The Slow Sad Demise Of The Camera Store (Page 2): But our dear Jerry didn't like the sign said "Clean Bathroom".

BebuLamar

Chiroman8 wrote:

Dear MosheR,

Although clean bathrooms have always been a must for me my whole life its amazing how many businesses don't even consider that as being an important part of their business ! Now all I have to do is learn to speak Hebrew !

But our dear Jerry didn't like the sign said "Clean Bathroom".

Jerry Coupe Loc: Kent, WA

In Seattle we are still fortunate to have have Glazers in downtown area and Kenmore Camera on the east side, and bit farther south, Robi's in Tacoma.
Glazer's is always my first look and after also checking Kenmore, I do sometimes order from B & H.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Chiroman8 wrote:

Dear MosheR,

Although clean bathrooms have always been a must for me my whole life its amazing how many businesses don't even consider that as being an important part of their business ! Now all I have to do is learn to speak Hebrew !

Hebrew is a great language. But being able to speak Yiddish is a true art. But it is not only just saying the words but using the right inflections.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Arlington Camera is the go-to place in the Dallas area. If you buy a camera and later have a question they're not only able but more than happy to answer your question. THAT was worth paying Texas taxes when I could go online and buy tax free. I also got to hand-hold and test various camera before buying at the in-house store, rather than just comparing specs.

BebuLamar

SteveR wrote:

Arlington Camera is the go-to place in the Dallas area. If you buy a camera and later have a question they're not only able but more than happy to answer your question. THAT was worth paying Texas taxes when I could go online and buy tax free. I also got to hand-hold and test various camera before buying at the in-house store, rather than just comparing specs.

You could buy from B&H and use the PayBoo credit card to have tax free but otherwise most online businesses now collect taxes for the states.

Ed48 Loc: Superior, Wisconsin

When we moved to Superior, WI we had two great camera stores here, that was one of the reasons for our move. Now we have no camera stores - how sad.

Ed48

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

BebuLamar wrote:

... but otherwise most online businesses now collect taxes for the states.

Yea, they figured out that they were loosing so much tax revenue from out of state sales....
(Used to be out of state sales were not taxed.)
Exacerbated by the immense increase of mail order during Covid yielding the loss of in-store tax revenue.

therwol Loc: USA

MosheR wrote:

I used to love to go to the now infamous 47th Street Photo. When I spoke with them in Hebrew, they gave me tremendous film and processing discounts.

I had an odd esxperience in that store in the mid 70s. The customer in front of me at the counter wanted to see two cameras. The person behind the counter said, "Come back when you know what you want." and walked away.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

therwol wrote:

I had an odd esxperience in that store in the mid 70s. The customer in front of me at the counter wanted to see two cameras. The person behind the counter said, "Come back when you know what you want." and walked away.

So much for customer service at that place.....

josquin1 Loc: Massachusetts

therwol wrote:

It was a family owned store. There were some fantastic people working inside, and they did a big mail order business. Do you remember the Olden Yellow Pages in the back of photo magazines? We bought a lot of stuff from them. I remember those stairs too. You wouldn't guess what was upstairs from the street. The place was packed every time I went in there.

Bought my Canon F1 and ,any lenses back in 1975 from Olden's. Great store and terrific salespeople. I still have that camera and it still works perfectly.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

josquin1 wrote:

Bought my Canon F1 and ,any lenses back in 1975 from Olden's. Great store and terrific salespeople. I still have that camera and it still works perfectly.

I had an ftb. I learned a lot on that camera. The stop down lever taught me depth of field.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

SteveR wrote:

I had an ftb. I learned a lot on that camera. The stop down lever taught me depth of field.

I <still> have my Ftb. LOVE the stop down lever!

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Longshadow wrote:

I <still> have my Ftb. LOVE the stop down lever!

I had two lenses: a Canon 55mm (I think it was) and a Sigma 80-300mm that was fantastic. Those two were all I needed. When zooming with the Sigma it would retain focus. That was a great feature when shooting sports.

All of the great shots that I took of my kids growing up were taken with this camera.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

SteveR wrote:

I had two lenses: a Canon 55mm (I think it was) and a Sigma 80-300mm that was fantastic. Those two were all I needed. When zooming with the Sigma it would retain focus. That was a great feature when shooting sports.

All of the great shots that I took of my kids growing up were taken with this camera.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Only one camera store in Bradenton, Fl.

Don