Online vs the local store,,,

[twopointeight]

I'm near Seattle and I support Glazers as much as possible. I don't why people diss their sales staff? They have their moments but are pretty knowledgable and mostly very nice. Of course, I know them for 25 years and thousands of dollars worth of purchases. I buy ink and paper from B&H but anything like cameras and lenses that I want to touch and ask questions, I feel supporting them is a must. I want them to stay.

 

[Huss]

When I was a wee lad in England, department stores used to have film departments. I remember staring at Olympus OM-1s and OM-2s at Allders in Croydon.
I heard that Allders, which had been in operation since 1862, closed down for good a few years ago.

 

[Big Ursus]

In my city, I bought large ticket items for years at the largest camera store (there are two). It was great to actually handle camera bodies, lenses, bags, etc. But then I had something close to a shouting match about a price with a staff member.

After that, I feel compelled to buy online.

I’d previously also had prints made at that camera store. Now, I’ve discovered a local drug store makes better ones!

 

[dmr]

It's certainly enough to send me to B&H or Amazon. Although the latter recently started charging sales tax in IL.

The thing I feel bad about for shops is the likely percentage of customers who come in to handle cameras, knowing they will go home and order online.

Our remaining local camera shop (Rockbrook Camera, three locations, one near you) 🙂 has been meeting B&H prices on many items lately. They were actually $10 cheaper on a Canon printer that I got from B&H but I did not even check them at the time. If I do blow my bonus on a new camera, I'll definitely give them a chance to get my business.

 

[creenus]

Kurts is gone, they closed up recently. I lived in Santa Fe for a while, and Kurts was very expensive for film.

Thanks for the update. I haven't been down there for awhile. Years ago it was a fun place.

 

[Roger Hicks]

There are lots of good stores near me -- for a given value of "near". I mean, Paris is only about 200 miles away...

So like most people I buy on line.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Ronald M]

An interesting topic since I work at an independent camera store in my city.
We are the last of what was once many camera stores in the city.
There are other stores around, all about 20-30 miles away.
I have learned a lot about how the photo industry operates from working here.
Traditional small business photo stores have to adapt to the changing times.
Offering services and products that set you apart from the competition.

Most pricing is set by MAP, so a Nikon D810 is going to be the same price at our store vs BH Amazon ETC.
It can come down to sales tax vs shipping for some customers.
But most of the time customers value the time spent working on problem solving their issue or helping them with a purchase that sales tax isn't an issue when making a purchase.
And that person to person experience is something most people really enjoy.

+1 Support your local so they can support you. That simple

 

[Archiver]

Reading this thread makes me realize how fortunate I am.

Living in Melbourne, Australia, we have a fair range of camera stores within a 25km radius of the CBD. I'm about 25 minutes away from a great secondhand camera dealer (Camera Exchange), an excellent independent (Camera Lane), photo specialists like Vanbar, and a number of chain stores like Teds, Digi Direct and Digital Camera Warehouse.

I like to buy from local stores as much as I'm able, only buying from B&H when the exchange rate is really favourable. At the moment, the exchange rate means that buying from overseas isn't that much cheaper than buying local at a discount. The places I frequent tend to be staffed by diehard photo and gear enthusiasts; Camera Exchange had a guy who now works for Leica Australia, and Teds in the CBD even had a fellow who has met Tom A a time or two!

Perhaps the only issue is that we don't have the range of secondhand gear that I see advertised in America or Hong Kong. It's rare to see a Contax G2 or Hexar AF in a secondhand shop, if at all. In all the years I've been looking in Melbourne, I've only ever seen a Contax G1 and a nonfunctioning Hexar AF. Never seen a Contax T, T2, or T3. So, if I want something like that, I have to buy online.

The last bastion of difficulty I have just surmounted is film. Film in Australia is stupidly expensive, but I've just found a place in Melbourne which sells film for much cheaper than it goes for in any other shop. Haven't given them a go yet, but that will happen soon.

