Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

The next time you go on your initial "shopping trip" get the sales reps business card or name, and ask what their usual weekly schedule is. Most of them work on commission.

If they spend a good amount if time working with you on your first trip, they'll appreciate the fact that you sought them out on your return trip.

I've waited nearly an hour for my regular sales rep to complete a sale before I approach him at his counter to help me with my questions, or to grab whatever I need and to have my sale rung up so that he earned his commission.

Developing a relationship with a sales rep, could help in the event that you end up with a piece of defective equipment. It happened to me 2 years ago with a defective Canon Macro lens. It wasn't until I had been back to the store several times with the defective lens that it finally failed right there in the store.

My sales rep worked with the store manager to get me a full refund on that defective lens. It was outside of the normal return period, but because I had returned to the same sales rep each time, they stood behind me with the refund. Yes, I turned around and upgraded to a more expensive lens, my Sigma 105mm.

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

True - but more and more states are writing laws that capture that potential tax revenue, as the brick and mortar sales taxes are eroding, precisely because of the Net.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

I find this to be true not only to camera stores but most other stores as well. The plant nurseries, any place they are selling a service but with a service it is different. They have to know somewhat of what they are doing or it will not fly. I write a garden column three time a month and no one seems to know how to even grow a plant anymore. Many are fortunate and live in a fertile area but I do not my soil is sterile meaning you have to know everything to get anything to grow.

bjprovo Loc: Northeast CT

I really like dealing with Photo Connection in Colchester CT. It is run by a couple that have a passion for photography and love to share their knowledge. Prices are fair and they have answered any question I have ever thrown at them.

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

I don't think any "big box" has the selection of lenses and accessories that a local camera store will have. And also the wider range of DSLR camera bodies. For those of us who live in North Carolina, or in South Carolina within reach of Wilmington NC, we have Southeastern Camera. With a store in Raleigh (where I go) and in Wilmington (on the coast), I don't think I have ever been disappointed in the quality of advice, the "no pressure" staff, and the owner, Tony, is just great. There is always a good number of customers in the Raleigh store, and even though there are usually 4 sales staff there, you look around, and when you connect with one of them, they are all helpful and patient. For anyone within reach, I would recommend them to you. JimR

10MPlayer Loc: California

We have a small local grocery store located in our residential neighborhood. Unusual in this day and age. They try real hard, bringing in a 1st class butcher, upgrading the shelving and refrig equipment, building a new deli with a beer and wine bar. All this three blocks from my house in a tree lined leafy 90 year old neighborhood. Now I could save some money taking my bidness to the big box discount grocery or the Safeway a mile away but I'm willing to pay a little extra each trip to have the convenience and good neighbor feeling of shopping in the smaller store.

If you value having a local camera shop in your town you need to support them. Will it cost you a little more? Yes. But you keep them in business and the expertise and hands on experience can't be bought on internet sites.

We have a Mike's Camera here in town. It's a small chain out of Colorado so it's not mom and pop. But it is a nice full service store that does processing and printing. I take my printing and mounting to a smaller local mom and pop shop that has a darkroom and still buys and sell film cameras. Cool place.

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

I am sure this means all jurisdictions that have a sales tax. What percentage would be chartering there was no tax?

AdrianLB Loc: lower mainland BC Canada

I totally agree with supporting local stores. If they provide the service, purchased my E-M1, several lenses, flash, accessories etc from my local camera store (Broadway Camera), feeling that if I supported them they would support me . Today went in to ask about trading my E-M1 in towards the MKll. They could not be have been less interested, basically said "not interested" that Panasonic/Olympus were going the way of the Dodo. Do you think I will ever go back there, ever.