How many of you shop local?

[Danny Cardenas]

I shop a mix of local (B&H & or Adorama) and web (Samy's/Canoga) I turn to the web when I want to save on sales tax, usually bigger ticket stuff.

-dc

Just curious how many users shop there local camera stores? How is
there pricing and the support and information?

--
Jeffrey Lazo
-Check out my D60 Galleries-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj
-Newbie Lens Information/Prices -
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/lenses.html
Support Your Local Camera Shops. Don't merely use them as
'Internet show-rooms'

 

[William Jasper]

After having my D60 deliv date pushed back several times by Camera World, I put my name on a list a t a local shop. (Belleville Illinois, 10 miles east of downtown St. Louis) Marvin's Cameras had my D60 very quickly, they are very helpful and knowledgeable, and even sold me the D60 for $2150, less than the going i-net price at that time of $2199. (Some were even gouging for more then) I have purchased several lenses, as well as some accesories, and while I'm sure I could save a few bucks , it is a nice thing to be able to go in and shoot the breeze, take in a print to show them, dream about the next lense, and if there is a problem, it is immediately taken care of. They definitely have my business

Just curious how many users shop there local camera stores? How is
there pricing and the support and information?

--

 

[Robert Burkhalter]

Just curious how many users shop there local camera stores? How is
there pricing and the support and information?

I shop local all the time. I seldom buy. The prices are outrageous. The tax is a waste of money.

 

[Thomas Gardner]

I am so sick of their rudeness and egos. I was in there today
and again treated poorly. I buy lots of gear and like to go local
but their attitude has turned me off. I plan to go there and look
but not buy.. I tried on more than one occassion. mark

I was in there today but unfortunately, I had a better experience.

I did observe a disrespectful attitude in the used camera section while I was there this afternoon. Were you by chance in there about 3:00 P.M. with a buddy worrying about a lens cap that needed to be put on your lens? If you were, the guy behind the counter was out of place in his demenor

 

[Thomas Gardner]

Now, as you point out, it's incumbent upon those local store owners
to try to win the customers' buying dollars -- to make it clear why
their services are worth paying a little extra for. Some local
stores do, in fact, manage to accomplish this trick relatively
often. But nothing the store owners do will work if the customers
are oblivious to, or willfully ignore, their own ethical obligation
to not knowingly take advantage of a business just because the
Internet, or mail-order, makes it easy to do so.

Again, not trying to be argumentative but it's up to the owner of the store to figure it out.

I've been know to tell customers, politely, that their questions are silly questions. :-o I then preceed to show them the truth to my statement. People ask me for a better service price..... so I give them a price that's twice as expensive as my original quote:-o I then explain that if they can expect to get a lower price then it's reasonable for me to try and get a higher price. It's always fun to hear the pregnant pause on the phone Aaaaaaa, no, I ment a lower price, they'll stammer

It really is the manager's and business owner's problem to figure out and then teach the sales people how to handle the situation.

It's not incumbent on the part of the customer. The customer's job is to get the most service for the least amount of money. When a sales person asks me what my price range is for a given item..... I tell them without a moment's hesitation, "You pay me ten bucks to haul it away." The looks are priceless Most salesmen haven't a clue how to sell.

Today, a salesman snapped at me, defensively, that he wan't going to argue. I politely told him, I wasn't arguing, I was just stating the facts. He tried to give me the line about that's below cost and I told him that it wasn't and that all the local camera stores use the same line. My mistake was in pulling his covers Oh, I'm sorry, did I do that

It really is the manager's resonsibility

 

[Thomas Gardner]

So I buy it online. Of course, by then I've
researched it to death with way more information on the web than
I'd ever get from a sales person.

Sales person today tried to grind on Sigma lenses when I asked about the price of a Sigma lens. He had asked me to give him an example of a high price lens for him to look up. When I suggested that he look up the price of the Sigma 120.300mm f/2.8 he snickered and said that they don't sell Sigma lenses. As if they're total dog poo.

I quickly stated that the MTF of the Sigma 70-200mm was almost as good as the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L and that the DG line was an excellent line. I also stated the Sigma lens I was asking about, has a suggested retail price of $2,000.00 US and that I'm quite familar with how to read MTF's. His polite comment to my polite comments was, "I'm sure you do." As nice as he was, I don't think he was aware of Sigma's new offerings. The point, because of the web, we know as much, if not more then most of the camera sales people. You folks are the pro's, the sales people are the wanna-bes. You folks are the dream, as the sales people dream of the dream. Me, I'm just a guy spending way too much money so I can capture a few images to show unsuspecting customers

Everybody has knowledge. It's how you use that knowledge counts

 

[mark kay]

Tom no i was not there at 3p. I was in about 515,. I am glad your experience was good. mark

I am so sick of their rudeness and egos. I was in there today
and again treated poorly. I buy lots of gear and like to go local
but their attitude has turned me off. I plan to go there and look
but not buy.. I tried on more than one occassion. mark

I was in there today but unfortunately, I had a better experience.

