Local Camera Stores ...

[Digital Prophet]

You know I spend a good amount of time on this board (maybe too much) and I have noticed something: Hardly anyone shops at thier local camera store. Or at least that is the way it seems (I could just be missing those threads). Does everyone here buy thier gear from online stores like Adorama or mega-stores like Comp-USA?

Now first of all, I am not going to say that there is anything at all wrong with ordering from BH or Adorama or any place. And I know that there are some lower prices online. For instance I just bought my new tripod. I could have gotten it for $50 less at Adorama. But after shipping it was only like a $25 difference. Now granted $25 is $25. But by spending those extra $25 I help support my local camera shop.

And I think that is important. At my local shop I have one woman that I ALWAYS deal with. Always. Period. If she isn't there, I don't buy. Why? Well here is why: She remembers me. It's true. When I go in there she doesn't just know my name; she remembers my gear, what I have bought, what I am looking for, what I shoot and what I hope to shoot in the future. She takes time to not just point and tell me where something is in the store but to bust it out of the box and go over it with. Hell she has taken time to teach me how to use equipment I was considering. And if I call and ask her to set something aside for me I can be sure when I go in that it will be there.

That isn't good service, that is good business.

And they are local. If I need something in a pinch I know I can depend on them and will be able to get it that day. Plus there is the whole "support small business" thing.

I guess I am just saddened to see store after store close due to the number of people that flock to online stores to "save" a couple of dollars. Not only are good stores closing but we are losing an entire social aspect of the photography culture. I can't tell you how many hours I have spent chatting with other photographers at my local store. Or learning about upcoming local events and seminars.

Give it a try. I bet you will find that it is worth a few dollars.

- Digital Prophet -

[JZaun]

You are lucky. I saved over $70 on my tripod and $300 on 1 lens by going to B&H. My local store is Ritz (need Isay more) or another that charges what the local market will bare. I won't deal with Ritz and the other is far too exspensive. I would love to have a local camera store that didn't RIIP me off. I would suport them but B&H has treated me GREAT, no hastle returns, lots of info and the best deal going.

JZ

[Citizensmith]

There is a camera store in my area (Pardees) that I try and get stuff from. They are kind of expensive though so it tends to be small purchases and film developing (a rare thing for me now). There are plenty of Ritz cameras in the area as well, but they are just another chain. I'd always go with B&H over Ritz.

[Fills]

I agree in supporting locally, heck even nationally, but I save HUNDREDS of dollars on certain items at B&H. If my local store isn't offering me better deals what have they done to win my business? Service, knowledge, in today's day and age, I get better, more reliable information from a place like this, than at the local cam shop. I do buy locally when the difference is small, but I walk out feeling like they don't care, because I go in to buy one thing, they try to sell me a bunch more stuff I don't want :evil: ... anyway I am venting... I don't have good experiences with local shops, but I admit I haven't been to them all yet.

[Danny Boy]

I guess I am somewhere in the middle. I've put in a number of orders w/ B/H and I refuse to go to a Ritz/Wolf camera shop because of price and lack of knowledge. I am fortunate enough to have a Calumet Photo nearby where I like to go and not only purchase items there but talk to the very informed staff. Also like DP, they don't mind letting me play with items and they seem to be honest telling me pro's and con's of a lot of equiptment. It is always nice to play with a 20D before you purchase it. In terms of price, Calumet is a bit higher than B/H but I guess it gives me a warm, comfortable feeling inside when I make a big purchase. I'll pay that price.

Dan

[markubig]

the only thing I bought from B&H was my digital rebel kit. after that, i found an online photography retailer that had a local showroom (For you NJ guys, it's Unique Photo in Florham Park,NJ). I never got his name, but guy i always buy from is EXTREMELY knowledgeable about photography products. He's even steered me away from buying things i don't need. Every time I've asked him to match B&H's price, he's done it. He even beat B&Hs price for my Bogen 3021BPro and 322RC ballhead. and yes, seeing products and playing with them is invaluable.

.

[russellsnr2]

Hi, You guys are lucky to be able to buy your gear at the prices you do.
Come to the UK and then tell me your local shop is a bit more expensive than stores like B&H
Buying new stuff on Ebay.com and paying import duty/Tax I still can save over $150 plus on Uk prices.
Just an example when I bought the 300D/Rebel, in the UK it was around £750 buying from USA saved me over £250 at the time and it was brand new.

