Plieku69 Loc: The Gopher State, south end

I have two good camera stores in Des Moines. I cannot keep both in income, but I have tried. Adorama gets some business too. But buy local as much as possible.

Ken

Chico 1948 Loc: Cincinnati

Thanx to all. The responses reinforce my belief that local is the way to go. Price isn't everything. I'll buy next week, a new camera is always a good day.

Pete

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

If it's available, I'll buy local. My two DSLRs and my last four lenses have been purchased locally. However I am fortunate: one camera shop is 7 blocks away and another is a 15 minute drive.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

I never buy at a local camera shop. Of course it is over 20 miles each way, and find they don't have what you need, even if you call ahead. I live in Louisiana, near New Orleans, and have the highest sales tax in the U.S. 12% on everything. So, I buy all my lenses, cameras, and just about everything mail order. I use B&H, and Adorama. I see now Amazon is starting to collect sales tax for Louisiana, so they're off my list of venders.

B

mikenolan Loc: Lincoln Nebraska

The days of buying online to save on sales tax are probably numbered. Amazon started charging sales tax in Nebraska on January 1st.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

There are two camera stores with in a 30 minute drive from me. One is a total junk store , though they have everything you could want, I just hated walking in there.
The other is nice and clean and everything is behind glass.. The problem with them was, I was looking at a used lens. The price the gave me was just a few hundred less than buying new. I bought from KEH instead and saved $300 over that store. I tried to support my local stores but some times they just make it hard.
The other problem I had was I was talked down to buy a snot nose kid salesman. Now I just buy on line , I get a return policy and all is good.

repleo Loc: Boston

New cameras should be the same price regardless of where you buy it since the major manufacturers control the prices. Taxes and delivery charges may make a difference depending on where you live. I think we should all be trying to support our local brick and mortar stores especially independent stores or they will all be gone in a couple of years. Then where are you going to go to see how a camera feels in your hand.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

As long as it is not Grey Market, the prices at most retailers are fairly similar and usually set by the manufacturer to authorized dealers. A certain retailer may on occasion get specials that are passed on to customers. B&H and Adorama comes to mind there. Some membership stores like say Costco may have lower prices. And usually brick and mortar stores are slightly higher. There is much less retail competition today due to the loss of so many photography shops. Even in the L.A. and Hollywood areas of California there are very few remaining local or small chain camera shops remaining. Sammy's in Pasadena and Powell's in Covina come to mind. In the 1980's Pasadena, CA alone had five or six camera shops. Today only Sammy's Camera, and International Camera Repair (that is primarily a photographic repair shop, and one of only a very few in all of Southern California).

A Nikon Factory Rebuilt D750 could save you some cash. I obviously have no ideas about your specific region. Supporting local and small and family businesses is good when you can find what you want. Good luck.

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

Pete's Photo world was sold and changed to Cord Camera, Pete stayed on for quite awhile and worked at Cord. My wife would get her hair done every week in a Salon by the store. I would go in every week and talk to Pete , his other hobby is bowling. Loved talking to him, great guy, but the store has gone belly up.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Back in the spring 2016 I purchased from the Photo Center in Bricktown, NJ. I was thinking it was between the D7100 ,D750 new or the D700 used for my first DSLR. After going to the store & holding the cameras it was between the D700 & the D810, (go figure). Don't get me wrong features were a concern but I like the way the D700 & D810 felt in my hands, much better grip. Anyway the prices were the same as Nikon(who was having a sale at the time), Adaroma , & B&H. the big box will throw in a kit of some low price items like a lens blaster or something like that. Ended up with the D810 , extra battery , tripod with gimbal head, flash , 4 lenses , 2 memory cards, & a backpack. Got him to give me a 40% discount on the backpack & throw in the extra battery for free(nice). But what Impressed me most was a couple of customers coming into the store & the owner making some camera setting changes for 1 , & letting the other use photo lab in the back of the store. When I asked about him changing the settings for the customers he said of course , I love teaching that stuff. I would go local if they have what you need or can get it. It might make the difference of them still being there next year & your not going to drive to B&H to take a class or photo walk. Have fun with your new camera. Its a good way to start 2017!

Tom G Loc: Atlanta, GA

For the most part, there are no "Good" (read, expert/professional) camera stores left almost anywhere locally. This is unfortunate, but their unwillingness or inability to compete with the New York mail order stores has caused their demise.

I have used both B&H and Adorama, and find both quite respectable, reliable, and competitive. My own preference is B&H because they will discuss anything about a particular camera, lens, or other item with you over the phone, and their knowledge (all of 'em) is superb. I suspect Adorama is the same.

I do not think Amazon provides this important service; I doubt it. However, if you know exactly what you want & have no question about it, I'm sure Amazon will do.

paccmps

From experience having local is really great if and when you need help talking face to face about technical problems or quick turn around on repairs etc. Unless your shop is large enough the costs to do business can not compete with the "big stores" in larger cities ! Telephones and getting along with big city folks is good but I miss the hometown associates !!

Satman Loc: Indy

Costco seems to offer me he most support, next Best Buy's, my Canon died, 1200 miles from home, and I walked out with a new one,,

No local store would do that,,,

I like the local guy but the will not deal, nor can they exchange, sure they could but the will not..

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I utilize Hunt's Photo here in Massachusetts get good deals etc, free overnight shipping and I do pay sales tax Amazon also charges me sales tax so I support Hunts and my good friend Gary Farber

spdmn54 Loc: Avon Lake, Ohio

I personally deal with Dodd camera here in Sunny [yeah right]CLEVELAND Ohio. They are a little pricey,but find them to be extremely helpful and reliable. I did have a warranty issue with a Nikon camera of mine, my grand daughter knocked it off a table. It clearly wasn't a manufacturer defect but they repaired it free of charge anyway. Even replaced a part. They have an excellent in house repair facility as well as a good relationship with Nikon. I don't think you could go wrong.