if they said that I'd say "ok, I get it, I'll need to order such items from smaller companies but I understand." But that stuff about it not being allowed after ValueJet seems to me to be nonsense. Too many other places are readily willing to ship the same items, advertise that they do so, and are not getting shut down or in any kind of trouble at all.
 
OP
OP

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council
Advertiser
Joined
May 24, 2005
Messages
11,546
Location
Washington DC
Format
Multi Format
Jon- it is. I bought from them earlier this year as well. I had a "live chat" with a representative who gave me the party line about why they couldn't be shipped. I also got an email response from them citing the MSDS for the stabilizer as the reason they can't ship it. I think they're failing to take into account the quantity of stabilizer - it's a couple grams at most. I still find it ironic that they can't ship it, but they will still buy it from a distributor who ships it to them.
 

RobC

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2007
Messages
3,880
Location
UK
Format
Multi Format
in the UK I have been told years ago that the reason the supplier wouldn't ship some products (liquids in 5 litre bottles usually) is that the courier companies have rules about what they will and won't carry. Acids being a big no no. The much more expensive couriers will sometimes do it. So the problem is the supplier needs to use specific carriers for specific products which is a PITA for them to manage so they don't do it.
This makes sense to me. The cheaper couriers who are often subcontracting to individuals who deliver in specific areas means you really have no idea who is going to be moving this stuff around or how well it will be treated on route. Its a pain I know, but I can understand it.
 

Ko.Fe.

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Messages
3,209
Location
MiltON.ONtario
Format
Digital
Yes, they have E6 as well, nice. I just talk about them with Montreal APUG member yesterday.
And for ECN2 as Russian Canadian I ordered kit from Russia. No problems with shipping recieving. All ingredients were listed in English by my request to get it through without issues.
 

mrred

Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
1,251
Location
Montreal, Ca
Format
Multi Format
I gave them a "wish list" a while back and they now stock much of it. I caught them as they were taking the chemical side a bit more seriously. I can even get CD-4 and catechol now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…