Why is my local camera store so much more expensive?

[RyanLilly]

A lot of valid points made. It comes down to personal taste and opinion. I personally have no problem using the local stores for my 'tire-kicking' while buying from B&H. Vice Versa - I have no problem calling B&H with a question and buying something (if I need it that day or the next) at a local shop. One thing that needs to be touched upon again though - the camera world is a very opinionated one - and most of the time I'd rather do the research in forums like this one, through independent magazines (free to read at most bookstores in the States), and internet searching instead of being copped attitude by the local beer-gut behind the counter charging a 'fair price' to meet his monthly sales needs. I am a huge fan of local businesses - like the corner deli.

I hate going to a local store and there is some jerk working there, Its a huge turn off. I worked at a local hardware store for almost five years and people always came in because they loved our friendly service. One time the boss unknowingly hired a A-hole, and we made our feeling about him known. Didn't even have to fire him, he quite a week later.

Years later, I randomly run into people I dont even remember, but they always want to chat because they remember me from the store.

 

[Joves]

Well as has been said they dont do the same volume as the online retailers. That and their overhead. But I do have a nice little shop just south of me and, was surprised their prices were in line with some etailers. Considering they are in a ritzy area too. The one brick&mortar store that irks me most is Ritz/Wolf, they generally are under stocked and, always pushing their Quantaray trash. I had one of their sales peope try and, convince me that the Quantaray filters were made by Hoya, I just laughed at that. If Hoya is then they are sending them the rjects.

 

[royabear]

I use ebay for just about everything! I research the product, then get the item number/description and I always find it on ebay for the best price. A lot of users on ebay get items at wholesale (about half) and then they sell it for a bit more on ebay. Works for me!!

 

[bango707]

I use ebay for just about everything! I research the product, then get the item number/description and I always find it on ebay for the best price. A lot of users on ebay get items at wholesale (about half) and then they sell it for a bit more on ebay. Works for me!!

Remember that you often get what you pay for. A lot of those great deals are grey market cameras and lenses that could bit you in the arse if something happens!

 

[usayit]

I use ebay for just about everything! I research the product, then get the item number/description and I always find it on ebay for the best price. A lot of users on ebay get items at wholesale (about half) and then they sell it for a bit more on ebay. Works for me!!

Hehehe... I used to make a portion (very small percent) of my living doing that... Both ways... pushing local purchases (bulk) between ebay and other local venues. A bit harder these days as camera equipment is viewed more as a disposable electronic object rather than the mechanical wonders you pass down to your children.

wow that bold pink just gave me a head ache.

 

[Battou]

What it is, is actually rather simple, online marketing is reaching a very broad consumerbase.

Online marketing can make money and turn a profit because it can service from LA to Toyko, how ever physical shops can service the aria between say eighty-fifth and main, They have to recieve more money to cover the overhead costs of a local business just to stay alive much less turn a profit, from fewer people.

It's all about the number paying of consumers that come threw your doors wether they are physical or digital. The more customers you have the less you can charge and get away with.

 

[mrodgers]

This thread and the comments are true for everything, not just photography/cameras.

Local car audio shop vs. Crutchfield
Local hobby shop vs. Tower Hobbies
Local music store vs. whatever is equivelent online
even with big francises: the corner private grocery store vs. Walmart

The big problem with supporting your local shop is, you can do research online with reviews and forums such as this. You can go into the local shop and have the hands-on check. Then go back home and buy online.

I fully agree, the mom-and-pop stores need to be supported. Unfortunately, in this day and age of extreme differences in jobs and incomes, for many folks, the price speaks. $25 to someone with a single income and children making $25-40,000 is a lot more money to them than someone who ships their kids to a day-care so both parents can work, even though they both are making an unneccessary $100k each.

Believe me, saving $25 and having the satisfaction of your children having their own parents raise them and one being there for them is a big decision factor.

 

[HomerSimpson]

In my experience it's not even just local shops that are more expensive.

