Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

My local store, Roberts Camera, will match the B&H price, but usually their prices are the same anyway. Personally, I prefer to patronize local small businesses.

Ben

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

A local dealer is always my choice. 1) because they let you handle and try cameras to see if you are comfortable with them as to fit and feel. 2) because the can advise you on pro and con for what you use them for. 3)general advice as to what to add and not add for the camera.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Steve, you're lucky. SO many camera stores that once featured expert advice and specialists in certain areas have gone belly up.

I dealt with Camera World in Charlotte for 25 years. They had experts in Nikon, Canon, studio lighting, medium format, darkroom, used gear, and AV/multi-image, back in the '80s. Alas, they couldn't compete when the big NYC stores and Amazon came along. All that knowledge and service evaporated when Jack King closed his store.

Even PMAI, the industry organization that supported camera stores and the mass photography industry for decades, has died. Fragments of it have spun out into other associations, or just joined CES, but they are a shadow of the grand organization that would host conventions of 50,000 people from all over the world, in Las Vegas and other major cities. I went to many of those meetings over the years. The last one I attended was in Anaheim, CA, in 2010. The handwriting was on the wall then... "This plane is going DOWN!" Shot down by the smartphone revolution...

BigHal

I have a local dealer who has helped me in equipment purchases, great advice, and professional photo printing. That said, I will always support them whenever I can, but Rongnongno is correct in his advice. If price differences between my local supplier, PhotoTek of Lake Charles, LA, and an on-line supplier of known good reputation is great enough to keep my wallet from suffering, I will go there. Lynn Broussard, one of the owners of PhotoTek has suggested other sources when he knew that his price was much more than my wallet could support; I appreciate that and will buy from him whenever his price difference is negligible with respect to the services he offers me. Besides, he is now a good friend, and I don't intend to jeopardise that relationship.

SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX

The Houston Camera Exchange sells cameras and lens from all the major companies at the same price as B & H or any of the on-line retailers.
However, for camera accessories this camera store is more expensive and I usually buy on-line. The Houston Camera Store has been Houston's premier camera outlet, is privately owned and has been in business for decades and seems to going strong.

brookie

I'm amazed at how many people have brick and mortar stores that match B&H prices. Either your local stores have changed or maintained pricing that matches my on line experience, or I simply live in the wrong place. Best wishes to all of us.

BIG ROB Loc: Princeton, NJ 08540

B&H is THE Best Store to do your business with, ALL things considered. RE: "the benevolence of giving your business to a Local Dealer", while it would be a thoughtful and kind hearted thing to do, it is in your own, BEST interest, to purchase on-line, from B&H, for very many reasons!...

IF YOU REALLY Desired to BE VERY kind hearted and Benevolent....don't buy the camera at all...and donate the cash to a struggling orphanage in your home state....or, donate the money for Bibles, to be shipped into Communist China!...Those, would be truly noble things, that you could do, if you really want to do, a really noble, and fine deed!....But, I would not be concerned, with looking out for private reseller's, of photography equipment!...In this day and age, they are a dying breed. "Everyone" buys over the Internet, in terms of the bulk quantity of the sales, and there are very many, very good reasons for this!!! B&H, is not the only one who sells over the Internet, but they are the largest, and most trustworthy, reliable, and they consistently offer the lowest prices, and have the best sales policies, and everyone uses them, and loves them, for forty years now. That is my, advise to you. Good luck!

B Hall Loc: Eugene, OR

I try to support the local camera store whenever I can. I go to the Shutterbug here in Eugene, Oregon and found out that they will match most any online price and have a great return policy. I go to them for advice and will give them my business in return.

Ed Commons

I like to buy local, however I go out on line and see what other camera stores charge. What I do is take the best price I find to the local shop. Often he will match or come close enough to make it worth doing business locally

Sealander

I used local camera shop for 30 years - but was one of best in country, so they would ship anywhere.

In Amazon.com world, they can't stock the range most retail customers want, so they can't get same speed of shipment from manufacturers.

Given that I travel many 1000's of miles per year - I have come to rely on B&H when I can't buy local.

They can get me things in the middle of nowhere. Fast.

B&H are simply spectacular.

Also used Adorama, who are ok. Stay away from the Brooklyn NY fronts that use street names as their retail names.

I've also used Amazon to order directly from manufacturers in Japan. I still feel nervous about that, but I have been 100% satisfied on these emergency orders.

B&H is my go to and I highly recommend them.

PS - I used to use KEH to sell used equipment, but they have gotten slow and stingy. B&H works better now for used gear selling.

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

Since there is a local store about 18 miles from my house, that is where I buy my most of my camera gear. I only buy online when the store does not carry the product I want and cannot order it for me. They are a registered Canon dealer so that suits my needs very well. I have purchased thee cameras and four or five lenses from them. They have given me extra discounts on items that are not already discounted by the manufacturer, i.e. filters, tripods, backpacks, etc.
Bud

bnsf

I have purchased a Sony 99m2 camera recently. I shipped my local camera store and really felt comfortable with this camera. I then looked on the internet for the best price I could find for it. Shaft B&H Photo in New York and found out that the camera store was charging me three to four hundred dollars more than what B&H wood for everything I needed. Plus I did not have to pay sales tax on the entire purchase. The only drawback I have in using B&H was that should I have a problem with the camera during warranty I would have to take it to the local camera shop to have them check it out and send it back to Sony. There would be a cost of $20 for them to send it back to me. Have not had no problem using B&H and should have it within 5 days after placing an order. I enjoy shopping at B&H.

GKarl Loc: Northern New Hampshire

I strongly believe in the concept of buying locally when items are the same and prices are close. I buy a lot of equipment from Hunt's Camera and Video in Manchester, New Hampshire. Prices are the same as the usual on line giants. I am able to handle the equipment, get advice and and ask questions. I also believe it is good for the economy.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

I've been purchasing my mat board from a local art supply store, but it was expensive so I started looking online. Found that I could get it cheaper, but only if I bought multiple full-size sheets. One of the online stores had a sliding scale - the more purchased, the better the discount, and it was the same brand name I purchase in my local store. So, I asked the owner if he would give me a discount on multiple sheets, say 5 - 10. He said he would give me 15% on 10 sheets! Sometimes to get a better price, you just have to ask. This was a bit more than online, but close enough, and I got "instant gratification"! Plus no shipping charges.

Unfortunately the other items - paper, filters, etc. I still have to buy online.

tropics68 Loc: Georgia

Showcase Video in Atlanta, been in business 40+ years with an excellent reputation and even a photography school, going out of business. More than likely unable to compete with online sellers. Too bad.