That noise is me banging my head (Page 5): You have to know exactly what you want when going to box stores, I hate it when they follow you around asking over and over again if they can...

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

You have to know exactly what you want when going to box stores, I hate it when they follow you around asking over and over again if they can help when they are obviously without a clue(and for the wage they are paid you cannot blame them.) I use Lighthaus camera here on Maui they are a bit more expensive but they are happy to let you browse all you want and wait until you ask them a question before offering advice which is always right on the money and if they do not have an item they will order it with a small deposit or if you are a regular customer they do not require the down and just charge you when it arrives. They always trow in a free-be or 2 also like a free soft case if the lens comes without, they go over every detail on the camera, lens, tripod to make sure there are no flaws and everything is perfect. And they do all this with a big smile making you feel welcome, all that is worth the extra couple bucks you pay at a mom and pop store.

OddJobber wrote:

Fade in on me checking to see what tripods Best Bu... (show quote)

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

why bring politics to a good photography discussion, take it to the place thats made for that sort of talk, we need a place free of those views which get us nowhere

picturedude wrote:

Well, everybody knows that there are "NO BALLS" in Washington DC.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

I do not know, I would like the best price but at what cost. As in our photographs we strive to create the sharpest and best shots possible and spend the cash on the equipment(camera, tripod, lighting, lenses, shutter releases etc.) that I believe many if not most of us are willing to spend the extra to receive the service and knowledge that come from using a camera store, B&H, Adorama, KEH, Cameta and others, the price difference is well worth it to me at least.

skiman wrote:

A nice thought, but I doubt that even if all of us here at the hog bought our next camera at Best Buy it would be enough volume to get them to stock higher end DSLRs in stores. The masses want the best price and the internet is where that is.

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

this is usually my world { sometimes a person can be all alone>>>>>HELLO....HELlo....helllooooooo}

OddJobber wrote:

Follow up. After leaving I remembered the mission was to buy photo paper and (incredibly) returned for more.

Clerk #1: It's in computers with the printers.

Clerk #2: I don't remember that one. What's it look like.

Clerk #3: It's over there, somewhere.

I like punishment.

TB4 Loc: TX

I just came from BB the other day after going in to replace my wife's Lumix P&S. We were told that Lumix no longer made cameras but were focusing on other areas. It is made by Panasonic and they have tons of them for sale on the website!

splitload Loc: Central Flordia

I gave up on BB when I ordered a Sony A3000 and two lens kit for a great price, Delivery to store would take 7 business days, when I showed up for my camera kit I was told that it had not been shipped and was on back order, I canceled and the same day the item was pulled off the web. It would have been nice if they would have notified me there was a problem.

Jeep for Larry Loc: Grapevine, Texas

SteveR wrote:

Move to the Dallas area and go to Arlington Camera. You can touch it, shoot it, smell it. If you want to test a lens, they'll take a new one out of the box and let you shoot it. Next time you fly through DFW, schedule a layover and take a rental car just a few miles to this great store.

It is nice to have such a good one nearby. For Father's Day I went to Arlington Camera and spent 2.5 hours with all my gear trying it out in sling bags/backpacks. Changed my mind from what I thought I would want based on internet searches. Bought the backpack there (Think Tank Streetwalker Harddrive) and it was even less than both B&H and Adorama.

nubie

Odd,

That is why I NEVER shop at Best Buy EVER!

I asked for a router that did not have wireless and I think I caught the guy in an infinity loop and broke his brain.

One time I asked where the Apple stuff was and they told me Sony and Apple were the same...

Ian826 Loc: Bangor. North Wales

Try Cambria Cameras in Colwyn Bay, excellent range, knowledge and courtesy.
To get there (for most of you) fly to Manchester UK, hire car, drive down M56 then A55 then follow town signs.

JFO Loc: Oregon

OddJobber wrote:

Fade in on me checking to see what tripods Best Bu... (show quote)

Perhaps there is a good reason that companies like Canon and Nikon control the prices of their products pretty tightly at the retail level. Some manufacturers actually try to help the local shops. If B&H and Adorama are having sale prices or instant rebates on these lines, so is the local store; Pro-Photo in Portland, for instance. (Hi, OJ.) I bought a fairly expensive lens there last year, the Tokina 16-28mm f2.8, for which Pro-Photo offered a $50 instant rebate that the big NYC guys weren't even talking about. Ten years ago there were two other fairly large, expertly-staffed, pro-level shops in the Portland area. Now there is only one but at least its a great one. Buy LOCAL, folks, buy LOCAL. JFO

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Jeep for Larry wrote:

It is nice to have such a good one nearby. For Father's Day I went to Arlington Camera and spent 2.5 hours with all my gear trying it out in sling bags/backpacks. Changed my mind from what I thought I would want based on internet searches. Bought the backpack there (Think Tank Streetwalker Harddrive) and it was even less than both B&H and Adorama.

If you're a Nikon shooter you've gotta get to know Gil.

cntry Loc: Colorado

A few years ago I wanted to upgrade my Sony A230 to the A35 or A37, I went to Best Buy (30 miles away) - I should've done a search and I would've seen there are 3 or 4 camera stores only 10-15 miles further away than Best Buy, but I didn't, so I went to Best Buy. Walked into Best Buy, found the camera section...Canon, Nikon bodies; Canon, Nikon, Sony and Pentax (what a shocker!) lenses.
The salesperson comes up, I ask where are the Sony dslr's...
(him) blank look...
(me) the Sony cameras...
(him) Sony doesn't make cameras...
(me pointing at Sony lens), what's that for...
(he points at the Canon)...
(me) seriously?...
(him) yep, actually any of these lenses will work with either of these cameras...
(me) I'd like to see that...
another salesperson comes up, (him) everything OK...
(me) I was looking for a Sony dslr...
(him) Sony doesn't make pro camera bodies, just lenses...
(me) these aren't pro cameras, (pointing to Canon and Nikon, highest price was $499 or so)
(him) that's a top level Canon and Nikon only makes pro cameras
(me, shaking head) I give up, I'll buy it online.
I leave.
(Actually, I bought it from Sears down the street...salesperson wasn't much more knowledgeable but I knew what I was after, I just had to find it.)

I bought my A65 from Amazon...luckily, I have since discovered a Mike's Camera about 50 miles away...

jepisa

if your ever in pocono mtns area stop in stroudsburg foto, mom and pop store for 35 years. owner is a experienced pro photography. staff very knowledgeable. they talk the talk and walk the walk. if they dont have it in stock they will order it for you at competive pricing. dave b. great guy to do business with

Cattreasure

djlouden wrote:

If you're not in a hurry keep KEH in mind. Don't g... (show quote)

Circuit City is a name I have not heard or seen in a few years. They have closed in Minnesota. After seeing this, I looked online to see if they may have come back. The addresses listed online have been closed for years.

djlouden Loc: Ocala, Florida

Cattreasure wrote:

Circuit City is a name I have not heard or seen in a few years. They have closed in Minnesota. After seeing this, I looked online to see if they may have come back. The addresses listed online have been closed for years.

Yes Circuit City closed after a bad run the last few years. Best Buy is headed in the same direction if they don't realize that they need to improve customer service.