[Digital Prophet]

I guess that I didn't realize how lucky I was to have Camera Co-Op as my local store.

And I do agree about Wolf/Ritz's. When I FIRST started out I bought a few items there. Then I realized how bad the service was and how badly I was being gouged. There is a Wolf's about three minutes from my house. But I would rather drive half an hour (Lol I live in Houston so that isn't even half way across town) to go to the Camera Co-Op.

Thanks for your comments, they really help put things in perspective.

- Digital Prophet -

[LisaMarie]

I have been purchasing from my local photography supply store because of their expertise and personable service since the 1980’s . Fortunately they have changed with the times and have actually opened up 2 new stores recently .They also underwrite the educational programs for my ( and other ) local camera clubs as well as support alumni and students from my alma mater. The family has been in the business for a long time - some of them are photographers and others are lighting specialists.

[robertwgross]

When I am planning out an equipment purchase, and if it is a fairly standard commodity item for $500 or $1000 or more, then I will attempt to purchase online in order to get the lowest price from a reputable vendor and to beat the state sales tax (8+ %). The shipping cost added will still leave me saving money in total.

On the other hand, last month I needed a 20D in a hurry. I didn't have the time to fool around with the New York City vendors and shipping times. So, I went straight to my local Canon dealer. When there, I asked if they had any 20D cameras in stock. Yes. What is your price? It was about the same as New York City. So, ten minutes later I was walking out with a large package under my arm.

I probably could have saved $50 or $100 on the total deal by purchasing online, but that wouldn't help me in a hurry.

There are other items that are difficult to "size up" online. For example, a flash bracket for a camera body. Some brackets will fit a smaller body, and some will fit better to a larger body. Some are easily adjusted, and some are not. For that sort of purchase, I take my camera directly to my local Canon dealer to get something that fits properly.

---Bob Gross---

[rpcm]

I bought my 10D from a local shop (Jessops) as I was trading in my old camera.
Most of the time I buy online (Warehouse express) as the prices over here UK are so much higher we have to save were we can and online prices are better.
In a perfect world I would by from a local shop everytime.

[cmM]

Ritz... I've been there ones. The salesman had to bring his manager because he didn't know what I was talking about when I asked for a couple filters.

Luckily, I have Calumet Photographic about 2 minutes away, and I shop there quite often... gotta stop by today after work :)

[jbradc]

I live in a small cty with one camera shop and they just don't stock any high end hardware. I considered them when ordering my 1D Mark II but their price was MSRP and 10 to 14 days to get it. Or I could order online for $500.00 less and have the next day. I would love to support my local camera shop, but the truth is I can't afford to.

[CoolToolGuy]

I have two local shops that I frequent - Cooper's Camera Mart, and Penn Camera.

Cooper's is truly a local shop with two stores. They treat me right and give me the best deals they can. I have seen their cost sheets from Canon, and for some things they pay more than the B&H selling price (volume speaks). Most lenses I want have to be ordered, but sometimes that is okay.

Penn Camera is a Washington DC chain. Their prices are good and they have more stock than Cooper's. They are a further trip (about 35 miles). They rent equipment, but you must go to the downtown DC store (50 miles).

I support the local stores when I can. Next choice - B&H. The difference in price between them and some of the other onlines isn't worth the potential hassle. I just ordered a refurbed A60 online on Friday and it was delivered Monday - can't beat that.

Now if another Dell deal like the 70-200 f2.8L IS pops up . . .

Have Fun,

[vcutag]

I went into my local camera shop (probably the alternative Jerry was talking about, Richmond Camera) to ask about their price for the 70-200 f2.8L.

$1350. And I'm not talking about the IS model, either.

For a purchase like that, I'm going through B&H. For film, prints, service, etc. I'll go to Richmond Camera. For stuff that I need to try out, like a backpack, or tripod, I'll probably end up going to Richmond Camera. I'm all about supporting local businesses, but at the same time, I'm a broke college student.

