Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: hasselbladfan on March 01, 2016, 10:27:43 am
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I am not sure if it is a coincidence, but around me, many photo stores (mostly Leica/Canon/Nikon dealers) have closed in the last 6-9 months.
Swizerland (2)
Belgium (3)
US (Calumet)
France (2)
Is this happening around the globe?
I guess after losing the film industry (film & print), the second hand market (to Ebay / forums), the lower margins manufacturers are giving them are not enough to make end meet.
Another end of a era?
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I think one big problem that is happening is "showrooming". This is where a customer walks in, looks at the gear, decides what they want, then goes online to buy it from a cheaper website. It's good for the consumer, but horrible for the retailers. Same thing is happening in many other market segments. So the B&M dealers, with their increased overhead, can't compete with the cheaper online dealers.
In the case of Calumet, I think they just weren't competitive enough in the online marketplace. Their store didn't function as well, and their prices were a bit higher, so they lost out to the likes of Adorama and B&H. I liked them because they were Chicago based, so I basically got overnight shipping for the price of regular ground, mind you the NY stores are two to three days, so no slouch either.
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The disappearance of small photo stores is nothing new. I enforced the US antitrust laws for the FTC for 25 years and occasionally got involved in various price discrimination (Robinson Patman Act) cases involving the photo industry. Even before the internet the large NY outfits were getting way better prices than the small local stores. One defense to the price discrimination was to show that it was cost justified due to volume. One large importer/seller actually did the study and found such savings were so small he'd be "laughed out of the room" if he tried to rely on that to get into one of the huge and necessary retail accounts.
Sadly, piecemeal enforcement of that law probably did more damage than good, but the ascendancy of the "Chicago School" of economic philosophy assured that there would never be serious enforcement of that (and many other) laws. So, from the philosophy that brought you the Wall Street deregulation, meltdown, and world recession, you also probably don't have that local store you used to enjoy visiting.
Paul
www.PaulRoark.com
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... Even before the internet the large NY outfits were getting way better prices than the small local stores. One defense to the price discrimination was to show that it was cost justified due to volume. One large importer/seller actually did the study and found such savings were so small he'd be "laughed out of the room" if he tried to rely on that to get into one of the huge and necessary retail accounts...
Paul, not sure what you are trying to say here. What savings? Cost-justified to whom?
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Paul, not sure what you are trying to say here. What savings? Cost-justified to whom?
My local dealer in Scotland was a Nikon and Hasselblad dealer, and a Leica specialist dealer.
One day, wanting some new 'blad stuff, I walked over to see him, only to be astounded at the discovery that he no longer handled Hasselblad. Why? He couldn't buy from Hasselblad at the price the London and Leeds mega-boyz were selling them to Joe Public!
I have always held that competition in that field should be based on whatever internal advantages of scale the big guys can make, not on the grossly unfair practice of discriminating between dealerships depending on how much buying muscle they flex.
Talk about anti-trust!
Oh, it was about a 50mm Distagon; I ended up buying in another larger Glasgow shop that had what used to be a 'package' in stock: a 'package' was a system then in vogue whereby body and lens came bundled - for some import restriction/customs reason, I believe, and was supposed to be sold as one. However, life being tough, the dealer sold me the lens on its own, making us both, technically, criminals! Anyone think political madness is something new?
Advantage to the buying public? I don't thnk so. I can no longer find anything I am remotely interested in anywhere in Mallorca; my Barcelona wholesaler of yore closed down the Mallorcan branch a few years after digital killed the huge chemicals/paper business they had. So now I have to deal with a company in London, sight unseen... I shudder to think what it'll cost should anything go wrong and I get involved in mailing stuff here, there and everywhere. Seems these giants forget that not everyone lives in a capital city. No, they don't forget: they don't give a shit.
Rob
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In the case of Calumet, I think they just weren't competitive enough in the online marketplace. Their store didn't function as well, and their prices were a bit higher, so they lost out to the likes of Adorama and B&H. I liked them because they were Chicago based, so I basically got overnight shipping for the price of regular ground, mind you the NY stores are two to three days, so no slouch either.
