Rusty69 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I live on the outskirts of Toronto. There used to be a store in the local mall, Black's - originally a private chain, then a Fuji subsidiary, and as of a few years back, closed and gone. I thought nothing of it until 2 years ago when the local Henry's (a private chain smaller than Black's, but still well represented across Canada) also closed its doors, a victim of the smart phone explosion I assumed.

Yesterday, it was announced that Henry's was closing 7 of it's remaining 29 stores, largely as a result of the Covid 19 outbreak, but also more specifically as a result of declining sales even before the pandemic took hold.

Now, there is still a Henry's reasonably close by in the "old" borough of Scarborough, but other than that you have to go downtown to find the two specialist "pro" photographer equipment sources.

If you happen to live in the US, you can still shop online at B&H and a couple of other big internet retailers, but we have nothing comparable up here that I am aware of. I have shopped at B&H when the exchange rate was better, but that coupled with heavy duties makes it untenable for me. Thank goodness for KiJiJi (??)

I realise that this is a limited topic for any kind of discussion beyond a rant at the ubiquitous smart phones, but if someone feels like joining me in bemoaning this slow death of ALL conventional and much loved physical retail shopping, feel free to pile on.

Meanwhile, stay well, be physically distant, but NOT socially so.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

We still have a Best Buy close to where i live and have a lot of brands on display. We also had a Ritz Camera at our local mall, i remember taking my wife to the mall for her clothes shopping, i'd stay at Ritz while she would shop around the mall. They always had knowledgeable sales people there that were willing to bs about cameras.

In today's world, everything is done on line, clothes shopping, grocery shopping so people don't have to leave their houses. I refuse to buy clothes on line, i want to go to the store , look and handle what i'm buying. So far Best Buy is the place to go to look at and handle cameras around Pittsburgh...i wonder how long that's gonna last?

Horatio

There is a store in Anchorage, Alaska that I give all my business to. The service is superb and their prices are the same as other places. The good news is that they never upsell you on gear you do not need, have an excellent knowledge of the various types of camera equipment and if they do not know something, they will find out. As a small business owner, I try and give my business to other small businesses and Stewart's Photo is my go to place. Hopefully, they will be in business as long as I am shooting.

Rusty69 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

We have Best Buy up here, but I found their photographic gear selection limited to mainly Canon, Nikon and Sony, and the sales people less than knowledgeable when it came to Olympus and other M43 equipment. As for better quality printers? Forget it!

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Change is hard. But the need for many local retail outlets is over. It was necessary when transportation was slow. But it was always inefficient because of the huge amounts of inventory such a system needs.

The only local retail outlets that will survive are those needed locally, such as personal services or building supply. Camera shops just aren’t there.

Vietnam Vet

We have a Best Buy near here. But the photo dept does not sell a darn thing that I want to buy.

gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

As far as Henry's goes up here in Ontario the writing was on the wall long before Covid-19, I have 3 of them all within a 30 minute drive of my house, one in Kitchener and two in London, as far as stock went they always seemed to have limited quantities or they could order it in for you but we do not have that on hand. It had been that way since last summer, the London store that I frequented the most lost some of their most knowledgeable people because they seen the writing on the wall, and I know this because I still chat with them very often.

It is a sad reality in this day and age but most of us older folk are just getting a glimpse of what the future is going to look like as far as retail goes, and Covid-19 just gave it a big push in that direction. You are going to see more companies go online only, you will start to see more schooling go online, if it can be done for a short time why not do it all the time and save ourselves the bricks and mortar cost, this is how more and more companies and school boards will start to think.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

My Mother purchased a camera, and received instruction in using it, in the early 1980s. That was very good - she needed the help. That camera store is gone, but the town does have one other camera store, but they carry mostly Nikon ..... which I don’t use. There is also Best Buy, but since they have said things I know to be false, I do not trust the guys at Best Buy. I’m not willing to drive three hours to shop at Robert’s in Indianapolis. So my last three DSLRs - all my DSLRs - were purchased via “mail order” after doing research on the Internet.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Fortunately we have a great store in Raleigh, NC, Southeastern Camera, with a huge selection, staffed by nice professional photographers, AND they have good prices. I’ve never needed anything new or used from film to a used body or lens that they didn’t have. Highly recommended if you’re within driving distance.

pendennis

We have a couple of good retailers here in the Detroit Area - Woodward Camera and Photo Pro. We also have three well-stocked used shops that I frequent. That's the good news.

The bad? In a metro area of over 3 million, those are the only outlets, other than Best Buy.

However, I well understand the demands of the market. B&H and Adorama are still the "go to" folks for needs.

I used to order from one of Henry's stores (Toronto?). His prices were fairly competitive, and the only downside was the speed (or lack thereof) of Canada's postal system.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

The 'speed issue' is probably at the Windsor - Detroit border.

AzGriz Loc: Sedona, Arizona

Stewart Photo. I bought my first Nikon camera from them in 1971. Thousands of dollars for darkroom materials and film by the brick. Sample day of wild Alaska meat (never did like the whale blubber). The Caribou tied up in front of the store. What fond memories of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart. Oh yeah, what about the amphibious car.

AzGriz Loc: Sedona, Arizona

I replied to your post but, I did not include your quote... Look back in the previous replies. Thanks

Rusty69 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Yes, the Canada Postal system can't compare with yours in the US. I ordered ink from Montreal just over a week ago, got a tracking notice telling me delivery on April 30, and the same notice today still says 4/30 delivery with a current 5/4 date saying "in transit" - go figure.

A few years back, I ordered a camera from B&H whilst vacationing in upper NY (Finger Lakes). I was concerned that we were leaving in a couple of days, but the landlord at the B&B assured me that it would arrive before we left. Sure enough, the truck rolled down the drive the very next day, somewhat off the beaten track. Is your system still that good today? Even B&H impressed me with their shipping service.

I would still shop on your side of the border if the stupid exchange rate wasn't so badly out of balance.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

The USPS is not perfect - I have watched as a traced package wandered Cleveland to Chicago to Indianapolis .... going around me until it did finally arrive.

Now they say they need more money, and the President says first they will have to charge more for packages. We shall see. Meanwhile, a package containing TP cost over $50 going to California.