skornfeld

Camera Bar in Hartford CT is my local store where I'd bought my nikon7200 a year and half ago along with a lense and backpack. Also bought my wife's 7500 there about 6 months ago. Was in to buy a gift certificate and asked if I could hold an 810 and told them I'd decided to a refurbished one which I knew they didn't carry. The owner said he just happened to get back one from nikon yesterday that a customer had brought in for an exchange. He said he'd seen them online for $2179 but since I was a good customer he'd sell it to me for $1700! After confirming with my wife I could get back in the house if I bought it the deal was done! Took a pic outside last night without flash at Iso 8000 just for kicks and looked amazing on the lcd screen but haven't downloaded it yet.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

What a deal...and a lucky man to have a wife who recognizes a good purchase.
Love my D810!
Enjoy yours...

RS Loc: W Columbia, SC

You got a great deal from both the dealer and your wife.
And, I do have to say that I feel it to be a sad situation seeing
the various local camera stores going (gone) out of business.
Heck, I used to like going into pawn shops and rummaging
through the various used photo equipment that was there.
Nowadays, - - nothing . . . !!

skornfeld

I am a lucky man

catia

Another vote for supporting your local camera store! I had been wanting to learn to use a flash and had decided on an SB700 for my Nikon. I went to the local camera store to purchase and was treated to a free 1 hour tutorial on how to use it. I sure wouldn't get that with Amazon! Will be returning this week to buy another lens.

BebuLamar

I always support the local stores although there aren't many around any more. I want at least to be able to hold the camera before I buy it.

Jim Bob

Only if they offer competitive pricing. Otherwise, what’s the point? I’m not for paying substantial price increases for the convenience of buying local whether it’s cameras or cars.

BebuLamar

My local store actually offer a few dollars less than B&H or Adorama. I do have to pay the sales tax so it cost me more but I think by law we are supposed to pay the sales tax when buy online.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Personally, I think the expertise available in a quality local camera store is worth a little bit of a markup. But, if it is all about price for you, do what you think is right. But, going to a good quality camera store for their expertise and then buying online is, at its base, just theft. Not that you would do that. But, hey, if do and you can sleep at night knowing you are a thief... Well, I know I couldn't.

RS Loc: W Columbia, SC

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Every now and then we are in the right place at the right time. Well done, Skornfeld. Hope you have something extra nice picked out for your wonderful wife for Christmas??

I only wish I had a camera store closer than 2 1/2 hrs away. I really miss the local camera stores of my youth.

skornfeld

It's nice having them 20 minutes away and wife has already made some suggestions. As to a previous post I have asked them questions about something but been upfront about buying refurb or used but I also spend money there also.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Good deal!

aaciolkowski Loc: Sugar Grove Illinois

Yesterday i bought a second D500 at my local camera store. Traded in 2 cameras and a couple lenses got a good deal.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Camera Bar in Hartford is a decent store, as are several others... New York Camera and Video, which, in spite of the name is in Southampton, Pennsylvania is another really good full service camera store. And there are several across the country. Having said that, there are a lot of really lousy camera stores (not to mention big box stores that happen to have a "camera department" with the employee of the day that took a 3 day computer course on photography and who's best camera is the one that is "on sale today".

I live in Clearwater, Fl. and most of the local camera stores in the area fall into the "big box" category. I purchase most of my important stuff from B&H, Adorama, Calmeta, & KEH. I will hit Best Buy for "emergency" purchases like a spare card reader if mine fails, etc. Anything that can wait for a week for arrival, like cameras, lenses, filters, etc. get mail ordered. The prices are good and I make sure that the shipper (B&H etc.) is NOT using the FedX / or UPS to US Post Office shipping method. While the US Post Office may have good service in your area, the post offices in Clearwater are terrible about miss delivering packages to wrong addresses. And if you call FedX or UPS, on these they will refer you to the post office and they have no clue. So I pay the "extra" shipping to make sure it stays in the UPS or FedX network from shipping point to delivery point. It still comes out cheaper than paying the 7% sales tax or whatever. Oh and someone mentioned that we are theoretically supposed to pay tax on things ordered? I run a business and constantly order everything from the internet, by phone, or what ever and have yet to pay sales tax on an out of state purchase at a dealer that didn't have an in state branch. Yes, theoretically, we are supposed to but the nexus is on the state to collect it. Forbes states that it is probable that the state will NOT be able to efficiently collect tax on out of state purchases or be able to prove the value that was purchased. In general, it costs the state more to attempt the collection than they are going to get in return. In addition, it has been successfully argued in several states that collection of out of state taxes is unconstitutional.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2011/04/15/paying-sales-tax-on-internet-purchases/#37f2057748b5