You may have gotten faster shipping from Chicago, depending on where you live, but the sales tax in Chicago is 10.25% (highest in the nation). In IL B&H and Adorama charge no sales tax. You are supposed to report out of state purchases on your income tax and pay up, but very few do. With the purchase of a $3000 camera, that's $307.50.
Bill
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You may have gotten faster shipping from Chicago, depending on where you live, but the sales tax in Chicago is 10.25% (highest in the nation). In IL B&H and Adorama charge no sales tax. You are supposed to report out of state purchases on your income tax and pay up, but very few do. With the purchase of a $3000 camera, that's $307.50.
Bill
I'm in Michigan. So yeah, it was a location thing. I did shop there in person also though, although usually at Oak Brook, which I think has cheaper sales tax than Chicago.
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I buy at the brick and mortar store if they have it, and I use the old-fashioned technology of .... the phone ... to check if they have the item before I drive there, not that it is a big trip (7 miles). I order oddities (those Sigma Merrills; 82mm lens hood and cap) and a few odds and ends (card reader, step rings and adapters, etc) from the internet.
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Unfortunately our brick and mortar stores were just never had stock of things I would ever need. Why wait a week or so to order something from them, pay more, and pay local sales tax if I need something for a photo shoot two days out. It was still cheaper to order from B&H and being on their shipping route, I have everything the next day anyways.
Plus the local stores always pushed their own name branded, or no-name brand gear. I often tried to support but its just not the same. I have Calumet lighting cases that are falling apart after just 3 years of use. They won't last me another year. I have think tank bags much older that get daily use (I shoot for a living) that are no different than day 1. Same goes for light stands, etc... The local stores would never have the name brand I wanted since they catered more to general public than to the higher end gear.
That being said...here in the states I always new I could get a pro level camera on release from the local Ritz store before online retailers. They would always receive one or two cameras and no one would ever buy them. You could just walk in and two three days after release day they would have one. Its how I got both my 5D and 5DmkII when no one else could get me a copy of one.
That being said...after Ritz was rebought the opened a local store again. They actually have a nice selection of all the new mirrorless brands and lenses, as well as the bigger name stuff. Surprising.
I love having local camera shops. I can grab last minute essentials or backups, or who knows what on my way to a shoot for example. Our local master print shop started carrying inventory of key essentials too for all their pros to quick grab. Gaffers tape, BW filters, sensor and lens cleaning fluids, pocket wizards, batteries, etc... It helps a lot!
Its a shame to see them all close.
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Virtually every dealer I buy from has a bricks & mortar presence but do the majority of their business through online sales.
That certainly seems to be one way things are heading, at least here in Australia, the intention being to have people thinking that they are getting the best of both worlds. Several successful on-line retailers have opened bricks and mortar outlets, and some of the major Hong Kong Ebay sellers have tried some kind of virtual local presence by way of local phone numbers and/or mailing addresses.
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I am not sure if it is a coincidence, but around me, many photo stores (mostly Leica/Canon/Nikon dealers) have closed in the last 6-9 months.
Swizerland (2)
Belgium (3)
US (Calumet)
France (2)
Is this happening around the globe?
I guess after losing the film industry (film & print), the second hand market (to Ebay / forums), the lower margins manufacturers are giving them are not enough to make end meet.
Another end of a era?
Huh? This has been going on for years and not just in cameras. I guess it might be catching up in high population centers, but most smaller cities don't have much in the way of camera shops. My local one is mostly services with not much selection or inventory for actual equipment. I'm 2.5 hours drive from the nearest decent shop and even they don't have all that much.
Between the selection, convienience and price available online and the loss of low end stuff to box stores like Best Buy, it is somewhat impossible to compete. I buy most of my stuff online at B&H or Amazon. And it's not all price driven. The D500 has a price floor of $1999 in the US. It is price fixed.
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I am not sure if it is a coincidence, but around me, many photo stores (mostly Leica/Canon/Nikon dealers) have closed in the last 6-9 months.
