Are you loyal to a camera store?

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RichF

RichF

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Are you loyal to a camera shop or do you shop around.

A few years ago I decided to stop looking for the best prices and stick with one camera shop, Allen's, who I had been business with for the past 20+ years. I still will occasionally to go few other sites such as B&H for more exotic items as such Prograde Cobalt CFExpress cards or RRS for plates. Otherwise equipment is from one camera store.
 
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In my situation, it's kind of hard not to be loyal to a camera shop, as in my country there are only 5 serious camera shops and out of those, only 2 are not super-specialized, and out of those two, only one is really reliable :).

I have made purchases from them even when I knew I could find stuff 30-50$ cheaper just for the quality of service (great return policy, speedy delivery, varied payment options, etc.).

But, to be honest, I will cheat on my camera store if the price is right (half price Olympus 12mm f2.0 at a generic electronics retailer, yes please... lenses cheaper new on Amazon.de than used in my country, don't mind if I do :))
 
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Physical camera shops are all crap here. Either they don't have anything other than entry/mid level, or they have whatever you want but highly priced and the staff is incompetent. So no loyalty to local stores. Some loyalty to an online store, unless there is a significantly better price elsewhere.
 
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Warren D said:
I am loyal to one shop, even though I've never stepped foot inside. I'll get things they don't carry elsewhere but if they have it I buy from them. OTOH my loyalty to Nikon is in danger. I ordered a Z9 in mid-Oct and I'm more than irritated that Nikon has decided one of their NPS members can sneak in late (up to Dec 19) and go to the head of the line. I've spent over $40k on Nikon in the last 6 years and shoot for several non-profits yet they refuse to allow me to join NPS. I may just decide to make the leap to Sony after all.
Click to expand...
Why does it has to always come back to this...
 
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I am a strong supporter of a local shop (Art’s Cameras) making the majority of my purchases there over the years. In the past two years that has included a Z6 plus the 85, MC 50,, MC 105 and 70-200 z lenses. Also adding a D850 and 28-300, 500PF, 14-24 and 105 macro. Also adding camera bags, filters, tripod and other gear including used lenses.

Usedphotopro also comes in a few times each year to buy old gear and the store gives a added discount if you spend that money same day. They have handled special orders so I am as loyal as possible.

Then it goes to B&H for those items the local shop just does not have in stock like eyepieces and lens caps.

Looking to support the local shop as much as possible.
 
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I am not, but it is more because I’m in other locations for months at a time and it’s easier to just order things and have sent. I do buy stuff at the local shop when they have what I want and I am in the area, but the selections are usually more limited. Pricing seems to be more standardized on gear now, so it’s less about price.
 
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I try to stay loyal to my local shop for things they carry and have bought a number of cameras there. For several cameras their price was the same or less than mail order -- but ... I'm now buying a fair bit of used gear and have basically switched to Olympus and the store has neither so I have to go elsewhere.
 
I'll buy from the local store when they have what I'm looking for. The service is great and the prices are competitive with the big online retailers.
 
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I'm loyal to a camera shop - Hunt's Photo. My relationship goes back over 10 years to their support for a local camera club. I know Gary Farber and have served on the NANPA Board with him. They do a lot to support camera clubs and associations including NANPA, GNPA and Nikonians. The personal relationship goes a long way, but Gary is not a photographer. What they provide - and I expect - is fair pricing and good availability. I'll buy from B&H and Adorama occasionally when I need something Hunt's does not stock and have bought from both for more than 15 years.

The last local camera shop in Atlanta closed about 5 years ago. I also worked some with that shop, but previously had avoided it for years after they charged me nearly $100 for a circular polarizer available at B&H for $60. Prior to all this I had a great relationship with a small local shop - an independent photography and astronomy store - but Nikon pulled their Authorized Status due to low sales of Nikon products.

