Another one bites the dust ... :(

dmr

Registered Abuser
Local time
7:51 AM
Joined
Feb 8, 2005
Messages
4,649
Well, gang, to make a long story long ...

Today it's my turn to pick up our department's Fattening Friday Fix, so on my way in just a few minutes ago I stopped at Donut Central (one corner which has both Krispy-Kreme and Winchells -- some of our people are picky) which also has/had a small independent camera shop, Midwest Camera, in a small strip mall to the south.

So as I'm leaving Winchells I see a big orange dayglow sign in Midwest Camera's window. Uh-huh, you guessed it: Going Out Of Business :(

For some reason I'm kinda feeling guilty here. I've lived in this area for 20-some-odd years, shot hundreds of rolls of film, but never once did I shop there. Why? No reason, really. I've known they were there for years, and I used to go to an art shop about a mile south of there semi-regularly. I just never stopped in. :(

For camera stuff I almost always go to their competitor about a mile east, since it's very convenient for me on the way to/from work. (Rockbrook Photo -- three locations, one near you.) I guess that makes Rockbrook now the only surviving indie shop in the area. They, coincidentally, just opened up their third location, and yes, they carry a lot of {d-word} stuff.

Oh well, so it goes ... and so do I ...
 
OK, so now it's your guilt-ridden duty to go in and relieve them of some of the GOB stock that they've got on the shelves. MIght be some great RF stuff, eh?

Unfortunately, that's the general pattern for businesses of all sorts. I used to own a 1-man fishing equipment sales/service/repair shop (read:Tackle Shop). Couldn't compete with the big box and catalog competition. Held a GOB sale and walked away. Now, I'm part of the problem...I'll try to support local stores, but as often as not, they aren't carrying what I want, so I turn to a catalog (on-line) or an emporium-style store.

So it goes...

Don
 
I can't believe when you saw that big orange sign GOB, that didn't lure you in to check out any deals. Might find some really good deals on film or something. Ought to check it out.
 
Here in Vancouver the chain stores have been consolidating their locations and closing up their smaller outlets. The independent stores who cater primarily to pros are getting busier and busier! There is now only one real camera store left in the downtown core, which is always very busy, and they don't even carry Nikon!
 
We (USA) had something called 'fair trade' in the sixties. For instance, Nikon had to be sold at a predetermined price in the US. People would go to Japan and bring stuff back, but if they got caught the customs people made them scratch the Nikon name off the camera or binoculars. I don't know if that was better, but I bet they still have 'fair trade' in some countries
 
I just bought a Canon G7 from a local shop. The original price they offered was $100 more than B&H's price. They actually told me to buy it from B&H, but the owner went back, figured out what he could cut his price to, threw in an SD card..... I ended up still paying more than I would have if I bought the camera from B&H, but I feel better about getting it from the local guys for a few extra $$$.

This is the shop I have my color processing done at. They have now sold their E6 machine and are considering selling the C41 monster. It it's place they are thinking about putting in a digital cafe, just an area for folks to lounge around, post process their images and have them printed. Such a changing business.
 
gb hill said:
I can't believe when you saw that big orange sign GOB, that didn't lure you in to check out any deals.

Well, since it was about 6:30 in the morning. :) Donut shops are 24x7, camera shops aren't. :)

Might find some really good deals on film or something. Ought to check it out.

If I can get over there tomorrow I might just do that.

However, at least around here, the indie shops are not at all competitive on film. They are usually significantly higher than Target' or Wally World. If they would come close to what the big places charge for the common film, I would support them more.
 
Last edited:
Same story here in VT- Had a great shop 'Procam' in White River Junction. Sure a 1 hr drive, but they had it all. Great used dept, paper, film, chem, top drawer minilab, lighting even. Got into selling Macs as digital started coming in, as well as digital cameras- and that was the kicker for them. Couldn't compete with the big boxes on digital stuff, and as everyone left analog they were without customers. I did shop there a lot, but there were too few of us. Cleared out all the used gear first- our college got a bunch of enlargers (actually enlarged our darkroom!) and I got a few little things, then they moved across the river to NH (no sales tax), but still couldn't compete. I went as often as I could, and started ordering all my chemistry through them, their prices were very good- and after the move to tax free NH even better- but to no avail.

Cameras in this digital age are electronics, so 'Best Buy', and their ilk are where people go to get a camera nowadays. And with little else to buy once you have the digital 'point & wait to shoot' there is no relationship with the shop like before.

One shop up here, in Barre, is trying hard to play the game- has gotten into some buying group with other smaller N.E. shops to buy in bulk and try to compete. He has a minilab, digital printing facilities, even does little books- calendars etc. Sells digital & film equipment, but I can't see him making it last much longer. Another, in Burlington is fully supported by by the University photo classes.

I now buy most everything via the mail, these last shops are too far for me to drive to for everything, and their prices are just too high for the volume of stuff I use.
 
Even Jessops, a big nationwide chain here in U.K. is in trouble financially. They just can't compete with the internet retailers, who don't have to worry about prime high street locations or employing knowledgable staff. Just stick an ad in the camera press, take the orders and ship out the dslr's. Any warranty jobs gets the camera sent back to manufacturer. Soon after the warranty expires the user will be after another one anyway. No loss not taking p/x because second hand dslr's aren't worth much after a couple of years anyway, let the owners put them on ebay.
 
Corner Store by Jonathan Richman

Well I walked past just yesterday
And I couldn't bear that new mall no more
I can't expect you all to see it my way
But you may not know what was there before
And I want them to put back my old corner store.

Well I walked past just like I say
And I felt this hurt that would not go home
I can't expect that you're gonna see it my way
But you may not know the trees I've known
And I want them to put back my old corner store.

I know it costs more money to shop there
But this was love, this was love
I know you had to pay more money
I'll pay money, I'll pay more
I don't care what the mall has got
I want back that corner store

And what did I feel when I walked by slow
Sorrow sorrow, all around
Why I would feel sorrow I now know
I smell a ghost smell from the ground
That old wooden smell from the old corner store

Bam a nib a nib a nib way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store
Bam a nib a nib a nib way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store

I walked past one final time
And I wished the worst on the place I shop
Now I can't expect everyone to feel like I am
But I spot a trend that has got to stop
And I want them to put back that old corner store

Bam a nib a nib a nib way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store
Bam a nib a nib a nib way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store

http://spitballarmy.com/?p=209
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom