Support your local camera store - yeah right!

[rpcrowe]

My local camera shop has always charged rediculously high prices for their merchandise. However, they did provide some fringe benefits like seminars and local photo trips; so I would buy there from time to time. However, they were just purchased by the giant photo chain, Calumet. That should have brought in cheaper prices. After call, Calumet can buy in larger quantities than any mom and pop business could possibly get.

They didn't lower prices, simply eliminated the extra fringe goodies such as the seminars. Their prices are still sky high.

For an example, I just purchased a Canon Off Camera Sync Cord for my EOS flash and camera combination. I got it from Flashpoint Camera (A.K.A. 17th Street Photo in NYC) for $50 plus $7.00 shipping and might have shaved a few bucks from that if I really wanted to shop the net. I am happy with my relationship with Flashpoint/17th Street and like the way they expedite the orders. I ordered yesterday and will probably get the unit Tuesday.

Calumet wanted $65 for the same unit. On top of that I would give Governer Schwartznegger his 8% sales tax. That would bring the total for the unit up to $70.20. That's $13.20 more than I paid at Flashpoint/17th Street.

To really rub salt in the wounds, Calumet said, "We don't have one in stock right now, but we can get you one by Wednesday or Thursday!

[Kevin Barrett]

Norman Camera is my local photo store. I've purchased just about everything photographic that I have from them. It may help that they have
an internet presence and are willing to match other "authorized" merchants' pricing on equipment etc. Folks there know me by name and will allow
me to try anything out without hesitation. I do value that and I am willing pay their premium.

[hartcons]

I just got back from one of our mall camera stores and they were having Nikon Day and the nikon rep brought all sorts of lenses to try on for size (and a while back they had an Olympus day). They also gave me a copy of the Nikon catalog and a little world clock gizmo for being a good customer. Can't get that from an online store.

A store in a nearby little town is run by a pro photographer and so they always have all sorts of interesting stuff (and often the owner has some project he's working on for a client out on the tables).

I also wouldn't buy a camera body or lens sight unseen. I think there are too many personal ergonomic/handling issues involved. And if I get to sample the merchandise at a store then I will buy it from them (that's only fair).

To date, I don't think I've purchased any camera equipment online except that I did buy one Olympus lens on eBay (I couldn't find a local store that carried that particular lens).

Here's to local camera stores. Personally I would hate to see them go the way of the dinosaur.

[mikaelwardhana]

well this phenomenon is innevitable really...i bet in the next few years, almost all camera stores will have to close. They wont be able to compete in pricing. They have to rent the store, they have to pay the sallary for the employees, they have to pay tax for all sort of things...well..it is sad...it is not their fault really. It is just the ever changing technology.

[hartcons]

I think there's also something to be said for supporting your local economy. And with online purchases you have to consider shipping costs and also what happens if there's a problem and you need to return something. Also sometimes you are getting gray market goods without an official US warranty. Personally I think that how we "vote" with our dollars has more influence than how we vote at the polls. Plus, some of the sales ladies are really cute

If I owned a local camera store I would be looking at ways I could get the online folks to part with at least some money while they were in the store trying out the merchandise (the good news being that you have them in your store but that only helps if they ultimately buy something or tell someone else about your store, etc.)

[hartcons]

Does B&H have a restocking fee? I do use their web site to check prices so I suppose I should buy something from them in return. They do send me a thick catalog from time to time.

[timjon]

I guess I'm pretty lucky as my local camera store here in the UK is CameraWorld, which is also one of the cheapest mail order dealers, and they offer the same prices in store. So I can try things out in store, then purchase at internet prices, and I don't have to pay shipping.

They're also remarkably helpful and considerate, especially since their margins must be quite a bit lower than most of the other retailers. For example, when the story came out about incompatibilities (and potentially unreliability) between Canon DSLRs and Lexar cards, they swapped my (several month old) Lexar 80x 1Gb card for the same capacity Sandisk Extreme III, with no questions and at no cost.

As a result, I try to buy as much as I can there to support them, and can honestly recommend them to anyone (I'm guessing their mail order service is just as good).

Cheers,

Tim.

[bavanor]

You guys are lucky, I don't even have a local store. Sure there is a little wolf camera, but they don't carry Olympus (which is what I use) WTF.

Wish I had the choice to choose between a local shop and the internet. Maybe it is time to move.

[hartcons]

Originally Posted by bavanor

You guys are lucky, I don't even have a local store. Sure there is a little wolf camera, but they don't carry Olympus (which is what I use) WTF.

