HU: Canon P in Toronto

[peterc]

For those interested, Downtown Camera in Toronto has a Canon P with a Canon 50mm f/2.8 on the used shelf.
I know nothing about prices for this camera, but they're asking $499CDN for the camera and lens.

Peter

 

[back alley]

anyone know if they have a website?
it might be fun to play with that lens if they would seperate the pair.

joe

 

[back alley]

they have a website but ask that you call for info on used gear.

bummer.

 

[peterc]

Downtown Camera

Peter

 

[wlewisiii]

www.downtowncamera.com according to google 😀 but all it says under used is "please call".

William

 

[wlewisiii]

Too funny... 🙂

William

 

[dcsang]

I'm going over there now Joe.

I've looked/held the camera - it's in "ok" condition - the lens looked good if I do recall.

I doubt they'd separate the pair - I wanted them to separate the mint Summitar from the IIIc they had but Stan (one of the managers) wouldn't do it for me even though I'm as regular as.. well..... ex lax in that store.. 😀

Cheers
Dave

 

[peterc]

they have a website but ask that you call for info on used gear.

You'd have to talk to Stan. He's the only one there who can decide on breaking up sets and such issues.

Peter

 

[back alley]

hey dave!

mind asking for me?
no biggie if you'd rather not.

joe

 

[FrankS]

I'm not too impressed with Stan. He thinks anyone not using and buying digital is a dinosaur.

 

[peterc]

He thinks anyone not using and buying digital is a dinosaur.

Stan gives me the "film is dead, digital is the only way to go, why do you want this old junk" speech all the time. I just suggest, since I'm looking at junk, that he knock a few dollars off the price of whatever I'm looking at. Works most of the time.

Peter

 

[FrankS]

I ask him, "If digtal is so great, where's the used digital camera display/counter?"

 

[peterc]

where's the used digital camera display/counter?

Dumpster out back.

Peter

 

[xayraa33]

yea I seen it and checked it out just a little before Christmas. They got salesperson Stanley to come over and tell me about it, as if If I don't know anything about the P( I own three of them) I had already had checked it out before Stanley arrived, and when he did come by , I politely mentioned that the self timer was not working, he grabbed the camera out of my hand and grumbled " that Leicas sometimes don't work"( what ever thats suppose to mean) and rudely walked away from me. I waited 2 minutes and walked out .This is not the first time that I been treated very rudely , with no provection on my part at this camera store.

 

[dcsang]

I didn't get a chance to go by as I thought I would have.

Meh.. Stan is Stan.. 9/10's of the clients don't know how to treat him 😀 - that is, you have to be as gruff as he is - he's all bark and zero bite - As for the speeches on how film is dead; ya, he gives that to everyone.

BUT as a non-niche retailer the store itself tries to competes with Henry's (which is province wide) and Vistek (which is in two provinces) and therefore tries to move as much digital product as possible.

Not that this is an excuse for Stan's behaviour but more of an explanation as to why he acts that way. Personally, I've had better service from that store and almost every single employee in it than from any other camera store in Toronto; but then again, I do a lot of business with them - not on the "pro" level but more on the purchase of film, processing etc.

As with anything; caveat emptor.

Cheers
Dave

P.S. Joe, if you'd like, I will still go in there and discuss with them - I can also see if he'll wiggle on the price and get a REAL breakdown of just how bad/good that cam is.

EDIT: to fix a bunch of spelling errors.. dang fingers 🙂

 

[xayraa33]

I do not hold a grudge, I did buy 3 bottles of Rodinal a few days later at DC,(no tax week) I do not buy a lot of things in the Queen and Church street area, thats mostly because I do not live in TO, but have family there and might drop by the Q&C area if I am visiting the family. Regardless, every customer, frequent, or not, should be treated with courtesy, its just common sense.

 

[julianphotoart]

There are two guys I regularly have dealt with on used stuff at Downtown. These are the two guys who can break up sets and change prices appreciably. One guy is Asian and bald and seems like the big-time manager. Then there's another Asian guy with glasses and a mustache and a keychain around his neck. Is Stan one of these two?

 

[FrankS]

Stan would be the obnoxious big-shot with yellow-tinted glasses.

And it's not me not knowing how to get along with him, it's his role to know how to get along with me, a customer.

 

[dcsang]

Stan's the bald guy.
The other guy you're talking about is Ken.

Cheers
Dave

 

[peterc]

Ken usually defers to Stan these days. Ken is just fun to chat with.

Peter