Putting products aside, this almost complete lack of customer and retailer support is a big reason why a serious photographer (amateur or pro) has to give serious pause in considering whether to buy into the Sony/Alpha brand. Were I starting from scratch, knowing what I know, I would most probably not consider it.
I'm a serious photographer Mark, living in a town of 60,000. I order my Sony kit from B&H, Adorama, and others, as I would do if I shot Canon or Nikon. The last camera store closed 10+ years ago. Personally, I'd probably still do the bulk of my purchasing on the web even if I had a fully stocked local store.
I'd be surprised to see camera stores still in business in another 10 years in any but the very largest markets. Prints historically made up the bulk of a camera stores sales. With more people printing at home, or at their grocery, drug, big box, or web printer, or foregoing prints altogether (publishing only online), that revenue stream will disappear.
I wonder Mark. If someone asked your opinion, knowing what you know, if they should open a camera store, should they consider it?
Graham,
You are quite right that owning or operating a camera store has become a very difficult business since the move to digital. As you noted, a good (majority) of a store's profits used to come from film processing and printing. That certainly has changed. Stores that have not changed with the times are gone. In my area (metropolitan area of about 2 million - my "guesstimate") there are far fewer camera stores, and chain stores, than there used to be. One chain, that I worked for a long, long time ago, is totally gone (it was owned by a film processor and the stores were largely outlets for that service, but the also changed as mini-labs came into existence to dominate the film processing and printing market).
But, there still are some stores that are successful. While many consumers do buy online, some of whom are forced to because there is no local store (like yourself), many consumers still want to be able to hold and try something before they buy. I certainly will not buy any camera body or lens without first being able to see how it handles and feels in my hand. How fast is the focus of a lens? How comfortable is the camera in my hands? Those are just a couple of things I want to know before I buy something. Consumers (in general) also like having a resource where they can go with their questions, if they have a problem, or to buy an accessory. Successful stores have been able to adapt and change with the times. The manufacturers are in some ways helping them through "price fixing" arrangements such that the price differential that used to exist between small local shops and the huge retailers (like B&H) are much smaller or non-existent. Nonetheless, there are many people who do their buying on line and thus there is less business available for local stores, and their numbers have declined, significantly.
But, such stores still represent a significant sales opportunity for camera companies. On the particular Saturday I was at the local store I talk about above (yesterday), I saw a good number of Canon and Nikon bodies and lenses getting sold. That was in only a couple of hours that I was there. I will see it again in a couple of weeks when the largest local chain in my area (with about 5-6 stores) has its annual tent event, with manufacturer's reps, special sales, and other activities. It's a huge sales day for them, and one when Sony has (at least historically except for last year I think) had someone there (but then it also used to have someone at the event I went to yesterday). Will they in two weeks? Beats me. I happen to have a gift card to the store holding its event in a couple of weeks, so will be looking to buy something there. But, that store doesn't stock much Sony gear (primarily consumer/entry level stuff, and probably not anything in which I would or might be interested - assuming I would buy anything for the Alpha system at this time, which I won't because of uncertainties about Sony's direction).
The bottom line I think is that Sony is leaving a lot of sales on the table because it does not have good relationships with smaller local retailers, and makes it either too difficult, too expensive, or otherwise not generally worth it to carry Alpha products.
As to your question, knowing what I know, I would have to advise someone against opening a camera store in today's market (the down economy also has its negative effects on luxury goods such as cameras are for most people other than pros who earn their living with them). At least in a market area that already has existing stores with which they would have to compete. Probably in your town as well (unless the general area beyond your town has a more significant population). There could be some area where opening a new store might make sense. But it would be a hard sell.
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Mark Van Bergh
http://www.markvanbergh.com 