Wolf Camera prices

Joe W. I live across the line in Mississippi but shop Birmingham a lot.

JoeW wrote in post #3644996
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.

LOL, My bad, Joe Dub...it was called Brookstone Camera...oops.

Not to mention calling in and hope to get an answer. Puts new meaning to the words "hold time". I called last Saturday at 11AM and never did get an answer.

Bob Sherwood wrote in post #3645281
Not to mention calling in and hope to get an answer. Puts new meaning to the words "hold time". I called last Saturday at 11AM and never did get an answer.

Comes back to basic customer service, it is just no longer in existence, unfortunately.

No kidding. I've called that Wolf several times and never gotten an answer. I went in about a year ago and managed to stand around for 30 minutes--not during the busy time of day, mind you--before someone told me that they didn't carry the LowePro bag I was looking for. And try going there anytime in November or December and you'll lose your mind. (And wind up paying hundreds more for anything).

00silvergt--no problem. just wanted to make sure that my good feeling about shopping local wasn't misplaced and I was going to some chain and not even knowing it.

JoeW wrote in post #3645536
No kidding. I've called that Wolf several times and never gotten an answer. I went in about a year ago and managed to stand around for 30 minutes--not during the busy time of day, mind you--before someone told me that they didn't carry the LowePro bag I was looking for. And try going there anytime in November or December and you'll lose your mind. (And wind up paying hundreds more for anything).

00silvergt--no problem. just wanted to make sure that my good feeling about shopping local wasn't misplaced and I was going to some chain and not even knowing it.

Yeah, I know what you mean, here in California, we have Keeble and Schuchat. These guys are great...they are a bit pricey ~ $50 -80 over mail or internet, but the staff is friendly and knowledgeable and is willing to help you out. Unlike, no offense to the guy who works at Wolf specifically, some of the kids you get at Wolf, etc...

We have a few Ritz/Wolf places here in town. They have either really great, courteous sales people, or ignorant, pathetic, lazy jerks who don't know a tripod from a monopod. Their prices are always high, they won't negotiate, and they are a great place to avoid as you walk past their store fronts.

joegolf68 wrote in post #3645595
We have a few Ritz/Wolf places here in town. They have either really great, courteous sales people, or ignorant, pathetic, lazy jerks who don't know a tripod from a monopod. Their prices are always high, they won't negotiate, and they are a great place to avoid as you walk past their store fronts.

Really and you are in Sac...it may be worth the drive to Fairfield and go to the "new" store next to Aaron Brothers and get the same service, but they claim to match prices from local stores...BTW, I'll be in Sac later in August, any camera stores worthy of a visit?

When I walk into a Best Buy store, I don't expect to be able to haggle the price. They are a large retail chain and the individual employees (or even low-level managers) usually have little power to give any discounts. Since they're probably interested in keeping their jobs, they won't give you any special discounts. A retail chain has many more rules than a mom-and-pop store, and loss prevention is one of the things that they're usually pretty strict about. Imagine if people gave a couple bucks off here and a couple bucks off there, at all 2,000 stores across the US. In the end that would amount to quite a bit of money, and it would be much, much less costly to implement a system that monitors transactions for any illegal discounts. Ritz is no different from this.
But yes, their prices are expensive compared to B&H, Adorama, and the like. Ritz will match local prices but in general it doesn't really matter where you go in Southern California, you'll encounter high prices close to MSRP. I usually go straight to B&H or Amazon

Lani Kai wrote in post #3646040
When I walk into a Best Buy store, I don't expect to be able to haggle the price. They are a large retail chain and the individual employees (or even low-level managers) usually have little power to give any discounts. Since they're probably interested in keeping their jobs, they won't give you any special discounts. A retail chain has many more rules than a mom-and-pop store, and loss prevention is one of the things that they're usually pretty strict about. Imagine if people gave a couple bucks off here and a couple bucks off there, at all 2,000 stores across the US. In the end that would amount to quite a bit of money, and it would be much, much less costly to implement a system that monitors transactions for any illegal discounts. Ritz is no different from this.
But yes, their prices are expensive compared to B&H, Adorama, and the like. Ritz will match local prices but in general it doesn't really matter where you go in Southern California, you'll encounter high prices close to MSRP. I usually go straight to B&H or Amazon

Sorry, Lani...but you are completely wrong-don't mean that as to be an a$$...but, I've never paid full price at either Circuit City or Bestbuy on a major expense, such as a camera, TV, stereo, etc.

