If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#61
|
|||
|
|||
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with myhelp, unfortunately)
Wow, I don't know where to start. Retail is not about the
lowest price and has never been about the lowest price. A mail order or online store simply doesn't have the overhead that a retail store has and can sell on a much lower margin. BUT: Try getting a couple more rolls of 120 BW on Saturday afternoon to complete a job from your online buddy. OR: talking them into special ordering a new kind of film just so you can try a couple of rolls. OR EVEN: trying camera after camera on a Saturday, with no intention of buying, just to satisfy your curiosity. TRY TO FIND: online free classes for new camera users. Service and added value is the retailer's ally, try that big far-away box. BTW my retailer always had a return privilege and would handle warranty service for me. As well as shipping for out of warranty repairs. They still folded since there were jerks that ran them out of business based only on price. darkroommike =(8) wrote: Thats the problem with local shops they don't feel that they have to compete with the places on the internet. A local store here closed up after nearly 50 years because they didn't feel they had to compete. They sold everything at suggested retail, all sales were final even if a product was defective they wanted you to deal with the maker, etc. I told them that they can do that and stay in business and they couldn't now they are gone. We have one more store here a Shutterbugs they charge suggested retail for nearly everything, they too didn't have a return policy until I e-mailed them and told them that without a return policy I would have to continue to shop online so they now have a 15 day return policy though the stress that it isn't to be used to buy something, test it out and then return it if you don't like it. It is incase there is something wrong with the item (defective). It floors me how many local stores simply don't get it. I will always shop online when I can get a better deal. They need to understand this or they go bye bye plain and simple. I have no sympothy for businesses this stupid. This is a global world now when it comes to shopping we don't have to put up with high priced local stores with poor customer policies, support and before sale support. Screw'em is what I say if they can't keep up or are too worried about the extra couple of bucks. =(8) |
#62
|
|||
|
|||
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with my help, unfortunately)
"David Dyer-Bennet" wrote in message
t... Michael Meissner wrote: David Dyer-Bennet writes: Harvard Camera (that had a thread a while ago in one of the groups I'm in) once told me they paid more for that model slide projector than the advertised price at Caldor, and I should definitely buy it there. And if memory serves they went out of business within the last year. It was always somewhat sad when I went in there, where they didn't usually have stuff that I wanted. So now, if I want to try stuff out or talk to a salesman, I drive into Melrose to go to Hunts. I was living in Hudson MA from 1981-1984, and used Harvard Camera then. Back at that point they were looking fairly healthy. I've still got the darkroom stuff I bought from them, including a 4x5 enlarger that will probably never be set up again (I think we're past the point where I can sell it to somebody who really wants to use it). I really want to use it, David--I'm following several on Ebay right now. Please contact me off list, if you'd like to continue the conversation: mattclara (at) mattclara.com -- www.mattclara.com |
#63
|
|||
|
|||
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with my help, unfortunately)
darkroommike wrote:
BUT: Try getting a couple more rolls of 120 BW on Saturday afternoon to complete a job from your online buddy. Strange but True, the quickest place for me to get 120 anything any day is the local Ritz. |
#64
|
|||
|
|||
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with my help, unfortunately)
On May 27, 8:43 pm, Lobby Dosser
wrote: darkroommike wrote: BUT: Try getting a couple more rolls of 120 BW on Saturday afternoon to complete a job from your online buddy. Strange but True, the quickest place for me to get 120 anything any day is the local Ritz. Now if we were to discuss a local camera store that has done well, we should look at Larmon Photo in suburban Philadelphia: sure it has had its ups and downs and is on its second owner since 1939, but they have a business model which works for them and it is on service and printing, with hard product as a secondary (tertiary) business. Anyone who wants to can find the online lowest price (and they will try to sell you an extended warranty, which is where the extra cost negates everything..resist, resist) Larmon will do beautiful custom printing, have knowledgeable staff who, in some cases have been there years, and make an effort to build a relationship with the customer... I worked there for three years in the 1980-s (Birth of the FM2, a beautiful day), and consider the store manager a friend still (Hi Dave Porter 8-))... I missed the day that someone entered an outlying store with 2 old 35mm cameras and the manager declined to offer to buy them because he had no idea of a good price.... .... and one was a dial set Leica B.... oooohhhhhh... anyway, good times and they will still be there in 20 years. David |
#65
|
|||
|
|||
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with my help, unfortunately)
Paul J Gans writes:
In rec.photo.digital.slr-systems Roy Smith wrote: Paul J Gans wrote: B&H is branching out into all sorts of other gear too like computers. I hope they don't lose sight of their primary business. I'm guessing their primary business is making money. If they can do that selling cameras, they'll sell cameras. If they can make money selling computers, they'll sell computers. You either evolve or become extinct. Oh, I think they are making money selling camera. Their "new" businesses are branch-offs from photography. For example they sell binoculars and spotting scopes. That's pretty close. They started selling Apple computers years ago when they were the preferred choice for folks doing Photoshop and similiar things. (They now sell Photoshop too.) Since then they've added other computers. And they have added iPods and similar as well. The front to back bit seems reversed at B&H. There's more room in back and that's where the crowds are -- in the photography sections. Well generally you want the main items in the back so that you can tempt people to buy other stuff as they walk to the back to get what they came for, and obviously put the impulse items near the cash register. -- Michael Meissner email: http://www.the-meissners.org |
