Your Local Photo Sales Staff and You - How Long before you knew more?

So, how long did it take you to know more than your local photo store sales staff when you started in photography?

I live in roughly the middle of nowhere, so it took about 4 months.

Now, if I lived in NYC, I'd go to B&H and be broke, living on the sidewalk out front.

my local is jessops..ill say no more

You guys have a local shop!?!?!?!

Not to be mean, but where I live? the "local photo store' is Wal-Mart. Need I say more??? (for anyone who may work there- no offense, but they cant even run the register around here, let alone talk about quality cameras!!!!)

I have to travel to NYC, Boston, or use the internet for 'real' camera stores!!!!!

I put they still know more than I do because I don't have a local shop!

B&H ftw!

Edit: after reading jostels post, it seems i do have a local photo shop. Wal-Mart! So since i cant change my vote... i geuss the wal-mart staff know more then i do lol

philbyuk wrote in post #2779277
my local is jessops..ill say no more

i second that.

the manager in there charges £900 for a wedding shoot too and he didnt know about ISO :S

Heh. Fun thread.

My local shop is in okinawa japan... all they know is that the "L's" are the better lenses.

It is very weird, but all the japanese people I enounter with mid-high dollars worth of gear are Nikon people. I wonder if that is true all over japan. I have seen like 3 japanese canon shooters, and probably 60 or more nikon people.

At my local shop, they know lots about film shooting... I will credit them that much.

I have never been in a local camera shop. All of my major purchases have been from B&H. I have been there once, and I have to say, they still know more than me.

Stefan

hortonsl62 wrote in post #2779255
I live in roughly the middle of nowhere, so it took about 4 months.

Now, if I lived in NYC, I'd go to B&H and be broke, living on the sidewalk out front.

HAHAH!! LOL!!! HHAHAHAH...

That's so true! hahahah

That is such a leading question you just know that most are going to take the opportunity to slam a photo store they have visited.

You can always find something that you know that perhaps they don't but overall are they a well versed sales person.

I have been dealing with the same person for years. Does he know everything that I ask....no. A good manager or sales rep will not have all the answers immediately but he will know where to find the answer. Take a medium to large store, they have to be well versed on all manufacturers that they carry. Then there is the P&S and DSLR along with perhaps some film bodies that they might sell. The lenses, the flashes and all the other accessories that are available. To ask them to have the answers on the spot is leap of faith.

I've ran into many sales people that could not answer my questions. I normally give them the opportunity to find that answer.

I use my local photography store for two things getting film processed and scanned, both of which they do a very professional job at for what I consider to be a very fair price.


Mike

The local family owned store here in town has been in business since the 50's. I don't know if they know more then me but their staff is professional, knowledgeable and have helped me out through the years.

I know that I'm still new.... but my local kitz owner thinks the D80 is the "coolest camera ever"....

Hey! You didn't include "before I walked in the door".