3 replies to this topic

[Steve M]

There was at least four camera shops in our town. I wasn’t in photography. Our town is roughly 95,000 people with another 90,000 surrounding. This is not including the film places.

Today there is no camera places that do service or even cleanings. Oh we have a few big box stores that sell cameras as packages but they don’t do repairs or cleanings. The closest place foe me is roughly 100 miles.

Times sure have changed. Yes the internet places are fast and mostly good and I do buy stuff online but I miss being able to put my hands on an item first.

[mikew]

We have one local store left,i have been buying there for nearly 50 years,he charges me the same as the mail order outlets.

[Ron]

Camera stores can rarely compete with the internet. Even if they sell at the exact same price, the free shipping and lack of sales tax usually tip the scales.

 

There are still a couple of camera stores around here but they are rapidly contracting. The best one has gone from a large dedicated building to a small strip mall store in just a few short years. They still give great service and I try to buy from them whenever possible. Unfortunately, they can't carry the amount of stock that the big internet retailers carry so I often end up buying stuff there.

 

--Ron

[Merco_61]

Our last real camera store wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the hipsters and uni students and their fascination for film. It is nice to still have film coolers with Fuji, Kodak, Ilford and Kentmere films available when one needs a specific film for a certain look.