Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!cca!ima!ISM780!darryl From: darryl@ISM780.UUCP Newsgroups: net.rec.photo Subject: Re: Re: Camera Discount Places (47th St. Message-ID: <32@ISM780.UUCP> Date: Tue, 15-Jan-85 01:48:23 EST Article-I.D.: ISM780.32 Posted: Tue Jan 15 01:48:23 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 16-Jan-85 15:58:21 EST Lines: 36 Nf-ID: #R:lanl:-1916900:ISM780:21200010:000:1977 Nf-From: ISM780!darryl Jan 14 07:51:00 1985 >> Support your local Photography Shop, they need your business. > If the local photography store needs >my business it can start by living with less mark-up. Well, that's easy to say, but... I have a close friend who spent several years in the retail camera shop business. They sell cameras as loss leaders to get you to buy filters because they make more on that $12 filter than on the $300 camera. His boss got terribly angry because another dealer had wangled an extra advertising discount from a camera manufacturer and so was able to sell those cameras ten dollars cheaper. It's amazing how many people will buy a complete camera outfit from one store instead of another for $10 difference (which may not even show up in the final tally, if the store gets retail for all of the accessories). On the other hand, mail order places have a greatly reduced overhead (just what does Executive or 47th street look like inside?), don't have to hire salesmen, and they don't have to know or care about cameras. An aquaintance was able to become a "dealer" for one particular camera manufacturer by being able to scrape together a bunch of friends to get the minimum order for dealership. I got to see his price list, and the mail order guys have it all over (way under) him. The difference in discounts for those buying 4 a month and those buying 4 a day are tremendous. Of course, if everyone realized that by purchasing at a store they would have a place to go to for information, advice, service, etc., and bought there instead of being concerned strictly with the bottom line, then stores would have greater volume and, hence, lower prices. I'm not a complete fool, I understand that this won't happen, but if people weren't quite so greedy, they would do better for themselves in the long run. --Darryl Richman, INTERACTIVE Systems Inc. ...!cca!ima!ism780!darryl The views expressed above are my opinions only.