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Wanted to see D2x in the camera shop...they said NO (Rant)

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D70Photoguy

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Hello,

I would just like to rant for a moment & Wanted to see if anyone else has had this experience...

I went to a Local Camera store in Des Moines, Iowa (Christian Photo). Where I was going to show my wife the new D2x + look at a couple of pro lenses. (She and I run a Photography stuido and we do mainly location work.) Since she has a partial say over if I spend $5,000 or not...She wanted to see it. Well, needless to say, We walked in. Sure enough they had one on the shelf in a box. I was like great!

The lady said..."No, we do not let people see this camera. We have had several people come in and they just want to look at it."

OK...isn't that part of the reason that people purchase equipment at local stores? To let people look at the merchandise before shelling out 5Gs?

It is the first time that i have ran into this. She was nice enough to let me look at the 28-70/2.8 and th 70-200VR. I was just shocked.... about the whole thing. My wife and I have decided that it well be a long time before we purchase anything from that store. (espically since they turned us away from looking at a camera that we have been considering to purchase.)

Anyone else have a simlar thing happen?
--
D70Photoguy
http://www.TD-Photography.com
 
Yes, happened to me at a local Cameras West (Ritz chain) in Bellevue Washington.

I asked if they HAD any film scanners, not even to look at one since I was reasonabily sure which model I wanted, and was jumped all over about them having to open a box, then customers requiring a sealed box for purchase.

I bought the model I wanted at another camera store...
--
Ron Standley
 
Is this a small store? A $5,000 camera may be more than they can write off as a demo. If I went in to buy one, I wouldn't want one that a bunch of people had messed with. To keep a demo, they have to have the $$ tied up until it has been replaced by another mode. Then sell it as a used, obsolete camera. That might be more than their cash flow can tolerate.

Also, what exactly can you learn from handling a camera in a camera store? I guess if you hand-hold while shooting, it would give an idea of the feel in your hand and the location of the buttons, that doesn't seem like enough to base a $5,000 purchase on.

Robin
http://www.robincasady.com
 
RonS said:
Yes, happened to me at a local Cameras West (Ritz chain) in
Bellevue Washington.

I asked if they HAD any film scanners, not even to look at one
since I was reasonabily sure which model I wanted, and was jumped
all over about them having to open a box, then customers requiring
a sealed box for purchase.

I bought the model I wanted at another camera store...
--
Ron Standley
Click to expand...
A followup in Cameras West defense however, the store in Tukwila Washington let me try a $20 hand strap on their display D2X just to see if it would fit. Never a problem with that store.

--
Ron Standley
 
Then what advantage does a local shop have? What is the point in spending more money to buy from them? Typically between a better price and lower if any taxes, you can overnight ship from B&H or whoever and still spend less.

I try to do some of my spending locally, but lately I am thinking there isn't much point in it.
 
I agree to some extent with this. I order 85 percent of my equipment from b&h for just this reason. But on the other hand, if your not willing to support local businesses, who's going to be willing to support you.

I used to manage a camera shop (NE region ritz chain) my store would have never been considered "a high enough volume" moving store to even get a D2x on the shelf. But if we did, and someone wanted to look at it. I would have let them. Looking at something, and "demo-ing it" are two totally different things. Never removing the body cap, and letting a customer who's considering dropping 5g's + with you certainlydoes wonders to close a potential sale.

--
pod

inspiration move me brightly...
 
....3 years ago in a Dutch shop I asked if I could hold the D100 to check it out. The salesman refused and said I only could hold it if I bought it because he could not sell 'demo'-models. We had a small discussion about spending around 2400 euro on a camera (I think that was the price) without holding it and he said that was just the way it was.

In the end I decided to check it out elsewhere and I bought it there for 2195 euro... Dumb decision of that salesman, 'cause during the last three years I spent a considerable amount of money on photography and the next big thing will be a D2x (or a 'D200') but I've never been in that shop again.
--
CHEERS!
 
i can understand a small local retail store not letting everyone handle the camera

i do not like it, but everyone, walks in off of the street and wants to play with the fancy new, very expensive camera.

i for one , would not buy that camera.

i think the store was correct, especially if you are a stranger.
 
Robin,

Thanks for your thoughts. The shop is a midsized store. I was in there three weeks ago and they had one on display (my wife was not with) so that is why I went back to that store to see if they had one. I wanted my wife to see and feel the difference of a "Pro Grade" camera. (Since i only have the D70 (not a Pro Grade.)

Actually there is a lot to be said with how well this camera feels in you hand. It is difinately a solid camera. When you pick it up you can not only feel the difference with the weight bu how it fits into you hand. She was not there to see how it felt in hers.

