Talk about a rip off artist...

[rpcrowe]

I totally agree Colin. Additionally, some retailers (B&H and Adorama are two here in the States) work on a very small profit margin on each item but, make up for it in volume sales. The average local camera shop has a far smaller sales volume and accordingly, must gain a larger percentage of profit from each item it sells. It is often said that they make up for their high prices with personal attention. This may or may not always be the case. I am in favor of helping smaller camera stores that sell locally but, am not in the position to subsidize them by paying the obligatory higher prices.

My local camera store was bought out by Calumet which is a large photo equipment corporation. I really like their new and friendlier personnel and I also like their house brands. I bought a Calumet 8x carbon fiber monopod which equals any I have seen and the price was relatively reasonable (as photo gear prices go these days). However, they still charge manufacturer's recommended prices for their cameras and lenses as well as their other non-Calumet branded items. I buy from B&H or Adorama because I can save a bundle on a DSLR or a lens.

[Colin Southern]

I totally agree Colin. Additionally, some retailers (B&H and Adorama are two here in the States) work on a very small profit margin on each item but, make up for it in volume sales. The average local camera shop has a far smaller sales volume and accordingly, must gain a larger percentage of profit from each item it sells. It is often said that they make up for their high prices with personal attention. This may or may not always be the case. I am in favor of helping smaller camera stores that sell locally but, am not in the position to subsidize them by paying the obligatory higher prices.

Here in New Zealand we have an online site called TradeMe - kinda like a kiwi version of eBay. Also somewhat of a "national icon". It's been said that the likes of TradeMe are "killing" local business, but by my observation, most deaths are due to "suicide", not "murder". On TradeMe you can often get the same product around 1/3 cheaper than in a local shop - but - the kicker is that often the service is better as well. Most online merchants answer questions quickly - ship quickly - and are cheaper. I suspect that many local shops going the way of the dinosaur is just another sign of a changing world.

[rpcrowe]

I love shopping online. I can research products more easily than wasting fuel and shoe leather (or rubber for my athletic shoes). It is a really comfortable laid back way to shop and I can do it in my pajamas...

Most of the time, with the exception of some loss leader sales in the brick and mortar stores, I can get the item a lot cheaper than I can shopping in person. In fact, I can often get the item online cheaper than from the store that is advertising online. We can even do our grocery shopping online but, I draw the line at that. No chance for impulse buys of nice sweet things...

I may be sorry for the mom and pop store owners but, I don't feel like subsidizing their efforts to keep their stores open...

[Letrow]

Here in New Zealand we have an online site called TradeMe - kinda like a kiwi version of eBay. Also somewhat of a "national icon". It's been said that the likes of TradeMe are "killing" local business, but by my observation, most deaths are due to "suicide", not "murder". On TradeMe you can often get the same product around 1/3 cheaper than in a local shop - but - the kicker is that often the service is better as well. Most online merchants answer questions quickly - ship quickly - and are cheaper. I suspect that many local shops going the way of the dinosaur is just another sign of a changing world.

Well, I guess this is a trend that you see everywhere. The local shops don't have all the products that you might be looking for, as opposed to what you can find online and to top it off: their information is sometimes a bit outdated as well. I've had people in shops tell me that certain products that I was looking for did not exist at all (happened with a certain battery once and with a guitar (of all things)), while I was able to find it immediately by using Google.
Suicide is an apt expression for that kind of behaviour. On the other hand, a good local store with a valuable niche might still make it, but it will only get tougher and tougher.

[Colin Southern]

Well, I guess this is a trend that you see everywhere.

Welcome to the new world

I guess it's a bit like eMail -v- snail mail.