Jessops are (in my mind) rip off merchants. They claim to be camera experts but every time I have gone there to buy a camera they have been nothing but rude and I have been to three different branches, none of the people who work there know what they are saying or doing and they try and sell you something you don't even want. I went to look at non SLR's and the salesperson tried to sell me a non SLR and an SLR lens thinking I'd buy it because it was a digital camera lens.

The prices are always heavily inflated aswell, I compared Jessops with other electrical stores such as Comets and Currys and they were still more expensive, they claim they are more expensive as they are experts but I've never seen any of the expertise actually shared with the customer.

I saw the camera I wanted to buy on Amazon and will be ordering it from there as it is miles cheaper (about £100 if I'm not mistaken) and they don't claim to need to charge you more for nothing.

 

[mrodgers]

Here's a question I have since I'm in the market for a camera. I really don't have much choice in going to a "camera shop" as I'm not sure if there is any locally, but......

How do you test a camera when visiting a shop? My wife just gave me my Christmas present this weekend thinking I could use it at my daughter's concert at school this week. She shops on price and bought it on price. It is a simple P&S. Seeing the pictures it took was a shock, as my old Fuji no-manual mode P&S from 2002 took much nicer pictures.

Now I'm weary of buying a camera. This one is going back as the pictures are completely useless. Is it the camera model or is it defective? I don't know which, but I've seen not so favorable reviews on it.

Can you go to a camera shop and test it? How do you know how good it takes shots? You can look at sample pictures on the internet in research all you want, but you never know if they've been "photoshopped" or not.

With the size of SLRs, yes, holding them and seeing how they feel in your hands is important. But when you are after something not so "professional", they are nearly all the same in the P&S category. I want something P&S since it's main goal would be birthday parties and stuff, but I want one that will take a nice freakin picture. Not something that is from 2007 and a 7 MP from a reputable manufacturer like I have now and find out it takes 100 times worse pictures than my old 2002 Fuji 2 MP.

 

[table1349]

Here's a question I have since I'm in the market for a camera. I really don't have much choice in going to a "camera shop" as I'm not sure if there is any locally, but......

How do you test a camera when visiting a shop? My wife just gave me my Christmas present this weekend thinking I could use it at my daughter's concert at school this week. She shops on price and bought it on price. It is a simple P&S. Seeing the pictures it took was a shock, as my old Fuji no-manual mode P&S from 2002 took much nicer pictures.

Now I'm weary of buying a camera. This one is going back as the pictures are completely useless. Is it the camera model or is it defective? I don't know which, but I've seen not so favorable reviews on it.

Can you go to a camera shop and test it? How do you know how good it takes shots? You can look at sample pictures on the internet in research all you want, but you never know if they've been "photoshopped" or not.

With the size of SLRs, yes, holding them and seeing how they feel in your hands is important. But when you are after something not so "professional", they are nearly all the same in the P&S category. I want something P&S since it's main goal would be birthday parties and stuff, but I want one that will take a nice freakin picture. Not something that is from 2007 and a 7 MP from a reputable manufacturer like I have now and find out it takes 100 times worse pictures than my old 2002 Fuji 2 MP.

For me it is simple. If I am looking for a new body I take a couple of CF cards and shoot some picture. Low light, outdoors, etc. Same shot with each body I try. If I buy I walk away with the body I liked and shot, not one off the back shelf. Same thing with lenses. My local Photography shop does lots of computer work as well, scanning photos to disk etc, and they have a computer that I can examine the shots right then and there.

I do the same thing for lenses. I have been dealing with the same photography shop for 30 years. They know me. I want to try a lens they let me have it and I bring it back a couple of hours later. Heck, when the owner decided to add the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 in a canon mount to his inventory he gave me one and asked me to put it through its paces. I had purchased from him a Canon 70-200 f2.8 and he wanted to know how I thought it compared. I was suitably impressed and it has been a good seller for him. In fact one of the salesmen in the store was there when I was talking to the owner after trying the lens and he ended up trying and buying the exact lens I shot and now uses it for high school sports pictures for the state high school sports magazine.

The thing is, you have to go to a real photography shop, not a Box store like Ritz/Wolf, Best Buy, Circut City etc.

