Local Camera Stores in the Age of Big Boxes
Jun 10, 2017 16:52:32 #
Jun 10, 2017 16:54:53 #
Jun 10, 2017 16:58:53 #
jccash wrote:
What I hope people don't do is go to a local camera store ( for me colonial photo and hobby in Orlando ) test a camera then leave and order online just to get out of paging sales tax.
Jun 10, 2017 17:10:06 #
Madman wrote:
I am glad that you had a positive experience with Unique Photo - I'm sure the owners love you. But, more than likely, the lady that helped you got cheated out of her commission when you ordered on line instead of purchasing from her in the store. She earned your business but you deprived her of it. The owner makes more money, the sales person made less and your locality suffered as well.
Jun 10, 2017 17:33:45 #
dsmeltz wrote:
A few recent posts have made me think about the qu... (show quote)
In the Boston, MA area, we are very fortunate. 10 excellent quality camera stores within a 15 mile radius of downtown. Their survival may be a result of so many colleges in the area, many of which teach photography.
Jun 10, 2017 19:06:31 #
I live in the St. Louis area and we are blessed with 2 great independent stores, Creve Coeur Camera and Schillers. Both have very knowledgeable staff and offer a wide range of classes and field trips.
Jun 10, 2017 20:29:38 #
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
I doubt it would be legal to charge a sales tax in all jurisdictions, since not all have one.
You are correct. My statement should have stated that Amazon et al will charging sales tax in all applicable jurisdictions.
Jun 11, 2017 00:51:53 #
In the Lehigh Valley PA we are lucky to have Dan's Camera City although they don't stock very much pro gear. For the Pro stuff, Allen's Camera, outside of Philadelphia, is THE place. Allen's has knowledgeable staff, good prices and most everything in stock.
Jun 11, 2017 02:16:05 #
Machinedoc wrote:
I have had several very positive mail order experi... (show quote)
This is why local family owned stores are disappearing. People take all of the free advice and give no sales. My question to those who do this, how much was that advice worth in terms of dollars and cents? How much was the free trial on your camera worth? I suspect far more then the sales tax you saved. As long as I have a good photo store in my area, I will give them my business.
And yes, whenever possible, I buy USA made products.
Jun 11, 2017 03:48:23 #
thephotoman wrote:
This is why local family owned stores are disappearing. People take all of the free advice and give no sales. My question to those who do this, how much was that advice worth in terms of dollars and cents? How much was the free trial on your camera worth? I suspect far more then the sales tax you saved. As long as I have a good photo store in my area, I will give them my business.
And yes, whenever possible, I buy USA made products.
And yes, whenever possible, I buy USA made products.
The now defunct company that I have often referred to actually once tried to charge $12.50 per hour for each CR's time, breaking it into $3.25 quarter hours. Each CR had to carry a timer or stopwatch and visually display if they waited on customers. The time charge was credited against any purchase. After a week and a half of an empty store, the charge was stopped. The damage had been done, however; the customers who would have come in went elsewhere. This was, I am sure, one of the factors that lead to the company closing its doors.
Jun 11, 2017 09:06:50 #
jccash wrote:
Amazon charges sales tax in Florida.
The way most of the state laws read, they are required to collect the state tax if they have any type of physical presence in the state, even just a warehouse that just ships orders placed with another location.
Amazon built a warehouse in MD a year or so ago and now have to collect the tax
Jun 11, 2017 09:40:48 #
Arlington Camera in Arlington, TX is not that far away from me. I could save taxes by buying elsewhere, but if I have a problem, I can get help from one sales person in particular who knows Nikon inside and out.
Jun 11, 2017 09:50:30 #
thephotoman wrote:
This is why local family owned stores are disappearing. People take all of the free advice and give no sales. My question to those who do this, how much was that advice worth in terms of dollars and cents? How much was the free trial on your camera worth? I suspect far more then the sales tax you saved. As long as I have a good photo store in my area, I will give them my business.
And yes, whenever possible, I buy USA made products.
And yes, whenever possible, I buy USA made products.
I never buy anything the first time I saw it. So I have to go out and shop (that is looking at possible candidates) then go home do some thinking then come back and buy what I thought was the best choice. So I may not be able to buy the item from the same sale person.
Jun 11, 2017 09:59:53 #
BebuLamar wrote:
I never buy anything the first time I saw it. So I have to go out and shop (that is looking at possible candidates) then go home do some thinking then come back and buy what I thought was the best choice. So I may not be able to buy the item from the same sale person.
I deal with the same salesperson every time I go to my camera store. He knows Nikon and did a lot of photography himself so I always ask for him. He knows everything about Nikon cameras, having used them quite a bit himself.
Jun 11, 2017 10:49:28 #
I am back in Seattle, after four years in Los Angeles/Orange County area. Here in Seattle, we have Glazer's Camera and Kenmore Camera, both full service stores with very knowledgeable staff offering most things. In Los Angeles area, hard to top Samy's Camera which has 3-4 stores, with its flagship store on Fairfax just north of Wilshire. Like a candy store, everything that you could possibly want and more. While living in Orange County, I would most frequently go to the Samy's on Bristol in Santa Ana/Costa Mesa, also very well stocked but not quite the pizzaz and inventory of the LA store.
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