Local Shop or Online (AKA- How do you buy yours)?

beercan

beercan

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Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a new lens, bag and some accessories next week.
I had a quick browse in my (only decent) local independent camera shop today and the guys in there were really keen to help.
Trouble is, their prices are 25-40% per item over how much the items are available for from online retailers.

This got me thinking, so I thought I'd ask, how do you buy yours?

i.e. do you buy items like lenses etc locally and accessories online, all online or all locally etc?

Thanks. :thumbs:
 
its tricky cause as with all trades small independant shops NEED support.

have you thought about asking them if they can get anywhere near some online prices. they may not match them but paying a little bit more for good local service and being able to take the items straight back should there be any problems is worth it in my opinion.
 
I support the person who gives me the best deal - Why should I support the local guys? In todays world everyone is local. I can buy from the USA or Australia and get delivery just as quickly as I can buying from some local stores!

Amazon is my best friend! Although for camera gear it's always been Kerso. A scot based in the USA who imports (there's a thread on here where you can request a price if you do a quick search)

Regards taking things back, I find good online retailers to be better! Amazon - always no quibble and free! Kerso - I had a lens that wasn't working correctly (stiff zoom ring on a 70-200) - Absolutely no problem - took it back and the replacement was out in a day!

Nice to go to the local stores to get a touchy feel at the new gear but unless they can match or beat the pricing I find on the web, that's where my money goes. I want to support those that can offer me the best deals - Don't get me wrong sometimes that can be the local dealer too.....
 
If I can get a bargain locally, then yes I'll shop there (Jessops 50mm 1.4 USM £185, springs to mind) but I do tend to buy via the internet. Its a cut throat business and the way the economy is you have to get all the deals you can.
 
imustbedreamin said:
its tricky cause as with all trades small independant shops NEED support.

have you thought about asking them if they can get anywhere near some online prices. they may not match them but paying a little bit more for good local service and being able to take the items straight back should there be any problems is worth it in my opinion.
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100% agree, buy local... support community...... could not possibly to pay prices of any brick and mortar stores I've come across so far. No store in my village so not take food out of any community neighbor.
 
EOS_JD said:
I support the person who gives me the best deal - Why should I support the local guys? In todays world everyone is local. I can buy from the USA or Australia and get delivery just as quickly as I can buying from some local stores!
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Until you need to return something to the USA or AUS, and have to pay for shipping :thumbsdown:

I'll use local stores if their prices are reasonable. I don't mind paying a little more for something from a store, but sometimes their prices are just way over the top.

Ask and see if they'll price match. If you've bought anything before from them, they might well do it, or get as close as they can.
 
imustbedreamin said:
its tricky cause as with all trades small independant shops NEED support.

have you thought about asking them if they can get anywhere near some online prices. they may not match them but paying a little bit more for good local service and being able to take the items straight back should there be any problems is worth it in my opinion.
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^^ This I agree with.

In fact, I bought a Canon G10 from my local store (Charles Eagles) coming on 2 years ago now and they offered me a better price than I could get it from anywhere, bar camerabox/simplyelectronics, online.

I think it's a real kick in the teeth to go into a small independent shop, pick their brains and play with their stock then go home and order it online.
 
m1pui said:
I think it's a real kick in the teeth to go into a small independent shop, pick their brains and play with their stock then go home and order it online.
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i work in a marine aquarium specialist shop and we get this day in day out.

thing is we would try and do something on the price if they asked......they will even come back for advice on how to set their purchase up:bang:
 
imustbedreamin said:
i work in a marine aquarium specialist shop and we get this day in day out.

thing is we would try and do something on the price if they asked......they will even come back for advice on how to set their purchase up:bang:
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A friend of mine owned a car audio shop and they had it too, unfortunately, they shut their doors for the last time late last year and it put 4 guys out of work. People would easily spend 45mins to an hour going through specs of what they'd want/need, him pulling stuff out of display cabinets and testing different speakers, then they'd leave giving all the "yeah, I'll be back once I check bank" then they'd come back in a couple of weeks later either with problems because they've tried to do it themselves, or with a boot full of eBay specials, then they'd baulk at what it would cost to get it installed!

It's slightly ironical, given all the threads recently about "Uncle Daves stealing our work" scenarios when this cut-throat competitive pricing that everyone wants is what has made photography reachable to the masses.
 