Even around these parts (2nd-largest city in Oregon) you can't find olympus e-system lenses in stock. Lots of canon and nikon lenses (and sigma and tamron oh my) but no Olympus (just the kits). One store did have an Olympus demo day where I got to try a few of the nicer lenses. I probably would own a few more Olympus lenses if the stores did carry them (for some reason I don't get around to ordering them online). I don't know if it's that the dealers won't stock Olympus or that Olympus has stricter requirements about who can and can't sell their products. But if you own a canon or nikon body there are certainly lots of lenses to visit at the local stores.

[Charlie Self]

Originally Posted by bauerman

Local relationships are great - and I know the guys at Idaho Camera - but just as an example they would be willing to sell me a Canon 420EX for $249.00.* I purchased mine from B&H online for $179.00.* This is only one example - I could give you more.*

I work too hard for my money to pay $70 more because "they are good guys"........sorry.

I love local stores - here's to them - I hope that they stay in business forever - I really do - but I'm not going to pay a premium for the EXACT same equipment when I don't have to.*

Jared

I think what's happened around here is fairly common now: our superb local camera store, Ewald-Clark, was bought out by Ritz Camera a few years ago. I've been in several times since: no film processing on site, or, in fact, anywhere anymore unless it's exactly the same thing everyone else is doing (color neg is it). I brought in a roll of slide film: two weeks to process! Check out prices and they're at about the same levels as before, but the staff, who used to answer questions knowledgeably (different staff, mostly), just stands around and looks puzzled.

I''ll go in and buy a lens cap or something similar when I need it now, or maybe a generic flash unit or bag, but nothing of substance. EVERYTHING else comes by mail. I don't like it, but the option is to pay higher prices and get the same level of help...none.

Oh, yeah. Best Buy. You can buy there. Full retail prices and staff that doesn't know whether it's night or day when it comes to cameras and related gear. They're pretty good on which CF card works best in whatever the latest music playing fad is, but cameras? No.

[bavanor]

Ritz Camera has ruined a lot of local stores. They buy em out, and just load the store up with inexperienced people and the minimum amoutn of low end camera equipment. And Ritz doesn't carry any Olympus equipment. Annoying to say the least.

It seems that only the big cities have good local camera stores. And for me to go to Atlanta, it is pretty much and all day thing. Sometimes I just want to drop in, look around, chit chat, drool over future purchases and then go home in maybe an hour or less. Can't do that if I have to go to Atlanta.

Oh well, time to order off of the net.

[hartcons]

Originally Posted by bauerman

I would LOVE to open a local camera store - it would be a scary proposition financially there for a while - but that is one business that I would enjoy being a part of on a daily basis. Any of you venture capitalists want to send a couple hundred thousand my way?

Jared

Or do what one local photographer has done and open up a camera store at his studio. Some synergy to be had there perhaps.

[hartcons]

I was at Ritz yesterday and there were two new folks I hadn't seen before (and for one it turned out to be her first day; I asked for some slide film and she just gave me a blank look). One guy was trying to convince me that the lens factor doesn't apply to digital lenses (he's wrong, right?) They did have a nice Sigma 15-30 laying on the counter. I bought my d70 from them the summer before last from a guy who was an avid photographer (but he ultimately got shipped off to a different store). Tellingly, one of the guys was wearing a Nikon shirt (I've never seen a camera store employee wearing an Olympus shirt).

There's a local chain called Shutterbug where the folks tend to be more knowledgeable but the prices are higher and the return policy is 7 days vs. 10 with Ritz.

There's a local lab called PhotoVision that still does high-end film processing.

Best Buy has a 15% restocking fee and has to be one of the noisiest places I've ever been (except for that Day on the Green rock concert in SF back in the 80's). And it seems like whatever you want to buy is already out of stock. I tend to prefer Circuit City. At both places, though, the cameras are on those annoying tethers.

[ICD55]

In the past I’ve always bought from the little guy. I’ll spend a little more for the expertise and support that should come with a higher price tag. Now I find that most true camera shops have gone by the way side. Ritz Camera is now my only option and they never have what your looking for. Don’t even get me started about the inexperience behind the counter.

On three different occasions I went there to buy equipment. I wanted a 300D. They only had the demo. I wanted a 85mm prime. None on the shelf. Went to buy at a 20d. Only had the demo. I have stopped going there. I might have bought a filter there once.

I now rely on various internet forums for information gathering. Sites like this, and others, is where I can get honest opinions from knowledgeable, more experienced people. Then I purchase online. Much better pricing too. Sorry to say but this is what it’s coming down to.