I don't expect special pricing or support. I don't get any discounts, commissions or credits for referrals. I want them to make a fair profit equal to other retailers. It's a tough business. In return, I look for ways to help them and they look for ways to help me. It's a good relationship that I consider a win-win for both of us.
 
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Great thread… @RichF. It does seem that bricks&mortar camera stores have been vanishing. This thread has been a good reminder to me (a newbie) to perhaps begin utilizing my local store. (I believe there are 2 left). Thanks.
 
If the price is the same or similar, and it usually is for new gear, I'll lean toward my local shop, Dodd's in Cleveland. It's more acting out of self interest than loyalty to be able to see stuff in person before buying, and they are only 15 minutes away.
 
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I have been buying from BH and Adorama since the 80's. My loyalty has gone back and forth over the years, but they are my camera stores. Local brick and mortar have always been limiting.
 
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It is hard to be loyal to a shop when you move frequently and on a tight budget.
In fact all my gear, bought over the past 6 years, were bought online from 3 to 4 different online handler in Switzerland.
For 2 exotic parts (Krik Monopod Head and Cotton Carrier Harness) I had to buy them from B&H USA, since they were not available in Switzerland.
 
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Houston Camera Exchange is arguably the best here in Houston. I pre-ordered my Z9 though them to support them (and to avoid any problems shipping an expensive item like the Z9). I try and buy from them whenever I can. HCE has a price match policy, and they have a return policy and help with warranty service. Now with Omicron, I might reduce my trips to stores and increase my online purchases until this variant starts to subside. I am getting very tired of this pandemic.
 
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There are no physical shops anywhere near me, but I do give repeat business to shops online that have given good service. However whether or not an item is In stock usually plays the biggest roll for me.
 
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I buy most of my gear from B&H, and have since the late 1980s. I confess that a big part of this is their Payboo credit system, whereby the amount of the sales tax is paid by the bank. Sales tax where I live is close to 10% so that's a significant matter. I also have found B&H simply to be a good merchant, period. When I went to Manhattan a few years ago (a long ways away from California) I was really impressed by the brick-and-mortar establishment, including the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff.

For highly in demand preorders, I have found that there is perhaps a downside to B&H's success. They get overwhelmed with preorders and so they have big waiting lists. For a couple of big ticket preorders in the last year or so I have patronized Precision Photo in Austin, Texas. They got me my Olympus 150-400mm zoom in timely fashion, asking only for a $700 deposit. I have a deposit in with them for my Z9. For my 500mm PF lens a couple of years ago I looked around and got one from B&C Camera in Las Vegas, so kudos to them, also.

I confess that when I decide I need an accessory or replacement of something I have lost (a camera eyepiece was the latest thing), I find it easiest to simply order online on the spot, rather than driving down to a camera store which may or may not stock the item.

I would like to support my local camera store here more than I do (there is only one left), but they are the ones who require full payment on preorders, so they have lost some big sales from me as a result.
 
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I buy everything I can from my local shop. I enjoy building relationships with the people that work there and its nice being able to see things before I order. (Present frenzy excluded)
Of course this is really just about the bodies and lenses, there are lots of things like tripods, memory card, etc that just can't be found locally
 
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Not really. I’d like to be but when doing $40k in purchases this summer it was more buy from who had it. If I could get 5% back from Adorama or no sales tax from B&H it saved a lot of money. I asked a couple local stores for a discount for paying cash and none agreed. I figure walking in with thousands in cash saves them credit card fees and they weren’t willing to pass that savings onto me so why should I be loyal. I went with in stock, best price and spent my money. The local guy got a couple things but the vast majority of what I spent went to the best deal.
 
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I'm very fortunate in that my local shop has been here for many years. I have used them since I got out of the Army in 1972. Bought a lot of cameras, lenses and used them for film processing before the digital era.
I got the 100-400 Monday. I have the Z 9 on order, but I don't have a date yet. I've spent a lot of money with them over the years and they have treated me well.
If you are in the Palm Beach Florida area, the Delray camera Shop is the place to go.
John D
 
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