Roo

iTrader: (3)

I supported my local camera store when making a rather sizable investment in gear (think $5k). I believe that the support that I'm getting after the sale, the discounts I'm getting on accessories and building the relationship that I am with the store is more important than the money I would/might save from purchasing online.

Unfortunately, the online stores can't hang out and talk shop with me for an hour, or help me learn more about my camera, or give me advice on how to set up the camera. I guess I'm old-fashioned that way, but I'm willing to pay for that kind of service. Will I completely avoid online vendors? No. I think they have their place, and I do and will continue to shop online for certain products.

MyNikonLens

iTrader: (2)

wow you like fuji slide film...! you are my friend.

my fridge is full of velvia 50 and 100 slide film. i always buy in bulk out of keeble and shuchat in palo alto or calumet in san francisco or sam's camera in orange county. i have 4x5, 120, and 35mm. i also have a stock of kodak B&W.

i am really amazed to see someone these days mention those.

VRT MBasile

iTrader: (17)

For some people its not even a desire to save the money but a necessity. Some people can't actually pay double the online price. I do agree though, that if you can afford it, local is usually the way to go (although the people at the locol shop don't seem too friendly).

slow04wrx

iTrader: (3)

Hey thats fair, I just think it's lame the people who go to the store and use the people working there for their knowledge and tons of time and then go buy online......................more of a hater on people who do that with car parts and mainly car labor......ppl who want to save like 50 bucks on a big job or something and do it cheap........never a fan of that.

JZ oo7

iTrader: (1)

i still see velvias around. just notice you're in the monterey area. try camera west, i don't think they carry film, but i'm sure they'll know who would have them in that area. my co-workers and i have started processing b&w film by hand again at the lab. forgot how much fun it was. printing in the darkroom...it's fun and all but i'll probably skip that now. it's such a time hog. 3 hours can easily go by when you're printing in the darkroom.

i believe there's a pretty good lab on lighthouse road, but i can't remember the name. i'm sure those people will be able to point you in the right direction as well.

JZ oo7

iTrader: (1)

i totally agree. the last camera i bought, D200 when it was first introduced was bought from fireside camera in the marina district.

Roo

iTrader: (3)

Someone else who understands the meaning/price of truly good service. It's getting more and more rare nowadays.

musashi

iTrader: (1)

See, this is the type of store I'm looking for - Do these exist anywhere in the south bay? Costco, circuit city, etc are not even close to what I'm talking about...I'm talking about a place for a noob to go where he won't be pushed into buying something, and can ask questions of knowledgeable people. I don't mind paying the extra money that a local store would charge because of this value-added service. I'm just starting to think that they don't even exist...Therefore one is simply making the choice between no service and paying a lot (local) and no service and paying less (online).

Thoughts?

ldivinag

iTrader: (3)

i was able to SNIPE a canon L glass on ebay once... great deal on it.

slow04wrx

iTrader: (3)

Keeble and schuchat in Palo Alto, just be up front with them tell them your deal and I'm sure they will take care of you. I believe the guys name who helped me was Mark. He basically helped me build the exact tripod setup I needed, and Manfrotto's options on their site were too many...........well he ended up basically helping me piece together my setup using most the parts i'd had choosen online as most likely to fit my needs........he let me test it all out first....

DanyoCantDrift

iTrader: (9)

i will usually go into keeble and schuchat to get a feel of the gear, such as the lens'....they rent out lens' and for a pretty good price too....then i go to b&h and purchase it there...no tax, good prices and usually i get earlier then what i requested for shipping

chubs22

iTrader: (4)

I got my last 2 lenses at Keeble and Shuchat, mainly because I was worried about quality control issues. Some of their sales guys can be asses, but others are pretty cool.

slow04wrx

iTrader: (3)

See you should support your camera store and purchase there otherwise there will be nobody in business for you to go check the stuff out at.......you gotta do your part. Would you go to your favorite parts shop, get all their advice and specialized knowledge of what to get and what setup/how to set it up and then just buy from online store?

DanyoCantDrift

iTrader: (9)

true...but i gotta save some money though for the time being and everytime i go to keeble n schuchat on the weekends they are always packed, so they arent starving for business which is good