Swizerland (2)
Belgium (3)
US (Calumet)
France (2)
Is this happening around the globe?
I guess after losing the film industry (film & print), the second hand market (to Ebay / forums), the lower margins manufacturers are giving them are not enough to make end meet.
Another end of a era?
I don't know about other countries, but unfortunately, here in Canada similar phenomenon happened also in other industries, indirectly affecting most retail channels for photographers selling their work. For example, most independent book stores that carried and sold local interest photography books were forced out of business and most art galleries that used to showcase paintings and photographs by local artists, can survive now only as custom framing shops or reselling mass produced prints.
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I buy used equipment as often as possible...if I have to buy new, I purchase from Canada (Camera Canada) or via Ebay from Hong Kong or thereabouts...less expensive because of the exchange rate (Canada), or just overall better price (Ebay via Hong Kong).
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Here in Portugal, there a couple of B&M shops in the two big cities (Lisbon and Porto). Both of them have been on the business for 2 or 3 decades by now. One of them typically is the point of contact for pros, the other one is the representative of ZEISS, and stocks some more difficult to find stuff (e.g. Novoflex); they do not carry a big number of Canikon products.
Both shops have an online store, one can not live without it these days, and it is very helpful for folks living outside of these two major cities.
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I don't really need a brick and mortar store to buy camera gear. How much can you actually test in a store, really?
I prefer to rent the gear I am interested in for a few days, see if it is worth it and then buy online*.
MF gear is a bit different, online availability outside the US is not on the same level as the smaller formats and the dealers (At least the ones I have dealt with) are far more willing to let you do extended tests outside the confines of their store. It is also important to build a good working relationship with an MF dealer for aftersales support, IMO.
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Before going into full out lament mode, consider that online sales and big shops with online/mail order are the reason smaller companies can still generate enough sales to stay in business and new products are introduced. Pentax and Olympus would probably not be selling much in the US otherwise. And mirror-less would have taken a lot longer to get going. Like a publishing house in that business, camera shops were to a great extent the gatekeeper that selected what products would be sold and what wouldn't.
And if you don't understand the power of online sales and direct marketing, study the Nest Thermostat. Honeywell developed all the same capabilities, but never really brought it to market. They sell their thermostats through installers and the installers didn't want them. They chose for the consumer not to have them. Nest went over their heads direct and both the installers and Honeywell have paid dearly.
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I just went through ordering, receiving, using, and ultimately returning 2 of 3 $2000+ lenses by ordering through B&H.
Each lens came with free shipping.
I used the first 2 lenses for a few weeks apiece, ultimately returning them, and finally received, and kept, the 3rd ($5700) lens, again with free shipping.
Other than the mere cost of return shipping (less than $25), I was not penalized in any way for the use of the first two 2 lenses.
B&H restocked them for free.
In a mere 3 days, I had a nearly-$6000 lens delivered to my door, again for free.
Time = money.
Driving = time + money.
I would've lost far more out-of-pocket, by physically getting into my car, taking the time to drive to a camera shop, hold the lenses in my hand there, talk with the vendor for X minutes, then pay for lenses, drive back home with lenses, only to find out (later, after actual use on my own camera) that I wanted to return it ... and then lost still more time + money by driving them back to the dealer, "hoping" the small-time vendor would offer full refund after a week of use, only to go through this process again, twice.
Using B&H takes mere moments online, and I only have to walk to my door when UPS arrives.
If I need to return the item, then a simple phone call to UPS gets the item picked up at my door as well.
In my opinion, B&H Photo as such an impeccable level of service (immediate shipping, free shipping, no-charge return policy w/in 30 days, in unblemished), that I don't know why anyone would even bother with the added/unnecessary expense of "renting" a lens from a lens rental place either.
I also don't know why anyone would miss "not having a local camera store," unless they're retired and they can afford the spare time to physically doodle around driving to stores and browsing through them.
Jack
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... I don't know why anyone would even bother with the added/unnecessary expense of "renting" a lens from a lens rental place either...
Ethics?
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Ethics?