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m1pui said:
I think it's a real kick in the teeth to go into a small independent shop, pick their brains and play with their stock then go home and order it online.
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Completely agree with this.....I think if they are willing to let you handle the stock and take advantage of this, then I personally wouldn't walk away and buy online.

Amazon, from experience, are the best company I have ever dealt with. I must have spent around £10k with them in the last decade or so. Everything from price, packaging, delivery and returns are unsurpassed.:thumbs:
 
m1pui said:
It's slightly ironical, given all the threads recently about "Uncle Daves stealing our work" scenarios when this cut-throat competitive pricing that everyone wants is what has made photography reachable to the masses.
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an excellent point.
 
I always go for the cheapest solution unless I need something urgently.

Jessops 4gb class 10 SD - £30
Amazon 16gb class 10 SD - £15
 
Online always.

Not always the cheapest price, but the cheapest from the most reliable
on-line dealers.

How do I know a reliable on-line dealer....from past experience.

D in W
 
All my camera gear has been from bricks and mortar shops, I am lucky as my job means I cover the southwest so I have several good shops on my patch or locally to me, I am always willing to pay a premium for good service and advice, I will also haggle on price, it is very rare that people will not try and help on the price.
 
m1pui said:
In fact, I bought a Canon G10 from my local store (Charles Eagles) coming on 2 years ago now and they offered me a better price than I could get it from anywhere, bar camerabox/simplyelectronics, online.
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Happens to be my local, too :)

I can walk to the shop, buy what I need and be home in an hour. Or 3, depending on the chat :)
I'm not saying local shops are the be-all. They can't carry some stock (obscure) I use, so then it's on-line for me. Often after a few pointers from the shop! But you can't beat a face-to-face with someone who knows what he's talking about and will sell you the right gear, even if it means you spend less than you could have.
 
I buy wherever I feel I can get the best value, which usually, but not always, means the best price. I mostly do not need a hands on investigation of the products I buy and I rarely need advice. Internet research provides me with ample knowledge prior to purchase. I do want the prospect of a painless experience in the event of problems, so I try to choose my supplier wisely. If Jessops can supply at the right price then they will get my business. If they can't then it is online purchasing for me and that might be from UK, Hong Kong, USA or Canada. I do balance purchase price and savings against the potential cost and aggravation if a fault develops.
 
Whenever possible (and the price is reasonable), I buy from the high street, especially expensive items like bodies and lenses but for inks, memory cards etc, I'll head for 7dayshop unless I need the kit NOW!

I'll sometimes take a magazine to the shop to show them a price and see if they can get close to it but to me, the convenience of having decent camera stores almost on my doorstep is worth paying a small premium for.
 
I always go with amazon for any electronics as their customer service is the best.I have never had problems in the last 7years.I have returned many things without any problems.i also use Peter tyson for audio systems as they are very good.
 
If I can get near to reputable** online prices then I'll shop locally.

For example, if you're after a bag, there's a lot to be said for taking your gear in and asking to put it in the bag (this comes from a man who was stung with buying a Crumpler bag that was "just" too small for all the gear I wanted to put in it online).

Equally, cameras / lenses - if you can shop at a local independent, give them trade, keep them in business (plus get advice & the ability to touch different options in store).

Memory cards, filters etc - I'll always get them online as the costs tend to be cheaper from decent places.

The thing with online is there's some serious sharks out there. You can get some brilliant bargains on "UK stock" cameras that really aren't UK spec. Down the line, it might not be such a bargain when the warranty looks a bit ropey.

Online, I'll look at Amazon (not Amazon Marketplace) or someone reputable such as Park Cameras etc.
 
The nearest dealers that carry any worthwhile levels of stock are about 90 miles from here, so I buy just about everything online. That suits me very well. Amazon deliver fast and are usually quite a bit cheaper than brick and mortar stores. Kerso (Ian) is also excellent, and they both have good return policies if you run into a problem.

Our local shops are friendly and helpful, and I do buy groceries and so on from them (usually a lot cheaper than Tesco), but I don't need a dealer's advice to buy gear, and I'd only support a local store if they could come close to internet prices. That's not going to happen, not nearly enough trade around here to make it viable.
 
With the DSR you can handle things and return them if they're not suitable. With a shop you are paying all their overheads so they will always been much more expensive than online. If you buy something from a shop and it is no good you still have to return it to them so it's 2 trips instead of one to the local post office.

