randymoe

I normally buy everything online. I have become lazy.

Today I went to Chicago's downtown 'Central Camera.'

I was just along for the ride, my friend was testing the waters on selling his father's extensive collection.

We got there just before closing. My friend had to wait for a conversation with the store buyer.

I started poking around. Oops, s sale caught my eye. There were many in store sales that are never listed online or anywhere except in store.

I could not resist and bought 50 sheets of VC 20"x24" fiber paper for 1/2 price.

This is a much better deal than I ever get buying online.

The buyer showed up, he was the owner. He spent 2 1/2 hours after the store closed giving us great advice.

I used to shop at Central Camera when I went to school near it.

Now I realize I need to make regular trips in order to garner better store deals and gain irreplaceable knowledge direct from the owner and his great staff.

We discussed many topics, most I cannot relate here for various reasons.

I will now make regular trips to Central Camera, they have great prices that blow Internet sellers away.

I recommend all of us try our local store first, and I do not mean Best Buy.

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Good points, Randy. Online stores don't always have the flexibility of physical stores when it comes to liquidating ones and twos of something they may no longer wish to carry. And they definitely have the advantage when selling used items!
I'll bet you had a great time!

randymoe

Quite frankly it was and still is an exhausting day.

I started the day at my Credit Union and picked up a little cash. Then I stopped and bought a Horseman L 8x10 in far better condition than the price paid. No haggle, the seller set the price.

I lugged this 20 pound camera home, and off we go to Central Camera.

It is a darn good thing I have done extensive research of all types of film cameras. I was and still am very ignorant in Leica. The 2 hour Leica lesson I absorbed at Central Camera was an intense, low pressure Grad level class. I now have months of homework. Good thing I like research.

Danilo, I had a very good time. That store is the mother lode. They have the very latest and the pre-releases. They have hundreds of antiques on display and for sale. I only saw the first floor. There are 2 more floors that I know of.

Old Chicago Loop stores are known for their incredible depth of inventory buried in sub-basements.

The only way I will survive visiting this store often is to carry only cash and go take pictures in the nearby park.

Next week the owner promised a sneak peak...

Now back to checking out the Horseman Monster!

hlmichel Loc: New Hope, Minnesota

I bought my dslr at Bestbuy, but I would have gladly bought it from a local camera shop--if I had one. Samy's is an option, but hadn't heard of that place until recently.

I tried Ritz, but got a better deal at Bestbuy--Ritz did have more options for package deals.

olcoach Loc: Oregon

Hi, I live in Central Oregon. We have small towns with the largest being close to 100.000 and the others considerably smaller. We have no camera stores. We have a Bestbuy but I don't consider that a camera store so I hope you will all continue to patronize your camera stores lest they disappear. Have fun and keep shootin'. Mike

randymoe

Yes that is a good idea.

The owner of Central Camera even told me what other area camera stores he recommended. Of course Chicago has expanded, so local is now a 200 mile diameter.

We talk of Milwaukee as close, and I usually go there to buy motorcycles.

Madison is 3 hours and a very crazy big college town. It has a great 4000 seat beer garden on a large lake. I used to ride my bike there for lunch before second shift back in Chicago.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I've been touting local stores for years. Thank you, Randy, for sharing your positive experience.

charlie Loc: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Though I live in Minnesota I recently saw a camera for sale at Central's site. I called them with a question and their response was most courteous and professional. They even called me back later with the answer to my question.
I envy you, what a gem you have in Chicago.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

It's good to know there are some real camera stores left! :roll: Hope they can survive. Waxman's in Denver was great when I lived out there. I worked at a "real" camera store for a few years in college and it was a blast to interact with people just getting into photography. The problem now is that people come in and pick your brain then go buy on-line. :thumbdown:

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

My local stores are B&H and Adorama, or others in that class, Bob.

Tom G Loc: Atlanta, GA

Yes, I agree that Central is a great camera store. I'm north of Milwaukee about 25 miles, and until several years ago we had Reimer's, and Helix both very professional photgraphy stores. But they closed because of poor business conditions.

Now the only place up here that even comes close is Mike Crivelo's in Brookfield, WI. But only the Brookfield store.

Also, Helix has a store in Chicago located at 310 S. Racine. I've never been there, but I suspect it's pretty good.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

Good advice, however the only thing I have against going to the local store is the state tax. I purchased the D800 from a local store (Photo-Zone) and the tax was $240.

Opus Loc: South East Michigan

My local camera shop gave the same prices and B&H, great service, good prices on trade-ins, and never used pressure sales tactics. They closed 8 years ago and it has been B&H for me since then.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

BruceJ. Should have bought a cheaper camera! LOL! My local rate is 10%. What's yours. Some states are taxing internet commerce or trying to but it's hard to track and keep up with.

madcapmagishion

If we had a local camera store here, I would probably use it. We have a Ritz here but that's far from a 'local' store.