Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

If I have received excellent advice then I asked them to check prices and do what they can to make the sale. Loyalty cuts both ways. However in recent months my local dealer has let all of the experienced professional people go. So I don’t go there anymore.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Quiet corner of CT is NE, right? What about Photo Connection near Colchester?

Marvelton Loc: Little Rock, AR

I’m a semi-professional magician and avid photographer. There used to be a brick and mortar magic store in just about every big city. On line sales have all but shut them down. I worry that dedicated photography stores are headed the same direction. The overhead of having an actual store front makes it impossible to compete with online prices. I hope I’m wrong.

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

Frankly it depends on the people involved too. I have had the local camera store salespeople try to talk me into changing from Canon to Nikon. I also had one tell me that it would be too much relearoto change. Salespeople have their biases and for different reasons.

When I worked in retail years ago I had one customer who would come into the shop and pick my brain on how to do things for an hour. He would then buy a dollars worth of stuff and be gone. But I gave him my time and advise if there were no other customers requiring attention. Other salespeople were not as accommodating to him.

Years ago it was the case with radio control cars, planes and boats that people would come into the shop to see the latest stuff , play with it and then go mail order from NYC for less money. Some would even boast about getting it for less from NYC. After s couple years of this the owner got wide and got out of RC and into computer gear. So, business is constantly evolving and so are the businesses and shoppers. Just a fact of life.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

It is rare that I buy a piece of major equipment based upon retailer recommendations. Usually, it is a specific capability of the new body or lens that I am purchasing after research and reflection. Since my local camera store is not usually convenient.

It is on accessories such as light modifiers, light stands, camera bags that I go to the local store to see. These items are often priced differently at different stores because the suppliers do not have the market clout of Canon, Sony or Nikon. If I see something that I am going to purchase, I pricecheck. If it is in the ballpark, I buy from the merchant. If it is substantially cheaper elsewhere, I buy elsewhere if the local merchant can’t come close. Among trusted merchants, my big ticket items are purchased keeping convenience, date product needed, and similar concerns in mind. Sometimes I go into a camera store to browse. I am far more likely to make a impulse buy in person than online.

But to answer the OP’s question, if I took up the merchant’s time, if their comments were helpful, and if their price is reasonable, then I will buy locally. They provided value. If the merchant reads what I have already read from the package label then I feel no obligation.

alexol

10% seems a little arbitrary, no?

Unfortunately - and depressingly - we have moved to a Walmart world where the only thing that counts is price.

Long ago, we downgraded our vocabulary and no longer understand the difference between price, cost and value.

olsonsview

A friend of mine owned a camera store here in NE Ohio, it was in his family for over forty years. He closed his doors eventually because of customers that not only looked at products in his store, then purchased online, but had the nerve to come back to his store with their internet purchases and demand that he show them how to use their new cameras. Some argued that as a dealer he had a responsibility to teach them how to use their new cameras! He offered to give them instruction for a nominal per hour fee, and they stormed out, vowing to never come back! True story!

awis01

I completely agree. Keeping local folks in business is a great thing.

BebuLamar

Not for everything. I bought something from B&H in January and the order was not even cancellable let alone return.

deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN

I love my local camera shop, Dury's, as their salesmen are all very knowledgeable and sincere and none of them feel like they are trying to "sell" you. I would be heartbroken if I found they are closing. They are situated in a not-so-great part of town which is smart as the rent is probably low but it is easy to get to and it is a fairly large camera store. I wish they would venture to online sales as I think with their reputation, they would compete with B&H and Adorama and even KEH as far as used lenses are concerned. I have bought most of my camera gear from them as they have matched the online stores for the most part. Even if they are a little higher I would purchase from them for their expertise. I have also traded / sold used gear to them and they have been very fair.
I have a coffee shop & cafe' downtown Nashville and we have people who bring other drinks (Starbucks') and other food into our shop and we have asked them (and have signs on the door - but what are signs?) to leave items outside and we get very nasty comments and reviews from people who think it is their right!? This is the same respect I feel for the local camera shops - it comes down to respect. They are there to help and answer as many questions as you need without obligation but to use them as your own personal investigative "get the best price" option is disrespectful in my opinion. You are getting a cheaper price online because they don't have to pay experts to help you!
As far as sales tax is concerned - we in TN call it a "consumption" tax and we are very happy to "choose" to buy things with a 9.45% sales tax and not have taxes forcefully taken away to waste. You will find most people in TN are pretty happy with how things are done here and the fact that TN is second lowest state with no debt. (maybe that's why scores of people are moving here from the West and East?)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Regardless of what photo equipment I need, I check with my local store first. If they have it, I purchase it there. If not, I'll order from B and H. I want to do what I can to keep my local store open. Their collective knowledge and advice are priceless.

I should think it very disingenuous to take up a salesperson's time and then purchase from some online store.
--Bob

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

After reading all the posts from people who do not have the option of going into a locally owned shop that attempts to offer deals, takes trade-ins, offers good advice, and has a good selection of used gear, I am happier and happier with my local store.

I should note that I live in a state with no sales tax, so there has never been a price advantage built in for online dealers because they haven't collected that sales tax. I have no doubt that has helped some of our local specialty stores to buck the online trend. It's still a big advantage for the Internet behemoths, but there's no finger on the scale in terms of the sales tax advantage.

I do buy online, especially as I often purchase used kit, from B&H, KEH, Hunt's, and others. But this thread has made me more likely to buy locally, even if the price isn't quite there.

If you're ever in the southern New Hampshire area, it's well worth a trip to visit these nice folks. They'll be happy to chat photography as long as you want, even if you don't purchase a pack of lens wipes!

https://monadnockimaging.com/

Andy

epd1947

You are certainly not “obligated” but it is not an ethical or a decent thing to do. If you are always looking for the bargain basement price then just do your own research and don’t pilfer the time of the local shop owner.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

I say it depends. When I was changing camera systems last month I'd researched what I wanted online but went to my local retail store to see it and ask a few questions. Basically they treated me like a pest. They begrudgingly got out the different lenses but no one wanted to talk to me or give any reasonable answers. I finally gave up and got it from B&H (who were happy to answer my questions and walked me right through the trade-in process). At the retail store I'd even brought in my old system to trade in that day but never got around to it although they accept trade-ins. That's happened more than once at this retails store so I can either assume they are finding another revenue source or will soon be out of business. So, my "depends" answer is the same as anywhere--if the service is good and the price close you should buy from the store that helps you and treats you well whether on-line or brick and mortar.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I have a longstanding relationship with my local retailer, Allen's Camera, with whom I do business whenever possible. Over the years I have received incredible service and I am thankful for their existence. Their prices are competitive, they give me good value on trades and I value their friendship and product knowledge. They can deliver supplies, like ink for my Epson P800, next day via UPS, unlike B&H who now uses FedEx which sometimes takes 3 days. I will do all I can to help keep them in business. Best of luck.