What drives your decision to buy from a vendor

[cupic]

Word of mouth,usually past customers and current ones gives good feedback on which works


cheers

[kevindt]

I have no local small camera stores that I know sell Pentax SLR/DSLR locally. The big box electronics stores, if they have anything at all, are mostly staffed by people without much background knowledge.

I use Amazon or B&H a lot on line (both very reliable, easy return if there is a problem, reasonable prices). For an ebay seller, I've had really good service and good prices from The Imaging World if they have it (authorized dealers but very limited range of stuff). Paypal with the little Verisign key is pretty safe and anonymises the account/card info.

If you are buying anything online (especially camera/ electronics related), first check the site out well through Reseller Ratings Store Ratings and Reviews by Real People - Trusted Online Shopping. And for fun and education try this collection of photos (Brooklyn StoreFronts) before you buy from the "cheap" Brooklyn stores (there are a few good Brooklyn stores too, though).

Kevin.

[Blue]

There is only one shop here in Tallahassee unless you count Ritz in the mall. The local shop is more into digital printing etc these days. The don't carry any pentax nor do they sell any used equipment. Its been 8 years since I've lived near a local shop that was actually worth patronizing. As a result, I end up doing a lot of business with BH, Adorama and KEH. I do miss a good local shop.

[jmdeegan]

For the record, my thought process was "smaller" brick and mortar versus the big two. Being in NYC, i have options.

And further, I do not worry about credit card security. That's an issue primarily for those careless with their data. I've had 2 issues in 12 years, and in both cases i noticed the issue and the charges were removed in less than a day from the charge hitting my card.

I did hit the local shop Friday, but between the shop expanding and the item i want just coming in, ill grab it this week. no rush, but its nice to be on the friendly terms.

[Wheatfield]

Originally Posted by jmdeegan

Reason I ask is kinda simple, I think.

I have a local camera shop-at least, local to my current client. On a normal basis, the shop is 3 blocks away, on my way home, and the staff have been very good to deal with.

However, they do not have the cheapest prices in the city, though they are willing to compete.

Since I work in NYC, and another of my client locales happens to be nearer the big 2 camera shops, going to either is clearly an option, but not as convenient.

Question is, especially as the camera shops seem to be dying off, and others are ditching Pentax...would you pay a little extra to shop a smaller shop with a bit of a more hands on feel for you (I walk in here, and the owner and at least 2 salesmen know me and say hi). Just wondering if the relationships or the savings are more important to folks (and for the most part, prices are not terribly far off).

What would you do? Would you consider the slightly higher price paid a price worth paying for that service? Or would you rather save 50 bucks on a 600 dollar order?

I support brick and mortar stores. I like having a real person to discuss equipment with, I like having a dealer that will handle returns, repairs and other customer service issues for me.
I like being able to handle the equipment before I buy it.
Mail order satisfies none of this for me, and only has the dubious potential to save me a few pennies on the purchase, usually eaten up by shipping costs.
Over the years I have read lots of stories about people buying mail order through a big NYC store to save themselves a few pennies and then having to deal with mail order hell when there is a problem.

[Blue]

I agree with Wheatfield on the local shop aspect. That's the way I have done things in the past. But Tallahassee has one shop excluding Ritz and they are Nikon specialists and no used equipment period. I do by batteries, film and printing from them. Gainesville has good shop maybe 2 but that is 3.5 hours one way. The next option would be Jacksonville (3 hours east), Pensacola (3 hours west), Tampa (4 hours south), Montgomery (3.5 North east) or Atlanta (5 hours North West). Mail order fills a void. I can't say I have a complaint with the people I deal with regularly. Some of the brick and mortar shops are online now.

Using the credit card analogy above, you can get "taken" locally on a fraud case just as easily as you can by mail order.

[jmdeegan]

I was reminded of one or two drawbacks to buy local....filter pricing and filter variety. I grabbed a new filter for the 55-300, but what I paid I didn't see until the sale went through, and I wish he had told me prior. Some filters might be worth that price, but I don't think promasters are lol (and yes, I did ask the price prior, but being in a time crunch i trusted him. its why i shop there). re: variety, its hard to find good nd filters there, so ill buy from a small shop in NH

But happy to buy there generally. especially when you get to handle the bag before you buy it