Local shopping experiences are terrible. The places where there are independent camera stores are run down dumps with expensive parking, lack of parking or just not somewhere I'd want to go. Out of town places are much nicer to shop in as you can park nearby for *free* and not have to prat about in dreadful one way systems, double yellows and generally be treated like the scum of the earth for daring to drive into the place. But there aren't any camera stores there.

Don't know whether there are any in Shrewsbury which is the nearest place that is actually pleasant to shop in as the park and ride is really good and cheap. It's a long way though.

Lots of places offer same day dispatch and next day delivery. Maplin are very fast. Order by 3 or 4pm and it is posted within hours and usually delivered next day. Service from online retailers is often much better. Quite often you go into a shop to be greeted by some greasy teenager that knows nothing about the product whatsoever. Why would I buy from them because they're local? Much easier to shop on the computer without the crowds, dawdling old ladies, dubious shell suit wearers, chuggers and suicidal pigeons.
 
OutLore said:
Until you need to return something to the USA or AUS, and have to pay for shipping :thumbsdown:
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Already have - zero cost! i statred that. What I will say is that it's not the same for everthing I buy.


OutLore said:
I'll use local stores if their prices are reasonable. I don't mind paying a little more for something from a store, but sometimes their prices are just way over the top.
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I'll call Ian before I buy anything (photo gear) and check prices - If the difference is zero or perhaps a couple of pounds Ian himself would suggest buying it here but it's rare yuo get the same prices here and even more so with the VAT increase.

OutLore said:
Ask and see if they'll price match. If you've bought anything before from them, they might well do it, or get as close as they can.
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Good point too although less are doing that as they can't compete! Even Comet won't match their own Dixon's web site prices!!
 
Living in London, there are many shops within easy reach so I try to use them first and have done so for all big ticket items. There's usually only a couple of quid in the prices when special deals are on.

For all small items I have found that the savings online are sometimes as much as 50% and that's where I take my business....which probably accounts for about 10% of my expenditure.
 
Depends what I am buying :naughty::naughty:
 
i must say i do dont have jessops in mind when i make my comments. i refer to independant local shops. you know the type. shops with an atmosphere and staff with charachter. sadly i have none near me.
 
Wow... I have to say I never expected to recieve the amount of well thought through replies I did, so thank you very much.

As per Paulhinch's comment, I think on this occasion I'll take my kit in and try out the bags. I'm thinking I'll try to haggle them down on the lens (50mm f1.8) as Jessops is £15 cheaper, and let them make some money on whatever bag I get.

Thanks for all the replies! :thumbs:
 
I do most of my shopping online as I only have 2 shops to choose from near me. One of them is Jessops which I would never consider entering, and the other is a local independent. The independent gets some of my business, but he just can't compete with online prices most of the time and I have to buy elsewhere.
 
Mostly online - I do have a local shop but I have never been impressed with the service from them. Keep going in hoping they would be able to help, I'd even pay more if it meant buying locally, but they keep promising to find out details/prices etc. and two weeks later I haven't heard from them.
 
Sometimes Jessops is cheaper or at least same price as Amazon. Usually if this is the case I would pop in to the store.
 
Bythesea said:
Mostly online - I do have a local shop but I have never been impressed with the service from them. Keep going in hoping they would be able to help, I'd even pay more if it meant buying locally, but they keep promising to find out details/prices etc. and two weeks later I haven't heard from them.
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which is just poor business practice and customer service.
 
Local shop - LCE in Colchester for all the big stuff. Whenever I go in there they literally fall over each other to help me, will put lenses on bodies to look at and above all actually give me advice rather then trying to sell to me. They will always price match with justification - if you go in with a copy of photoplus tucked under your arm and show them the mifsuds advert they will price match. In fact I wanted a 100 macro and narrowed it down to the Canon 100 or Sigma 105. They had a 105 in stock but not the 100, so when I told them I was going to pop to another shop in Chelmsford to see a 100 in the flesh they looked on the website, found the price and quoted me the same.

That same shop in Chelmsford however, twice I've been in there, twice I've been appaled by the guys attitude and left chequebook intact. I would rather pay a smidge more and buy from LCE rather then buy anything from them.
 
This is a good example of how inconsistent things can be from store to store, my local LCE branch never seem interested in helping at all - unless you're spending big, big bucks that is...
 