Thanks again for the reply...
--
D70Photoguy
http://www.TD-Photography.com
 
Exact same thing happened to me at a shop in Raleigh, NC. At first I didn't like it but, after thinking about it I believe it makes sense - mostly for the reasons already given in this thread. If you are seriously interested in this camera then call and make an appointment to see it. I suspect Nikon would encourage their retailers to put the camera on display if they thought it would have any measureable impact on sales. But, the fact is that the numbers on this camera are very small in the grand scheme of things. This camera represents more an experiment in what can be done - an assault on photographic digital technology, rather than a product that provides any real degree of usefullness beyond that which is provided by lower cost products in their line.
 
Neal Hood wrote:
snip
Neal Hood said:
This camera represents more an experiment in what can be
done - an assault on photographic digital technology, rather than
a product that provides any real degree of usefullness beyond that
which is provided by lower cost products in their line.
Click to expand...
If you want to make a statement like this, it might behove you to have actually used/own the camera first.
--
Michael
 
Robin:

While I partially agree with your logic regarding the issues a small shop faces in letting people "handle" a demo model, I still think it is absolutely ludicrous to expect the majority of people to buy your product simply based on hearsay or specs.

I called my local pro shop, Peace Camera in Raleigh, NC and asked if they had any D2Xs in stock. The guy told me "well, yeah we do, but we really don't want people messing with them, we want to sell them." That was all I needed to hear, I hung up and shopped elsewhere.

Your point of "what can you learn by simply holding a camera in the store?" is misleading. True, you're not going to learn about photo quality or even have a comprehensive understanding of the camera itself. BUT, you WILL get a first hand look at build quality, personally experience the relative level of comfort in your own hands and in general, get a feel for how this camera might fit your shooting style. The other stuff can come from specs, reviews such as Phil's, testimonials from users that post here on DPR and sample photos that are posted (understanding the limitations of seeing a photo on a monitor).

All told, I think that's the best way to make a decision. I can tell you that I was uncertain about my own choice and was looking at the 1Ds MII. Spec-wise, it seemed it might have an edge. Then, I had the chance to HOLD one on display by a local dealer (competitor to the other outfit that I walked away from) and quickly found out this camera does not feel comfortable in my hands, in fact, it felt extremely awkward. That was the final impetus I needed to decide against this camera (that, in addition to the extra $$ plus new glass I'd need).

The bottom line here is, I don't want to make a large investment in a tool that needs to feel comfortable to me, without first at least HOLDING it in my hands, and I will NOT do business with a dealer that fails to understand basic marketing concepts and customer relations.

Frank
Robin Casady said:
Is this a small store? A $5,000 camera may be more than they can
write off as a demo. If I went in to buy one, I wouldn't want one
that a bunch of people had messed with. To keep a demo, they have
to have the $$ tied up until it has been replaced by another mode.
Then sell it as a used, obsolete camera. That might be more than
their cash flow can tolerate.

Also, what exactly can you learn from handling a camera in a camera
store? I guess if you hand-hold while shooting, it would give an
idea of the feel in your hand and the location of the buttons, that
doesn't seem like enough to base a $5,000 purchase on.

Robin
http://www.robincasady.com
Click to expand...
--
Whimsy is salvation for a life taken too seriously.
http://www.pbase.com/frankvigil
 
--
Mike55 wrote:

It's called the cost of doing business. Maybe they shouldn't let anybody in the store because they might get the floor dirty. Maybe there is something to be said about the inpersonal internet stores.
 
Support is not one thing I get from the local shops here. Just higher prices.

Even one that is very popular and supposed to be one the best anywhere has been quite disappointing for me. They even sold me a two year demo lens "as new."

The again there is immediate availability. But they never have what I need when I need it.

Phooey.
 
Frank:

This is the reason I don't go by Peace street anymore. If anything I always goto Southeastern in Cary were Tony is. Talk about a difference in dealing with a store. Tony is always easy going and will always let me look at any gear.

It is kind of funny how this discussion pop's up now also in the HIFI community where boutique stores also loosing touch with reality. The only reason I spend more locally going to Southeastern is because I need the support that the store provides in regards to Q&A ( Tony has always been very helpfull in this area ) that I can't get online. There is a huge price difference between Online and local and the local stores need to wise up and keep that customer base comming back or they are going to loose this one. Especially the boutique places like pro camera shops.

If the boutique stores continue treating people like they are doing them a favor, eventually people will just support themselves through other channels and purchase online and benefit from that fierce competition. For now I have a good store locally with a owner that has his head screwed on straight.

Raf
p.s.

