Buying Local

[pageta]

I'm pondering a new camera purchase so I went to scout out local camera shops over the weekend. We do not live it a large metropolitan area, so the choices were slim. I did visit one nice store, though.

They had the camera I am interested in on display as well as the lens I want with it. However, while amazon.com and adorama.com sell the dSLR camera body by itself for a lesser price, they told me I can buy the camera I want without the lens but for the same price.

What's with that? Even if they only stock the kits, couldn't they just order a camera body next time they place the order to go in the kit from which I only purchased the body? My understanding is that buying a camera body (without a lens) is fairly common among serious photographers. Am I dealing with a place that simply doesn't want to be troubled by their customers (aka this is what we have - buy it - rather than trying to offer what the customer wants)?

Just wondering...

[Sime™]

I think (someone from Canon, help) that Canon put the kits together and give the reseller a slightly different pricing structure... so if you were to take a body from a kit and then he had to rebuy a body to go back in with the one you took it may cost him more.. Would you not consider buying online?

hmmm... maybe they just dont want the extra paperwork?..

What have you decided to buy?

Sime.

[pageta]

I'm looking at the Canon XTi with a 50mm/1.8 lens. I usually purchase online but wanted to at least shop local in order to see if I could get what I wanted for a reasonable price while supporting the local economy. They want quite a bit more, though - $750 for camera and lens including shipping from adorama and about $200 more than that from the local dealer.

[Sime™]

Hmmm, I admire your sentiment... sometimes though, you have to save yourself the extra money for "another lens" ;)

I tried to buy my 30D at my fave local seller, but they just couldn't get close to the price... sad :(

goood luck!..

[jdepould]

What camera was it? I've never heard of anything like that. I'm all for supporting your local shop, but if they aren't that good then just buy online. Or support someone else's local shop by buying from them online.

[Sime™]

Or support someone else's local shop by buying from them online.

Great quote - made me chuckle... "support someone elses' local"... nice...

:)

[Saralonde]

I think supporting local shops is great, but my wallet is the bottom line. I'd go online.

[kevinv033]

I normally try to buy local also. The shop that I go to is the same shop that my dad went to. The staff there are very knowledgeable and helpful on all matters photographic. They used to have slightly higher prices on equipment, but in the past year they have started offering the same price as B & H which is about the same as Amazon, etc. The difference in price comes from the sales tax. I guess they noticed the amount of people buying online rather than in-store, so they had to do something about it.

[echo9er]

Local shops are great. There are a couple here in my area that I visit fairly regularly. However, purchasing is another matter.

As previoulsy posted above, my wallet dictates what I can buy.

I bought my D50 as a kit through Costco. Sicne then, the local shops have assisted in other accessories and lenses to fill out the kit.

So, bottom line for me is:

1. Bought what I wanted at the time at a price that was right.
2. Visit local shops for expertise and fill out the rest.
3. Look online or elswhere for what the local shops have.

Remember, once a relationship is made with your local shop, there are often other benefits and any returns or warranty needs are better supported.

My opinion only.

[henryp]

What's with that? Even if they only stock the kits, couldn't they just order a camera body next time they place the order to go in the kit from which I only purchased the body?

Two issues come immediately to mind. The first is that the store may have gotten a better wholesale price on the kits than they would buying one body for you. That'd make the sale economically unfeasable for them. Second, depending on which kit they have, the box may have the camera & lens serial numbers bar-coded and if they give you the body from the kit and replace it later, the numbers won't match.