I did observe a disrespectful attitude in the used camera section
while I was there this afternoon. Were you by chance in there
about 3:00 P.M. with a buddy worrying about a lens cap that needed
to be put on your lens? If you were, the guy behind the counter
was out of place in his demenor

 

[Scott Olds]

I'm willing to spend a little more at a local store provided that they are consistent and fair. A few months ago I went into the local camera store, Epperson Photo in Oklahoma City, looking to pick another microdrive. The kid (and I do emphasize kid) at the counter wouldn't even get close to their web price. He kept stating that their store overhead was different than that of their web operation thus the higher price. Guess what, he spent as much time and made NO sale as a result. No wonder their overhead is so much higher. I was going buy it at a few bucks higher than their competitiion but the attitude and much higher price changed my mind. I have spent thousands there in the past but haven't been in there since and won't go back.

Just curious how many users shop there local camera stores? How is
there pricing and the support and information?

--
Jeffrey Lazo
-Check out my D60 Galleries-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj
-Newbie Lens Information/Prices -
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/lenses.html
Support Your Local Camera Shops. Don't merely use them as
'Internet show-rooms'

 

[Chris Clark]

Just curious how many users shop there local camera stores? How is
there pricing and the support and information?

--
Jeffrey Lazo
-Check out my D60 Galleries-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj
-Newbie Lens Information/Prices -
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/lenses.html
Support Your Local Camera Shops. Don't merely use them as
'Internet show-rooms'

There used to be about 3 good what I would call 'proper camera shops'
nearby, now there is only one. The other 2 have turned themselves into

cheap consumer shops selling mostly rubbish with everything in horrible plastic cartons. They've got nothing you can play with. They are not exciting. The one shop left has a whole range of good secondhand gear that you can play around with. The sort of 'stick it on your camera and take some shots with it store.' But they aren't cheap unless you are buying secondhand. And so this is the real crux of the matter. In a modern world we all want more for less and the small stores just can't compete.
Chris Clark

 

[Jeffrey Lazo]

It has a green awning and a big window with a lot of used
equipment. It is on Higuera. I can't remember the name...if there
are other stores in town, I don't know where. Got a good deal on
the used 15 fisheye. But I bought some Zeiss lens cleaning solution
which is absolutely worthless...no point even in drinking it. Kodak
lens cleaning solution is still the best, not to mention the
cheapest!
I was a salesman in a camera store about 30 years ago. Sometimes
I'll be in a store waiting for service and another customer will
say something and I'll want to slug him. Working in a camera store
is not easy. But I had a friend who worked in a high-end stereo
store. Her tales of irritating customers make my hands curl into
fists even today. So I can see both sides.

Zidar
Alaska
--
It's not about stuff.

--
--
Jeffrey Lazo
-Check out my D60 Galleries-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj
-Newbie Lens Information/Prices -
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/lenses.html
Support Your Local Camera Shops. Don't merely use them as
'Internet show-rooms'

 

[Jeffrey Lazo]

The point, because of the
web, we know as much, if not more then most of the camera sales
people. You folks are the pro's, the sales people are the
wanna-bes. You folks are the dream, as the sales people dream of
the dream. Me, I'm just a guy spending way too much money so I can
capture a few images to show unsuspecting customers

Everybody has knowledge. It's how you use that knowledge counts

I agree that many sales staff members, in the camera world and other markets are uneducated. But once again, there are exceptions. The information that I read, reply and post to on this forum is the same information that I share with customers in the store. I keep up with Dpreview and the current news just as much as all of you, and provide current, turthful information to customers. Don't group us all as wanne-bes.
--
--
Jeffrey Lazo
-Check out my D60 Galleries-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj
-Newbie Lens Information/Prices -
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/lenses.html
Support Your Local Camera Shops. Don't merely use them as
'Internet show-rooms'

 

[Jeffrey Lazo]

I was shocked at the price, but they gave me a good deal. Yes, this was before I started working for the shop. One thing that I have learned in working is that our markup is not as large as I have always thought. We do not sell at MSRP, thus cutting into our profit. The other shop down the street sells at MSRP and makes a bunch of money, but I feel that they will start to lose more and more business to the internet.

I am just really shocked that there is not as large of a markup on expensive bodies, digital cameras and lenses.

