why buy local?

for me to buy a new 7d locally it will cost $2215.00 us for body only.

B&H is only 1699.

I am in canada so I added the 15% tax then the exchange to get my price.

You sure you won't get import taxes and shipping charges going from B&H?

My local camera shops are the same price as B&H. I picked up a 7D for $1699.99 and a Grip for $229.99. Plus no shipping or waiting. They even gave my daughter a balloon.

You'll have to pay duties on the camera. Sometimes it ends up being cheaper, sometimes it isn't. The only advice I can offer is add up all the costs before you make your decision.

shayneyasinski wrote in post #8930248
for me to buy a new 7d locally it will cost $2215.00 us for body only.

B&H is only 1699.

I am in canada so I added the 15% tax then the exchange to get my price.

In the UK we don't have a B&H so we don't get tempted with huge price differentials. However, photography is expensive "forever", so it does make a lot of sense to build a relationship with a quality retailer where you can handle and test goods before you buy and possibly trade items you don't need. I'm not saying I buy everything from my local dealer, but whenever I go there now, I get tea and a friendly welcome. Be prepared to pay slightly more but expect to get personal service. If things go wrong with items, you'll be pleased you supported your local dealer.

IMHO.

sempaidavid wrote in post #8930346
My local camera shops are the same price as B&H. I picked up a 7D for $1699.99 and a Grip for $229.99. Plus no shipping or waiting. They even gave my daughter a balloon.

California has no sales tax?

No tax
Free shipping
Free memory card
bing rebate

"hello?"

We do have Sales tax, around 7.5%-11.5% depending on what part of Cali you live in.
Citrus Heights (Sacramento county) was only about 7.5% where just a short trip down the road to Rancho Cordova was about 9.5%

Some vendors might choose to eat the sales tax to compete with well known online vendors.

The first time I went to the Springfield Mo local camera store (Not going to say the name but there is only one here) they told me that B&H was gray market and that is why they were so much cheaper than them. I was just "Wow" and left.

As for the price diff up there in Canada, get ahold of all the final fee's then go to your local store and tell them about the difference and ask if they can get closer to that price.

-Eric-

masayako wrote in post #8930537
No tax
Free shipping
Free memory card
bing rebate

"hello?"

Bing rebate? So am I safe in assuming that you are not talking about buying local?

NeoTokyo wrote in post #8930542
As for the price diff up there in Canada, get ahold of all the final fee's then go to your local store and tell them about the difference and ask if they can get closer to that price.

heh, good luck negotiating in Canada. Unless you're dealing with a very very small private retailer, you won't be able to make them budge. Or, you do so much business with the retailer each year (ie you're a professional) that they can justify giving you a break occasionally.
It's in all camera retailers' best interest to not negotiate. If none of them negotiate then they will all be able to milk the maximum profit out of each sale. I know in many regions camera retailers will negotiate, but it seems that this nearly never happens in Canada.

I usually buy local if the stores I go to if they can come close to BH & Adorama prices. The people there are informative and friendly, unlike other stores I've been in. I've spent hours talking to them and sometime left without buying anything. I buy a lot of my accessories from them and if they can't get close to online or other local dealers, they know that I'll go elsewhere. They know that this an expensive hobby for me and that I pinch pennies where I can. Still, everytime I go in there, it's a friendly atmosphere.

The big plus for is if there's an issue with any of the things I buy, I can drive there instead of mailing back the item and hoping it doesn't get damaged in transit or get lost.

One of the two store I frequent lets me look at the lens, but won't let me try it out on my camera before I buy it. I'm not sure if it's a store policy or that particular person. Anyway, so if my friend is there with me with his laptop, I'll just test the lens right there. If it's not good, I'll do an exchange right there. If my friend is not there, I'll go home do the test and it it's not to my liking, I'll drive back and exchange it. I may end up driving back and forth, but I'll eventually get a good copy and if I don't, I can wait until another one comes in. (I really should get a laptop to save me some time)

But, that's why I prefer to buy at the local camera store.

True, it cost me more to buy locally. However, by purchasing locally, I was able to take my 7D back to the shop after one week because it wasn't focussing properly and swap it out for a new one. Otherwise I would have had to send it back to Canon and then wait to get that camera back. Probably not a new one either. Its worth the extra few bucks to have some piece of mind.

To inspect the product prior to purchasing and to support your local economy. Most of my impulse purchase is done locally, it's hard to let go once it's in my hands.

sempaidavid wrote in post #8930346
My local camera shops are the same price as B&H. I picked up a 7D for $1699.99 and a Grip for $229.99. Plus no shipping or waiting. They even gave my daughter a balloon.

Where is this shop?
I also want a balloon.

JBF wrote in post #8931102
True, it cost me more to buy locally. However, by purchasing locally, I was able to take my 7D back to the shop after one week because it wasn't focussing properly and swap it out for a new one. Otherwise I would have had to send it back to Canon and then wait to get that camera back. Probably not a new one either. Its worth the extra few bucks to have some piece of mind.

All the online stores I shop at have a 15-day to 30-day return policy. If the product is defective, they'll either refund the money or exchange it. I'm sure most online stores have similar policies regarding returns of damaged goods.