In fact they told me that in the next couple of weaks the Southeastern in Cary is trying to get a D2X demo in store for people to play and also in adition rent out. Sweet! Might just do that soon to get a feeling for the camera.
Frank Vigil said:
While I partially agree with your logic regarding the issues a
small shop faces in letting people "handle" a demo model, I still
think it is absolutely ludicrous to expect the majority of people
to buy your product simply based on hearsay or specs.

I called my local pro shop, Peace Camera in Raleigh, NC and asked
if they had any D2Xs in stock. The guy told me "well, yeah we do,
but we really don't want people messing with them, we want to sell
them." That was all I needed to hear, I hung up and shopped
elsewhere.

Your point of "what can you learn by simply holding a camera in the
store?" is misleading. True, you're not going to learn about photo
quality or even have a comprehensive understanding of the camera
itself. BUT, you WILL get a first hand look at build quality,
personally experience the relative level of comfort in your own
hands and in general, get a feel for how this camera might fit your
shooting style. The other stuff can come from specs, reviews such
as Phil's, testimonials from users that post here on DPR and sample
photos that are posted (understanding the limitations of seeing a
photo on a monitor).

All told, I think that's the best way to make a decision. I can
tell you that I was uncertain about my own choice and was looking
at the 1Ds MII. Spec-wise, it seemed it might have an edge. Then,
I had the chance to HOLD one on display by a local dealer
(competitor to the other outfit that I walked away from) and
quickly found out this camera does not feel comfortable in my
hands, in fact, it felt extremely awkward. That was the final
impetus I needed to decide against this camera (that, in addition
to the extra $$ plus new glass I'd need).

The bottom line here is, I don't want to make a large investment in
a tool that needs to feel comfortable to me, without first at least
HOLDING it in my hands, and I will NOT do business with a dealer
that fails to understand basic marketing concepts and customer
relations.

Frank
Robin Casady said:
Is this a small store? A $5,000 camera may be more than they can
write off as a demo. If I went in to buy one, I wouldn't want one
that a bunch of people had messed with. To keep a demo, they have
to have the $$ tied up until it has been replaced by another mode.
Then sell it as a used, obsolete camera. That might be more than
their cash flow can tolerate.

Also, what exactly can you learn from handling a camera in a camera
store? I guess if you hand-hold while shooting, it would give an
idea of the feel in your hand and the location of the buttons, that
doesn't seem like enough to base a $5,000 purchase on.

Robin
http://www.robincasady.com
Click to expand...
--
Whimsy is salvation for a life taken too seriously.
http://www.pbase.com/frankvigil
Click to expand...
--
--
http://www.pbase.com/rmuller
 
I worked at a jewelry store for a while. We sold watches that ranged anywhere from $200 Tissot's up to as far as your wallet would take you. Anytime someone came in the store, and showed interest in a watch, we would gladly let him/her hold it and get a closer look. There was a man who came in just to browse, and showed interest in a particular watch. He didn't ask to see it but I took it out of the case and let him hold it. He one of the had a biggest smiles on his face that I've ever seen. When he was looking at the tag he said, "where's the price...all I see is what looks like the serial number." I said that's the price....he looked at me in amazement that I'd let him just handle it without question. He wasn't wearing any fancy clothes or anything like that, I just like to treat all the people who come in as equals.

Now that salesperson may have blown the sale by not letting you see it. Maybe after your wife held it and saw for herself how nice it is she would have agreed to buying it. Treating the object that is for sale better than the people who come in to buy it is a huge mistake many places make. It's a shame, and all I can say is go somewhere that you're treated as you feel you should be.....or buy it online from a reputable store.
 
Raf:

You are exacctly right and I thought about mentioning that in my post, but felt like I was headed in the direction of getting off topic in that it was too localized. Tony and his crew at Southeastern (he also has shops in Wilmington and one other area, Fayetteville, I think) are superb. They are knowledgeable, helpufl and make me feel like they want my business as opposed to "doing me a favor by even being here." LOL

Frank
rafmuller said:
Frank:

This is the reason I don't go by Peace street anymore. If anything
I always goto Southeastern in Cary were Tony is. Talk about a
difference in dealing with a store. Tony is always easy going and
will always let me look at any gear.
Click to expand...
::: SNIP ::::
rafmuller said:
Raf
p.s.
In fact they told me that in the next couple of weaks the
Southeastern in Cary is trying to get a D2X demo in store for
people to play and also in adition rent out. Sweet! Might just do
that soon to get a feeling for the camera.

Frank Vigil wrote:
Click to expand...
--
Whimsy is salvation for a life taken too seriously.
http://www.pbase.com/frankvigil
 
And they wonder why soo many people are puchasing via the net. Besides the price advantage, and the no sales tax advantage, and in some cases delivered free to your front door, you don't have to feel like a criminal for wanting to hold the product.

--
Nikon - NPS Member
 
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