Advantage buying locally vs. web?

Does anyone see any advantage to buying a d7i at Ritz or BestBuy locally in comparison to trying to find a better deal online? These are the only two retailers in Tallahassee that I can get the camera from. Both are going to be $999, with Ritz offering an immediate $50 rebate, but having to pay tax (I can get it at Ritz online and not pay tax, but no rebate). BestBuy would have to ship the camera but there would be no tax. The thinking is that if there is a problem that I have someone locally to hold accountable. Is that worth the $100-$150?

I have always felt it is better to deal with the local shop. If there are any problems you have someone to talk to. The other thing is , how much is your time worth, how much time can you spend on the phone raising hell with someone that could care less. I feel its always best to deal with a camera store vs Best Buy or similar stores like that. I know the store I have dealt with for many years will not help a customer with a problem if they purchased their camera from any other source.

And as a sales professional I will not help someone that purchased their product from any web site based operator or a big discount store. I don't work for free and I will not help some so called smart shopper, most are poorly informed and believe some of the wildest sales stories I have ever heard.
Just buy the camera and enjoy it.
Bob

Scotsman said:

Does anyone see any advantage to buying a d7i at Ritz or BestBuy
locally in comparison to trying to find a better deal online? These
are the only two retailers in Tallahassee that I can get the camera
from. Both are going to be $999, with Ritz offering an immediate
$50 rebate, but having to pay tax (I can get it at Ritz online and
not pay tax, but no rebate). BestBuy would have to ship the camera
but there would be no tax. The thinking is that if there is a
problem that I have someone locally to hold accountable. Is that
worth the $100-$150?

Click to expand...

Yes, there is advantage and disadvantage: If buying camera at local store, it has to be Minolta authorized dealer that is easily to take accountable for camera, easy to buy and ask questions but will cost more at $999. If buying online, make sure they are Minolta authorized dealer, too. Ask for brand-new, unopened boxes. No grey market cameras. Cheaper to buy but struggle to return camera back if bad camera. Most online sellers won't accept to refund for camera. You probably get stuck right there, no way to fight over phone. If returned accepted, you pay for shipping back; charge you 15% restocking fee. Watch out for their return policy they offer. It depends on stores they offer; do they accept to exchange for another camera if dislike first one? Some stores are not authorized dealers, after they sell camera, no way to return for bad camera after 30-day policy expired. They refer you to contact camera authorized location to send it to for replacement or repair. It is your decision which will work better for you. Good luck. Tom

Scotsman said:

Does anyone see any advantage to buying a d7i at Ritz or BestBuy
locally in comparison to trying to find a better deal online? These
are the only two retailers in Tallahassee that I can get the camera
from. Both are going to be $999, with Ritz offering an immediate
$50 rebate, but having to pay tax (I can get it at Ritz online and
not pay tax, but no rebate). BestBuy would have to ship the camera
but there would be no tax. The thinking is that if there is a
problem that I have someone locally to hold accountable. Is that
worth the $100-$150?

Click to expand...

Bob,

I think you meant to write "And as a sales person..."! You attitude is anything but professional in my book. So you lost the sale to a discounter, live with it. The good will you create by being the consumate professional and assist even the dumbest user will be rewarded many times over with future sales and loyalty.

Sometimes I have to buy over the net, sometimes the local dealer just doesn't have what I want or need. Sometimes he can't even come close on price because he is being stift by his distributer (or worse yet the manufacturer gives the large net operation a huge price break). I support my local dealer but in turn he is honest with me and at times will tell me buy it from B and H or whomever.

Gilette new the secret! Give away the razor, sell the blades. Or as my dad so astutely noted the price of the steaks pay for the beef, the price of the hamburger is were the profit is. Can you imagine how much business you haven't gotten?

BTW for whom do you work I want to update my "Don't Buy Here" list.

Bill Cook

Bob Bruce said:

And as a sales professional I will not help someone that purchased
their product from any web site based operator or a big discount
store.
Bob

Click to expand...

Thanks everyone. I do agree with Bill. My local mom & pop store can't even touch online. They don't even carry Minolta products. If I want the D7i locally I have to get it at Ritz. Even then they don't carry ANY accessories. I will have to get them from B&H or some one similar. If I walk in with a problem at that point and they give me attitude, I'll never buy anything again.

I may just visit Jacksonville and see who has the D7i over there.

Scotsman said:

Does anyone see any advantage to buying a d7i at Ritz or BestBuy
locally in comparison to trying to find a better deal online? These
are the only two retailers in Tallahassee that I can get the camera
from. Both are going to be $999, with Ritz offering an immediate
$50 rebate, but having to pay tax (I can get it at Ritz online and
not pay tax, but no rebate). BestBuy would have to ship the camera
but there would be no tax. The thinking is that if there is a
problem that I have someone locally to hold accountable. Is that
worth the $100-$150?

Click to expand...

Scotsman said:

Does anyone see any advantage to buying a d7i at Ritz or BestBuy
locally in comparison to trying to find a better deal online? These
are the only two retailers in Tallahassee that I can get the camera
from. Both are going to be $999, with Ritz offering an immediate
$50 rebate, but having to pay tax (I can get it at Ritz online and
not pay tax, but no rebate). BestBuy would have to ship the camera
but there would be no tax. The thinking is that if there is a
problem that I have someone locally to hold accountable. Is that
worth the $100-$150?

