Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Thursday, but they could never have the selection of Lowe’s or Home Depot. Those large local hardware/lumber stores have not been around for at least 25 years in most areas...

CWGordon

I came from Easton, PA. A great small shop exists there in Fisk camera shop. The treatment of a customer there was second to none. We had the opportunity of shopping at an Allentown store, as well. They are a larger store and had a few lines Fisk did not handle. Few areas of the Country have been so lucky as to have been so well served. Now that I am in a different area, Eastern Shore of MD I have a much longer trip to District Photo in DC and Burke, VA. This, too, is an incredible customer-oriented family owned business. There service is friendly, interested and professional. Again, I am lucky to have had such wonderful shops with whom to do business. Each has an important place in my view. Though PA is now several hours away, I would try to support Fisk if I can.
People who only buy from the mail order places put a real strain on other dealers. Although District Photo is large enough to compete, it is tough for any brick and mortar store to compete with mail-order type of business. I hope ALL of US that love Photography appreciate the irreplaceable advice, instruction, and very competitive prices most shops today offer. It is up to us to keep alive our LOCAL businesses. This is true whether a bicycle shop, clothing store, fishing equipt. store, photo shop, or any other specialty store. I hope you all agree with my personal opinion.

dino21 Loc: McAllen, TX

You sir are a good man. I hope your daughter is proud of the way you brought her up.

lwhitehall Loc: St. Louis

Cell phones are also helping destroy the camera stores. I live walking distance to Creve Coeur Camera and bought a lot of stuff there. I also have a lot of people who ask me about how to take pictures with the iPhone. It seems that the general public is not interested in keeping their history, just take a picture, share it with a few friends and delete it from their phone. CCCamera is still offering classes though.

dino21 Loc: McAllen, TX

I agree but only if you get the service you have experienced. The reason so many are going elsewhere is that service such as this is not very common anymore.

dino21 Loc: McAllen, TX

Yes but that is just the mentality of the younger generation now. To lazy to mess with shutter speed, apertures, lighting, etc.

VietVetWithCamera

As an Attorney, I would recommend that you curtail making such braggadocious type of statements. You never know what sites the PA sales tax staff is monitoring in their efforts to catch PA tax cheats, who are avoiding paying PA Use tax on items purchased in other states. Hopefully, you are declaring and paying your PA USE tax.

Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara

Sammy's Camera in Santa Barbara closed last Thursday. Great rental location and store but when Brooks Institute was purchased by a bunch of crooks (non-profit my ass) then moved to Ventura then closed leaving hundreds of students in the lurch their business declined. There used to be 5 to 6 great camera stores here. NOW ZERO..

colinc1 Loc: Goleta, California

I think I read someplace that Samy's camera in Santa Barbara was closing.

adamsg Loc: Chubbuck, ID

I go to a local Ace Hardware store to avoid Home Depot, Walmart and sometimes Loews. The latter is the least obnoxious of the big box stores, most of the time. But, I get better service and help, as well as whole lot of stuff such as backcountry hiking guides and camping equipment, et. al. They take the time to talk with me about what I am seeking. I like that!

Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara

laughs , did you read my post right before yours? yes they did close

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

You make it sound like it is not possible to get expert advice from places like Adorama or B&H. That simply is not the case. And the advice you get from smaller shops often revolves around what they carry or have to sell. Some camera store workers have their biases too.

It reminds me in some respects of the audio stores I visited in college nearly 40 years ago. It didn’t matter if you had $100 or $3,000 to spend they had a system that would sound great. I have yet to have any smaller camera shop tell
me I need something other than what they sell.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

You should come to our annual camera show / swap / workshop / meet in Boston. Although there is some digital gear available, the vast bulk of the stuff is vintage film gear and the workshops and events are all focused on mechanical, film cameras.

Geezers of my age have gone from a supermajority to about fifty percent of the big crowds. And the other fifty percent are millennials.

Andy

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

As someone who has played an attorney in many situations I suggest you use quote reply. Sounds like something government might do...spend thousands chasing dollar bills...

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

When he tried to force the used floor model on you, did you offer 1/2 price for used.