Originally Posted by monochrome 
The message here is (unless you can convince me there are a million differentiated photography items in the B&H catalog), now that film is gone there just isn't that much product differentiation and ongoing technical assistance a camera store owner can exploit, that can be tied to a series of regular purchases, to serve a customer and earn the higher cost.
My argument has been for years that the death of film is the death of the camera industry as we know it.
My argument in favour of B&M stores is the 16-50/2.8.....
Seriously, with the number of complaints that modern lenses seem to be generating, and this is not limited to our brand, I'd be very hesitant to buy a new lens from an online retailer.
There is just too much potential hassle involved.
Buy a lens, get it delivered, find it to be defective, pack it back up and return it and repeat the process.
How many times will you pay postage, and how much time will you waste at the post office before the "savings" have dissolved in frustration and postage?
I was at my local store yesterday (at least I still have a decent one), and noted 4 16-50s on the shelf.
Odds are, were I in the market for one, I should be able to get a good sample off the shelf in one trip to the store.
As an aside, I asked about the 60-250.
I was told that the rep had been in a couple of weeks ago and knew nothing about it.
They mentioned something about when it was on the website, he'd know about it.
I believe it's been on PCI's website for more than two weeks now.......