Since I have a degree in the subject (Philosophy), I feel I am more qualified than you to use and discuss the term.
If my intent is only to borrow, then I agree that it would be unethical to simply use the B&H return policy to "buy" the lens, only with the intent to return it later.
However, if my intent is to purchase, but (upon receiving and using a given lens) I decided it isn't sharp enough to suit me, and if I then send that lens back, afterwards purchasing a new lens (that is actually more than twice as much as the first lens), then there is no ethical issue whatsoever.
That is what B&H's policy is there for, and why they have "Item not as expected" as a reason for return.
Jack
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Since I have a degree in the subject (Philosophy), I feel I am more qualified than you to use and discuss the term.
If my intent is only to borrow, then I agree that it would be unethical to simply use the B&H return policy to "buy" the lens, only with the intent to return it later.
However, if my intent is to purchase, but (upon receiving and using a given lens) I decided it isn't sharp enough to suit me, and if I then send that lens back, afterwards purchasing a new lens (that is actually more than twice as much as the first lens), then there is no ethical issue whatsoever.
That is what B&H's policy is there for, and why they have "Item not as expected" as a reason for return.
Jack
The first time you described it, you sounded like you were just taking advantage of the policy. This time you sound like you are using the policy in place of being able to test it in the store, very different. Mind you, some companies encourage this exact behavior, as a happy customer is a repeat customer (generally).
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The first time you described it, you sounded like you were just taking advantage of the policy. This time you sound like you are using the policy in place of being able to test it in the store, very different.
No, I was seriously wanting a field lens.
I suppose my error was to say, "I don't know why anyone would use a lens rental place."
If I "only want a lens, temporarily" then renting (borrowing) is what a lens rental place is for.
However, I sincerely want to purchase a lens, and I believe Lens X was the lens I wanted (after reading reviews, etc.), so I didn't need any lens rental facility. I bought, with confidence, that I would either like the lens I get from B&H, or I could safely return it for a full refund/exchange.
I wound up "biting the bullet," and buying the most expensive lens of the 3 I was considering.
Mind you, some companies encourage this exact behavior, as a happy customer is a repeat customer (generally).
Exactly right.
It is precisely because of this level of service that I have bought exclusively from B&H (except for RRS products) for 8 years now.
Jack
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Lens and other equipment rentals are for situations where one needs a specialty lens for a specific job or for trying out lenses and cameras in the field before committing to buy. Sometime I am going to rent some Big Whites one by one to see if I can manage them for birding, the Sigma 180 macro, and a tilt-shift (24mm), to see if TS helps in landscapes and urbanscapes. The TS-E 24 version 1 I can get locally for a day at 35 bucks, a reasonable price for learning something about TS and for a day of fun. The other two categories.... well, I am pumping iron in anticipation. ;) My heaviest lenses are 1.2 kg, I can hand hold these fine. 3 or 4 kg? May be a different story.
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I just went through ordering, receiving, using, and ultimately returning 2 of 3 $2000+ lenses...
This sounded like the practice of some people to order 3 copies of the same lens, test them to find the best, and return the other two. Ethical? I do not know. But I do know that when I order a new lens or camera, I expect a virgin new, untouched. Otherwise I'd buy used.
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Since I have a degree in the subject (Philosophy), I feel I am more qualified than you to use and discuss the term...
I'll pretend I did not see that.
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This sounded like the practice of some people to order 3 copies of the same lens, test them to find the best, and return the other two. Ethical? I do not know. But I do know that when I order a new lens or camera, I expect a virgin new, untouched. Otherwise I'd buy used.
These people make me laugh.
I have never bought a "Bad copy" of a lens, ever. That includes 25 year old MF lenses I buy off Fleabay.
The lack of knowledge on how to do AF microadjust and bad technique in general leads to a lot of "Bad copy" reports, IMO.
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This sounded like the practice of some people to order 3 copies of the same lens, test them to find the best, and return the other two.
Then your ears are bad. (Or your interpretation of what was written :) )
My purchases were nothing like this.
Ethical? I do not know.
