Wolf Camera prices

Went into local Wolf in Birmingham, AL. Price of 5D was $2999.95
KEH.com in Atlanta has same camera for $2569.00. Why is there such a hugh price difference at Wolf. I've just stopped even considering them.

Wolf/Ritz is always high, usually MSRP.

Wolf/Ritz are very high, I would definitely look elsewhere. Also, thier sales people also do all they can to sell you what they get the most commission on, not what is the best product for you. I would not trust them.

Wolf/Ritz is high in the NW too. I suspect it's because they have to pay for all the talented help they have selling equipment.

Bob Sherwood wrote in post #3642990
Went into local Wolf in Birmingham, AL. Price of 5D was $2999.95
KEH.com in Atlanta has same camera for $2569.00. Why is there such a hugh price difference at Wolf. I've just stopped even considering them.

they are the same company as Ritz Camera here in Michigan. I only use them for their free catalogs to see whats new then buy online (much cheaper)

Ditto for Wolf here in the Dallas area and surrounding cities. Very overpriced...I'll only go there if I'm in dire need of something and can't wait for mail order (which isn't often).

They're high here in the San Francisco area, too.

Are we beginning to see a pattern?

-js

Yeah they are a rip off here in the South bay. I never shop there. Went there for a lens and they wanted $225.00 and then went to San Jose Camera and they had it for $149.00.
They are also closing all over the place down here in the south bay.

In the southeast it is the same song and dance. I have been looking for a 430ex. Their price is $50 higher (not to mention sales tax) than most other places. I went in recently to see if I could haggle with them on the price a bit and they were firm. I was told that they since they were a brick and mortar they couldn't match the prices of what the online guys were selling for.

My response was that B&H has a brick and mortar in NYC yet they can sell the same flash for $50 bucks less. My response seemed to confound them and all I was told was that their marked price is their selling price.

I believe in trying to support local businesses, but they do make it really tough. They cut their own throats with pricing then want to cry about online sellers (most of whom have brick and mortars) when they go bankrupt.

They are high for most things, but they can get you a deal on other things, I go there for paper, lens cap keepers, bags, misc...they can be cheap. I found my RC-1 for my XT there cheaper than anywhere else. But generally, unless you are comparing them with some tourist spot, they are more expensive. Little know fact however, they will match any local store's prices, at least the ones in California...

Wolf/Ritz/Proex/Godkno​wswhatelse employee here. I'm not at all offended by people who don't like "my" company because no one is perfect, and after a year, I'm hoping to quit by the end of the month

Given that I'd prefer to protect my employment until it's over (who knows who's searching for what..) and that I used my real name here, I'll refrain from mentioning any specifics. However, a couple of Ritz/Wolf locations have closed down in the past couple months and I sometimes wonder why my store hasn't merged with a Proex portrait location just a few miles away.

My rant will begin once I am done

I live it Birmingham, AL and am excited to see someone else from the area (unless you are just visiting). If you want something ASAP, try buying it from Cameras Brookwood--they'll be just as high as Wolf/Ritz, but at least they are really a local company. And their employees really do know something about equipment and all. That said, I generally buy all my stuff at B&H or Amazon--much, much cheaper. I do buy stuff like bags and stuff from Cameras Brookwood because I like supporting them and I like seeing what I'm getting.

JoeW wrote in post #3644701
I live it Birmingham, AL and am excited to see someone else from the area (unless you are just visiting). If you want something ASAP, try buying it from Cameras Brookwood--they'll be just as high as Wolf/Ritz, but at least they are really a local company. And their employees really do know something about equipment and all. That said, I generally buy all my stuff at B&H or Amazon--much, much cheaper. I do buy stuff like bags and stuff from Cameras Brookwood because I like supporting them and I like seeing what I'm getting.

Our Brookwood in SF just went out of business, like a couple of months ago.

Ben, you are in the Biz and you used your real name? Dude...Dude? DUDE!!!

I understand not all employees are the same, but I've found with the stores here in the Bay Area, the Ritz folks are pretty anti-Canon and anti-social.

Last to rant, WTF ever happened to customer service in America? WTF does, "Whatever we have is on the floor." mean? When you ask a supposed Customer Service Representative where you can locate an item for you. Does this really mean, "Look buddy, I am too fat and too lazy to get off my a$$ and look out there for you when you can find it your dang self since they are not paying me enough to get off my wide, but flat a$$."?

I have this to say, people are just now figuring this out?? ?

Not sure what Brookwood you mean? Is there a Camera store in SF called that? The one in Birmingham is, I'm pretty certain, a local business. Sad truth is that they don't do as well as the Wolf in town but actually are much nicer. They don't always have a great selection, but neither does Wolf. I've pretty much been in the Wolf here (or anywhere) for the last time. They know very little about cameras, gear, or photography in general. They have no desire to help (with the rare and good exception) and almost always steer you in the wrong direction--quanteray filters, cheap lenses and the like. They used to be much better, but I think competition from all the online stores has caused them to cut down on expenses instead of cutting down on prices. (And most people who go in these stores are impressed by the wall of nice cameras but want the one that fits in their pocket.