Donkas1946 Loc: Southern NH

No, they did the samething here in NH. I was quite suprised. The even told me that that because of the Holidays you would have until sometime in January to return anything you buy. Don't know if I would want to test that though.

OviedoPhotos

Best buy can quote prices really well. They also know how to use the scanner on a price bar code and run a credit card through the register. The front door is awesome at searching packages.

Donkas1946 Loc: Southern NH

The stores in NH have the lenses attached.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That is unusual. Those big stores don't usually sell top of the line cameras, probably because that's not the first place someone thinks of when wanting a camera costing thousands.

JCGammack Loc: Hayesville, Iowa

The knowledge level of individual sales staff is just that, "individual". I bought a Sony Nex at the Best Buy in Coralville Iowa and the gal I worked with had a lot of knowledge of the cameras being sold at that store. She could pick up any camera and demonstrate features both positive and negative. This was one of the few times that I left a store and felt good about the purchase even being some $600.00 lighter in the pocket. So far after 10 months with the camera I have not found a single issue where she wasn't correct.

Kevin R. Roberts Loc: Galveston Island, Texas

Retail has been a mess since the 1990's. Low margins can't sustain the wages needed to hire quality people. The manufacturers have only themselves to blame. They put their own dealers into a trick bag. Never let the beancounters take over your brand marketing.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Best Buy - retail prices, poorly educated sales staff, a return policy that will set your hair on fire. I don't pay retail prices often, but when I do, I support my local camera store. Lol

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

And after you've picked their brain about a certain camera, do them the courtesy of also buying it there, instead of going on-line to order it because it's 10 bucks less expensive.

Sorry, just my personal pet-peeve.

jkoar Loc: The Gunks, NY

All somewhat true BUT, their retail prices are competitive with Adorama or B&H. They always try and sell a warranty of some kind and this can be a good thing. I bought my D800 from the Poughkeepsie store and I bought the warranty. If the camera gets dropped they fix or replace it. I knew what I wanted when I bought it so the knowledge of the sales staff was moot. I got a year and a half 0% APR financing. I will take this deal any time. Most of you do that with your cars if you can. I have returned things without argument several times. Their staff says they have insurance for this. As you can see, I have good thing to say about Best Buy and I would recommend them.

Sadly, most camera shops are gone. This is a business model that no longer works much like Radio Shack. I do buy from Adorama and their staff is very knowledgable and have not had a problem there also. I would always recommend them too.

I did return a Nikkor 50mm 1.4 lens to Nikon for warranty repair. Their knowledgable staff read from prepared scripts. I got conflicting information from them also but, I did get the lens repaired free of charge and it seems to wok nicely.

I think that business generally does not want knowledgable people unless absolutely necessary and then at rock bottom prices. Being an engineer, I can safely say that I'm one step ahead of food service staff in this regard.

Oregon Canon 1960 Loc: St. Helens, Oregon

The Portland, Oregon stores have changed their displays and added more canon and nikon full frame cameras. The lens selection has also gotten a lot better. For what I can tell the prices seem to be the same as the camera stores.

Kuzano

Best Buy in Central Oregon has been selling the latest, greatest CaNikon camera's and lenses for over a decade. Have a large camera section and most of the Bridge models as well. Stocked with the latest CaNikon DSLR models including FF. Often they have carried Olympus DSLR and PEN, and Sony NEX and DSLR, but not for the last couple of years.

The huge drop in digital camera sales from 90 million cameras in 2012 to 60 Million in 2013 seems to have reduced what they bring into the store for inventory, reducing high end equipment to CaNikon, while carrying still almost every high priced P&S and Bridge model.

The Geek Squad is far more than a joke. I have gone into peoples homes after a visit by the GS and done work on computers, for far less money and more successful results. It's costly.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

No argument that prices are competitive with most retailers. Stores make a lot of money on extended warranties. Some better than others, but either way you pay for it.
O% financing is great as log as you do not miss a payment. If you (anyone) can afford payments, you (anyone) can afford to save and pay for the item at point of sale, or at the end of the month when the credit card statement is received.
If I find a problem with an item or find that a particular item os not working for me as advertised, I can return it to my local shop without penalty of "re-stocking" fee. Best Buy's return policy is exorbitant in my opinion, and the time in which you are allowed to return items is very limited. I believe they charge 20% to return any electronic item, camera, laptop, etc.
You are correct, as long as you know what you want, sales staff knowledge is no longer an issue, but many buyers rely on sales staff input before making purchase. I am glad Best Buy works for you. Our family no longer shops there. When you add their return policy and high price of extended warranty, they are no longer competitive. Personally, have never been told they have insurance for returns, but not disputing your statement. That has been our experience with them both personally, and with some family members and friends.
Your assumptions regarding camera stores are incorrect in my opinion. The business model not only exists here, but is alive and well, but you can get everything there at Best Buy prices or below if you are a regular customer (not all items) with a generous helping of knowledge from their staff. Radio Shack has actually opened more stores in our area, so I think their model, which is modernized from time to time looks pretty healthy, at least in appearances. Some of their prices are pretty high for some basic items though, in my opinion.
Totally disagree with your assumption that businesses do not want knowledgeable staff. They want top performers at all levels, but I do agree with you that they want it at rock bottom prices.
BTW - my wife is in food service and is compensated handsomely for her knowledge. She has even hired programmers, engineers, students, and a lot of folks with degrees as well as those working towards them and those just scratching out a living with no interest other than their next paycheck. Most of the folks with degrees work only until they find something in their field, but sometimes, it just happens that way.
Good luck at Best Buy!

richosob Loc: Lambertville, MI

Best Buy is my toy store. When I'm a little down all I need to do is spend about an hour walking the aisles at our nearest Best Buy and I'm set for another week or so.

jkoar Loc: The Gunks, NY

Clearly things are different in Arizona. Radio Shacks are dropping like flies here. Most camera shops are gone, the rest remaining nostalgic. Maybe I should move! :)

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

LOL! Maybe not better, just different. Certainly agree that there are more big box stores than older style camera stores. Radio Shacks come and go, but have added a few in this area, but also different. More like a phone store than it once was. Like you said "certainly different." Enjoy your day.