[cjm]

My Local store is called McBain Camera. Although I have only bought one camera from there, they are simply the best of the best in service, quality, price and knowledge. And best of all their sales men are not snobby & snooty to people just getting into photography with lots of questions. When I buy a DSLR I will be buying from them. Even if it costs a few dollars more then BestBuy or some other Min wage store, I would rather pay a little more and buy from a store worthy of my hard earned money.

[Noni]

For what this nwebie's opinion is worth, I will absolutely support my local stores rather than the larger chains and/or on-line markets.

Why?

Because I'm new. I'll always be new; I will never know enough, learn enough, acquire enough skills, and my local shops have been such a great source of knowledge that I know I can't get at the larger stores...

Today, I was pricing (read: drooling over) some things I want, and the gentleman behind the counter was so helpful, and very much into showing/teaching me, and not letting me get things I don't need (yet). And while I didn't buy a darned thing today, he knows it's not wasted; I'll be back, and I'll be bringing my checkbook. And the relationship is more valuable than any purchase. They know I'll be back, and that I'll let my friends know about the store, too.

And frankly, they're very competitively priced. I've done on-line comparisons, and for what I'm looking at, they're spot on in terms of cost.

Like I said, a newbie's observation, so take it for what it's worth...

Best-
Noni

[GPR1]

I'm lucky to have an excellent camera store locally that has competitive prices (Pro Photo Supply in Portland, OR). Often times they are right on the reputable internet prices and sometimes just a bit higher. I'll pay that premium. I have, however, bought some on line (refurbished L lens from B&H) when I couldn't come close in town. I think most chain camera stores are useless unless you need lens cleaner on a Saturday....

Greg

[RockSlut]

My story is a little different. I live in Brisbane, Australia. There are two camera stores within 100m of each other in the CBD. They are the only two "real" camera retailers (ie with more than 10 different models to purchase). Ther rest are mainly print shops that sell a couple of cameras here and there and the others are department stores.

Given how close the two main stores (both appear to be franchises of larger chains) you would think that there would be a degree of competition in terms of price, service and range. This is not the case.

Most of my purchases, you would almost think I had come from another planet. When I try to shop there it is virtually impossible to get service and when I do the assistant seems to know less about the product than I do. The last purchase was my Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 and at the same time my girlfriend purchased an Ixus 30. Just over $1100 AUD purchase with no offer of a discount for cash.

The lens had to be ordered (apparently the Tamron 28-75mm is some completely obscure lens). Would they order it in and let me try before I bought? No. None of the Brisbane shops would do this. In addition to the assistants knowing absolutely nothing about this mystical lens I had to pay a non-refundable deposit to order it.

Basically the end result is that I might as well have ordered off the internet (from Australia) and saved myself $10 AUD and gotten exactly the same service... Except... The lens did not take the 3-4 days as promised. When I went in 7 days later to check (maybe they recieved it but forgot to call me?) nope nothing. But they'd look into it and get back to me after speaking to the distributor.

One week later I returned to the shop. Nope still not in, it's now on back order 3-4 weeks (despite that they *could* have called me 3 days ago to let me know).

End result is that I no longer care whether they are in business. If they treat me with that level of contempt I will quite happily buy online from whoever. I'll probably *still* get better customer service and I'll definately save as much as $10 (online from Australia) or $75 AUD (online from B&H with 3-5 day shipping ).

[Carzee]

A big ditto from here in Newcastle. There's already a situation where the local photo shop is just in the business of P & S cameras / prints and albums --there's hardly a shop thats got a lot of accessories (or experience with them) to be found anyway. There's way more photography 'buzz in general' and buying and selling by enthusiasts at the camera club swaps. So of course the online sellers/auctions and net forums (I got my 10D here last week) are very active.

I do travel as a rep, by road, a LOT, and I can tell you I have scouted most towns in NSW. I have even found closing down bargains out in the southern tablelands. Temora no less. Out in the backyard of NSW (over the range) there's no choice really except online.

Anyone reading this in NSW, if you want loads of accessories, traded stuff and a real camera repair tech (20+yrs experience) you go up to Camera House Taree. The owner teaches DTP/PS at TAFE too. Park Beach Plaza at Coffs Harbour (could be Camera Hse too) has all the new EOS DSLRs, accessories and 4 or 5 USM 'L' to demo. Nikon equivalent too. Big inventory. Why? Not sure. Its a honeymooner/holiday town for sure. Most I've seen outside Sydney, way more than Newcastle retailers.