#66
|
|||
|
|||
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with myhelp, unfortunately)
C J Campbell wrote:
On 2007-05-26 18:02:05 -0700, Rita Ä Berkowitz ritaberk2O04 @aol.com said: TOTALLY IRRELAVANT! I don't believe in passing out subsidies nor do I feel I have an obligation to enrich a local merchant. The merchant need be very competitive if they want loyalty and a chance at survival. Ah, yes. Loyalty. I have heard well spoken of in some quarters, usually by people who do not deserve it. And in this case, by one who's not likely to be able to give it. (not referring to W.E.) -- john mcwilliams |
#67
|
|||
|
|||
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with my help, unfortunately)
On May 26, 1:24�pm, Oliver Costich wrote:
On Sat, 26 May 2007 10:26:33 -0400, "Matt Clara" wrote: Yes, Castle Photo of Lansing, in business for over 25 years, is closing its doors. *I did buy all my darkroom chemistry from them, but B&H and all the rest (meaning Adorama and a couple others) can't be beat for most items, including paper, even though it commands a premium in shipping 'cause it's quite heavy. *Castle Photo was a great resource, though (if you talked to the right individuals), and I will miss them. The one good thing to come out of this is great sale prices as they seek to dump their inventory. *I picked up a bunch of stuff there yesterday for 40-50% off, including this ballhead for my medium and large format equipment: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/sitem/sk...89&is=REG(cost me $75--they normally charged $125 for it). *Also, a couple filters, some photo paper, two fidelity 4x5 holders, a strobo frame reflective light modifier, and a couple other odds and ends. *Paid $250 for what would have cost me $450 (at their prices, anyway). Yes, yes, I know--I'm part of the problem. The real culprit in the demise of the local photo store is Ritz in its various guises. In south Florida, where there millions of people, there are about 4 real photo stores and all are more than 25 miles away (far north or south), if you exclude the Ritz/Wolf ones.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I tend to agree. Our real photo store has been gone for over five years now, bought by Ritz, who kept the sites, but...oh, man! It became a big, "Why bother" after I went to the main store again. I had tried a Ritz years ago, when I was looking for a small bag in a hurry. The good store had run out of the ones I wanted and didn't have a good sub. Walked into a Roanoke mall, went into Ritz, and asked the girl about the bags they had. She waved an arm at the shelves and went back to chewing her gum and staring into space. I mean, like, after all, I wasn't a teenager so I didn't exist. I checked the four or five bags they had on the shelves, and tried to ask if they had any others in stock. Blank stare in return. I left. |
#68
|
|||
|
|||
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with my help, unfortunately)
On May 26, 1:42�pm, Rita � Berkowitz ritaberk2O04 @aol.com wrote:
Oliver Costich wrote: The real culprit in the demise of the local photo store is Ritz in its various guises. In south Florida, where there millions of people, there are about 4 real photo stores and all are more than 25 miles away (far north or south), if you exclude the Ritz/Wolf ones. Not really. *It's all about the bottom line. *If a store on the internet or local has the best price on items I want they get my money. *It's very hard for local (in state) stores to compete with on-line merchants since the fact that one can order on-line and not pay any sales tax. * In most cases, the savings alone from this is the dealmaker. *And my local store is great, but they usually don't have the items I want when I want them. *Of course, they could order them, but why when I could do the same and have the item sitting in my hands the next business day? *Local shops are a thing of the past. Rita Not totally. Shipping blurs the line here. Except for very expensive items, shipping often equals or exceeds the cost of sales tax, which we're supposed to be paying anyway. In my case, convenience is the dealmaker. I have a minimum round trip of 70 miles to look over a photo store's products. Yes, I can call first and see if they have what I want, but that's not always helpful---sometimes, today's real photo store help is no more qualified than those hired by chains like Ritz. The shopping experience has changed. To get an idea of what is needed to survive in small-item retail, you can check out some of the ebay "stores" for actual photo stores. One method is no longer enough. |
#69
|
|||
|
|||
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with my help, unfortunately)
On May 26, 9:20�pm, David Dyer-Bennet wrote:
Mark B. wrote: "Matt Clara" wrote in message ... Yes, Castle Photo of Lansing, in business for over 25 years, is closing its doors. According to B&H's website, they've been in operation for more than 30 years. *Castle Photo apparently didn't do something right. I've been buying from B&H for more than 30 years. *You didn't think "mail order" started with the Internet, did you? IIRC, some time in the 1880s with Monkey Ward's. |
#70
|
|||
|
|||
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with my help, unfortunately)
On May 26, 11:38�pm, Paul J Gans wrote:
In rec.photo.digital.slr-systems David Nebenzahl wrote: Lobby Dosser spake thus: Paul J Gans wrote: I have no idea what shopping will look like in 2015, but I'm quite sure it won't look anything like it does today. I can remember 20 or so years ago reading about what shopping would look like Today. Seemingly we were going to go online and design precisely the product we wanted - a 2.735 meter long couch, for example - and it would be delivered the next day. I still need that couch. Just as I'm still waiting for that backyard nuclear power plant ... Yeah, but you can't buy that at your local mom and pop shop either... -- * *--- Paul J. Gans I've always wondered how they thought that made-to-order couch, or similar items, would be produced overnight. Obvously, the predictor never walked through a furniture factory or visited a custom furniture maker. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with my help, unfortunately) | Matt Clara | Large Format Photography Equipment | 124 | June 3rd 07 07:38 PM |
B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with my help, unfortunately) | Matt Clara | Medium Format Photography Equipment | 122 | June 3rd 07 07:38 PM |
Today, at the local camera store.... | Rich | Digital SLR Cameras | 28 | January 5th 06 09:08 PM |
Online vs local store? | Eric Babula | Digital Photography | 34 | March 29th 05 09:17 PM |
Online vs local store? | Eric Babula | Digital Photography | 0 | March 27th 05 05:00 PM |