 

[pyeh]

Archiver, I lucked in (or out, for Americans) and got a G2 and 3 lenses from Camera Lane just because I was looking in their window randomly, and I don't even live in Melbourne. I agree though that it's a really great shop, and the last old school one I know.
For film, if you're talking about Walken, I can recommend them.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I support my local store when it comes to film processing and enlargements. However, when purchasing vintage lenses I use the lowest price. The local store may not have these items in stock. When I go to the local store if they have some item that is of particular interest to me I will purchase it there. For me my local store is an hour away so I must plan my day in advance. One issue that I take in to consideration is sales tax versus shipping. I expensive items there is free shipping which could be quite a savings.

 

[Ronald M]

My nearest store is 45 miles away and are the only Leica dealer other than San Francisco. I took my M9 in to have the sensor cleaned and the clerk didn't even know what it was, I said it was a Leica, he thought it a film camera, he was holding it. So when it comes back a month and a week later after two phone calls, it was just as dirty as when I brought it in, they recleaned it and got it about 50% clean. Suffice to say I'll not be back. They are an interstate chain. Lots of bags and tripods and shelves full of cameras and lenses but no knowledge.

Why would you turn you Leica over to them?

 

[Archiver]

Archiver, I lucked in (or out, for Americans) and got a G2 and 3 lenses from Camera Lane just because I was looking in their window randomly, and I don't even live in Melbourne. I agree though that it's a really great shop, and the last old school one I know.
For film, if you're talking about Walken, I can recommend them.

Arrr, you're so lucky! I saw a young woman at the NGV a little while ago with a Contax G2, and my first thought was that she probably got it online. Now I know they exist in Melbourne. Alan, Venus and Bobby at Camera Lane are great, aren't they.

Come to think of it, I met a wedding photographer about ten years ago who used to use a G2 and three lenses, and he loved how his entire wedding kit could fit in a waist pack. He shot with Fuji Pro 800 film, then went to the Canon 5D and assorted lenses. So Contax is definitely out there.

And yes, I'm talking about Walken. Thank you for the recommendation, I feel better about ordering from them now. 🙂

 

[PKR]

Fotocare and Marty Forscher are/were worth any extra money it might cost to do business with them. Never a problem, always honest. I miss Marty.

If you have to order from the web because of a lack of local dealers, I suggest you try ordering from Fotocare. If you're buying Fuji gear, buy it from Stephen. I called Stephen years back when looking for advice on buying a couple of M bodies. He suggested M6s over 4s as per the way I work. He didn't push Bessa bodies, but gave me honest advice. Fotocare is the same. They value their customers and treat them well.

If you have a problem with your gear weeks after you bought it, do you think Jeff Bezos will give a s*** ?

https://www.fotocare.com/aboutus.asp

https://cameraquest.com/

 

[pyeh]

Archiver, yes I was very lucky that day. I more recently got a G1 off eBay.au too, in fact a chap from Melbourne from memory, so these cameras are definitely around on our continent. I love Camera Lane for what they represent. Their prices aren't always wonderful, but mostly they're reasonable. I used to like Camera Exchange too when they were in town, but now they're in Box Hill it's difficult for me to get out there since I stay in the CBD when I'm down. Also their prices are a bit ambitious.
We should meet up. You can have a go on my Contax G's.

 

[David Hughes]

I seem to be lucky, 12 north and there's a camera shop and 12 miles west there's another.

What's missing are the labs; my favourite and only 5 miles away closed this month and I'm lost. There's two others locally but one has a sign up about staff not being available and the other is interested in digital and has those DIY slot machines now...

Regards, David

 

[Brian Atherton]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d76D9V81NvA

 

[_lou_]

I had the chance to visit Camera Central in Chicago, it looked like a nice place. I really hate visiting camera stores these days. Most clerks have close to zero technical and historical culture of the medium, and all they do is serve you the marketing BS on digital. I'm tired of getting seen as a lunatic as soon as I enquire about film or chemistry. Most stores around here have no added value and probably deserve to close, if you ask me. I'm happy buying second hand gear off the Internet and new stuff directly from the producer. I put more value in savvy repair shops (many are completely unreliable though).