Bushpilot Loc: Minnesota

The major camera retailer in our area offers a 30 day money back guarantee on all new and used equipment,
plus the prices are on par with B&H and Adorama, but of course you have to pay sales tax which adds to the
price. I do prefer to trade with the local businesses but, it's difficult on occasion to find the product in stock I'm wanting to buy.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

I am with SteveR. There are times that I will purchase on-line but this will create the total demise of camera stores. I purchased my E-M1mrII from Dan at Mike's Camera in Denver, CO. I have known Dan for several years and I feel he deserves the right to make some profit off all the free advice and opinions he has given me over the years. Did it cost me more than shipping it from B&H or Adorama? Yes, but sometimes one has to what is right for whatever little extra cost. And there can be that personal touch of him making sure that I would have a spare battery for my new camera. I cannot fault someone for looking at the bottom line. But there are time when the bottom line is not the answer.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Some of the larger brick or mortar stores will match internet prices. I bought a camera from Best Buy and they matched an internet price so I was happy with the deal. I got my camera right now, could return it if I found something wrong with it, and got a pretty good deal.

I bought my first camera from Samy's camera, which is a chain of about 7 stores here in CA, but they have some of the worse customer service I've ever seen. Their people never want to come out from behind the counter to help and they always seem to busy to help anyone. I hate it when they can see that someone has questions but are too rude to at least acknowledge that they will be served next when they finish with the current customer. When I was looking to buy my first DSLR, I went to that store about 3 times and never once did anyone ask to help me. But when an ad came out in the paper that they had the camera and lens that I was ready to buy on a "no tax" sales promotion I went there and insisted on being helped and was. I got a good deal on my Canon T2i, lens, and they paid the tax. I also got a Pixma Pro-9000 printer for free. Well, I had to pay $399 for the printer, not tax, and got a $399 rebate from Canon. Only had to wait 4 weeks to get a check in the mail.

So I guess I'd have to say, it depends on the brick and mortar stores near you, what you are looking for, how much of a newbie you are with today's camera's etc. The internet is putting many stores out of business but in my opinion all stores should also have an internet presents or they will go under fast. Look at Sears and Macy's. Both stores not doing well. I doubt Best Buy is doing well either.

banster Loc: PA, Ontario, N.C.,Key West

I buy from Hoyer's in Williamsport. Pa. Sells Canon, Nikon, Sony among others. Does some service work. There to help if you do not understand something. Does printing, restoration of old photos, and has studio, which I have used. Price are will in line with B & H or will match. Can't beat have a person one on one.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

OK, so it wasn’t exactly a big purchase — I wanted the Nikon 50mm f1.8D, the “cheapie” lens — and Best Buy had it on sale for $131.99. I went to my local camera shop, now only two locations, down from three for so many years, and asked if they could match Best Buy’s price. Not only that, but they came in at two dollars less. Yes, not a huge deal, but I felt good about going to my local guys rather than the “big box” store and dealing with their sales droids.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

I as well try to use my local camera shop, which is Mikes Camera in Boulder, CO. However, being retired and on a fixed income I must shop frugally. For the past couple of months I have been looking at the Canon G3X PowerShot but could not justify the $1300 price tag which included the electronic viewfinder. Then, just before Christmas I received an email from Canon for the camera and viewfinder for $899.00.

I went to Mikes, and the could/would not match the price from Canon, so I went home and did some research at B&H, Cameta, Adorama, Amazon and ebay. I ultimately decided to order from Canon, and had it in 3 days. I'm happy! I have in the past purchased from MTshooter the Camera Cottage, Mikes, Amazon, ebay and the big boys in NYC, but I try to get the most bang for my buck, with whoever is reputable and has the best deal.

Lagoonguy Loc: New Smyrna Beach, FL

I live in Florida and buy a lot of gear from B&H, Cameta & Roberts. Roberts seems to have lens that are in short supply elsewhere. Their service and product knowledge is on par with B&H in my experience. I purchase all of my gear online because the closest camera store is 70 miles away. I wish I did have a local camera store as I would buy local if their prices were simlilar even if I did have to pay sales tax.

tramsey Loc: Texas

I have a tiny camera shop in my town in a strip mall stuck between Penny's and a Boutique. I bought my Nikon D7100 and lens from him. He gave me a thirty day return and threw in a week's worth of lessons on how to use it. He taught me things not in the manual or field guide. I took a two week class from him on Photography. I get all my stuff from him. I walk into his little shop and he smiles, shakes my hand and calls me by my first name. On line is good but loses the personal touch.

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

Yes Steve;

We're quite "lucky" here in the Dallas - Ft Worth area. We have about 5 or 6 really good photography outlets if you consider a couple in the outlying suburbs. I do most of my shopping at Arlington also. The others that I go to are Ft Worth Camera, Competitive Camera, the Camera Stop and Ron's (just for film). I use Wolfe Camera for most of my large printing and some odds and ends. And for printers and supplies, can't beat Imaging Spectrum.

paccmps

My kind of story ~ ~ ~ he no doubt deserves a couple bucks more than others in the area ! It is almost makes me believe i wouId like living there !!

therwol Loc: USA

A local store in a medium sized city can in no way compete with the B&H and Adorama giants in New York. The population that will buy from them is too small to support millions upon millions of dollars in inventory. The internet makes it too convenient to have goods delivered to your door, so why would you want to go into a local store and special order something? Camera and lens prices are pretty much fixed these days, and I would imagine the profit margin is low. Local stores have to charge more for accessories to stay in business. It's a no win situation for them. Then they go out of business.

I buy a lot of stuff, like my last camera and some lenses from Action Camera in Roseville, CA. Time will tell if they can stay in business in the long run.

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

If they have it in stock I buy from my local Wolfes Camera in Topeka. (They are also on-line with a Web Site. For new cameras, the camera companies set the price. Yes, you do pay taxes. What I get in return is great advice when I have questions about my equipment. I get one to one hands on service and information on settings etc. and find no pressure to buy. I have had great advice when I went to buy a Canon D70 (70 D?) crop sensor. When I was about to buy it I asked the salesman if he thought I had any better choices. He asked me if was going to shoot video. I told him I had no interest in video. He told me I might want to consider a Nikon D7100. I also ordered a Sigma 150-600 lens when they first came out and B&H and others didn't have any. My Sigma arrived to Wolfes before the reputable on-line retails had them in stock. Wolfes in Topeka (no relation to other Wolfes) is a large store that has been in business for more than 70 years. They stay in business by their processing, printing, and on-line services in addition to photography equipment.

lovelylyn Loc: Fort Wayne, IN

It's not dishonest it's a choice! I offered to spend the equivalent on other accessories with the purchase of a camera and lens at my local shop if they sold it at an online price. They still wouldn't budge a cent. I do purchase equipment and accessories local but the big $ items online only.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

My local dealers will give me a 30 day money back guarantee. They will also buy my camera, lenses, etc. when I want to trade it in on a newer model. B&H, Amazon, etc. won't do that.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO