Originally posted by photoman1 Pentax is for REAL photographers. Best Buy is not the place where hobbyists shop. Best Buy is where the overpriced Canon and Nikon cameras live.
For this matter,
Calumet Photo doesn't carry Pentax either. Having worked at Best Buy for two years, I can tell you almost certainly hobbyists and even some hardened enthusiasts come in most frequently but I have had some professional customers as well. To date, I have sold maybe 7 D600s and 4 D800s. I tend to sell less Canon, but I've done maybe 4 and 4 of the 5DMKII and 5DMKIII.
Overpriced you say? We'll I'll have you know
we price match all local competitors including legit online competitors such as Amazon.com, BHphoto and Buy.com. You have to pay sales tax, of course, where people purchasing online should have to report "use" taxes but don't even know about that and think they are being smug and getting away with paying for a war or whatever, but the tax has to be paid somewhere down the line and if you neglect to post it, you are technically performing fraud.
People go into Bets Buy, don't laugh, for the experts in charge there. I understand not every Best Buy has a photography major in the department, but I am at my Best Buy and we are one of the top stores in the company- let alone in the Digital Imaging department which is usually in the top 70 out of 1100 stores. People walk in, they want to feel and handle the equipment, they want to see and sometimes talk with someone there about what is right for them.
We aren't on commission, we are there to hook people up with the right solution. I can't tell you guys how many times someone has walked in and wanted to dump nearly all their budget on their camera, and its only then that I tell them "Well instead of going for the 60D as your first DSLR, why not get a T3i, the bundle including the 55-250 lens, Class 10 16GB SanDisk Memory Card, Lowepro Bag for another $200, and throw in Lightroom and you will have a much more well rounded set up."