Another store bites the dust
Jul 6, 2019 10:06:17 #
LWW
Loc: Banana Republic of America
billnikon wrote:
They also put Toys or Us and Sears out of business. Along with many others.
SEARS put SEARS out of business.
Back in the days of the annual PICTURE BOOK they owned retail.
At the dawning of the electronic age they could have taken the picture book online and AMAZON would have never taken off ... instead they cancelled the picture book on the basis that they already owned retail.
Jul 6, 2019 10:24:26 #
LWW wrote:
SEARS put SEARS out of business.
Back in the days of the annual PICTURE BOOK they owned retail.
At the dawning of the electronic age they could have taken the picture book online and AMAZON would have never taken off ... instead they cancelled the picture book on the basis that they already owned retail.
Back in the days of the annual PICTURE BOOK they owned retail.
At the dawning of the electronic age they could have taken the picture book online and AMAZON would have never taken off ... instead they cancelled the picture book on the basis that they already owned retail.
Sears failed to understand their customers’ changing needs. Saw this as early as 1975 when I worked there during college. Toys R Us had a great business even to the end but Corporate debt killed them. Couldn’t make enough money to service the debt.
Jul 6, 2019 10:32:11 #
AndyH wrote:
Exactly! Repeating failed models is not the road to success.
See my post above for three real life examples that are succeeding. They're all in small towns but not far from the big box competition in larger cities. Creative proprietors, who have beaten the odds with innovation and service.
Andy
Exactly! Repeating failed models is not the road to success.
See my post above for three real life examples that are succeeding. They're all in small towns but not far from the big box competition in larger cities. Creative proprietors, who have beaten the odds with innovation and service.
Andy
Agreed Andy. A small business needs to offer something unique that the customer wants whether it’s service, product or price. Price fixing is actually a good thing for the small guys. Keeps an even playing field. It’s then up to the small guys to take the ball and run with service, product selection, classes etc. They need to offer something you cannot buy from the Big Guys.
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Jul 6, 2019 10:41:50 #
I didn’t mean to imply that YM was closing due to retirement...the OP storein St. Louis...
ronpier wrote:
I don’t think Robby the owner’s son at YM Camera is anywhere near retirement. He’s at least 20 years younger than me and is a daily presence in the store.
Jul 6, 2019 11:05:29 #
I’m gonna contend that big guys provide a lot of jobs too. Maybe just not in your neighborhood. They don’t want full time employees but neither do a lot of small businesses, relying on part timers or independent contractors. Government is a big impediment to creating small businesses in many places. My son recently moved his small business from western PA to South Carolina. Government regulations cost him both time and money that could have been better invested in his business. It was a big expense and effort. Advertising and shipping is very expensive for small businesses and I think word of mouth is still great but takes time to develop.
I am not a fan of big box stores and try to avoid them. That is getting harder to do too. Amazon will soon be having 1 day shipping... so watch out for that. One gripe I have is going to a local store and having them tell me they can order what I want and have it in a few days...I can do that from home myself and often get it faster than they do. And I can save a trip or two. Driving an hour each way cost time, gas and wear and tear on the car. It is a changing world.
I ordered a $60 item from a family business in Ohio the other day via phone. Got it in 3 days and $12 for shipping. The bad thing was my initial reaction was that was a lot for shipping. After thinking about it the shipping was no more than if I drove a few miles locally to get something. And I didn’t have to leave the house or waste time or gas. But free or very low cost shipping gets one oriented to that idea... How many people know that Amazon gets a government subsidy on every package the ship...about $1.50 I believe.
I am not a fan of big box stores and try to avoid them. That is getting harder to do too. Amazon will soon be having 1 day shipping... so watch out for that. One gripe I have is going to a local store and having them tell me they can order what I want and have it in a few days...I can do that from home myself and often get it faster than they do. And I can save a trip or two. Driving an hour each way cost time, gas and wear and tear on the car. It is a changing world.
I ordered a $60 item from a family business in Ohio the other day via phone. Got it in 3 days and $12 for shipping. The bad thing was my initial reaction was that was a lot for shipping. After thinking about it the shipping was no more than if I drove a few miles locally to get something. And I didn’t have to leave the house or waste time or gas. But free or very low cost shipping gets one oriented to that idea... How many people know that Amazon gets a government subsidy on every package the ship...about $1.50 I believe.
ronpier wrote:
Agreed. They rely on us to purchase from them. If we don’t we all lose. Being a small business owner has taught me that we all we all need to try first to do business locally. These small businesses provide local jobs and pump money into the local community. The BigGuys do not. And BTW prices are fixed in most cases on major items so the smaller shops sell at the same retail price as the big guys. And much of the sales tax paid goes back to the local economies.
Jul 6, 2019 11:10:13 #
Thankfully, in Southern California, we still have Samy's Camera. It has several brick-and-mortar stores as well as an online presence. Its owners have made the jump to the Internet with this retailer's own flavor.
Check it out: https://www.samys.com/
Check it out: https://www.samys.com/
dick ranez wrote:
Unfortunately that is the view of the future. We’ve lost two major camera stores in southern california - calumet and cal’s camera - big enough stores that had loyal followers as well as at least a half dozen mom and pops. As long as amazon and several mega stores do mail order with good return policies, I wouldn’t hold out much hope. Maybe the major vendors will have to emulate apple and open their own stores - demonstration centers.
