dave lackey
Veteran
On my way to an on-location shoot this morning, I left about 15 minutes early just to stop by Best Buy. I never go there for anything. Stopped in to see if they had a Panasonic Lumix FX100 or similar. Nope!
The salesman was nice and helpful and offered that he is also an amateur videographer. Still, he was doing his job, trying to sell me a POS...told him I am not interested in them. How about a DSLR? ...told him I have too many at home and just looking for something for a duck out of water, meaning a video cam large enough to read the stupid buttons/display without reading glasses.
Of course, they had nothing but a tiny business card sized Panasonic POS. Not interested in the least. The next thing he showed me was a NEX 5. Not interested in another freakin' system of camera and lenses. I just want to see a Lumix in person. No dice. They did not even have the G2. Only those stores in Atlanta had them in stock, maybe 2 or 3 at most.
Grrr... Two things in the photo world I cannot stand...point and shoot digitals and video. But, if I need something a little larger with video, they don't have them. I mentioned that my need was to complement my Leica cameras and he just looked like I mentioned something from another world. Didn't even click, but then he admitted he wasn't a still photographer. Fair enough.
So, I still have no idea what a FX100 looks/feels like (or a Leica V-Lux 2 for that matter because no one has one!).
Online shopping is fine but when you want to hold one in hand before you buy (wow, what a unique concept)... we are SOL.
Yes, you are correct. Our online world has forced the closing of our local shops. Just the facts of life in general regarding too many things.
But what are you going to do? You can go to a real camera shop, if there is one near you, handle the item you want to and then make a decision, do you pay more and buy there, or go home, wasting the shop's time, and buy online? Low prices come with a cost.
But what are you going to do? You can go to a real camera shop, if there is one near you, handle the item you want to and then make a decision, do you pay more and buy there, or go home, wasting the shop's time, and buy online? Low prices come with a cost.
On my way to an on-location shoot this morning, I left about 15 minutes early just to stop by Best Buy. I never go there for anything. Stopped in to see if they had a Panasonic Lumix FX100 or similar. Nope!
The salesman was nice and helpful and offered that he is also an amateur videographer. Still, he was doing his job, trying to sell me a POS...told him I am not interested in them. How about a DSLR? ...told him I have too many at home and just looking for something for a duck out of water, meaning a video cam large enough to read the stupid buttons/display without reading glasses.
Of course, they had nothing but a tiny business card sized Panasonic POS. Not interested in the least. The next thing he showed me was a NEX 5. Not interested in another freakin' system of camera and lenses. I just want to see a Lumix in person. No dice. They did not even have the G2. Only those stores in Atlanta had them in stock, maybe 2 or 3 at most.
Grrr... Two things in the photo world I cannot stand...point and shoot digitals and video. But, if I need something a little larger with video, they don't have them. I mentioned that my need was to complement my Leica cameras and he just looked like I mentioned something from another world. Didn't even click, but then he admitted he wasn't a still photographer. Fair enough.
So, I still have no idea what a FX100 looks/feels like (or a Leica V-Lux 2 for that matter because no one has one!).
Online shopping is fine but when you want to hold one in hand before you buy (wow, what a unique concept)... we are SOL.
Did you really expect for any super store electronics super store to have trained camera people?
Stephen
n5jrn
Well-known
It's why I've generally supported local camera stores for most of my recent purchases (none have a good selection of user Barnack Leicas, so I did buy my IIIf RDST off the net last month).
Now that I'm on the verge of leaving the big city, it poses something of a quandry: do I wait until my next trip to the city to purchase a camera, gaining the advantage of being able to handle it first at the cost of a price premium, or do I give up the "try before you buy" in return for a lower price and the convenience of not having to schedule my purchase around a trip to the city? I'm leaning towards the latter, as in my new situation it will probably offer more net convenience.
I'll certainly miss the ability to try before I buy, which really came in handy recently when it enabled me to quickly and painlessly find out that micro four-thirds cameras are not for me (at least, not yet, until they improve the low-light performance of the EVFs on the things).
richardvanle
Richard Van Le
Exactly. The kid's probably making minimum wage, and I'm sure he doesn't have to know squat about the stuff he's selling.
MC JC86
Negative Nancy.
Decades ago B&H built the coffin for the local photo retail industry in the US. The internet and to some extent large electronics stores have nailed the lid on that coffin.
75% of small camera shop employee's time is wasted by people who come in to "handle" cameras and ask questions, then go elsewhere (like B&H or Amazon) and pay several dollars less + S&H (most retailers are bound to MAP prices for cameras, lenses) to buy the camera they looked at in their local store. People have no loyalty or class, but even if they did small retailers businesses would still probably be screwed.
I hate going in to Best Buy or HH Gregg... Why do the salespeople repeatedly approach you asking "can I help you" "have any questions?" etc. etc. when they usually have none of the answers.. :bang:
75% of small camera shop employee's time is wasted by people who come in to "handle" cameras and ask questions, then go elsewhere (like B&H or Amazon) and pay several dollars less + S&H (most retailers are bound to MAP prices for cameras, lenses) to buy the camera they looked at in their local store. People have no loyalty or class, but even if they did small retailers businesses would still probably be screwed.
I hate going in to Best Buy or HH Gregg... Why do the salespeople repeatedly approach you asking "can I help you" "have any questions?" etc. etc. when they usually have none of the answers.. :bang:
dave lackey
Veteran
Nope! I did, however, hope that they had some Panasonics to at least HOLD. To the salesman's credit, we did go over separate microphones and even Olympus recorders. Then, back to the NEX5. Other'n that, the salesman did a decent job.
My problem is, even the local big camera store in Atlanta does not carry Panasonics let alone Leica or anything rangefinder. So, it is back to ordering, trying, sending back, etc. just to settle on what I need.
Such is life in the big city these days.
dave lackey
Veteran
Wrong, he was actually quite good and knew what Best Buy was selling. He just never heard of Leica.
Thardy
Veteran
Isn't the FX100 is a point and shoot digicam from 2007?
I wouldn't think they would have one that old in stock.
I wouldn't think they would have one that old in stock.
dave lackey
Veteran
I don't know when it came out but it is the twin of the Leica V-Lux 2 that came out last year. Danged model designations sound more like sport bikes built by Yamaha and Suzuki....
Thardy
Veteran
My bad, I think you're looking for the FZ100. I just looked through the lumix line.
dave lackey
Veteran
Ha, ha! No, my bad! Can't remember the model designations and can't even find one to hold in my hand.... it sucks getting older.
I'm the cause of the issue I guess. I will not buy local on expensive items. I'd rather buy off the net and save on the sale's tax. I don't have cash to throw away and the state gets enough tax from me.