 

[Trish1977]

People like me will pay a little bit more at a store because of this need I have for instant gratification. I know I need to grow up and get over it, but it's so hard. I HATE ordering something online and having to wait several days (or longer) for something I can purchase at a store and take home with me right then. I guess they love people like me!

 

[Battou]

For me it is simple. If I am looking for a new body I take a couple of CF cards and shoot some picture. Low light, outdoors, etc. Same shot with each body I try. If I buy I walk away with the body I liked and shot, not one off the back shelf. Same thing with lenses. My local Photography shop does lots of computer work as well, scanning photos to disk etc, and they have a computer that I can examine the shots right then and there.

I do the same thing for lenses. I have been dealing with the same photography shop for 30 years. They know me. I want to try a lens they let me have it and I bring it back a couple of hours later. Heck, when the owner decided to add the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 in a canon mount to his inventory he gave me one and asked me to put it through its paces. I had purchased from him a Canon 70-200 f2.8 and he wanted to know how I thought it compared. I was suitably impressed and it has been a good seller for him. In fact one of the salesmen in the store was there when I was talking to the owner after trying the lens and he ended up trying and buying the exact lens I shot and now uses it for high school sports pictures for the state high school sports magazine.

The thing is, you have to go to a real photography shop, not a Box store like Ritz/Wolf, Best Buy, Circut City etc.

Also keep in mind, reputations like that take time to develop, in your case some twenty to thirty years. I think mrodgers is looking for a perspective of how does some one with out privledges test cameras.

Now I don't have any camera and photography shops locally, (the last one died a few years ago) but most knoledgable shops will allow perspective buyers to "fiddle" for lack of a better tearm with the floor models and see how it works and whether or not they like it, but don't expect to be allowed to leave the building.

 

[Sideburns]

They just put a Henry's in my town...it's a pretty big camera chain. But the prices are horrible. I'm sure it's mostly because of the fact Canon Canada has crap prices...

BUt anyways.

1.4x Teleconverter @ Henry's $419 CAD
1.4x Teleconverter @ B&H $279 US

Keep in mind the Canadian dollar is stronger than the American dollar...

Pretty ridiculous. And on top of the price, I have to pay 14% tax?

I could probably talk the price down since i know the manager and I'm sure he would make a little room...but not to 279 that's for sure.

 

[table1349]

Also keep in mind, reputations like that take time to develop, in your case some twenty to thirty years. I think mrodgers is looking for a perspective of how does some one with out privledges test cameras.

Now I don't have any camera and photography shops locally, (the last one died a few years ago) but most knowlegable shops will allow perspective buyers to "fiddle" for lack of a better term with the floor models and see how it works and whether or not they like it, but don't expect to be allowed to leave the building.

In some respects you are correct, for lack of a better term, I live in the midwest Unites States, commonly known as hicksville. No we don't leave our doors unlocked any more, but the owner still is trusting of potential buyers.

If you are seriously looking at cameras/lenses etc he will let you take it outside the shop to shoot a couple or three photos. You are correct about only the people that have been doing business with him for a long time taking stuff for extended periods. He has that good old fashion photography shop with new stuff, used stuff, digital stuff, film stuff, dark room stuff, studio stuff and stuff that will defy imagination that he still has it around.

The biggest shame to me is the lack of good photography shops anymore. There used to be six in this town 30 years ago. Now we are down to 1 & 1/2. The other shop is upscale, small, Nikon and Canon only, no used stuff and limited stock.

Don't get me wrong, I buy from B&H when the price difference is just too great for me to justify. B&H has always been great when I have ordered from them. But when ever I can I by local. I can't walk into B&H on a Saturday afternoon when I am having a problem and have someone try to help figure it out. Plus, you have to start somewhere to end up having that relationship develop. I guess the old maxim is true. Location....Location....Location, as we still have one good store left.

 

[Trenton Romulox]

Hmm, my local camera store is really competitive on prices actually. I got a D300 body for $1750 at the local (only) camera shop. And their prices for ordering things are usually cheaper than Best Buy. I've found that Best Buy is rather expensive when compared to Circuit City and camera stores.