They have got to be kidding!!

I'd prefer to buy locally, even though it costs a little more. But the stores just seem to make it hard to do.

I went to a Ritz Camera store intending to buy a memory card - the manager told me they were out of stock but on order, and "they're probably in the shipment we received today, but I don't have time to look - stop back tomorrow." I ordered later that day online from B&H, and it came in the next day's mail, for less money.

I tried renting a lens I was interested in from several local stores, no luck. One store had a new one in stock at another location, said they'd have it sent over so I could test it in the parking lot (I intended to buy it from them if it performed as expected)- never happened. I ended up getting it from B&H.

I've had similar experiences from time to time with non-photo items. As a small businessperson, I understand the problem a local store has competing on price with the online giants, but sometimes they almost act as if they could care less if the got your business.

General_T wrote in post #13544894
Don't get me wrong..I will be loyal to a local store..if they are reasonable and i can afford it, but 10 - 20% on fish probably isn't multiple hundreds of dollars?

No, but I suppose my point was (that for me) if I KNOW that I won't be buying from them, I won't waste their time. I wouldn't keep going in there for advice, but then buy all the fish and supplies at Wal-Mart (I won't buy anything at Wal-mart, but that's another story).

tovarish wrote in post #13544922
No, but I suppose my point was (that for me) if I KNOW that I won't be buying from them, I won't waste their time. I wouldn't keep going in there for advice, but then buy all the fish and supplies at Wal-Mart (I won't buy anything at Wal-mart, but that's another story).

Understand and totally agree. I bought my 5D mk II and all my other gear from the local store so I have given a fair bit to them - mind you I bought from them because the prices were at least competitive for those items. But I guess my overall loyalty would be to my family and checkbook. But then again if I was too loyal I wouldn't have bought this stuff in the first place.

Too bad! We lived in Canada! U think camera gears price is bad, check new car Canadian pricing and compare with US!

I haven't bought from Adorama, but have from B&H. Some stuff actually ends up more expensive, versus going to Henry's and price-matching...so you have to watch.

Try this site, they keep an up-to-date price comparison going between all the big Canadian stores, as well as B&H, Adorama, J&R, and Amazon. Shipping is excellent from B&H!! B&H has a great deal going with Canadian shipping, and is WAY cheaper than Adorama's.

i buy most of my gear from amazing photo in markham, they have the best prices in canada.

talk to raymond.

http://www.amazingphot​ocamera.com/contact.ph​p

it's rough for us Canadians in terms of cost

1Tanker wrote in post #13545256
I haven't bought from Adorama, but have from B&H. Some stuff actually ends up more expensive, versus going to Henry's and price-matching...so you have to watch.

Try this site, they keep an up-to-date price comparison going between all the big Canadian stores, as well as B&H, Adorama, J&R, and Amazon. Shipping is excellent from B&H!! B&H has a great deal going with Canadian shipping, and is WAY cheaper than Adorama's.

B&H uses purolator as shipper, where adorama uses FedEx! B&H is cheaper and u don't have to worry about custom charges at all, coz they included in their shipping price already, no surprise at your door!

I bought my 70-200 2.8L II last week from B&H for $1975, no tax and free shipping. At my local store (one of the bigger store at my place that carries high end stuff) sell it for $2499.95 plus 8.25% tax, which is comes out to be $2706.19, that is the difference of $700. This is ridiculous. No wonder I've never purchased any of my camera equipments there.

I bought my 100L and 16-35L II from a local store because they had it for the same price (a smidge more with tax) and I had it right away. Other lenses/cameras have been significantly cheaper and I go that route. If its $50, I'll go local. If its $400, forget about it.

1Tanker wrote in post #13545256
I haven't bought from Adorama, but have from B&H. Some stuff actually ends up more expensive, versus going to Henry's and price-matching...so you have to watch.

Try this site, they keep an up-to-date price comparison going between all the big Canadian stores, as well as B&H, Adorama, J&R, and Amazon. Shipping is excellent from B&H!! B&H has a great deal going with Canadian shipping, and is WAY cheaper than Adorama's.

Book marked and

Thanks!!

My local store has the 70-200 f2.8 IS listed for $2479.99 (sales tax would add about another $200 to it). I've bought a couple of lenses there new, including my 70-200 F4 IS and never paid much more than about $100 over what I could have gotten them for online. Since they are willing to spend a lot of time with me discussing options and advantages and disadvantages of various items I'm shopping for, I don't have a problem paying the extra money that they need to keep the store open. However, if I was in the market for that lens, I might have to rethink that.

muskyhunter wrote in post #13545265
i buy most of my gear from amazing photo in markham, they have the best prices in canada.

talk to raymond.

http://www.amazingphot​ocamera.com/contact.ph​p

Will definately check them out as my gear buying is not complete1

My Local shop does not mark up Camera bodies and a few other things above online prices. Because of that I buy those things from them. Even if it was a modest mark up I would probably buy it from them. But when it come to things like batteries, filters, and other accessories-they are 50% more. Sorry, but I go back to Amazon in those instances.

I agree that many items can be more expensive here in Canada compared to ordering online.

However, I do find that for camera and lenses, prices in Canada are generally not that bad, compared to B&H and Adorama. Accessories are a different story.

OP price comparison is a bit unfair. There is currently a $300 rebate going on in the USA. Currently, there is no rebate going on in Canada. You should not blame this on your local store. Blame it on Canon! In addition, Henry and Vistek will price match any Canadian advertised price, and you can find advertised price as much as $200 lower than your quoted price, if you are willing to do your homework.
I agree that the $400 extended warranty is ridiculous, but other than that, when you factor in the current exchange price, your local store price is actually quite competitive.

Just my $0.02