I would call your example unethical (or "shady") on the part of the buyer.
The trigger of legitimacy versus fraud is intent.
A buyer of 3 of the same lenses, who intends to send 2 back, is fully-aware that 2 of 3 transactions are not legitimate purchase efforts.
I did no such thing. I made a legitimate purchase effort, was not satisfied, and returned the lens in accordance with the intent of B&H's return policy.
I selected another lens, different brand, same range, in another legitimate purchase effort, was again not fully-satisfied, and returned that lens as well.
I then purchased a 3rd lens, again totally different but same range (which was more expensive than the other 2 put together).
I kept the last and most expensive lens, because it performs beyond (not below) my expectations, and I am 100% satisified with it.
(The truth is, I would have preferred to spend less, wasted less time/effort, and have kept my first choice; but that's not the way it worked out.)
Therefore, the difference in intent in the two examples is night and day.
But I do know that when I order a new lens or camera, I expect a virgin new, untouched. Otherwise I'd buy used.
Then your argument should be with B&H's allowance of a return policy, not on the return decisions I made in exercising my right to use that policy in exactly the manner in which it was intended.
Jack
PS: For that matter, it could also be argued that, if B&H allows people to "Buy 3, send back 2," then even that purchaser is within his rights. So, even here, your argument would have to be with B&H's policy (or with whatever salesman is allowing people to "bend" B&H's honorable policy into something not intended) by allowing such antics.
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I'll pretend I did not see that.
Lol :D
Shall I bait you even more by letting you know I have been an insurance claims & fraud investigator since 1988, and am "pretty well-schooled" on the differences between "legitimate" and "fraudulent" (ethical vs. unethical) ;D
Again, along with intent to defraud, the other trigger is a misrepresentation.
If I know I am "buying" a lens, with the intent to return it for a full refund ... after I get back home from my vacation ... then I am guilty of a fraudulent purchase.
I have intentionally defrauded the vendor by a misrepresentation.
My "purchase" was in truth an attempt to "borrow for free," with the intent to get my money back.
By contrast, if I legitimately want to own "Lens X," and I buy it, but then (after testing it) decide that it does not meet my expectations, in no way am I committing any intent to defraud (nor am I misrepresenting a thing) by returning it to the vendor with "does not meet my expectations" checked-off as my reason. (Especially if I send the vendor twice as much money, for a better lens, with my intent being to keep the lens.)
The two cases are not even remotely similar.
Jack
PS: Fire away, lol
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Hi,
Just as a general comment, I would suggest that photoprocessing was a major source of income for many "brick and mortar" photoshops. The other is that it is convenient to buy trough mail order.
Mail order stores have some advantages, one is that you can order almost anything. The smaller store has only a limited range of products. Another advantage with mail order is that the stuff they ship is new, never been packed up. Finally, mail order stores don't talk you into stuff they happen to have on their shelfs.
Mail order firms need to have a decent return policy, it is part of the business.
Now, there is something called sample variation. It is obviously nice if you can cherry pick, but that just makes someone else to buy the lemons.
Renting a lens from Lensrentals obviously makes some sense, they are testing all they lenses, so the risk of getting a real lemon is much reduced and I think it is possible to buy the lens you have on rental. As it happens, I live in Europe, so Lensrentals is not available to me.
The way I do things is:
- Consider my needs
- Read all available test for relevant equipment
- Choose the one that is best match for needs and wallet
- Order from one of my two favourite mail order shops
- Test troughly on arrival
Has worked for me so far.
Best regards
Erik
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i am no philosophy student, but nor do i believe that one can "philosophise" by heating ones head up with a few books.
however, the broader implications of this subject do seem not only related to philosophy but also to morals, personal integrity and, as suggested, ethics.
unless you live on a desert island, you probably are part of a larger community of fellow humans, if you are in trouble and need help, chances are a neighbour would offer help, or if you see someone who is in distress it is an intrinsic human instinct to offer help.
so if you are ok with having all the local jobs being done in (so called) third world countries by people who are in slave like conditions, or the fact that all your local stores no longer serve your community but are part of an automated "box shifting" business designed to steam-line profits for a very few, then good for you. but i would hesitate to call myself someone who has spent a lot of time "philosophising" if that was the case.
