Where do you buy your equipment???

From the above Link

Connecticut’s “Amazon Law”

In the Spring of 2011, the Connecticut legislature amended the definition of “retailer” in Section 12-407(12) of the state’s sales tax statute, adding language to require larger Internet retailers with no physical presence in Connecticut, but meeting certain other conditions, to collect and pay Connecticut’s sales tax. Similar laws have been at least considered, and sometimes enacted, in various states around the country. These laws are commonly known as “Amazon laws.” (As you might guess, the name refers to Amazon.com, which is a large, Internet-based retailer that does not have a physical presence in many states, and therefore, under the default sales tax rule, need not collect sales tax from customers in those states. As customers in those states often do not pay the corresponding use tax, Amazon’s sales, and those of other large online retailers, such as Overstock.com, are frequently understood to constitute significant lost tax revenue for those states.)
Under the new law, if an out-of-state Internet retailer has what is commonly known as a “click-through” arrangement with one or more persons located in Connecticut, and meets a few other conditions, the retailer must collect sales tax. More specifically, an out-of-state retailer needs to collect sales tax from Connecticut customers if that retailer:

  • has an agreement with one or more persons in Connecticut to refer potential customers to the retailer via a website link or otherwise
  • compensates the person or persons in Connecticut for directing potential buyers to the online dealer, and
  • the seller’s “cumulative gross receipts” from such directed sales to Connecticut customers exceeds $2,000 during the preceding 12 months.
As a result of Connecticut passing this law, Amazon.com shut down all click-through arrangements with people located in Connecticut.
Final Words

For most small online businesses, it is the long-established “physical presence” rule that provides primary guidance on collecting tax on sales to customers in Connecticut. However, the issue is contentious, as demonstrated by the Amazon law enacted in Connecticut last year.
A good place to turn for additional information about a Connecticut’s Internet sales tax laws is the Department of Revenue Services. For more general information on taxes on Internet sales, see Nolo's article Sales Tax on the Internet. And, for information on the rules about collecting sales tax for Internet sales in any other state, see Nolo’s article, 50-State Guide to Internet Sales Tax Laws.
 
Other then not fixing the 2feet deep pot hole that blew out a front tire that cost $ 200.00 to replace because they take a month to patch it.They are two busy rebuilding small bridges that been closed for years and years but half the time no one is working on it. I Should have took pictures before they fixed it. Luckily the aluminum mag rim was not damaged, that would have been another $300.00 for one rim.
 
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When I lived in San Diego, there were two independents. One was good, and one was very good. I was known at both. They knew the equipment I used and the stuff I shot. When my daughter got into photography they treated her the same way. When we walked in, it wasn't "May I help you?", it was "Hi Steve" or "Hi Jess". I miss that living in St. Augustine. There's not an independent store within 30 miles of me. Google "camera store" for St. Augustine, and all you see is listings for Best Buy, Costco, Wal-Mart, etc.

Sometimes my local shops were less expensive, but usually not. I didn't mind spending more to support my local shops. They offered a level of customer service that the big box stores can't touch. Even with B&H, as good as their customer service is, it's not the same unless you're local and go there all the time.

Customer service is worth something, and should be a consideration when deciding where to buy, even if it means the price is a bit higher...
 
I have found that amazon is a great place to buy camera accesories (or cameras) they have a really great customer service, the problem is some third party sellers...but I have found one that is really really great, they might even have a better customer service than amazon! The seller is called Digital Goja, this is a link to their amazon frontstore:
Digital Goja @ Amazon.com

All of their products are sold with a magicfiber microfiber (a common practice of camera accessory sellers) but this one is the best, they have the top seller microfiber cloth, i use it with my lenses, glasses and my tablet.

There may be other good local sellers, but i've found that they are the best online seller.
 
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I always buy online, mostly on Amazon & Ebay because they have a big selection of new/used/refurb equipment,
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very good on prices and very good on customer service too.
 