Jul 6, 2019 11:17:49 #
Diamond41 wrote:
It was announced earlier this week, a local St. Louis favorite camera store, Creve Coeur Camera is closing after 40 years in the area. This leaves one camera store in St. Louis, Schillers. The area had several stores over the years, St Louis Photo, City Photo Stockhouse to name a couple. Now only one, this is a blow. 
And here I was hoping it was 42nd st.or Abe’s of Maine
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Jul 6, 2019 11:34:25 #
azted
Loc: Las Vegas, NV.
B and C Camera in Las Vegas has created a solid following by operating a teaching “Hub” that has classes and vendor events. I’ve been to several since I moved here, and it builds familiarization and loyalty. On the other side of the coin, the classified area of this site inhibits local transactions in favor of long distance ones.
Jul 6, 2019 11:50:51 #
Fortunately, I live within 20 minutes of a National Camera Exchange store where the staff know photography and photo equipment. Not just clerks like at Best Buy.
Jul 6, 2019 11:57:11 #
The nearest camera stores to me are an hour north, or an hour and a half south. That's 2-3 hours travel time, paying for lunch somewhere, paying for between half and full tank of gas. It's just easier and less expensive to call BnH, and often their price is lower to begin with. Plus, no store is going to give me a 30 trial period with a 30-day return policy like BnH does.
It's all about business.
It's all about business.
Jul 6, 2019 11:58:41 #
RRS
Loc: Not sure
billnikon wrote:
Campus Camera in Kent Ohio is 1 hour and 17 minutes away from you. That is a half hour closer than I am. They are a great store with a lot of knowledge. Their number is (330) 678-1297
DODD camera in Akron is just an hour away. Their number is (330) 873-1700
DODD camera in Akron is just an hour away. Their number is (330) 873-1700
With all the bad news it's nice to see someone here post a positive reply with pertinent info, Thanks!
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Jul 6, 2019 12:27:06 #
dino21
Loc: McAllen, TX
I used to be a firm believer in support your local business but after my recent experiences here in McAllen Texas, I shop online only now. Here, you go into these peoples stores and they seem like they are "bothered" by your presence. Last straw was when I was going to buy my wife a new quilting machine and we went to a local shop here and after spending 15 minutes with the salesman/owner he tried to screw us by giving us a floor model after I had repeatidly asked if he had new in the box in the storeroom. He said yes and I told him I would take one. He went to the back and came out with the empty box and started putting the display in the box. I told him I would rather have the new one in the box and not the display to which he became angry and acted like he wanted to fight!
This is just the latest thing of which there are many. They have lost the concept of polite customer service. That is why a lot of these people go under in my opinion. I would gladly pay extra for good dependable service by a company that seems genuinely glad to have you as a customer.
Never again will I support these types of people or their businesses. Yes if you could get outstanding people but I think that has gone down the wayside.
This is just the latest thing of which there are many. They have lost the concept of polite customer service. That is why a lot of these people go under in my opinion. I would gladly pay extra for good dependable service by a company that seems genuinely glad to have you as a customer.
Never again will I support these types of people or their businesses. Yes if you could get outstanding people but I think that has gone down the wayside.
Jul 6, 2019 12:27:32 #
I've found the salesclerks at Best Buy obnoxious. When I exhibit some expertise in the fields of photography, electronics, or computers, they clerks respond with a snappy reply as if they know better. Smirking, they appear pleased to have topped me.
As bad if not worse, I've been subjected to the contemptuous sales technique whereby the salesclerk takes me to a store shelf stocked with items that remotely relate to my inquiry, in hopes I am that 1 in 20 person who will buy something nevertheless.
Sometimes, I cannot tolerate this insulting behavior. So I thank the clerk and show no more interest in the clerk, by walking away.
I've been chased through the store by a clerk who realized she failed to serve me, the customer. I turned and indicated no interest, then continued walking to the store exit.
For this kind of unsatisfactory salesclerk behavior, I haven't been in a Best Buy store for several years. I shop online.
As bad if not worse, I've been subjected to the contemptuous sales technique whereby the salesclerk takes me to a store shelf stocked with items that remotely relate to my inquiry, in hopes I am that 1 in 20 person who will buy something nevertheless.
Sometimes, I cannot tolerate this insulting behavior. So I thank the clerk and show no more interest in the clerk, by walking away.
I've been chased through the store by a clerk who realized she failed to serve me, the customer. I turned and indicated no interest, then continued walking to the store exit.
For this kind of unsatisfactory salesclerk behavior, I haven't been in a Best Buy store for several years. I shop online.
John_F wrote:
Fortunately, I live within 20 minutes of a National Camera Exchange store where the staff know photography and photo equipment. Not just clerks like at Best Buy.
Jul 6, 2019 12:31:28 #
Jul 6, 2019 12:43:09 #
The store owner/clerk probably just wanted to sell you what he had available, regardless of your specification. He an others like him offend a segment of the buying public. But these clerks appear not to care so long as they make a sale.
dino21 wrote:
I used to be a firm believer in support your local... (show quote)
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