tshift Loc: Overland Park, KS.

Does that mean Sam's Wholesale will do that also??

Tom

Spiney Loc: Reading, PA

I'm sure I'm too late, but I'll have to see if there are any bargains left at my local WM's. I rarely get past the pharmacy counter. But I have found incredible bargains in their closeout section. I bought several Targus brand for Nikon Vertical power grips for $1. Bought them all and sold on eBay for the going rate of $15-18.00. Quick easy profit. Similar bargains on Camera batteries and chargers. When WM puts an item on closeout they price to sell.

Plieku69 Loc: The Gopher State, south end

Interesting, I had noticed that my local Walmart had little in the camera department last week.

Last year they did a nationwide upgrade to the camera display shelving. The old one's went out back. I was able to salvage two of the 4 foot long metal outlet strips from the old display's. Really handy to have in my "studio" to plug lights into.

Best Buy too seems to have less camera equipment than a couple of years ago. Though our three local stores are doing well they don't carry the small point and shoot cameras.

Ken

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I would say yes from just thinking about it that it is the cell phone replacing small cameras for the Walmart demographic. And many others as well. I always have my phone with me and it does as well as most small cheap PS cameras. Why carry both?
What are 98% or more of photos today used for? Facebook. Any camera no matter how bad looks good on FB so why waste the money on any thing more to carry.

londonfire Loc: NY to NC

I don't know anyone who goes to WalMart for customer service. You better know what you're looking for and where to find it.

Smudgey Loc: Ohio, Calif, Now Arizona

The truth is that Smart Phones are driving the small camera business out of business. While we as photographers use cameras to practice our art. The majority of people use their phones in place of small cameras or even in place of large cameras. I was the DI (Digital Imaging) person for a big box company for many years and taught DI classes every Sat morning to customers. Many times I would have 30 or more students that had signed up for classes. The company reduced the number of small cameras carried to almost nothing and basically nearly eliminated the DI division. It is a sign of the times. Smart phones are a higher profit item, small cameras are a low profit item, it's always about money and profit. I however will continue to use a camera.

StaneeRae Loc: Lincroft, NJ USA

Both Costco and BJ's in my area have reduced the variety of cameras. BJ's used to carry a big variety of point & shoot models, but no longer.

JackW

One of the biggest camera stores in Atlanta - Showcase Photographic - is closing in February

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

In this region we have Fred Meyers stores, part of the Kroger chain. They're getting out of their photo/electronics business too. Too much competition from on-line. I'll miss them. My wife retired and we get an employee discount which makes their prices very competitive with mail order, especially when they are having an inventory discount.

Kuzano

I can go to three Walmarts in these three counties, and the camera sections change just as the one posted by MtMn. Very inconsistent. From full racks to no camera's. Right now, the closest one to me has full display, which have changed from none to full 2-4 time in the last couple of years.

It seems to be related to the capabilities of the help in the departments for each of the stores. At the moment, the Super Store in my town has good help. The next biggest store, 15 miles in next town seems to have two good clerks.... that camera section is thriving.

The stores seem NOT to be on some major management plan, but rather how well each individual store is managed in photo and electronics.

The problem is that I could walk in to any one of them tomorrow and find NO camera's. Hmmmm?

Kuzano

Same as I find with Walmart. Our Fred Meyers in Redmond (Central Oregon) is thriving in camera's and electronics. Seem again to be how well run the departments are. They go up and down.

74images Loc: Los Angeles, California

Here in the L.A. & Suburban Areas you still have Cameras at the Wal-Marts that I've Visited within the Last 2 Months & I've Seen Very Little Reduction in Cameras, & the same with Targets Stores also in Metro L.A.

I Know that Target within the Last 2 Years Started Killing off its Photo Labs & Replacing them with Just 1 or 2 Kiosk's & a Photo Sorter Machine or whatever you call them, a Sorter that Scans your Photos Faster than a Flatbed Scanner if you have 10 or More Photos.

The Best Buy's out Here are also still Stable with its Display of Pocket Cameras also & well as the D.S.L.R.'S! I Know that the # of Pocket Cameras are Shrinking, but its Damn Stupid that Wal-Mart is Doing That!

Also... Regarding Missing Cameras on Display at Wal-Mart's, the Reason Why they are in Locked Cases is because of High Amounts of Theft's at other Wal-Mart's in & Out of the USA.

Last Month a Wal-Mart in Mexico was Looted of All of its Flat Screens & Other Merchandise, I have the Video Clip of the Gauntlet of People Running out of Wal-Mart with Stolen Flat Screens & No Security Around on Facebook!

I watched a Guy take a Razor Knife & Cut out a Vivitar Camera that Sold for around $84.00, & walked off was Caught & Kicked out of the Store, Not Arrested! But Kicked out!

& I've heard other Stories at Wal-Mart's in Minority Areas Like Milwaukee, Vegas, Houston New Orleans, & Elsewhere that Cameras & Flat Screens & Other Targeted Merchandise were Getting Ripped off From Wal- Mart & That's why you See a Lot of Locked Case's at Wal-Mart!

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

If you go to walmart on line they have Nikon d810, d610, 7200 and other nikons listed.
I always thought if you took say best buy and created a REAL camera dept with a full line of cameras and lenses and accessories and staffed it with knowledgeable people with national advertising that they would have a good business.

74images Loc: Los Angeles, California

But a Lot of People Don't Understand that when you buy a Camera Phone I'm told that you Have to have a Phone Service when you buy the Phone & to be Activated!

& Why Spend $600 to $700 for a i phone that does good than the Pocket Cameras, & the Lower Quality Camera Phones don't, the Version Table that I'm Posting from Right Now it Photo Quality is not that Great!

That's why I'm Still Old School with My Pocket Cameras, & the Old Timers Still Like to Shoot Film!

You Figure

74images

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

When someone mentions camera store, Walmart does not jump to mind, neither do any other department stores, pharmacies, hardware stores. etc.
--Bob