If you are paying the sticker at these places for buying major items, then you are getting taken for a ride. Some people don't mind, but I do. Just because they are a chain store this doesn't absolve them from practicing predatory and other tactics to make a sale. Employees, yes, they need their jobs, as you put it, if they want to keep it, they need to make the sale. No sale, no income, no salary...laid off. If you show interest and play the game right, you will get the "discounts", sometimes it is as easy as asking for it.

I've had as much as $1000 off a TV I've bought from Circuit City...I also got similar discounts from Best Buy. Yeah, I won't haggle for the price of a $16.99 DVD movie, but I'll certainly try to get a discount when I'm laying down the cheese.

00silvergt wrote in post #3645558
Yeah, I know what you mean, here in California, we have Keeble and Schuchat. These guys are great...they are a bit pricey ~ $50 -80 over mail or internet, but the staff is friendly and knowledgeable and is willing to help you out. Unlike, no offense to the guy who works at Wolf specifically, some of the kids you get at Wolf, etc...

If you were referring to me, none taken. Three of our five staff members (NOT including myself) were hired with no photo experience - two of which were hired before the age of 18.

joegolf68 wrote in post #3645595
We have a few Ritz/Wolf places here in town. They have either really great, courteous sales people, or ignorant, pathetic, lazy jerks who don't know a tripod from a monopod. Their prices are always high, they won't negotiate, and they are a great place to avoid as you walk past their store fronts.

Glad to hear you have some good Wolf/Ritz in your area.

By the way, we can't negotiate, simple as that. I've been asked many times for "a deal" and no, I can't, I value(d) my job. I'm pretty sure we also intentionally add our "free" stuff just to make sure we can't actually price match. I'll be as friendly as possible about the fact that corporate will scream at me the next day.

When you guys say that you don't get an answer, do you mean that no one answered your question or no one answered the phone?

Standing around for a half hour, that's quite bad. You might be in the store for 10 seconds before I at least GREET you!

I have called and had no one answer the phone for 10 or 15 rings. And I've stood around waiting for a long time--30 minutes might be a little longer than reality, but not by much. (and, in years past, we've bought lots of stuff at Wolf, an Elan IIe, a canon consumer 100-300--since gone, loads of film, a camcorder, and several small point and shoot digitals) Oh well, enough lamenting on poor customer service for me.

Recently I was driving from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham...good cell service all the way. Tried to call Wolf in B'ham...phone rang at least 50 times with no answer. No more Wolf for me. Just B&H or KEH.com.

One thing to remember if you are needing something that day or cant wait for it to be sent, Wolf/Ritz or even your local camera store might be your only choose. Then you may end up paying more cash for your needs. Like my mom told me years ago "shop around before buying because the first place might not have the best prices."
I don't have a problem with Wolf camera and Mikes Camera(local shop) normally hit them first to see what their prices are before heading home and check with BH and others.

mtndew wrote in post #3649038
One thing to remember if you are needing something that day or cant wait for it to be sent, Wolf/Ritz or even your local camera store might be your only choose. Then you may end up paying more cash for your needs. Like my mom told me years ago "shop around before buying because the first place might not have the best prices."
I don't have a problem with Wolf camera and Mikes Camera(local shop) normally hit them first to see what their prices are before heading home and check with BH and others.

I was on Hwy 280 in Palo Alto, CA. It was about a 20 mile drive to the Daly City Wolf Camera store. I was looking for a ring attachment for my P series Cokin filter holder. I was on hold for over 30 minutes, when I called back, the guy forgotten all about me calling and then said, "Oh, yeah we don't have it in stock." Drove over and anyway, sure enough, it was in stock and it was sitting right on top of the counter...