Wrapping my head in tinfoil and breathing deep, I can see that in 2015 it will be all online, all fast depreciating, and all short life / non-servicable products.

[JAZZ D.P.G.]

I do both, local and on-line. As well, I use this board for equipment; There have been some very good deals available from members here:D

I try to use the local stores and one chain. But being Canada and the pricing from Canon, I can import from B&H and still save a lot of $. I'm not just talking $25 or $50 on a big purchase, but $100's:mad: And it adds up. With our taxes, which I will pay on the import too, I will save even more. 15% of $100 difference will help pay for the shipping. One more thing, NO duty on bodies and lens from US to Canada.

I used a local store to buy the D60, didn't know any better, and still had a comparable price. But lens:mad: They just cannot compete. Not their fault, they have to make a living too, they're not being given a fair price from Canon Canada.

I don't use this local store any more, they have slipped in the customer service and appreciation area quite severely. But there are a couple other choices around.

I work too hard for my money, and pay way too much tax :evil: (see my signature saying) on what I do get to not be as frugal as possible on major purchases.

Just ordered a new ball head from B&H. With shipping included, on a US$150 order will still save US$30 over local price. That is 20%. Also, local stores had to special order it anyway.

[Avalonthas]

More then often local stores charge more. In my area there is one good local shop but its all based on mail order from japan no doubt, so id rather order from B&H for faster delivery and slightly cheaper prices. Local stores simply cant keep up these days because they dont order a skid of a single camera at one time so they cant save money on bulk ordering and therefore have to put a higher markup to make a descent margin.

[NYC2BGI]

My situation is different than most of you. Many of the people posting on this board seem to live in small towns and cities. I live and work in NYC. I can walk or take a quick subway ride to B&H, Adorama, Calumet, Camera Land and many others. When I need to purchase something expensive I do it with an out of state vendor online (That way I don't pay the sales tax). I can go locally and see any of the pruducts first before I buy them.

[musthavemuzk]

well...lemme see here.
i have done both for all my hobbies.
it all depends on what it is and how much is saved.

currently with photography there is no real shop closeby. the closest to me is a mom and pop store that sells pentax as their main line. some used this and that though. prices on some is close and others it is high. but since they do not do much with canon i just visit to see what other things they have.

Mac and I have made 2 trips to st cloud to the shops there. we have found one to be quite knowledgeable as well as priced close on many items. canon and tamron on their main lines, though they do carry others.
nice to get to play with gear that is for sure.
but that trip is 4hrs each way for me. along ways for a camera shop.

so i use the forums for info and such and hope to play with items before purchase, but that will not always happen.
in the end i am sure online is the way i will go most of the time. money saved and prompt delivery. as alot of items bought locally you have to wait for them to order it anyways. not necessarily refering to photo gear only.

now if we can get a photo club close that would help a little in showing there is interest and mayb a new store would open or something...

Monty

[flyfishnj]

the only thing I bought from B&H was my digital rebel kit. after that, i found an online photography retailer that had a local showroom (For you NJ guys, it's Unique Photo in Florham Park,NJ). I never got his name, but guy i always buy from is EXTREMELY knowledgeable about photography products. He's even steered me away from buying things i don't need. Every time I've asked him to match B&H's price, he's done it. He even beat B&Hs price for my Bogen 3021BPro and 322RC ballhead. and yes, seeing products and playing with them is invaluable.

.


Probably Lou

[Bodryn]

Monty, if you're in Thief River Falls, you're not far from Crookston, and if that fellow Anderson still has his camera store there, you ought to go and check it out. He's a retired teacher and a real long-time photography enthusiast. I have bought several new and used K-mount lenses there over the years and always like to go and check out what he has - he seems to get unusual lenses and accessories and compared to other camera shops in Grand Forks and Fargo, I think his store is the best. I saw a huge lens in there one time, I forget the brand, it must have been a yard long! I haven't been there for a couple years and he's at the age he might retire.

[exposingmyself]

BH or Adorama
i too like nyc2bgi live only a few train stops, 30 min.'s tops, from B&H and Adorama. I can go to BH and plan other city events. B&H even had a shuttle buses from last fall's PhotoPlus Expo held at Jacob Javits.

