Is B&H Photo Legit? Returns, Restocking Fees and Shipping (2026)

B&H is the shop most photographers eventually end up at, and it's usually the first name that comes up when someone asks where to buy a camera without feeling nervous. Still, a big price on a lens from a website you haven't used before is the moment to double-check. So I read B&H's own return, shipping and help pages, and Wikipedia for the background.

Who is behind B&H Photo and where it trades from

According to Wikipedia, B&H was founded in 1973 by Blimie and Herman Schreiber. It's a private company based in Manhattan, with one store at 420 Ninth Avenue, and it sells cameras, video, audio, computers and electronics, mainly online. So there's a real address, a named founding family and a physical shop that you can walk into, which already puts it ahead of many sites that only exist as a checkout.

What I couldn't confirm from B&H's own pages is whether it describes itself as an authorised dealer for every brand it sells, or how it labels used gear. The help centre topics for warranties and used gear were empty when I read them. If either matters to you, check the product page and ask the Sales Team before ordering.

B&H Photo return policy: the numbers to know

This is the page I'd read before I put an expensive item in a basket. B&H's return policy says you may return an item within 30 days of the delivery date, subject to conditions and exclusions. The item has to come back in new condition, in the original unaltered box, with all packing material, manuals, warranty cards, free items and accessories.

The policy also lays out what happens if those conditions aren't met:

• B&H may refuse the return or charge a minimum 15% restocking fee.
• Return shipping is your responsibility. If you use a prepaid label, its cost is taken off your refund.
• Return shipping is reimbursed for verified defective or damaged items.
• Shipping fees are nonrefundable.
• Claims for missing or transit-damaged items must reach B&H within two business days of delivery.

So a camera body you simply change your mind about isn't free to send back, even if it's inside the 30 days. The cost is worth weighing against the saving, especially on a lower-priced item where a restocking fee would swallow the difference.

What B&H won't take back

B&H's policy lists items you can't return if opened or unsealed, including computers and software, and consumables such as film, paper and ink cartridges. Always nonreturnable are custom or modified computers, submerged underwater equipment, select special-order items, items marked nonreturnable and electronic software downloads.

For photographers, the practical lesson is to check the product page for a nonreturnable marking before you buy anything niche, such as underwater housings or special orders. If the page says nothing, ask the Sales Team first.

How B&H refunds you

According to the return policy, credits typically appear 5 to 7 days after B&H receives and inspects the item. Refunds generally go back to the original payment method. Keep your tracking number for the return parcel and keep in mind that the clock on your bank's side may add a few days.

B&H Photo shipping and delivery as its pages state

B&H's shipping page says most orders over 49 US dollars qualify for Free Expedited Shipping to the contiguous USA. Orders to PO Boxes aren't eligible. Its help centre says that in most cases domestic orders placed before 6pm ET Monday to Thursday ship the same day. International orders mostly go by DHL, with fees based on weight, value and destination, and the shipping page notes that some items can't be exported because of manufacturer or government restrictions.

If you're ordering from outside the US, read the duties and taxes section before you pay, because I haven't set out what you'd owe in your country. The same goes for warranty cover: a camera sold for one region may carry a warranty only valid there, so ask before ordering for export.

What Wikipedia says about B&H Photo disputes

Wikipedia reports a 4.3 million US dollar settlement with the EEOC in 2007, and a 3.22 million US dollar consent decree in 2017 with no admission of guilt. It also says a New York sales tax suit against B&H was dismissed in 2021. These concern employment and tax matters rather than how orders are fulfilled, and I'm quoting Wikipedia's summary rather than the court documents. Some shoppers will weigh them, others won't.

Buying camera gear from B&H Photo safely

• Order on B&H's own website, typed in by you, rather than through a link from a message.
• Read the product page for any nonreturnable marking, the box contents and the warranty wording.
• Keep the original box until you've tested the item.
• Take photos of the parcel and contents when it arrives, because transit damage claims have a two business day limit.
• Ask the Sales Team about warranty and used items if the page isn't clear.

If you're building a kit for client work, the retailer is only part of the picture. My roundup of ways to save on tech products is worth a look, but never pay outside the official checkout to chase a deal.

Spotting a fake B&H Photo site

A shop this well known gets cloned. Be wary of an address that adds extra words, a camera priced far below everywhere else, a request to pay by bank transfer or gift card, or a message asking you to confirm your card details. If something feels off, close the page and type the address in yourself. I walked through the same checks for a very different shop in my Etsy buyer protection check.

B&H Photo at a glance

What I checked	What the sources say
Who runs it	Private company founded in 1973, Manhattan, per Wikipedia
Return window	30 days from delivery, subject to conditions
Restocking fee	Minimum 15% if return conditions aren't met
Return shipping	Customer pays unless item is verified defective or damaged
Free shipping	Most orders over 49 US dollars to the contiguous USA
Authorised dealer status and used gear	Not confirmed here: ask before buying

My verdict on whether B&H Photo is legit

B&H is a real, established retailer with a physical shop, a named history and detailed published policies. That's the good news. The catch is in the return terms: a 30 day window, a possible restocking fee and return shipping on you. Read them first, check the item page for exclusions, and use B&H's own site and you'll know what you're buying.

Frequently asked questions

Is B&H Photo legit?

Yes. Wikipedia describes it as a private company founded in 1973 in Manhattan, with its only store on Ninth Avenue, selling mainly online. Read its return terms before buying.

What is B&H Photo's return policy?

Its return policy page says you may return items within 30 days of delivery in new condition with the original packaging and accessories. A minimum 15% restocking fee can apply if conditions aren't met.

Does B&H Photo offer free shipping?

Its shipping page says most orders over 49 US dollars qualify for Free Expedited Shipping to the contiguous USA, and that PO Boxes aren't eligible.

Who pays for returns at B&H Photo?

The return policy says return shipping is the customer's responsibility, with the cost of a prepaid label deducted from the refund, except for verified defective or damaged items.

Does B&H Photo sell used or open-box gear?

I couldn't confirm that from its help pages, so check the product listing and ask its Sales Team about condition and warranty before buying.