Jim70 Loc: Delaware

+1

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

It's A no Brainer, If you pick their brain you need to purchase from them...

alby Loc: very eastern pa.

i have purchased at least 7 cameras at my local camera store, not box store. they have always met the legit on line stores.

10MPlayer Loc: California

I would. I just spent a couple of hours test playing saxophones at a local shop. Saxes cost as much or more than quality cameras. I was surrounded by 4 of the store's staff by the time I was finishing up. They were all so nice and helpful I would feel obligated to shop there. That is, unless I found something on Ebay that I wanted to take a chance on. But if I were to buy new I'd go to the shop I tried them at.

10MPlayer Loc: California

I think the distinction is, the OP has already gone to the brick and mortar store and taken up the owner's time. Is there an obligation to repay the seller if you have taken his time when he could have doing something else? I think there is. Someone else said something like "if the difference in price isn't ridiculous". I've found my local camera store sells Canon, Nikon, Olympus and all the others for the same price you see on Amazon. I suspect it's like buying an iPhone. The major manufacturers force their authorized sellers to hold to the national advertised price. I don't know for sure but it seems that may be the case.

Keen

It depends upon how helpful the shop was. Great advice may save you from buying an item you thought you wanted, which you later realize was not as useful as something else. If the people in the shop prevent you from collecting things you later do not really want, the shop saves you money....even when what you do buy there costs a bit more. The shop is due a bit of a premium for having saved you from wasting money on stuff you later do not use. If the shop's advice was not particularly helpful, you don't owe the shop anything. I found that most shops are not very helpful. They merely pimp for what they stock. I have gone into shops, and asked about a Nikon lens, which was not in stock. Rather than answer my questions about the lens, and so maybe get a sale, and special order it for me, the shop owner bad mouthed all things Nikon, and tried to sell me a Canon item he had in stock. Needless to say, but I felt no obligation to buy anything from that shop. That was a rather common occurrence around here. I stopped buying from local shops which were like this....there were several. I started doing more research, and then buying online almost exclusively. In fact, I have not bought anything in a local camera shop for over 30 years. My first obligation is to myself. Money aside, I feel obligated to get what I want. Getting the best price on what I want is a factor, but not the primary factor. I buy online from various sources....one because it offers a layaway payment option. When buying more expensive items, that helps me out a lot. When buying less expensive items, I use one of several sources I know to be trustworthy in the delivering what they advertise arena. When selecting between these trusted sources, those which charge a little more, but offer free shipping, are selected before ones which charge a little less, but make me pay for shipping. When all else is equal-new vs used, condition, free shipping, etc-at several sources, the one charging less gets the sale.

wrgrimes

I would buy local if I could. My excellent store closed both locations years ago. I’m sure they depended heavily on film processing. I bought multiple cameras, lessons and tons of film. Recently visited a brick & mortar store in Oklahoma City. Handled several cameras, bought my wife binoculars that I did not know I needed. Later called the salesman to buy X-T3 in first shipment. If you have a good local shop, appreciate it!

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Long term vs short term benefit is a case of enlightened self interest to me. It is in my interest to have a good local shop with knowledgeable and helpful personnel. If the price is within shooting distance of the lowest online price, it's worth a few dollars. I like to support our local economy when I can.

Andy

Bipod

In a world of store vs. store, the rule is "may the best salesman win".

But we live in a world of box stores, on-line retailers and the Amazon.com
behemoth, where traditional stores are an endangered species.

The problem with discount box stores is that they have no expertise and
only stock the most common, highest-turnover items.

The problem with on-line retailers is that you can't examine the goods
and shipping is expensive.

The problem with the Amazon behemouth it's too big and owns too many
Congressman. It's trying to get Uncle Sam to store all his secrets on AWS
"secure cloud" (an oxymoron if there ever was one).

It's worth paying a little more to deal with a supplier that knows what's he selling,
undrstands what you want, and where you can speak to human being.

In lassez faire capitalism, you vote with your dollars. Anything that doesn't
receive enough votes (even if it's the only hospital for 500 miles) ceases to exist.
Vote for your local camera stores: buy something there!

JimBart Loc: Western Michigan

George.... what you are asking is for someone to evaluate your honesty and integrity. I can’t do that only you. If you can live with yourself doing this then that is you.
I will ask the clerk if they can match the inet or how close they can come. If not close enough then I tell them and begin to walk. Usually they will come close Remember the inet will be charging you sales taxes now too.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Wish I had a local shop, nearest is over 1 1/2 hours away. Milford Photo in Milford Ct.

Keen

I became my own expert, and know more about cameras, lenses, and photography, than any dozen local camera shop people combined. My agenda is to get the best gear at the best price, for me, and help others to do likewise for them.....not to pimp out some product line for some manufacturer. Local shops never worried about getting me the gear I wanted, or giving me low prices, or even providing non-metered parking near their shop. So....F them. It is not my job to keep them in business. They had their chances, and blew them all. Local shops need to learn....treat your customers well, or lose them all, and go out of business. The way to get customers is to give them what they can't easily, or affordably, or at all, get elsewhere. The way to keep customers you have is to treat them well. Non-metered parking, low prices, honest deals, layaway plans, photo classes, knowledgeable store staff, a wide product selection, trade in deals, used, and refurbished, items, rental gear, and a pleasant personality all help. Lacking such hurts. Behaving as if a customer with a question is a pain you'd rather do without is a good way to lose that customer.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

When I walk into a retailer, I tell them I not ready to purchase. If they are good enough they can sell ice cream to an Eskimo. If not, they will close soon enough. Buying something for their time is just being courteous. But you may not be happy (deep down happy) with the purchase you have made. Never rush into buying something more expensive than a chocolate bar and a can of soda.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

"DAMN STRAIGHT, SKIPPY"

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Not "obligated". If I perceive something as an obligation, then I really have no choice but to do it. But this is not the case when I'm shopping for something. There are only options, no obligations.