If you haven't experienced BH in NYC I hope you plan it one day. It's an experience within itself. They're very well organized, almost no waiting. The longest line I experienced was to look at digital cameras but I also went on a Sunday which is never a good day to go but wasn't a big problem either.

But, I don't have a wonderful lady sales associate to greet me with a smile.:)

[dlrstudio]

I shop local. My local camera store is Norman Camera. They actually match B&H prices - the only local store anywhere I've heard of that will do that. I believe that they do also have a respectable online presence, which would make them somewhat more than just a local store.

All the employees are photographers, and they stock much of what I can get at B&H, just not in such large quantities. Also stock quite a bit of used equipment. I got my 20D there the day they hit the market - their Canon rep was there and they had a huge sale (not on the 20D) and a lot of hoopla that day. The rep had his demo 20D plus one other. Although they had a very long waiting list for the 20D, I was there early with cash, and they sold it to me. Gave me quite a few little Canon "fun stuff" with it, too. I got a really cool Canon pen (yeah - I'm easily amused).

I LOVE Norman Camera.

[MichaelE]

Most of my stuff (65%) has been from Online sources (heck I work in IT so it would figure right?). Also I really don't get out much (work from 4a-3p daily) and the few local places I've found (Classic Cameras) but their prices were on par with the Ritz's etc. My recent 20D kit purchase actually ended up landing with Circuit City online. I got the kit for $1300... I was surprised that it beat even some of the NYC shops and their "grey market reel 'em in sticks"...

I have tried to buy stuff via eBay but have only ever won once. Usually the end prices for the stuff I try to get end up only a hundred bucks off of what I can find online for the new item... Thus the auctions tend not to be the way to go... What I really need to do is find a good garage sale where the wife is pissed off at the hubby and goes and sells off all of his gear... Yeah... Kinda like the $200 porche...

[Sean-Mcr]

Made a tough call last week and opted for the local store. Jessops is the uk's biggest, the reason i opted for a store is because of all the issues i've read about bad copies ect. I wanted people do deal with and jessops have replaced items that i've actually damaged with not much fuss, that to me is almost priceless



I paid what would be around $1750 us for my 16-35. I could have got it from ebay for maybe $1100



But i'm actually having a problem with the 50 1.4 i bought at the same time and it's getting exchanged at the weekend for sure.



If i had to send it off to canon or back over the pond to be fixed it would just crack me up.





It's a tough one, and they do call it rip off Britain. But i do like having a human to contact if things go wrong, it's a tough call

[mrclark321]

I went to my local camera shop and they wanted $170 for a 50mm 1.8 MKII

Enough said!

Dan

[Steve Parr]

There are a few good stores here in San Diego; one of which I tend to frequent more than the others.

The internet has made it possible to completely knock the knees out of prices. I dealt with this with musical instrument retail. Yes, internet prices tend to be better than what you can find locally, wherever “locally” might be for you.

The store I frequent here in San Diego does not have the best prices I’ve found. I’ve found some lower on the net. Usually, the prices are within a few bucks, or are the same (but I’m subjected to sales tax).

One thing they have, though, that the online houses don’t, is personal service. I can call the shop, ask for someone, and they know who they’re talking to, and vice versa. They know what I look like, they know what I’m shooting, and they’re always willing to take as much time to help me as needed, without the concern of answering their growing list of e-mails. When I walk in the store, I know I’ll hear “Hey Steve!”

That means an awful lot to me.

Sure, I can find lower prices. One thing I learned a long time ago is that a price can always be beaten. One thing that can’t always be beaten, however, is the service. These guys know if I get good service, I’m coming back, and I’m telling my friends before I do. They also know that if I get bad service, I’m spreading that word around, as well. They don’t rely on the internet, so their customer base is much smaller. I know they’re going to do what they need to do in order to keep the customer happy.

This isn’t to suggest that online houses will treat their customers poorly. I’d imagine that most are pretty good. The truth, though, is that one unhappy online customer is going to have a difficult time impacting a customer base that, quite literally, is worldwide. Such is not the case with the corner camera store.

I’ve always preferred dealing face-to-face with people. If it costs me a few extra bucks for that, I’m completely cool with it…

Steve

[Digital Prophet]

Very well said Steve. That is exactly how I feel about the entire matter.

