B&H Photo

B&H Photo Video was founded in 1973 by Herman Schreiber in Manhattan - originally a small camera shop. The single physical B&H "SuperStore" at 420 9th Avenue (between 33rd and 34th streets) is one of the most distinctive retail destinations in New York City: 70,000 square feet of professional camera, video, and computer equipment with internal conveyor belts moving products from upstairs warehouse to checkout counters via overhead motorized tracks.

For Apple specifically, B&H is the US specialty source for high-end Mac configurations - Mac Studio Ultra, Mac Pro custom configurations, Pro Display XDR - with the deepest in-stock inventory of any US retailer outside Apple direct. B&H's professional photography and video customer base creates demand for high-end Apple builds that mass retailers (Best Buy, Costco) don't bother stocking.

The B&H tax advantage - two mechanisms. (1) Post-Wayfair (2018), B&H collects sales tax only in states where they have physical nexus - fewer than half of US states. Shoppers in no-nexus states receive B&H shipments without sales tax - the same tax economics as buying in Oregon or Delaware, but from your own home. (2) The B&H Payboo credit card (issued through Synchrony Bank) rebates the sales tax amount as statement credit on eligible purchases for buyers in tax-collecting states - typically a $100-$160 effective savings on a $1,500-$2,000 MacBook, with the rebate appearing on the next statement within 7-10 days. The combined effect: B&H can be effectively tax-free for any US shopper, regardless of state.

Apple Authorized Reseller status. B&H is a full Apple Authorized Reseller. Products carry Apple's standard warranty, are AppleCare+ eligible, and have genuine supply-chain provenance. B&H's Apple inventory includes the full current-gen lineup plus the high-end Mac Pro, Mac Studio Ultra, and custom-RAM MacBook Pro configurations that Best Buy and Costco typically don't stock.

Closed Saturdays and Jewish holidays. B&H observes Shabbat - the entire Saturday from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset - and all major Jewish holidays. The 9th Avenue SuperStore physically closes and the website pauses order fulfillment. Orders placed late Friday afternoon won't ship until Sunday. Plan order timing accordingly; this is the only major US national electronics retailer with regular weekly closures.

Shipping and returns. Free standard ground shipping on most orders $49+. 30-day return policy on most Apple products.

US specialty source for high-end Mac configurations (Mac Studio Ultra, Mac Pro, Pro Display XDR), the B&H Payboo credit card that rebates sales tax as statement credit (effective 0% tax on Apple purchases for any US buyer), tax-free shipping to states without B&H nexus, and the iconic single 9th Avenue NYC SuperStore with overhead conveyor belt order fulfillment.

B&H Photo prices largely at sticker, but bundle discounts on AppleCare, accessories, and case-and-charger combinations are typically available at staff discretion. Expect 1 to 3% effective flexibility on bundles rather than meaningful sticker negotiation. Their pricing changes occasionally but not predictably. Promotional windows are a more reliable savings driver than week-to-week pricing fluctuation here.

English support at B&H Photo is excellent. Full transactions including warranty registration, configuration consultation, and accessory bundling can be completed in English at flagship locations. The United States has no federal tourist sales-tax refund. Sales tax paid at B&H Photo stays paid. Buy in 0%-tax states such as Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, or Oregon to avoid this entirely. International credit cards including Visa and Mastercard are accepted, which is useful for tourists without local banking.

In United States's Apple retail market, B&H Photo's closest comparisons are Adorama (multi-brand electronics, 1 stores) and Apple Store US (Apple direct, 270 stores). Each of these competes on a different axis. Store count, retail format, pricing discipline, and geographic coverage all differ. The right alternative depends on whether you are optimizing for the lowest absolute price, in-person Apple-experience retail, or proximity.

B&H Photo is best-known for Mac Studio, Mac Pro, and Pro Display XDR. These are the categories where their pricing, inventory depth, and retail experience meaningfully differentiate from United States's broader Apple retail. As a multi-brand electronics chain, B&H Photo's strength is convenience and bundled household-electronics shopping rather than Apple-specialist consultation. If you are buying Apple alongside other electronics, the combined-cart pricing often produces meaningful savings versus Apple-only specialty stores.