JD750 Loc: SoCal

swartfort Loc: Evansville, IN

So by that line of reasoning, people who are rich lack ethics? How does one define rich? Is it a sliding scale? Do moderately rich people have moderately more ethics while poor people are the most ethical?

Do people who buy online to avoid sales tax have more ethics? Do they use less state services? Are they not, by definition consuming state provided services without paying for them? Is that the definition of ethical?

Sounds like a thought from someone who has a jealous view of those who might be perceived as having more wealth.

No response to this post needed as there is no correct answer. I just thought I throw in some questions and maybe give some pause....

gnadeau80 Loc: Rowley,MA

I purchased a D500 in August and in my search for a good price found that all major sellers were the same price or within a few dollars of each other. I chose the local camera shop (Hunts) not just from the good reviews, but I was able to try the camera with the lens I wanted before buying it. Not to mention if there's any issues or questions you can talk to a real person with knowledge. Cheaper isn't always better.

Bill Gordon

For some years now I have been wondering when the old retail model might evolve from local purchase sites to local demonstration sites, where manufacturers would simply have their, say cameras, available all in one place to enable customer browsing and hands - on experience with no purchases even possible on the site. Multiple (all) manufacturers would rent/buy space in the same location, the same "store". Very much like a continuous, local CES show, these sites would not have to be limited to cameras, but might serve any products where customers need to have that hands - on experience before making buying decision.

swartfort Loc: Evansville, IN

[quote=Keen.... The way to get customers is to give them what they can't easily, or affordably, or at all, get elsewhere. The way to keep customers you have is to treat them well. Non-metered parking, low prices, honest deals, layaway plans, photo classes, knowledgeable store staff, a wide product selection, trade in deals, used, and refurbished, items, rental gear....[/quote]

I TOTALLY AGREE with the quoted part of your statement. But the question is, do the online retailers have to meet these requirements for you also? Layaway at online camera store? Photo classes provided? Who pays for the lot for you to park at free? If all things are equal, and the local store has no parking lot and the city has metered parking, should the local store be penalized? The state enforces sales tax, not the local store, so do we penalize the local vendor for the cost that is not the local store's responsibility?

My local store is 2.5 hours away in Indianapolis. Roberts Camera is for me the ideal camera store. They have a physical presence in Indy, offer great, friendly and knowledgeable staff, A trade in/used department that seems ethical and fair, a rental department that has a good variety of equipment at a reasonable price, offer classes (some free, some for cost) AND they have an online presence that is second to none.

I visit as often as I can (which is more often that I am able to make large purchases), and shop there almost exclusively either in person, or online. I value their presence and (within reason +/- 5%) do not worry about price competition.

I am not looking forward to the day when there is no local merchant for us to visit and have the tactile learning experience as well as the human touch in a transaction. It will be a lonely world when we all sit at the computer and just want things and they appear.

DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA

A very, very sad day in Chattanooga. There were severalshops in town until just a few years ago. Wolf and Ritz, if you want to call them camera stores, I don't. The last and IMO the only store closed. Superior Camera was owned and operated by a husband and wife team. They knew their products and customers.
Even Porter went in out, I got most of my darkroom equipment from them, all the way back to the '70's.
A sad day indeed. Not enough photgraphers to keep a store in Chattanooga. Sad!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Prices should be the same as B&H and Adorama on similar items. If it is not, then they are not an authorized dealer. Prices on MOST camera equipment and accessories are fixed, like camping gear, hunting and fishing equipment.
The camera stores I buy at ALL have the same prices as B&H and Adorama, I honor these stores by buying from them whenever I can.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

You are not obligated to buy a camera or lens that you have interest in checking at a local store but use common sense. In general employees of camera stores are very polite and if you tell them that you want to have a "feeling" of how the lens fits your camera and how the camera handles it there will not be a conflict. Same with a camera. Always mention that you are making your mind about buying so that they will know beforehand.
I have found that at our local camera store here in Miami the prices are not different than those in NY except that here we pay taxes.

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

If the salesman comes to them (without being asked to) I don't believe there is any obligation. After all, the salesman took up the store owners valuable time.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

If I am going to get "help" from a local store (camera or other) on a buying decision, then I am not going to then turn around and buy the same item online. One, that is driving our local stores out of business. Two, it is just plain bad manners.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I used to try local but bought from B&H. However, since I ve formed a relationship with them through classes and photowalks, I always buy local unless my store doesn’t carry an item or is out of stock, which is rare. I think if you’re getting advice and hands on help that’s good, it’s worth the sometimes higher cost.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

All authorized dealers have to charge the same price. Cheaper prices online are often gray market. The other way they attract customers is by throwing in whole lot of really cheap accessories.

ltj123 Loc: NW Wisconsin

Not obliged! 3 years ago I made major purchase at local camera store (National Camera). Buying camera and peripherals. Not much time later I figured out I wanted wasted about 1/4 my money. Since I've made much better decisions buying on line.

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

Not at all....that is their job to try to entice you to purchase from them. Let's say that they give you crappy service as far as finding out options for a certain product that you interested in. You wouldn't purchase anything from this location.Remember that it is your money and they should want to get it from you. So I say do as you like there is no obligation to purchase from a store that gives you a heads-up on a certain photo product, their job.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I guess it is a sad day because I can’t walk into the local camera store and find the selection that I can online. I buy some things from them but if they don’t have and can’t get what I desire I go elsewhere. That should not be a surprise to anyone.