- Digital Prophet -

[jukas]

I used to give my local brick and mortor stores preference even at higher expense to myself and what I found is that they really didn't want, nor value my business. I had them quote me $500 more on a L lens than I could get it for from B&H plus I would be paying almost 8% tax on top of that.

Then their level of service got spotty. I used to take my film there for processing and my digital images for printing. They gave me by developed slides with fingerprints on them, and on two they somehow put diaganol scratches on them and tried to blame it on my camera. Only after I showed them the other three rolls of slides with no scratch that I had them develop at the same time did they conceed it may have been them.

They were coming in at least 20% higher in printing than I could get online and that's even after you factored in shipping and their turn around time was 2 days but I still brought 90% of my printing to them because I wanted to support a local business. They had a $2.95 setup fee for any digital printing which they told me if I brought the images in already sized and ready to just open and print would be waived. Then they started hassling me about waiving the $2.95 fee and the last batch I brought to them they charged me the setup. When I mentioned that I was told if I brought the images in already sized and all they had to do was print them and they would waive the setup fee the guy told me "they don't do that". When I had him look at my invoice history to show they *did do that* he grudgingly removed the fee and told me "fine but this is the last time".
I had no problem agreeing with him on that and haven't been back in there since.

That being said I've found a different local place that caters to professionals that I've been trying for my film processing. Their prices are decent, they are all very knowledgeable and friendly, they have built in lightables and offer you the use of their loupes and if they're not too busy they're happy to chat with you.

With the exception of big ticket items I'd rather pay a bit more and support a local business that I know puts money back into my community, but they've got to earn it. If I'm going to pay more I expect you to provide a level of service that reminds me why I'm doing it, that's what I feel I'm paying for and if you can't do that or are going to interact with me like they're doing me a favor by being there, I'll take my money to B&H or Adorama.

[Tom W]

My local camera shop is Wolf camera, which is unfortunately related to Ritz. I went in and asked if they had any Canon lenses, and he replied that they don't carry any of that "professional stuff". They do make nice enlargements though.

On the other side of town is a larger Wolf shop, that seems to carry a few Canon products. Its a larger, stand-alone store, but there's no chance of finding a white lens in there, unless Quantaray makes it. We've also got a small used camera shop that I stop in once in a while. They have a lot of older stuff, and its fun to look around once in a while.

So, essentially, I have no local camera shop. Then again, KEH usually delivers here within 2 days so its not that bad.

[musthavemuzk]

Monty, if you're in Thief River Falls, you're not far from Crookston, and if that fellow Anderson still has his camera store there, you ought to go and check it out. He's a retired teacher and a real long-time photography enthusiast. I have bought several new and used K-mount lenses there over the years and always like to go and check out what he has - he seems to get unusual lenses and accessories and compared to other camera shops in Grand Forks and Fargo, I think his store is the best. I saw a huge lens in there one time, I forget the brand, it must have been a yard long! I haven't been there for a couple years and he's at the age he might retire.

i have been into anderson's camera a couple times since i got my 20d in feb. wonderful guy and if you shoot pentax it is the place to go. as he has shot pentax for 40 years. he has put the *ist in my hands and said play with it. loved the shutter release.
he does not carry much for EOS glass. had a couple fd bodies and lenses on hand and various P&S digital cameras. oly and pentax mostly.
definitely a knowledgeable guy.

Monty

[Pat H]

As much as I like the knowledgeable staff and good selection that you find at a camera shop, I have realized how incredibly expensive they are. One that's about 25 min away from me, which is the largest independently owned shop in my area, specializes in canon parts and repairs but has overcharged me substantially compared to B&H's prices. Even though I like being able to handle things before I buy and ask questions of people that know what they're talking about, I'm beginning to wonder if it's really worth the $50-100 more I pay for it. :confused:

But then again, I guess small business can’t realistically compete with the prices of a chain store.

[lostdoggy]

B&H, Adrama, 17th Street Photo, and Tristate are all local shops for me and that is a bad thing.

[MTalley]

We have only one local camera store. I buy small stuff from them occasionally, like a filter or two, lens cleaning kit, rubber hood. I did break down and buy my Tamron lens from them for $210 with tax (B&H wants $150 plus shipping).

