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08/25/2006 08:21:46 AM · #26 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by saintaugust:
Originally posted by ralphnev:
Originally posted by micknewton:
Originally posted by Leok:
I like to support the local camera stores as I want them to be there in 10 years time. |
What difference does it make? Most digital camera gear is obsolete in less than a year anyway. :p |
i expect my lenses to last a long long time ,
bodies i'll go though 3 more (current rate) in the next ten yrs but i'll be using the same lenses ...
that being said i've bought used glass localy but all my retail purchaes are internet or phone (saving taxes & 10% off local retail)
though being in Canada limits my choices (wish B&H had a local/Cnd outlet ..) |
can you order from B/H in canada? |
Yes. |
groovy.
*hand twitches on credit card*
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08/25/2006 08:24:53 AM · #27 |
I've ordered from Camera Canada online and would again. Also, would consider the Camera Store online. Camera Canada customer service was very good in the one instance I used it. They even paid the return shipping.
Bricks and Mortar: I've used Henry's and McBains. Both have a website as well but why pay shipping when I don't have to. McBains matches to the Camera Store online prices anyway. |
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08/25/2006 08:28:09 AM · #28 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I've ordered from Camera Canada online and would again. Also, would consider the Camera Store online. Camera Canada customer service was very good in the one instance I used it. They even paid the return shipping.
Bricks and Mortar: I've used Henry's and McBains. Both have a website as well but why pay shipping when I don't have to. McBains matches to the Camera Store online prices anyway. |
how i miss japan camera. worked for them for almost 8 years.
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08/25/2006 08:31:00 AM · #29 |
Originally posted by saintaugust:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I've ordered from Camera Canada online and would again. Also, would consider the Camera Store online. Camera Canada customer service was very good in the one instance I used it. They even paid the return shipping.
Bricks and Mortar: I've used Henry's and McBains. Both have a website as well but why pay shipping when I don't have to. McBains matches to the Camera Store online prices anyway. |
how i miss japan camera. worked for them for almost 8 years. |
Black's is pretty good still for most accessories. For things you have to order in I'd go elsewhere though. |
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08/25/2006 08:54:11 AM · #30 |
| I buy most of my stuff from a small local LA chain called Samys Camera. There prices are usually right on track with B+H... online anyways. They usually mark up a little bit from their online prices (depending on what salesperson you get) when you walk into the store. Sales tax drives the price up a bit more too. But it feels good driving home with a bag of new toys, rather than racing home from work to meet the FedEx guy and possibly have to drive to Timbuktu to pick it up if I miss him. Other places I've bought from are B+H and Amazon, all good experiences with them. |
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08/25/2006 09:45:49 AM · #31 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by saintaugust:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I've ordered from Camera Canada online and would again. Also, would consider the Camera Store online. Camera Canada customer service was very good in the one instance I used it. They even paid the return shipping.
Bricks and Mortar: I've used Henry's and McBains. Both have a website as well but why pay shipping when I don't have to. McBains matches to the Camera Store online prices anyway. |
how i miss japan camera. worked for them for almost 8 years. |
Black's is pretty good still for most accessories. For things you have to order in I'd go elsewhere though. |
black's is expensive. i've worked for them too.
Message edited by author 2006-08-25 09:46:07. |
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08/25/2006 11:10:49 AM · #32 |
Lately I was shopping for a Lowepro Mini Trekker AW backpack.
I check many online sites, here's the different prices I found (Canadian Price)
Camera Canada $162.50
Henry's 159.99
Future Shop and Best Buy 189.99
Locally, we have a small Camera Store, I rarely went there, because I always had the impression that being in a remote and small town, their prices would be very high.
Anyway, last night I went there to check what they had in store. Surprise, they had the Mini Trekker AW in store for $148.99
I bought it right away, and next time I will check with them for my future needs.
BTW, the staff were very knowlegable and I had great service. |
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08/25/2006 11:29:46 AM · #33 |
| I shop B&H for the camera and lenses, but would like to find an actual brick and mortar to look at bags. Hard to tell from the online pictures how well it's going to fit me, you know? At home in San Antonio, there's one (1) B&M that I know of and the staff there can be kind of aloof. I'm in Santa Barbara for one more day so I may check out Samy's as I believe they have a store downtown here. |
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08/25/2006 12:35:19 PM · #34 |
I have had good experiences on EBay - all my recent purchases have been through EBay. It helps to know that I have a reasonably local repair shop that will do Canon warranty work on international receipts with a 5 day turnaround.
