A question about purchasing ethics (Page 8): Prices should not be any different from the store or a warehouse like B&H, Adarmoa, and Amazon. The only difference is you may save on...

nikondoug

Prices should not be any different from the store or a warehouse like B&H, Adarmoa, and Amazon. The only difference is you may save on sales tax, but that is also changing. By the way I have found Amazon prices higher in some incidents.

Friscotex

deer2ker wrote:

Do you really buy your car online for a difference of $50? That’s just silly.

I guess you never shopped for a car by using the internet department at the dealership to contact the dealers? The point is there are many ways to shop and only you know what is best for you.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Kindness is NEVER out of fashion and always treat people well eve if they don't return the favor. We all learn at different speeds and need the time & space to process the data. Some are Quick studies and some ... Not So Much.

I love the story about the Leica Gear gifted to him as a clerk who helped the old man who never spent much $$$$ at the store until that day.......BOOM !

Halftrack

AndyH wrote:

It's not an ideal practice, in my opinion. br br ... (show quote)

It is and has been for several years here in Saint Petersburg, Florida. The only places we have are Best Buy, Sam's Club and Walmart. No Camera stores. Not much selection in any of the 3 stores.

BebuLamar

no12mo wrote:

I'm a sucker for loyalty. I have ONE person I go t... (show quote)

You talked about loyalty but I found that businesses today do not appreciate loyalty. Take the insurance and phone, cable TV and internet providers. They generally give new customers a good deal to switch from their competitors but then charge their loyal customers higher premium.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

BebuLamar wrote:

You talked about loyalty but I found that businesses today do not appreciate loyalty. Take the insurance and phone, cable TV and internet providers. They generally give new customers a good deal to switch from their competitors but then charge their loyal customers higher premium.

Different thing with most small businesses though. I love dealing with most of the ones I patronize. I can't say that about any of the businesses you mention, of course!

Andy

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

BebuLamar wrote:

You talked about loyalty but I found that businesses today do not appreciate loyalty. Take the insurance and phone, cable TV and internet providers. They generally give new customers a good deal to switch from their competitors but then charge their loyal customers higher premium.

Glad I'm not the only one with that pet peeve! Because I hate dealing with them I avoid changing but am always annoyed when they give better rates and rewards to customers with no loyalty.

BebuLamar

jaycoffman wrote:

Glad I'm not the only one with that pet peeve! Because I hate dealing with them I avoid changing but am always annoyed when they give better rates and rewards to customers with no loyalty.

Irony that my insurance agent told me so when he quoted me higher rate after I've been with him for a year. So it's a pain but I had to switch and came back to him and he gave me the lower rate again.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

OK we have good stores and bad stores. We have good Photographers and bad one. We also try to justify our selves.
Just enjoy taking pictures.

tiphareth51 Loc: Somewhere near North Pole, Alaska

Been there, done that, bought locally and the experience was horrible. Once the item leaves the store, it's yours whether it's defective, you don't like it, or whatever.
In my humble opinion, you usually can't get a better deal than B&H. They also have a fantastic return policy. So NO is my answer.

BVBob Loc: Tri Cities, Wa.

I live in a populated area of about 150 thousand people and we have no legitimate camera stores because they can't support themselves in the current business environment. The choice is yours, do you want camera shops in your area or do you want to buy online. I for one would buy from a local business and support my community. I just wish I had a local camera store to go to.

WJB Loc: Salisbury, MD

Hey George:

I follow the same approach that Andy does. It seems only fair. But then again, I often buy from B&H straight away-rare that I'm near a good, small camera store on Delmarva.

Bill Bostian

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

Kmgw9v wrote:

What a question.
I think most know the answer.

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

tiphareth51 wrote:

Been there, done that, bought locally and the experience was horrible. Once the item leaves the store, it's yours whether it's defective, you don't like it, or whatever.
In my humble opinion, you usually can't get a better deal than B&H. They also have a fantastic return policy. So NO is my answer.

NP, just dont put your grubby hands on the local merchandise and waste the salesperson's time.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

WJB wrote:

Hey George:

I follow the same approach that Andy does. It seems only fair. But then again, I often buy from B&H straight away-rare that I'm near a good, small camera store on Delmarva.

Bill Bostian

If you're lucky enough to have a small, locally owned shop, it's worth a few extra bucks to help keep it in business.

I'm not the only one, apparently, as they seem (so far!) to be doing quite well. The local guy who bought the shop from the prior owner in 2007 has built a very loyal following. I use them for all my film and processing, and buy what gear I can there as well. One camera body and three lenses in the past two years is my small contribution, plus assorted small stuff. No negative implications intended to the great online vendors - most of which have been mentnioned here - they're great companies as well. But if I can help a good local business survive, I'm willing to do my part.

There are many other local small businesses worthy of your support, and if it's ten bucks or less to buy locally why would you do anything else?

Andy