I've got to give another vote for LCE. I bought my last camera from them, and although the ticket price was slightly above the average "on-line" price, they were really happy to do a deal and so I walked out with camera, spare battery, SD card and a camera bag for slightly less than the ticket price of the camera. They weren't into the big sell either. I explained what sort of thing I was after, they made a few suggestions, were more than happy for me to have a play with the various cameras and didn't bat an eyelid when I wanted an hour or so to have a think about things.

To be honest, especially with the bigger purchases, I'm happy to pay a slight premium knowing that I'll get a good service from the store and that it is local.

I know that when I've saved enough pennies, I'll be going back there for a D90! (also helped that they seem to be quite competitive on the price at the moment ;) )
 
Really interesting and common thread and as usual two answers.

While always on the lookout to save money I also like to support the local dealer when possible. If they can compete, or get close, they get the business.

Inevitably, however, it all comes down to money and that's why the future for retailers in the UK is grim and getting worse. That is also why we produce very little in the UK except debt and the overwhelming desire to have something better than someone else - and not have to wait for it. T'interweb with it's pile it high sell it cheap mentality, and garden shed overhead levels will kill the local dealer in the end.

I'm all for freedom to buy what I like from where I like - I don't very much enjoy walking down the local high street looking at boarded up shop windows though.

The day when we buy our gear based upon a magazine's review and without touching it ourselves can't be too far away.:cuckoo:

Crap service though - don't get me started.......
 
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cyclamens said:
Really interesting and common thread and as usual two answers.

While always on the lookout to save money I also like to support the local dealer when possible. If they can compete, or get close, they get the business.

Inevitably, however, it all comes down to money and that's why the future for retailers in the UK is grim and getting worse. That is also why we produce very little in the UK except debt and the overwhelming desire to have something better than someone else - and not have to wait for it. T'interweb with it's pile it high sell it cheap mentality, and garden shed overhead levels will kill the local dealer in the end.

I'm all for freedom to buy what I like from where I like - I don't very much enjoy walking down the local high street looking at boarded up shop windows though.

The day when we buy our gear based upon a magazine's review and without touching it ourselves can't be too far away.:cuckoo:

Crap service though - don't get me started.......
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Can only agree with this, if a local shop has a decent price (say within 10%) I'll use them, as returns should be easier. Also agree about Amazon, their customer service is pretty damn good. But I'd rather buy bricks n mortar where possible.
 
I'm hoping to buy my first dSLR at the weekend.

My local shop has one of the two models I'm interested in. If I decide to go with that, I'd really like to buy it there. I believe their prices are competative and I don't mind paying a bit more.

If the service is good I like to support actual shops. The decline of the high street is something that worried me greatly. In fact, I hope to do my first project on this?
 
Much of my photo gear is bought on HERE!

When I buy S/H on here I know that the gear will be correctly described and will have been looked after and at a good price.

And I've never been let down either in the goods or the service.

And buying like that has saved me a lot of money over the last three years.

After that I buy from Ebay for the lesser things like batteries, close-up lenses etc.

My latest purchase which has just arrived this morning is a tripod ring for my 100mm Macro lens.

After that if I wanted something new I would probably go to my Jessops store to check it out and then buy from them online.

.
 
Popty Ping said:
I'm hoping to buy my first dSLR at the weekend.

My local shop has one of the two models I'm interested in. If I decide to go with that, I'd really like to buy it there. I believe their prices are competative and I don't mind paying a bit more.

If the service is good I like to support actual shops. The decline of the high street is something that worried me greatly. In fact, I hope to do my first project on this?
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nice one si, you and i sing from the same hymn sheet:thumbs:
 
Well great service in store as normal resulted in me walking out with a Slingshot 202AW and a 50mm F1.8 prime! Decided to support the little guy.

2 mins later the "AW" part of the bag was called upon heavily so really pleased with it! :lol:
 
For me it's t'net for cards, batteries etc, on larger purchases I reaserch web and local shops (not a lot of choice here).
Wanted a 1TB HD and ended up at local Staples of all places, best deal.

Got a tripod last week from Redsnapper from a link on here, very impressed by the quality, price and personal service.

Don't forget that many web based shops offer good service, some local shops are good at price, and many shops are BOTH web and brick/mortar based.

I think the difference between them is blurred these days.
If you got to a shop, you also buy from the person, ie if you get attitude you walk away. Both types have advantages and disadvantages.

DD
 
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