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In my opinion, B&H Photo as such an impeccable level of service (immediate shipping, free shipping, no-charge return policy w/in 30 days, in unblemished), that I don't know why anyone would even bother with the added/unnecessary expense of "renting" a lens from a lens rental place either.
Jack
I am not sure I understand what you are writing here. Are you advocating that instead of renting a lens that one buys a lens, uses it for the event, and then returns the lens to the retailer for a refund?
Is that what you are advocating?
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so if you are ok with having all the local jobs being done in (so called) third world countries by people who are in slave like conditions, or the fact that all your local stores no longer serve your community but are part of an automated "box shifting" business designed to steam-line profits for a very few, then good for you. but i would hesitate to call myself someone who has spent a lot of time "philosophising" if that was the case.
First, let me say that I agree with John Koerner. Buying 3 different lenses simultaneously and keeping the one you like the best or buying 3 of the same lens and keeping only the best performer is IMO unethical. While some people may not like what John did because we know there are negative implications for others (higher prices, possibly getting a "used" lens), he merely took advantage of the return policy of the vendor. Had he not intended to make a purchase or had he returned the 3rd and rebought one of the other 2 it would have been unethical.
As to Quoted text, I was good till this paragraph. The world SLAVE (derived from Slavic because they were slaves to just about everyone at some point), has a specific connotation. No voluntary employee works in SLAVE like conditions. They may work in very poor conditions, but they have the choice not to do that job. Slaves do not. This is always why there is no such thing as an UNDERPAID worker. A price is offered for the labor and the employee either accepts or rejects it. Slaves don't have that option. While we all wish every person could earn to a certain standard of living, some labor is just not worth that much to the employer.
Finally, those of us in the 1st world need to be very careful. While a job making some paltry amount would not be what we would choose, it may in fact be the absolute best alternative available to someone in the 3rd world.
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I am not sure I understand what you are writing here. Are you advocating that instead of renting a lens that one buys a lens, uses it for the event, and then returns the lens to the retailer for a refund?
Is that what you are advocating?
No, I believe it has been clear John was talking about purchase decisions only. Of course there are reasons to rent a lens when one doesn't want to actually own it.
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As to Quoted text, I was good till this paragraph. The world SLAVE (derived from Slavic because they were slaves to just about everyone at some point), has a specific connotation. No voluntary employee works in SLAVE like conditions. They may work in very poor conditions, but they have the choice not to do that job. Slaves do not. This is always why there is no such thing as an UNDERPAID worker. A price is offered for the labor and the employee either accepts or rejects it. Slaves don't have that option. While we all wish every person could earn to a certain standard of living, some labor is just not worth that much to the employer.
agreed, let's change "slave" to "unacceptably exploited" but i hope you get my point about the ethical aspect of this thread running a little deeper than returning 3 lenses, the original poster is commenting on a GLOBAL phenomenon. how you justify this in your mind is your own matter.
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In Los Angeles, only Samy's Camera is left standing. Calumet and Canoga Camera shut down a couple years ago. Most of the mom and pop stores have also shuttered, but there are a few around town. Almost all the once ubiquitous photo labs have also closed.
It's a different world. It's rare that I or any of my fellow photographers print our photos. The lions share of our work remains digital, and when it's printed out, it's by the clients, themselves. I only print out an occasional photo that I put up in my house or office.
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I would like to buy locally but won't put up with the attitude from my local photography store. It is such a snooty unfriendly place to shop. The owners seem to have their small number of "favourite" customers that they will chat with endlessly while ignoring other customers.
One Saturday (a pretty busy business day), I saw a line of customers with photographic equipment in one hand and a credit card in the other hand, just waiting to give my local store money.... they were ignored to the point that far too many of them simply left. Why? Because the owners simply had to tell a long and boring story (yeah everyone in the line had to listen) instead of helping customers spend their money.
