Lost an Old Friend this Weekend (Page 3): John, I understand the pain and hope I never go through it. :sm24: Greg...

CLF Loc: Raleigh, NC

jaymatt wrote:

Jack’s Camera Shop in Muncie, Indiana, closed its physical store and has gone online only, maintaining its online sales division. All the employees were friendly and knowledgable, and would go out of the way to answer questions and help however they could. It has been my go-to store for over fifty years now, and they made the best monochrome prints.

RIP Jack’s.

My closest physical camera store is now Robert’s in Indianapolis, an hour’s drive.

John, I understand the pain and hope I never go through it.

Greg

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

jaymatt wrote:

Jack’s Camera Shop in Muncie, Indiana, closed its physical store and has gone online only, maintaining its online sales division. All the employees were friendly and knowledgable, and would go out of the way to answer questions and help however they could. It has been my go-to store for over fifty years now, and they made the best monochrome prints.

RIP Jack’s.

My closest physical camera store is now Robert’s in Indianapolis, an hour’s drive.

I once passed on a lens being offered by Robert's because I did not know who they were. I have since learned that they are a trusted site for used equipment. Sorry to see these small shops like Jack's closing.

Greenhi

I have to get on a plane and fly to Honolulu to go to a camera store.

tvhasben Loc: Chattanooga, Tennessee

I don't even know where the closest camera shop is. The closest might be in Atlanta, Nashville, Huntsville or Knoxville - all about two hours away. Best Buy is about as close to a camera shop there is here. We moved here to Chattanooga in 1983 and there were three brick and mortar shops plus Service Merchandise and K-Mart. None have survived.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

When I left Louisiana there were only 2 stores left both an hour drive away. Only one of those actually sold cameras and lens, the other concentrated on prints, frames, paper and film.
Where I am now in Florida there is only one about 40 minutes away.

Don

crushr13 Loc: Sacramento, CA

My local camera store is closed now, too. They still do business online. My wife and I bought tickets to 3 classes to learn about photography, but the store cancelled them because of the virus, and then closed because of California's social distancing store closings rules. I can't wait for them to reopen when all is able to again, but will wait until then for safety. But I am confident that they will. Hopefully all of yours will, as well. This is a tough and strange time for everybody. In a way, I am grateful to be retired, but that doesn't make it much easier. At least most of my life is unchanged so far. But I was hoping to learn photography better. Soon enough. Stay well, everyone. Be safe. Then get out and shoot!!

aellman Loc: Boston MA

jaymatt wrote:

Jack’s Camera Shop in Muncie, Indiana, closed its physical store and has gone online only, maintaining its online sales division. All the employees were friendly and knowledgable, and would go out of the way to answer questions and help however they could. It has been my go-to store for over fifty years now, and they made the best monochrome prints.

RIP Jack’s.

My closest physical camera store is now Robert’s in Indianapolis, an hour’s drive.

They are fortunate to be able to continue the store online. Many stores like it just disappeared.

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

CamB wrote:

Our local camera shop, Art Sutch Digital, also clo... (show quote)

We still have Stewart's Photo in Anchorage. Will see if they bounce back after the shutdown.

adm

This is always sad. The owner of the only camera store left here in Albuquerque told me a few years ago that the number of cameras stores left in the U.S. is down to about 200 (maybe less than that now). Prior to 2005, there were several thousand. We also have two camera stores in nearby Santa Fe, one of which is a branch of the Albuquerque store. Unfortunately, I do not patronize my store frequently. They seem to deal mostly with used equipment or new equipment that is very high end. Their selection of reasonably priced new cameras is limited. Since I shoot some film, I occasionally buy film from them but even their selection of film is limited to black white and a few color print films. Consequently, I find myself buying more and more of my cameras, accessories, and film online. This is not due to choice but necessity. Additionally, I doubt they are open now during the lockdown. I heard on the radio that even our local camera repair shop is allowed to do business only for police and media. We may end up losing more camera stores before all this is over.

Eric Bornstein Loc: Toronto Canada

You all need to move to Toronto Canada. We have Downtown Camera, where I primarily shop. Then there is Aden, a small store but very well equipped, also in the downtown business area. There are two chains, each having stores multiple stores in the greater Toronto area as well as outside of Toronto, being Vistek and Henry's. In general camera sales and DSLRs in particular are finding new lows in sales volume, especially during this period of closure. However, the manufacturers are coming out with great product! Retail is likely not a growth industry.

DocDav Loc: IN

jaymatt wrote:

Jack’s Camera Shop in Muncie, Indiana, closed its physical store and has gone online only, maintaining its online sales division. All the employees were friendly and knowledgable, and would go out of the way to answer questions and help however they could. It has been my go-to store for over fifty years now, and they made the best monochrome prints.

RIP Jack’s.

My closest physical camera store is now Robert’s in Indianapolis, an hour’s drive.

PIA for you but I have always loved Roberts. Years ago we also had Cords and they closed. Roberts is great but damn, that drive.

Good Luck.

Bob I 41 Loc: Indiana

jaymatt wrote:

Jack’s Camera Shop in Muncie, Indiana, closed its physical store and has gone online only, maintaining its online sales division. All the employees were friendly and knowledgable, and would go out of the way to answer questions and help however they could. It has been my go-to store for over fifty years now, and they made the best monochrome prints.

RIP Jack’s.

My closest physical camera store is now Robert’s in Indianapolis, an hour’s drive.

Hi jaymatt! I also like Robert's & have been there a few times. I'll look for you the next time I go!

Bob

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Thirty years ago, South Bend had two camera stores. My Mother purchased a Canon SLR and instruction when they started having Grandchildren. That store is gone; the other store is a “Nikon Authorized Dealer”. I go there for film and processing on those rare occasions when I use film, but honestly I got to the Internet for the Pentax equipment I’ve chosen to remain with.

Robert’s is over two hours away from here, so driving there is not practical in most cases.

ez22 Loc: The World

Been buying from B&H for over 25 years. Big bad store yes, but always get the lowest prices and deals from them, plus can't beat their very liberal return policy. Cannot imagine shopping anywhere else.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

ez22 wrote:

Been buying from B&H for over 25 years. Big bad store yes, but always get the lowest prices and deals from them, plus can't beat their very liberal return policy. Cannot imagine shopping anywhere else.

I purchased my first SLR, a Pentax ME/SE in person at the Robert's store in 1979, which was then on Indianapolis's Monument Circle, so I have always had a soft place in my heart {or head} for them.