Click to expand...

Print off the web page, take it to your local shop, and get them to match it. They get at least some profit out of you, and you get the benefit of a bricks & mortar place to take your problems if you have any. That is the principle I use for my computer parts purchases, the same should apply for camera shops too.

That would work if there WAS a local shop that carried them. I live in a city of 300,000 people (Tallahassee, Fla) and NOT ONE PLACE carries the camera. Ritz can get it and BestBuy can get it. But no one has one that I can hold. If I want to actually see and hold the camera I will have to travel to Jacksonville or Atlanta, trips of 2.5 and 4 hours respectively.

Braden Murdoch said:

Scotsman said:

Does anyone see any advantage to buying a d7i at Ritz or BestBuy
locally in comparison to trying to find a better deal online? These
are the only two retailers in Tallahassee that I can get the camera
from. Both are going to be $999, with Ritz offering an immediate
$50 rebate, but having to pay tax (I can get it at Ritz online and
not pay tax, but no rebate). BestBuy would have to ship the camera
but there would be no tax. The thinking is that if there is a
problem that I have someone locally to hold accountable. Is that
worth the $100-$150?

Click to expand...

Print off the web page, take it to your local shop, and get them to
match it. They get at least some profit out of you, and you get
the benefit of a bricks & mortar place to take your problems if you
have any. That is the principle I use for my computer parts
purchases, the same should apply for camera shops too.

Click to expand...

I never got to hold my S404, I just trusted the reviews on this site and am very happy with my purchase. Most shops should be able to order it in for you even if they do not stock it.

Scotsman said:

Braden Murdoch said:

Scotsman said:

Does anyone see any advantage to buying a d7i at Ritz or BestBuy
locally in comparison to trying to find a better deal online? These
are the only two retailers in Tallahassee that I can get the camera
from. Both are going to be $999, with Ritz offering an immediate
$50 rebate, but having to pay tax (I can get it at Ritz online and
not pay tax, but no rebate). BestBuy would have to ship the camera
but there would be no tax. The thinking is that if there is a
problem that I have someone locally to hold accountable. Is that
worth the $100-$150?

Click to expand...

Print off the web page, take it to your local shop, and get them to
match it. They get at least some profit out of you, and you get
the benefit of a bricks & mortar place to take your problems if you
have any. That is the principle I use for my computer parts
purchases, the same should apply for camera shops too.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

One thing to keep in mind is that if you buy online from Ritz, Ritz will pricematch any Minolta authorized dealer. This is only true for the Ritz online store. I did this when I bought my Minolta X, I just sent in a copy of the ad from the online store, and they credited by card for the difference within a week. See the Ritz site for the info.

Many, many years ago I managed the Ritz store at Governor's Square Mall there in Tally. I worked for them for over 8 years. I am (was) loyal to buying at Ritz after I left there. That said, where did I buy my D7?

Buydig.com. I found that no one here at the Ritz Pro store in Charlotte NC could teach me about the camera (yes, they had one). While the price was not competitive, I WANTED to buy it locally. When 2 different salespeople failed to teach me anything about the camera, I took my money online and made my pirchase there.

Great service, great price, and USA warranty. Like one of the previuos posters, I sold cameras and sometimes lost out to mail order guys, but ALWAYS treated every customer like he was my own (and usually made them mine).

My suggestion is to take your money to the people who treat you the best. Like someone else who bought their camera sight unseen, and an owner of a D7, I say buy it. Most reputable online places will take things back if you save everything, just be sure to deal with someone reputable (buy.com, bestbuy.com, bhphoto.com)

Does Tallahassee Camera still exist? They were a great operation years ago that could teach you about your purchase & be competitive with price. GOOD LUCK

Ritz won't exactly do that any more. They have a list up of who they will match and they won't do but a $100 subtraction from their own price. Of course this gains me free shipping if I can find some one to come down that low.

Still the main reason that I want to hold one first is that I wear glasses. I need to make sure that all of the controls are out of the way while I have the camera up to my eye. I had to rule out the Fuji 602 because of the zoom buttons for this exact reason.

dekalb said:

One thing to keep in mind is that if you buy online from Ritz, Ritz
will pricematch any Minolta authorized dealer. This is only true
for the Ritz online store. I did this when I bought my Minolta X,
I just sent in a copy of the ad from the online store, and they
credited by card for the difference within a week. See the Ritz
site for the info.

Click to expand...

I bought my D7 from etronics.com
At the time I bought I got free shipping, no tax $999
Later when the price droped they gladly refunded $340

I trusted the reviews. didn't care to talk with a sales person.

-Babu

I just bought from NormanCamera.com. Great outfit I think. I called and talked to them for a long while before giving them my credit card info and had a D7i shipped. $907 out the door....that is, camera and shipping (no tax outside of MN).

I would be most wary of outfits such as Best Buy. They don't give a damn about you....and their help is hourly. They want $1250 for a D7 (not an i) as a "closeout sale" promotional item. Kinda funny considering I just paid $899 for a D7i. Oh, and I got my 1gig microdrive today from State Street. I gotta say, can't beat $247 with the mail-in rebate!

Sam