It depends on the item. I shop at B&H for items that require technical advice or customer service questions. I buy most of my camera bodies and lenses at a local Dodd Camera store. They are competitive and it keeps the money local. Lastly I use Amazon for smaller add on items or Black Friday sales ( I found a Tascam dr-60d on Amazon last black friday).
 
while I do not and have not stayed local. I have tried. Often when considering purchase I will bring in a online print out of price to a local store. OR show them it online. And ask them if they can match it. Often they cant. If they can come close. They have my business. I have had local stores match online pricing and come very close and throw in perks to keep local business. They really do care. The community you live in is where you work ,your friends work, your kids go to school. Buying local if possible is really helping yourself and those around you. If you can. Sometimes it just isn't feasible.
 
I always buy camera and peripherals on amazon.
 
Amazon, B&H, and Adorama have so much power and is the sole reason I don't pull the trigger.

It both sucks and blows but in today's retail market there is little room for the mom & pop store.
 
Amazon, B&H, and Adorama have so much power and is the sole reason I don't pull the trigger. Personally, I don't like sending my business to big corporate online retailers like these 3, but I realize we're not all alike.


While I guess we should feel flattered to be grouped together, unfortunately, we can't even begin to think about competing with Amazon, which is the world's largest Internet retailer, with fulfilment centers in 12 US States, PLUS, 3 locations in Canada, 4 locations in Scotland, 5 in England, 3 in Wales, 5 in France, 4 in each of Germany and Japan, 3 in China, and 1 in each of Slovakia and Italy.

Adorama is a family business in NYC with a single distribution center in New Jersey! (and our founder / boss comes in to work every day and sits in his office above the store). As a specialist photography business, many of our representatives are actually professional photographers as well as being experts in their field; we strive to offer far more than Amazon in terms of specialist customer support and product information, for example, Adorama TV and the Adorama Learning Center.

Amazon operations are subsidized by investors who care only about growth. Pay for things by selling stock and you can provide twice the service for half the price. I once read that if the market ever catches on Amazon would fold like a paper castle on a rainy day! As someone I admire professionally said recently: "Amazon can undersell and outmanoeuvre any local New York City electronic retailer"

Nevertheless, Amazon continues to make a loss:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/25/technology/amazons-revenue-soars-but-no-profit-in-sight.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/t...ing-all-amazoncom-is-missing-is-a-profit.html

I guess when the competition is all gone, those investors will see their hens come home to roost......


Thank you to everyone who has said nice things about us in this thread; we really do appreciate and value your ongoing support.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
[email protected]
 
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^^^...thats a huge reason,why I do business with Adorama.A gal like Helen,that takes the time to have a personal interest,whether it be resolving a customer issue,or checking into a message board.
 
Amazon, B&H, and Adorama have so much power and is the sole reason I don't pull the trigger. Personally, I don't like sending my business to big corporate online retailers like these 3, but I realize we're not all alike.




Adorama is a family business in NYC with a single distribution center in New Jersey! (and our founder / boss comes in to work every day and sits in his office above the store). As a specialist photography business, many of our representatives are actually professional photographers as well as being experts in their field; we strive to offer far more than Amazon in terms of specialist customer support and product information, for example, Adorama TV and the Adorama Learning Center.

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
[email protected]


Same at "Schiller's Camera" here in St. Louis..... family owned business (since 1892). And just like Adorama, many of the employees are pro-photographers.
 
I'm new to cameras (and all the stuff you can buy for them, yikes!!) but I got my camera body and kit from Air Miles, LOL. Lenses came from Amazon because I couldn't beat the price. Only recently discovered B+H and wish I'd bought the lenses from them. Now I'm heading over to Adorama to check them out!

We do have a local place that does consignment and service but they are soooooo snobby every time I go in. I may be new, but I'm serious about my hobbies and read/learn as much as I can. I don't enjoy being brushed off like a noob.
 

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