They are competitive on cameras. For example, just like most other places, they're currently selling the Rebel XT kit for $999. I also have a pro account with their lab, and their prices are decently competitive with the on-line labs.

Still, there are a lot of empty B&H boxes out in the garage. If for no other reason than selection. Most of the time, when I go into the store and ask for something specific, they tell me that they can order it for me.

[Bodryn]

Monty - sorry about the delay - I was traveling, and yes, I got back to Anderson's Camera shop in Crookston. He had just sold the *istDS and was having trouble getting another one quickly from the wholesalers so I ended up getting it from Ritz, the only dealer I found that had one available. However at Anderson's I picked up a LOT of accessories that most camera stores these days don't even stock. I was amazed: he had the remote control for the camera and he had that cable release that plugs in. Several types of filters I didn't even know existed that work with circular polarizers to give you an infinite variety of colors over a short range, for special effects. He's got some fancy tripods that allow you to tweak the height and azimuth very precisely like when you have a long telephoto lens on and want to aim it precisely. He also had that Pentax 170-500 monster zoom. I came very close to getting that but at the time I didn't know enough about it. Lots of wonderful gadgets at that store! That's my kind of store! It's an education just to browse around in there. Like you say, he deals mostly with Pentax but he has some small cameras of other brands that one doesn't usually find.

Another fascinating camera store is that one in downtown Billings, Montana. That place is huge and has a great selection of old and new stuff. Make sure your credit card is paid off when you go in there!

[Lamplight]

When I bought my DRebel, I wanted to try to buy everything from the local shop. But the prices were simply too much, and the service basically stinks. $100 for the 50mm 1.8? $580 for the 28-135mm? $80 for a small $40 Tamrac bag? I actually did buy my 75-300mm lens from them. Later I saw it on B&H's site for about $70 less. My brother went there to get some of his pictures printed and they would hardly even speak to him. With those prices and more importantly that kind of service, I see no reason to support them.

[Steve Parr]

With those prices and more importantly that kind of service, I see no reason to support them.

I wouldn't.

With my local dealer, the prices are a bit higher than B&H, Adorama, etc. but the service is stellar. Good customer service is like gold, so I don't mind paying for it...

Steve

[Grampaw]

I use my local store, Foto International, in Coconut Creek,Fl 10 minutes away from home. Their prices are 5-10% higher than on-line, but the service is a big selling point with me. The staff is knowledgable, mostly pro photogs, and if they don't have what I need, it's over-nighted. Have spent almost $5K there, and don't regret any of it. Local Ritz store in the mall didn't know what a CP filter was...
Foto Int'l will let me 'try before buy', and even remember what I've bought before. I guess I'm lucky.:)

[Steve Parr]

I use my local store, Foto International, in Coconut Creek,Fl 10 minutes away from home. Their prices are 5-10% higher than on-line, but the service is a big selling point with me. The staff is knowledgable, mostly pro photogs, and if they don't have what I need, it's over-nighted. Have spent almost $5K there, and don't regret any of it. Local Ritz store in the mall didn't know what a CP filter was...
Foto Int'l will let me 'try before buy', and even remember what I've bought before. I guess I'm lucky.:)

I don't buy a Hell of a lot from Ritz, but one thing I've noticed is, at my local store, everyone there seems to know their stuff...

Steve

[jukas]

I just stopped into my local store again recently to price compare. B&H had the 1dMk2 for $3899 including shipping. The local place was asking $4495 for the same camera and I would have had to pay 7.5% tax on it.

I don't see how they are still in business...

[ssim]

My online retailer has turned into my local camera store, at least for me.

Since he is in another province I don't have to pay our local provincial sales tax which saves me 7.5% right off the top. Given that I have developed a good relationship with the manager, I have yet to pay the price that is published on their website. He has treated me very well and in return I make sure that he gets as much of my business as possible.

I could order from the US and save myself a few hundred dollars here or there but he provides me with such personal service that I will continue to work with him.

We do have a couple of local stores that I do frequent and buy the odd thing there. They just don't have the financial wherewithall to carry the stock.

To me, service is everything. Disrespect me and you won't see one more cent from me. I'd rather walk across the street and pay more.