I am not a big spender on photographic stuff, but I buy a lot of small stuff on a pretty regular basis. I always felt that I was disturbing the owners with my tiny purchase. But guess what? Like most photography nuts, there came a time for an upgrade.
About two years ago, I purchased just under $6,000 worth of camera/lenses. But not from my local store. I went with Adorama/B&H. Got a better price, better customer service, and no attitude.
Note to local photography stores: Lay off the attitude. A small purchase customer today may be your big purchase customer next month.
Gone are the days where we had to deal with our local stores. The question is no longer "why shouldn't I shop local" but "why should I shop local". The attitude of the local shop owners governs the answer.
I would much prefer shopping local. But I don't deserve to put up with their attitudes.
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I would like to buy locally but won't put up with the attitude from my local photography store. It is such a snooty unfriendly place to shop. The owners seem to have their small number of "favourite" customers that they will chat with endlessly while ignoring other customers.
One Saturday (a pretty busy business day), I saw a line of customers with photographic equipment in one hand and a credit card in the other hand, just waiting to give my local store money.... they were ignored to the point that far too many of them simply left. Why? Because the owners simply had to tell a long and boring story (yeah everyone in the line had to listen) instead of helping customers spend their money.
I am not a big spender on photographic stuff, but I buy a lot of small stuff on a pretty regular basis. I always felt that I was disturbing the owners with my tiny purchase. But guess what? Like most photography nuts, there came a time for an upgrade.
About two years ago, I purchased just under $6,000 worth of camera/lenses. But not from my local store. I went with Adorama/B&H. Got a better price, better customer service, and no attitude.
Note to local photography stores: Lay off the attitude. A small purchase customer today may be your big purchase customer next month.
Gone are the days where we had to deal with our local stores. The question is no longer "why shouldn't I shop local" but "why should I shop local". The attitude of the local shop owners governs the answer.
I would much prefer shopping local. But I don't deserve to put up with their attitudes.
I can relate to that - but to be fair, I find all physical retail a pain which has to be endured.
When you want help no-one can be found. when you just want to quietly browse, bored staff are on you like a pack of monkeys
Amazon changed my life.
There is one store in Toronto (Vistek) which are great at sales, but really suck for repair/service. So I occasionally buy from them or mostly used from kijiji
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I've seen a number of photo shops close in different cities in Germany in recent years. But I'm fortunate that the local dealer I've been frequenting for some 20 years in Bonn is not only still around but as helpful as ever. I've been able to use his demo camera bodies and lenses for some hours or even a weekend before making my decisions. I've bought all my Canon, Panasonic and Fujifilm gear there and haven't once regretted a purchase. His prices come very close to internet offers (which I only view out of curiosity).
Only twice did I pick up faulty gear - a Canon G11 (I believe it was that model) with a sensor problem which Canon informed about and I faulty battery charger for my X100T. Both were promptly exchanged.
The only photographic items I buy via the net are odds & ends he doesn't carry and can't order, e.g. thumbs up for my X-Pro1, MOAB paper and such.
I truly do consider myself fortunate in this respect, especially when hearing of the photo shop closures in the US.
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I've seen a number of photo shops close in different cities in Germany in recent years. But I'm fortunate that the local dealer I've been frequenting for some 20 years in Bonn is not only still around but as helpful as ever. I've been able to use his demo camera bodies and lenses for some hours or even a weekend before making my decisions. I've bought all my Canon, Panasonic and Fujifilm gear there and haven't once regretted a purchase. His prices come very close to internet offers (which I only view out of curiosity).
Only twice did I pick up faulty gear - a Canon G11 (I believe it was that model) with a sensor problem which Canon informed about and I faulty battery charger for my X100T. Both were promptly exchanged.
The only photographic items I buy via the net are odds & ends he doesn't carry and can't order, e.g. thumbs up for my X-Pro1, MOAB paper and such.
I truly do consider myself fortunate in this respect, especially when hearing of the photo shop closures in the US.
There was a great shop in Aachen which also did rentals. I really wish I still lived near that place.