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Local Camera Stores in the Age of Big Boxes
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Jun 9, 2017 07:05:18   #
roxiemarty Loc: Florida
 
dsmeltz wrote:
A few recent posts have made me think about the quality of help available to photography novices. In one post, staff at what is said to be a "local camera store" told someone that their SD card may have been damaged magnetically.

Obviously not true.

I would expect this from a clerk at WM or even BB, but not at a dedicated camera store.

Are the Big Boxes making it more difficult for local camera stores to find/afford quality staff?

I am in Philadelphia and (since the closing of Calumet) have to go outside the city to get to a good reliable store with knowledgeable staff.

How are local stores in your area?
A few recent posts have made me think about the qu... (show quote)

Did your camera store in Chinatown close? I went there less than a year ago, there was still one real camera store. It was called Pro Photography Supply on 12th St.

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Jun 9, 2017 07:09:04   #
repleo Loc: Boston
 
dsmeltz wrote:
A few recent posts have made me think about the quality of help available to photography novices. In one post, staff at what is said to be a "local camera store" told someone that their SD card may have been damaged magnetically.

Obviously not true.

I would expect this from a clerk at WM or even BB, but not at a dedicated camera store.

Are the Big Boxes making it more difficult for local camera stores to find/afford quality staff?

I am in Philadelphia and (since the closing of Calumet) have to go outside the city to get to a good reliable store with knowledgeable staff.

How are local stores in your area?
A few recent posts have made me think about the qu... (show quote)


The Boston area has lost several camera stores in recent years, but it is still well served by Hunt's Photo who were the subject of a recent highly complimentary thread here. I also frequent Orleans Photo on Cape Cod. They have several professional photographers on their staff and hold exhibitions of the work of local photographers.

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Jun 9, 2017 07:13:03   #
dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia
 
roxiemarty wrote:
Did your camera store in Chinatown close? I went there less than a year ago, there was still one good real camera store.


OMG!!!! I forgot about WEBB! I used to go there in the 90's. After switching to digital and moving to South Philly, I started using Calumet and Allen's (since) I can stop there after work. I will have to drop in to see if they still have the same awesome level of service they had in the 90's.

Apologies to WEBB Cam.

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Jun 9, 2017 07:14:24   #
GregWCIL Loc: Illinois
 
ExTech2 wrote:
I live 60 miles from my local store. That is Schillers in St. Louis, MO. Extremely knowledgeable staff, great service, honest and reputable. Highly recommend them to anyone.



They have experienced employees and great inventory. Just bought a backpack there. They were the only store anywhere close where I could do a hands-on comparison of several top brands.

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Jun 9, 2017 07:15:34   #
motorman Loc: greenville nc
 
dsmeltz wrote:
A few recent posts have made me think about the quality of help available to photography novices. In one post, staff at what is said to be a "local camera store" told someone that their SD card may have been damaged magnetically.

Obviously not true.

I would expect this from a clerk at WM or even BB, but not at a dedicated camera store.

Are the Big Boxes making it more difficult for local camera stores to find/afford quality staff?

I am in Philadelphia and (since the closing of Calumet) have to go outside the city to get to a good reliable store with knowledgeable staff.

How are local stores in your area?
A few recent posts have made me think about the qu... (show quote)



I was very fortunate to have ASAP Photo (http://www.asapphoto.com/) when i got the bug again. Their expertise guided me thru multiple purchases in and out of their store over a 2 year period.
as my hobby grew and i wanted to trade up from entry level to prosumer hobbiest they provided quality advice and highly competative trade values. Sadly I retired to Ocala fl just after their last camera store closed. Now its a good 70 miles to the nearest one. But ASAP in Greenville NC is still one of those gems that i can count on.

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Jun 9, 2017 07:18:24   #
dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl
 
dsmeltz wrote:
A few recent posts have made me think about the quality of help available to photography novices. In one post, staff at what is said to be a "local camera store" told someone that their SD card may have been damaged magnetically.

Obviously not true.

I would expect this from a clerk at WM or even BB, but not at a dedicated camera store.

Are the Big Boxes making it more difficult for local camera stores to find/afford quality staff?

I am in Philadelphia and (since the closing of Calumet) have to go outside the city to get to a good reliable store with knowledgeable staff.

How are local stores in your area?
A few recent posts have made me think about the qu... (show quote)


I am in the Clearwater/Tarpon Springs area (near Tampa) and the only decent local camera store was on US19 near Palm Harbor. It didn't close because of pressure from "big box" stores or from the internet. It closed because the owner passed away and the family was left in good financial shape (via the sell of the assets of the store and the insurance). None of the family members wanted to continue the management of the store and so, they locked the doors and sold the inventory out of state. The local Best Buy is a joke and the owner of the only other "true" photography store, in downtown Clearwater, was owned by an elderly guy that retired. In addition, the building his store was located in was purchased by Scientology, (part of the reason he chose to retire rather than go through the trouble of moving. I'm sure there are other small shops but they haven't shown up in Google. There is a couple that "specialize in video but when called, they have nothing in the way of digital.

