On Mon, 25 Apr 2005 12:30:30 -0600, Tom C wrote: > ... I would prefer to buy my photoghraphy equipment at a retail store > where I could develop a relationship with a real human being. ... Now > if prices were fairly close between retail and mail order... like within > 10% of each other, I wouldn't have a problem buying retail.
I agree. The compromise I made was that I buy mail order (or Internet) but don't hassle the local retailer for my "touchie feelies" ... I find someone who actually owns the equipment, rather than wasting the time of someone who I know I'm not going to give the sale. I don't think I've gotten $400 worth of useful advice from all the camera store clerks I've ever met. And I'm a comparatively old fart at almost 42. I remember and have frequented the photo specialty stores. Even in the late '70s when I started out with this photo thing, the spiffs often played a bigger role than the cameras. TTYL, DougF KG4LMZ