PH CIB

I was in Best Buy yesterday and was as usual prepared to be disappointed with their Camera Department,,,,Low and Behold they had an almost complete Nikon Line up including the D850 and D500 and less expensive Camera Models and Lenses,,,,an almost complete Canon Line up including the 5D Mark IV and 7D Mark II and less expensive Camera Models and Lenses,,,an almost complete Sony Line up including the new Sony A7RIII and A7RII and less expensive Cameras and Lenses, an almost complete Panasonic Line up including the GH5 and less expensive Camera Models and Lenses,,,an almost complete Olympus Line up including the OMD 1 Mark II and less expensive Camera Models and Lenses and I did not see the Fuji XT2 but did see the Fuji XT20 and Lenses,,,they also had Bridge Cameras and Point and Shoots,,,the Salesperson I talked to knew Photography and said they would match any Price from B & H or Amazon or Adorama etc...and could order anything I wanted as their Lens Selection was not the most complete,,,,I was really shocked,,,,will still support my local Camera Stores and B & H and Adorama and KEH Camera but the Competition is getting more intense all the time....I also am a Costco Member but last time I looked they did not carry the high end stuff.....

Mama Bear984 Loc: Langley, BC Canada

Your luck you saw any cameras. Mine never has anything but a tag over an empty display.
I stick to my local shop.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Best Buy has said that they intend to equip some stores with excellent camera departments and trained salespeople. Where did you find this one?

Mama Bear984 Loc: Langley, BC Canada

I’m up in Canada outside of Vancouver. Mine store was renovated but the stores displays are weak. I know more about the cameras than they do. When I go in I’m always selling for them. No lady you don’t want that one this one will suit your needs etc. It’s quite a joke I’ve got going.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Yes it looks like Best Buy is keeping a larger display of high end DSLR's than ever before.

PH CIB

In Des Moines, Iowa on University,,,,Wow some interesting comments sounds like it is just selected stores and not nationwide....

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I once made the mistake of walking in to a Best Buy wearing chinos and a blue polo shirt! I will not be making THAT mistake again! (I was actually very helpful to a number of people, and it IS kind of fun, especially if you don't have to worry about getting the $8 per hour....)

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Our Best Buy is pretty well equipped and the employees have been trained by a local pro who does seminars for Nikon across the country. They did stitck the Fuji X100F in with the point & shoot section, but it is a pretty compact camera with a non-interchangeable lens.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

I posted this topic in November of 2014: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-258830-1.html

Walt

Dan Downie Loc: Rochester, NY

What you experienced is Best Buy's not so new approach wherein they are not stocking all of their stores with photo gear, although all will still have some cameras on hand. Their business model now calls for photo hubs in select markets. In my area (Rochester, NY) I have two stores within a half hour from my house, the closest has very little equipment whereas the other has large scale displays for each of the major manufacturers. Their Canon lineup includes bodies from T6i through 5D Mk IV and a great selection of popular lenses, approximately half being professional "L" lenses. The same is true for Nikon and Sony (I'm not certain about the Oly's). Additionally, they staff the area with trained salespeople with some specialization by brand. This is great for those who do not have a local camera store in their area, but only if they have a Best Buy camera "hub" around. They do not offer 3rd party lenses like Tamron and Sigma, though. Luckily, we have a local camera store (Rowe Photo) in my area with VERY knowledgeable staff.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Keep in mind - because a department store has a particular camera on display, this does not necessarily mean they have it also in stock at the time. Some department stores, such as Sears Roebuck, hardly have any of the cameras displayed immediately available for purchase, and the staff typically has no knowledge when the camera will be shipped to the store, or if it will ever come at all.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

One camera store in particular I was sad to hear go out of business was Ritz Camera, at least the one located in Pittsburgh in the South Hills Village Mall. I always made it a point to go there and browse around, the sales staff was always eager to talk about cameras.

Bill_de Loc: US

None in my local, Dover DE, store. But online says expected shipping March second. Maybe they will start moving next month.

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PH CIB

Thanks Walt,,,,I read all six pages of replies when you first posted this about Best Buy in 2013,,,,even though I was amazed that Best Buy in Des Moines were handling top end Camera Gear they will never compete with Christian Photo in Des Moines,,,have known Dick Christian and his Family for years,,,,Nice Big Store with nothing but Camera Gear and Knowledgeable Staff the first cameras I bought from him were a 35mm Nikon Nikonos Underwater Camera and a Pentax 6x7 Medium Format Camera years ago,,,,Still have the Nikon.....

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Yes, Christian Photo is a great store. I try to buy there as much as possible. I haven’t been going there long enough or often enough to know anyone real well but it’s always been real friendly and knowledgeable service. I was there a couple of weeks ago and just buying a couple of small items, got into one of those conversations where you end up discussing mutual friends and acquaintences.

I did recently buy a new camera from best buy but only because I had nearly enough gift cards from there to cover the entire cost.

Walt