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08/25/2006 12:58:00 PM · #35 |
I don't like E-bay. Won't waste my time or money there. I've purchased camera equipment from B&H, Adorama, Amazon and Buydig. I like the prices online retailers can give you over chain stores. There are no camera stores around me for about 60 miles or so. It would be nice to be able to look at and hold some of the things before I purchase them but oh well. I also think it would be to easy for me to just buy stuff I really don't need if there were a store close to me.
On another note, I'm thinking about opening up a camera store in my town. But there are lots of things that worry me about doing something like this. The biggest issue would be competitve pricing with online stores.
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08/25/2006 01:42:56 PM · #36 |
Originally posted by Alain_cdn:
Lately I was shopping for a Lowepro Mini Trekker AW backpack.
I check many online sites, here's the different prices I found (Canadian Price)
Camera Canada $162.50
Henry's 159.99
Future Shop and Best Buy 189.99
Locally, we have a small Camera Store, I rarely went there, because I always had the impression that being in a remote and small town, their prices would be very high.
Anyway, last night I went there to check what they had in store. Surprise, they had the Mini Trekker AW in store for $148.99
I bought it right away, and next time I will check with them for my future needs.
BTW, the staff were very knowlegable and I had great service. |
Good price. It even beats 'TheCameraStore'.
//www.thecamerastore.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=17798 |
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08/25/2006 03:28:34 PM · #37 |
Originally posted by NstiG8tr:
On another note, I'm thinking about opening up a camera store in my town. But there are lots of things that worry me about doing something like this. The biggest issue would be competitve pricing with online stores. |
One of the advantages to a local store is the ability to cash and carry the item, instead of waiting 3 days or so for UPS. So if you do it, please stock stuff! Many places don't - they give you the old "We can order that for you - no charge. Be here in 3 days..." but they still charge the premium price.
You could sell mail order out the back door, so to speak. A motorcycle dealer I worked at did this, selling parts at essentially wholesale prices. Allowed him to keep a larger stock in the store and therfore be the place most people came first (and in store the prices were retail) |
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08/25/2006 04:26:09 PM · #38 |
Originally posted by mosall:
I have very little loyalty to my local stores. As I, and others, have mentioned, my loyalty lies with those who can provide the product I want at the price I want. Supply and Demand at it̢۪s finest. |
I understand what you're saying here (you shop for price) but I'd quibble with calling that "loyalty" :-)
I'm fortunate to have a local store (Orleans Camera) that is sun by a knowledgeable photographer that does a good enough business in Canon that he is able to keep stock at a decent level. Regular customers (that's people like me) get a discount that helps level the price difference, which anyway is not that great. Lowest I have seen online for the Canon 1.4x is $275 +/-, and these guys had it for $309 minus my 10% discount.
I really appreciate having a local store that takes care of me, where I can hang out and discuss gear and feel welcome. I appreciate that if something goes wrong they are there for me; for example, if my 20D has to go in for warranty work, they have a backup I can use for the duration, and so forth.
In my book, nothing trumps a good working relationship with a knowledgeable retailer.
Robt.
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08/25/2006 06:02:39 PM · #39 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
In my book, nothing trumps a good working relationship with a knowledgeable retailer.
Robt. |
Amen Robert... |
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08/25/2006 07:03:44 PM · #40 |
Originally posted by Agaricus:
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
In my book, nothing trumps a good working relationship with a knowledgeable retailer.
Robt. |
Amen Robert... |
Agree. I'll pay more for good service anytime. I wish I had a camera shop like Robert's around. They'd get all my money if I did.
I will say that the branch of Samy's Camera in Santa Barbara is very nice! I did end up with a small sling bag (Tamrac Velocity 7) which I think will serve me pretty well. It won't carry the laptop or ALL of my vast array of lenses (OK, I only have four, and that includes the kit lens) but it should work for most trips. The nice thing was they had a GREAT selection of different bags so I could see what I liked, what I didn't. Some of those are darn heavy, and that's without any gear in 'em! I'd have not known that via online shopping. |
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08/25/2006 07:57:35 PM · #41 |
Interesting - I like having a shop I can go into, try things out, examine the quality, chat to the staff and buy my toys and take them home immediately... and will pay a little extra. A good shop will also help you fix things quickly if there are warranty issues - especially if the gadget is brand new.
None of this can ever be offered by an online store |
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