A Nikon D7000 body at a local photo store costs 1,139.99 ,but Best Buy is 1,279.99. Best Buy would price match plus give me a 10% difference between the price difference. Would you buy from the local store or Best Buy and why?
Would you buy from a local photo store or best buy?
(18 posts) (14 voices)-
For $154 you can buy a nice 35 or 50 mm lens, or extra batteries, or lots of memory cards, or a nice backpack; where's the dilemma?
In so far as supporting the local shop, I just don't get the supposed "altruism" in it. Capitalism is a route chosen for US by its citizens since its inception, why the dilemma?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well from reading your post you can save $14 dollars by getting it at Best Buy. I have a local camera store that I trust and they know my voice on the phone (no caller ID). I would like them to stay around for hard to get items they might have on hand the day I need it. I would buy from my local store.
If you don't know or trust the local store then I would be tempted to get it at Best Buy just because if a warranty problem occured in the first few days you might have better luck getting a new one. My local store would not have a problem doing this for me so hince my reasoning.
Posted 1 year ago # -
If I had a local shop near me - that is to say if they hadn't closed down due to price competition from a giant store full of know nothing yawning staff - I would happily pay a few dollars MORE to buy from them.
You will be worse off by far without the choice I believe.
My 2c.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Go local. Clearly the local store is looking out for its local customers, hence their better price. I always try to support my local business. In fact, a great portion of my lens were bought from local privet sellers.
Cheers...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Call me a fool but I'm a complete mercenary when it comes to commodities like camera gear. I buy where it's cheapest, period.
Posted 1 year ago # -
id buy from the cheapest. in fact, i buy from online retailer for even cheaper.
I called bestbuy to match online retailer, but they said they cant do it. bestbuy will only offer local shop price match. so i ordered my stuff from amazon. I spent 4000 dollars for 4 items. amazon and best buy price difference is only 15 dollars. SUCKS for best buy wouldnt match 15 dollars difference to sell 4000 worth of stuff.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Gee, great question. The reputation of the local store is the key in the decision it would seem.. However, I was trying for several years to support a local store, and I had to wait sometimes up to two or three months for lenses or cameras I had paid for in advance. The up front payment was to expedite the process. What was happening, the store owner was using my money to pay NIKON for other stuff he had ordered earlier , and NIKON would not send new stuff until the credit line was paid off enough to cover it. So, I was being totally (expletive) by a person I was trying to help, a friend, I thought. I now do not get concerned by the price as much as what I want in service. My exclusive retailer is B & H.
If you have sales tax in your state, items purchased online may not have sales tax. This is a savings between 7 and 8 %. So, on a camera of $1200 this is $96. And if shipping is free... you are set. Plus, my friends are waiting for the D4 to arrive at the local store where many shop. I went in to the local store to find out when the D4 was going to be in stock so I could post it on the thread looking for this information, and the manger has not returned my message I wrote about a week ago.
So, some of the local stores are no doubt good. My experience is this needs careful evaluation. Many years ago I had a local supplier who was excellent. Unfortunately, what was good in 1960's is not around now.
One more thought...and all of this is just that..... How long will Best Buy be around? Some of these stores disappear like smoke in the wind.
Hope you do what you feel good about. And enjoy your new camera...
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've worked in retail and service for a big-box retailer, and I've worked for their suppliers, and I've worked for the mom & pop small business.
Support the local stores that have knowledgeable, enthusiastic staff, that have a passion for the product. It makes sense in the big picture. You will make far more than $15 worth back in good customer service, knowledgeable advice, and care of your product before it reaches you, and in service after the sale.
If you are only out for yourself and your pocketbook, then by all means, go the foolish route. And good luck with customer service at those big box stores if anything goes wrong with your order, or the product down the road. That advice comes from a lot of experience in the service dept behind the scenes.
Posted 1 year ago # -
B&H is EXCELLENT at customer service- after 15 years of service they have NEVER let me down at any point of the process - IF you live in NYC it IS a local store.
Now, though, most of my purchases are on eBay (a local business where I live).
Posted 1 year ago # -
The cost differential is insignificant and should not play a role in your decision. You should base your decision on where you are likely to get the best service after the sale. Anybody can sell a product and virtually everybody can price match given the markup on this type of merchandise. What is truly important is the merchant that understands he/she is not selling a product but selling their services - before, during, and AFTER the sale.
Posted 1 year ago # -
There are tons of reasons to support local:
1. better support
2. better employee benefits, and people who care more.
3. It keeps local businesses in business, and thus in the future you have those options in the future.i get when people dont want to spend a little more, and "big box" stores usually will be cheaper. but its that type of thinking that has driven out business after business, and usually the customers in the end regret it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
mirtos said:
There are tons of reasons to support local:1. better support
2. better employee benefits, and people who care more.
3. It keeps local businesses in business, and thus in the future you have those options in the future.i get when people dont want to spend a little more, and "big box" stores usually will be cheaper. but its that type of thinking that has driven out business after business, and usually the customers in the end regret it.
+1 egzakerly
Posted 1 year ago # -
As one who has a local store of pro-video cameras I would say if possible buy local. We bend over backwards to give the best customer service and do our best for box sales to match or come in below B&H (for example). We are giving internet discount pricing and service. I live near Orlando, Florida and I purchased my D5100 from Colonial Photo. The price was slightly higher than B&H. I told the salesman I'm a pro-video dealer and one week later he recommended a customer to me who wanted to buy a professional (Sony) camcorder. We have also loaned equipment to our customers when they were in a jam or rented to them for a discounted price. Go local...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well it depends. We have two local places I know of. One of our local camera shops is probably worse than best buy as far as product knowledge and had super limited items and none at the level I was looking for...ie they would have to order any "pro" level equipment. If price was fairly equal I might go with the local place, but the other local camera store we have has been very rude and unhelpful the few times I have been in. I haven't been in since my last experience where they were very unhelpful and rude so maybe they have changed? I have purchased $2000+ worth of camera stuff since that experience and all of it was online because of poor previous service. Maybe I will give them another shot next time I am in the market...I do like to handle and see the product before I buy it, but if I already know what I want then it isn't crucial.
Posted 1 year ago # -
To clarify.... .. I have posted some experiences of a negative nature regarding my interactions with local retailers. However, I almost always prefer to shop at the locally owned, small shops. I will even pay more. I have posted my previous experiences in the hopes some of the retailers who may read this, if any do, will pay attention to what is going on. Being female may give some of the shops the impression I am not serious, but interestingly enough, when I walk into Neiman-Marcus, dirty blue jeans, baseball hat, they treat me like a queen. Yet the small photo stores seem to "profile" me and maybe they need to wake up.
In all other areas, I shop the small stores and avoid the "big box" like the plague. My allegiance to small stores was what set me up for the unfortunate incident with a store which is no longer in business. But, maybe I will try another. So, shop local if possible, but if there are no dependable retailers locally, B & H is absolutely the best!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Someone already said this,mbut I think of b&h as a large local. But that's because I work in NYC. But if you're going to go big, at least go with a place that specializes in cameras, as opposed to the big box Walmart or best buy. I had to buy a tv recently, and because of all the closings of the pure audio visual stores in the last couple of years, I was forced to buy at best buy, and while best buy was a good deal price wise, it was a crappy experience. And they obviously have more TV knowledge than they do camera, but even in that arena, they couldn't answer a lot of questions.
I'm a big proponent of local. I get the convenience of ordering online, and I do that too, but I miss bookstores, music stores, small hardware stores. I really don't want to see camera stores go that way too.
Posted 1 year ago #
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