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Jun 9, 2017 07:19:16   #
roxiemarty Loc: Florida
 
Anyone near Indianapolis can go to Roberts Camera, which has been around for 3 generations of my family. I go when I am in Indy. They now have a second smaller store in Carmel, Indiana. Great staff there!

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Jun 9, 2017 07:20:15   #
roxiemarty Loc: Florida
 
dsmeltz wrote:
OMG!!!! I forgot about WEBB! I used to go there in the 90's. After switching to digital and moving to South Philly, I started using Calumet and Allen's (since) I can stop there after work. I will have to drop in to see if they still have the same awesome level of service they had in the 90's.

Apologies to WEBB Cam.


Yes they were great when I went there needing some things.

Reply
Jun 9, 2017 07:22:39   #
waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li
 
I have a plethora of digital stuff within about 40 minutes drive. The new stuff is a little high priced but the used stuff is great; the dealers will meet or beat e-bay prices and there is no waiting on the Postman. The owners are very knowledgeable and go out of their way to help. However, film support is rare.

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Jun 9, 2017 07:26:11   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
dsmeltz wrote:
A few recent posts have made me think about the quality of help available to photography novices. In one post, staff at what is said to be a "local camera store" told someone that their SD card may have been damaged magnetically.

Obviously not true.

I would expect this from a clerk at WM or even BB, but not at a dedicated camera store.

Are the Big Boxes making it more difficult for local camera stores to find/afford quality staff?

I am in Philadelphia and (since the closing of Calumet) have to go outside the city to get to a good reliable store with knowledgeable staff.

How are local stores in your area?
A few recent posts have made me think about the qu... (show quote)


We have one camera store left in the area, and it offers loads of services. I think that's their saving grace - offering so many products and services. How much profit is a store making to be able to pay a decent salary to its workers? If a kid is looking for a job with high pay and easy work, a camera store probably wouldn't be for him. Someone who knows and loves photography, and for whom maximum income isn't essential, would be a good prospect. For a camera store to be successful, it must employ people who know and love photography.

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Jun 9, 2017 07:28:37   #
dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl
 
dsmeltz wrote:
Guess I should give a shout out to Allen's Camera just outside Philadelphia. That is where I would go and where a I would send novice.


Also New York Camera and Video in Southampton Pa. (just south of Philadelphia and just east of Warminster Pa). They have a great inventory of both new and used cameras and lenses, provide digital processing, lots of equipment to purchase or rent, and great contacts to help you get older or unusual equipment or solve issues. And they know just about everyone in the business in the northeast and are a good help for unusual problems.

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Jun 9, 2017 07:43:59   #
waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li
 
jerryc41 wrote:
We have one camera store left in the area, and it offers loads of services. I think that's their saving grace - offering so many products and services. How much profit is a store making to be able to pay a decent salary to its workers? If a kid is looking for a job with high pay and easy work, a camera store probably wouldn't be for him. Someone who knows and loves photography, and for whom maximum income isn't essential, would be a good prospect. For a camera store to be successful, it must employ people who know and love photography.
We have one camera store left in the area, and it ... (show quote)


I think you are right on about the service. With the amount of stuff available on the internet and sellers willing to pay postage it is service that sets the brick and mortar stores apart.

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Jun 9, 2017 07:45:01   #
photostephen
 
dsmeltz wrote:
Guess I should give a shout out to Allen's Camera just outside Philadelphia. That is where I would go and where a I would send novice.


I am also in the South Jersey (Philadelphia) area, and Allen's Camera is the only local store option I know about. I went there once (an hour drive) and the store is excellent. It was just a long drive.

There used to be a Camera Store in Cherry Hill (Le Camera), but it closed years ago, and it was no where near the quality of either Calumet or Allen's.

So B&H or Adorama it is for me.
And of course this forum for advice!

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Jun 9, 2017 07:58:33   #
londonfire Loc: NY to NC
 
I'm not too far from Spartan Photo in Spartanburg, SC. They have a small store that has a nice showroom and a print lab. The staff is always friendly and willing to help.
Ball Photo in Asheville, NC is kind of like a trip back in time. Showroom is a little disorganized but fun to browse. It makes you look at the whole place. Mostly older cameras and a great place for legacy lenses.

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Jun 9, 2017 07:59:12   #
questor84 Loc: Cadillac, Michigan
 
It is an hour and a half drive but Norman Camera in Grand Rapids Michigan is a full service store with lots of inventory, knowledge staff, classes and rental gear especially lenses. They also have a store in Kalamazoo. When asked they will match B&H pricing. You have to pay sales tax but I find that's worth it. I just wish it were closer.

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