Big Grouch

I shopped around for a new lens. Everyone had it for about the same price, B&H, Adorama, Cameta, and Amazon. My local store would sell it to me for $20 less. I didn't bargain with them, just asked what the price was. They didn't have it in stock, but their distributor did, so I ordered it. I would save on shipping, but pay about $65 in sales tax, so it actually cost more. I did it trying to be a good resident and buy local. 7 to 10 days they told me. Those days came and went, all they could tell me was "We'll call when it comes in". Couldn't say when, or what the hold up was. So I cancelled and called Cameta, I'll have it Tuesday. I really wanted to buy local, the crew there was very helpful in making my selection, but sometimes enough is enough.
End of rant.

thrasher Loc: Norwalk, CT

What did it run?? 10.5's???

Ambrose Loc: North America

It is actually the unique state of the optical wholesale industry that is hurting your retailer. I am confident they truly did everything they could.
Unless you're one of the 'big boys' (Best Buy, Adorama,etc), it is extremely difficult to project when optical products are coming in. Smaller retailers are at the mercy of the wholesaler as to who will be recieving the product next.
The distributors are far more likely to send 100 lenses to Adorama before they send 1 to a small retailer. It's just more efficient. And iof they only have 80, your retailer has to wait for the next shipment from China. If they send 80 again and Adorama has another order for 100, guess who they're sending them to? So while the big boys can afford bulk purchases, the small retailer can't.
I worked at an online retailer that sold optics and this was always a problem.
Don't be angry with your local retailer and keep trying with them, but I'm sure they'll understand if you get tired of waiting.
:wink:

Big Grouch

I don't remember, I just used a photo I liked. Part of the problem shooting drag races is after the cars get beyond where I can get the shot, I start on the next pair of cars. I don't look at the scoreboards. I learned something from a pro racing photog..."Don't become a spectator".
I'm digging your Milo Oblong avatar. I want a tee shirt like his..."No."

Big Grouch

I'm not the least bit angry. And they understood when I cancelled. In fact, they told me they will inform their wholesaler that they cost them a sale of over $800. I always buy what I can from them, and have my prints done there. I will continue to do so. What I didn't want to do is be the guy that pumps them for info for two hours then buys on the net. Or has a problem and goes to them with the stuff they bought elsewhere because it was 25 cents cheaper.

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

Well done- always been an irritant to me, people who go to camera store to look at cameras, lenses, etc., seek help then buy on line. In fact even had my favorite store recommended that I buy on line. They knew I am on fixed income and they would have to order and would cost quite a bit more. Needless to say I buy from them first, even if it does cost a little more.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You're a good man Charlie Brown!

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

Cameta gets a lot of my business, and they are local to me, 20 min away. But They could not match the price and quality of the Gimbal I ordered from UK.
I deal with Mike at Cameta, good guy. Always happy to take time and give what ever help he can.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

You gave it the good ole college try. Can't ask much more than that.
It's sad how hard it is for the local shops to get something in a timely manner.

charles brown Loc: Tennesse

Please tell my wife. Every little bit helps. :lol:

olcoach Loc: Oregon

I live in Central Oregon and there are no camera stores left here. The closest store is probably 125-150 miles away. Support your local stores when possible. Charles Brown did all that was fair and this is just a heads-up to folks that just use them to window shop and buy elsewhere. Have fun and keep shootin'. Mike

Bamboo Loc: South Carolina

I tried to buy local also when I wanted a new Canon 7D about a year ago. Canon was offering a $100 the camera and $100 off the lens I wanted. It was available at the online stores also with free shipping. The owner at my local camera shop didn't know anything about the Canon rebate offer. He even went to his computer to check it out and told me that it wasn't anything he could do. I am willing to pay a little more money to shop local but not hundreds.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

In a perfect world, the small retailers would keep a little of everything in stock so when a customer like you comes in they can make the sale on the spot. That said, most retailers have to keep their inventories to the generic stuff: P&S, Canon & Nikon kit cameras, etc.

Keeping the exotic stuff in stock when it doesn't move it's just money gathering dust on the shelf.

GrahamS Loc: Hertfordshire, U.K

I deal with a local photo shop called Digital Depot. They are one of the last of the few photo stores left on the high street anywhere and I am lucky that they are local to me. They will usually match any on-line price if they can - if they can't their service usually makes up for the difference.

The largest, and one of the oldest chains of photographic shops in the world, Jessops, has just gone into administration. I have witnessed the demise of Jessops as represented by their local store for a decade. Ten years ago the staff there were knowledgeable, courteous and professional. These qualities slowly degenerated to the point when, after complaining about the scratches and fingerprints on my negatives after having a roll of film D&P'd, the assistant told me that "most people throw the negatives away anyhow!" Two years later I was in the market for a new DSLR, and when I asked what type of memory card the Nikon D200 used, I was told by the pimply-faces teenager serving me "the memory is built in!" Bad marketing, bad staff recruitment, bad staff training. Is it any wonder they went bust? It wasn't the competition of the on-line box shifters that put them out of business.

Radioman Loc: Ontario Canada

The largest, and one of the oldest chains of photographic shops in the world, Jessops, has just gone into administration. I have witnessed the demise of Jessops as represented by their local store for a decade. Ten years ago the staff there were knowledgeable, courteous and professional. These qualities slowly degenerated to the point when, after complaining about the scratches and fingerprints on my negatives after having a roll of film D&P'd, the assistant told me that "most people throw the negatives away anyhow!"

*************

Things appear to have changed - for the worse. I have negatives that are over fifty years old. Right now I am scanning them to digitize the pictures for a 'Family Album'.
They are all in individual envelopes as clean as the day they were developed.