Thanks for all of the comments on this thread. I was just curious of the status of your local shops and how they work for or against you.

--
--
Jeffrey Lazo
-Check out my D60 Galleries-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj
-Newbie Lens Information/Prices -
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/lenses.html
Support Your Local Camera Shops. Don't merely use them as
'Internet show-rooms'

 

[Thomas Gardner]

I agree that many sales staff members, in the camera world and
other markets are uneducated. But once again, there are
exceptions. The information that I read, reply and post to on this
forum is the same information that I share with customers in the
store. I keep up with Dpreview and the current news just as much
as all of you, and provide current, turthful information to
customers. Don't group us all as wanne-bes.

Sorry if a good apple got sweep up into the rotten barrel

It seems though that there maybe some truth to my comment and it would explain the common surely attitude reported in this thread. There are some frustrated sales people out there that couldn't control their attitude. They had the desire but they didn't have the heart for the photo business and so they're mad. It's not their fault they don't have the heart for the business. So now we get into psychology. The poor dear's now have an ego/self-esteem problem as the real photographers come in day in and day out and they can't say they're a full-time photographer. It hurts, so they beat up on the poor unsuspecting customer because it makes them feel superior/better about themselves. Just guessing here Is there a bit of truth in my above comments?

 

[Thomas Gardner]

Thanks for all of the comments on this thread. I was just curious
of the status of your local shops and how they work for or against
you.

Hopefully, our comments will be helpful in helping keep your doors not only open but profitable

 

[Robert Burkhalter]

Reasonable prices -- they mostly will match B&H and the servvice is
superb. Very professional, honest and informative.
--
Regards,

Jack

Jack,

assume keeble has it for $500, and b&h is offering it at $400 plus $15 shipping. Will keeble let you walk out the door with it for $400, $415, and/or will they tack on tax?

Bob

 

[mikecol]

Local stores always 6-12 months behind in the technology. If on the rare chance they have something; I buy it hoping to help them out. Maybe they will get their act together some day.

Otherwise, I just order online through B&H, Delta, Canoga, and Adorama.

Mike

 

[nochance]

Jeff, your store must be one of the few in the country that I have missed (LOL but half serious). There used to be some great camera stores in Chicago, and even in South Bend and Elkhard Indiana would you believe. Prices were a little higher, but I didn't mind paying the difference because they had good selections and very knowledgeable and courteous sales people. I traded at these stores because I could handle the things I was interested in, and I got great advice from the sales people.

I am sorry that those days are past - in my experience. There isn't even a good store in Chicago anymore. For the most part, I have experienced inadequate inventories and know-nothing sales people. I won't pay higher prices for that experience. I only buy small items that I need fast at local stores. I am really sorry that this is the case. I loved dropping by my favorite stores to browse and ask a lot of questions.

Bob

D60, CP5700 and lots of stuff

I work in a local shop and am neither type of employee that you
describe. We are a small shop, the two owners and myself,
occupying under 1000 square feet...all of our prices are either the
same as B&H or less. All products are USA, and we offer technical
support and help during the sale and far beyond the purchase. The
option to play with equipment, in my opinion is invaluable.

 

[nochance]

Frank has the one legitimate point that I can see. In spite of my negative opinion of local stores, if the price is reasonably close on a major item, I will buy it locally because I know I have 30 days to just take it back and get another one.

Bob

I purchased a D30 from my dealer, had it a couple of weeks and it
would not focus, took it to my dealer and he replaced. I had that
one a week and it got a hot pixle on the lcd, he replaced it.
Frank

--
D60, CP5700 and stuff

 

[nochance]

Just curious how many users shop there local camera stores? How is
there pricing and the support and information?

Hey, Jeff, are you starting to realize that there is no future in your line of work? Sorry to be a smart a* , but I really am sorry that I have to buy almost everything on-line. It's just that the local stores leave me no choice (and I live in Chicago). I've been spending lots of $$ on photo gear for 30 years, and it has been really sad to see the change. I guess the same thing is happening to a lot of other business too.

Bob

--
D60, CP5700 and stuff

 

[Lisa O]

I do....but I am in the NYC area. I do go to B&H and Adorama in the city but I recently found a good small shop on Long Island where I bought my D60 and several lenses and I have a 24-70 on order from. The shop is called Ken-Mar camera in East Williston, NY and they advertise in Shutterbug.

Just curious how many users shop there local camera stores? How is
there pricing and the support and information?

--
Jeffrey Lazo
-Check out my D60 Galleries-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj
-Newbie Lens Information/Prices -
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/lenses.html
Support Your Local Camera Shops. Don't merely use them as
'Internet show-rooms'