Local Camera Stores in the Age of Big Boxes (Page 2): My "local" camera store is about a 45 minute drive from where I live. It's a Mom & Pop store that just recently celebrated it's...

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

dsmeltz wrote:

A few recent posts have made me think about the qu... (show quote)

My "local" camera store is about a 45 minute drive from where I live. It's a Mom & Pop store that just recently celebrated it's 20th year in business. The owners are very knowledgable as are the few helpers they have.

I think the big box stores chains are driving the smaller, privately owned stores out of business no matter what product they sell.

The camera store I go to is the Pasco Camera Exchange in New Port Richey, Fl.

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

When I started looking at cameras before last Christmas season I went to Mike's Camera as it was one of the few places that I could actually hold the different models. They were very nice and since I had an agenda I was not pressured in any way. I ended up buying the body and "kit" lenses with an SD card. The price was the same as at B&H but I did have to pay the 9% California sales tax and the SD card was their store brand and was a bit overpriced but I felt they should get some reward for "being there". But since then it has been B&H and used from fellow UHH members. With any new camera purchase Mike's "gives away" a package of 4x6 prints and a couple of free classes that I was able to use. Mike's also hosted an event at the Sacramento Zoo where you could try out Nikon, Canon, Tamron, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony gear. I just wish I was richer so I could be less of a cheapskate.

hotshot1 Loc: Bayou Teche Area

Some of the Best Buys do have some very knowledgeable people. This was the case when I was looking for first real camera.
Quality of people does seem to vary some from store to store.

Walmart: All that is hired is plain store clerks.
The pay is too low for quality people.

Don't want discussion, this is just my personal opinion !

BebuLamar

I wouldn't expect much help but feeling bad as 3 local stores closed this year. I am at the point where I just want to be able to look at the camera before I buy.

jmcgloth Loc: Ocean Park, WA

Morning Star wrote:

I am very fortunate to have a camera shop just 5 minutes driving from my home. The staff is very knowledgeable and always willing to help and answer questions, even when I visit them and don't buy anything.
This is in the Vancouver, British Columbia area, 'Kerrisdale Cameras'.

I have visited the Big Box stores as well, but have found that staff will give very vague answers to my questions, and sometimes don't even know what items they have in their department or where they are.

The last time I was in Vancouver, BC I visited a London Drugs Store and they seemed to have a complete camera department in their store. Do you know what their level of expertise is?

jmcgloth Loc: Ocean Park, WA

Mac wrote:

My "local" camera store is about a 45 minute drive from where I live. It's a Mom & Pop store that just recently celebrated it's 20th year in business. The owners are very knowledgable as are the few helpers they have.

I think the big box stores chains are driving the smaller, privately owned stores out of business no matter what product they sell.

The camera store I go to is the Pasco Camera Exchange in New Port Richey, Fl.

I feel lucky that I have an excellent "local" camera store, Pro Photo Supply in Portland, OR. I just bought a Nikon D810 body and a Manfrotto tripod from them. They sent me a nice thank you card, so I will keep patronizing them.

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

jmcgloth wrote:

The last time I was in Vancouver, BC I visited a London Drugs Store and they seemed to have a complete camera department in their store. Do you know what their level of expertise is?

The staff in cameras, computers, tv & audio, and photo lab are all equally knowledgeable, at least in the store near me. If you come into BC from the I5, just keep going north on Hwy 15 towards the freeway for about 10 minutes (8 m or 13 km). They're in Cloverdale Crossing Shopping Centre on the northeast corner of Hwy 15 and 64th Ave.

blue-ultra Loc: New Hampshire

My story is interesting. A former camera store here in Concord NH, called Concord Camera, Imagine that. Now this store had been in the camera business for a very long time I remember buying equipment from them in the 70's and they were in business long before that. In fact they were a Nikon dealer and I purchased several camera's and lens from them over the years. I still do business with them however, they no longer are a camera store! They now are a high end photographic printing company they print everything from mugs to metal. They use only high quality material and they do a fantastic job. They also do a better job that say shutterfly or any of the online companies. They also are on line and anyone can use them. I know the owner and he told me that the only way he could survive the current internet sales is to stop sell equipment and offer a quality processing service... Sad as I always enjoyed our talks about the equipment. I use him for all my printing now and his work is outstanding not cheap but outstanding... Look him up Concord Photo Service, Concord NH...

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

I just have to chime in on this topic. When digital Cameras first came out, one box store sales person told me that you can't put JPGs on CD's because the CD wasn't capable of recording that type of format. The same store sales person was telling a customer looking for computer memory that he needed Vista Memory for his MS Vista OS computer at twice the price. The point here is this. If you have a small Mom & Pop store please support them. Their prices might be a little higher but the customer service is awesome. They care. We had a small camera shop close in our area because we didn't care as much about them as they did about us.

TonyBot

rjaywallace wrote:

I recently had an extremely positive experience de... (show quote)

I have also dealt with Eric. He is only one of several there (Manchester) that I recommend. I have satisfied or survived more than one GAS attack there, and they always happily order paper/inks that I need, or answer questions I may have.
I recommend them highly.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

dsmeltz wrote:

Guess I should give a shout out to Allen's Camera just outside Philadelphia. That is where I would go and where a I would send novice.

Yes, nowadays Allen's Camera is the place to go if you live in the Philadelphia area. Within the city, there's Jack's Cameras. And in nearby Abington, Larmon Photo is still around, once very popular among pro photographers.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

We have two excellent shops here in Columbus. World of Photography is owned by a couple folks who used to work for Cord Camera which went out of business. They stock Nikon, Canon, & Sony as well as a lot of used equipment and tons of classic film gear. The other is Midwest Photo Exchange which is more pro level stocking Nikon & Canon. They will order Sony if asked. MPE hosted the Tamron Road Show last year and presents their own classes year round.

le boecere

dsmeltz wrote:

A few recent posts have made me think about the qu... (show quote)

http://www.kenmorecamera.com/

And if you want to talk or purchase Fuji, "Guy" is the guy.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I also use Allen's Camera its outside of Philly in Levittown ... The big problem there is, if u go on a weekend it can get very busy and tough to ask questions....

Also Allens and all other Camera stores, pay attention to prices, I dont mind spending extra so I can go back to the store if there is a problem.
I do mind paying 10 times the price , I needed a plate for the tripod. I lost mine god knows how. It was $30.00 in a camera store. ( which I paid)
then later I looked online and bought a second one just to have , $3.00

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Jakebrake wrote:

I do have a local camera store. (Mike's Camera in ... (show quote)

Same type of experience at Mikes in Sacramento. Several representatives seem to have never seen a D7100, but they still have several NIB on display - and some other representatives are solid advocates.