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Calumet Announces Immediate Closing in the US
- Thread starter henryp
- Start date
steelhead3
Veteran Member
Will the internet kill all the bricks and mortar stores? I know B&H etc. need to revamp their web sites with a more modern inter face. Living in an area with only big box store camera dept., I have gotten used to buying sight unseen and so far I haven't been disappointed but I can see the day when cameras are just recycled through many hands before one decides to keep the product.
Before the internet there was mail order so people have been buying cameras sight unseen since there have been cameras. With today's websites buyers actually have far more information with which to make a buying decision than ever before, so if anything there are probably fewer returns now than in the past.
steelhead3
Veteran Member
I am sure Henry can comment on this phenomena.
henryp
Veteran Member
http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2014/03/calumetphoto-chapter-7-bankruptcy.html says:
Calumetphoto.com LLC has voluntarily filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, listed as case #14-08908 in the Northern District of Illinois United States Bankruptcy Court. The filing is dated March 12, 2014
Calumetphoto.com LLC has voluntarily filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, listed as case #14-08908 in the Northern District of Illinois United States Bankruptcy Court. The filing is dated March 12, 2014
DenWil
Veteran Member
I can't say I am surprised. The last times I have been at two of the So Cal (Orange Co and LA), stores stock quantity and variety was heavily reduced. Unlike Samy's and B&H they ran higher $ than other online outlets- even their own.
They were no longer a dependable walk in and buy outlet for chemistry and film. I've been a customer for 20 years. Now I have Samy's (walk-in) Freestyle and B&H.
Perhaps a reboot on the business model - one warehouse store and online- will be in their future. I can only suppose the real estate was a huge drain.
They were no longer a dependable walk in and buy outlet for chemistry and film. I've been a customer for 20 years. Now I have Samy's (walk-in) Freestyle and B&H.
Perhaps a reboot on the business model - one warehouse store and online- will be in their future. I can only suppose the real estate was a huge drain.
M
Mark B.
Guest
M
Mark B.
Guest
Very true - I was a customer of B&H starting in the 90's when the only option was to call and actually speak to a live person lol.
Mark
Doug Pardee
Veteran Member
There is no future. Calumet has filed for Chapter 7 liquidation. All that's left is the Going-Out-Of-Business sale, once the court decides who will run that.
JulesJ
Forum Pro
I hope this wont spread to their UK stores. They are my favourite pro photography retailer by far. There aren't many left.
henryp
Veteran Member
Curious what you think is deficient about their site. I think it's one of the better 'store' ones out there.
Sites like Amazon and ebay are more dynamic looking, but I am hard pressed to say that they are actually "better". Each has their annoyances related to misleading buyers. 1-click is nice maybe?
I already posted on the news thread, but in short I won't be shedding any tears. 10 years ago there was no contest in local photography shops - Calumet was 5x the quality of store Ritz was. Recently, though, the attitude of the staff got really poor and I stopped going after a particularly bad incident. If you can't treat customers with some minimum level of respect you shouldn't be working retail.
They got a lot of my money over the years, and I never once looked at something in their store and then bought it online, so no guilt here.
They got a lot of my money over the years, and I never once looked at something in their store and then bought it online, so no guilt here.
steelhead3
Veteran Member
It reads like a paper catalog and doesn't jump out and make you want to part with your money (lord knows that probably is a good thing). Search could be improved as well. I understand the people who tried to put Obamacare on line are eager for some more work;-)
Jerry Gardner
Well-known member
It's also often offline for ordering when I particularly want to order something, like on a Saturday and the numerous religious holidays they're closed.
brianric
Veteran Member
henryp
Veteran Member
B&H's site is 24/7/365 except order entry is offline Friday evenings and Saturdays (and a handful of holidays) when commerce is prohibited. We regret this brief hiatus is an inconvenience.
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video
Karaya
Senior Member
I have ordered most of my photographic equipment from B&H over the past 6 or 7 years. No problems and great service. I do not consider it an inconvenience that they do not accept orders on the sabbath and certain jewish holidays. There is much more to life then commerce. Whether I get a new lens or speedlight one day sooner or latter is of little import. I respect B&H's policies in this regard and interpret it as a sign that I am dealing with people of integrity. I like that.
Doug Pardee
Veteran Member
Since Calumet has filed Chapter 7, it's all out of their hands. The remains of Calumet are now in the custody of the bankruptcy court. The standard practice is to authorize a liquidator — Gordon Brothers, Hilco, Tiger/Nassi, Great American, etc. — to run a Going-Out-Of-Business sale. Exactly what happens is all up to the court, but I'd be fairly surprised if there is anything special about this particular filing that would lead to a different path being taken.
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M
Mark B.
Guest
1. I find their website very easy to navigate and never have a problem finding what I'm looking for. Sounds like someone is just looking for something to nitpick.
2. The closings are very cleary noted, including the fact that their ordering system is offline for the Sabbath as well as their observed religious holidays. There are no surprises.
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