Trip to the camera store.

S

Snapper123

Well-known member
Hey guys, I just got home from a huge camera shop that really had alot of stuff, but surprisingly not much for my needs. But I feel a little ripped off in the money I spent ($300). I got:

- A $50 GP3 GorrillaPod. This particular one is thicker and stronger (for a DSLR), I think medium strength, but for 50$, I doesn't have a mobile head nor bubble level, both which sound very important, especially for the akward angles that the GorillaPod naturally encounters. Saw some of these on Amazon with both the head and level for like $30, but that's the GP2 (I'm not sure of the strength difference there.) Am I being ripped?

Please glance over =[ - http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Agorillapod&keywords=gorillapod&ie=UTF8&qid=1288389501

- A $35 small White Balance foldy thing (one of those pieces of cloth that pop open and attack you when you pull it out of the container.) I personally like it, but for 35$, I also feel ripped because it only has a grey (?) side and white side, and I'm still not sure if 18% Grey or White is the answer.

Better Deal: http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Coll...MM/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&qid=1288391242&sr=8-36

- A $40 Remote Shutter Release with a chord, I think it's like 2 meters long. It has absolutely no features cept a button. Now that I've looked, I see remotes on Amazon that do back flips and cook toast for under 10$. I'm beginning to dislike this store.

- A $50 Sandisk Extreme III 4GB (amazon seems to have them for $13-$25?) For this exact same price, Amazon has a 8GB Class Extreme 10. Boo.

- About $50 worth of cleaning supplies and all that jazz, and $30 for a circular 58mm polarizer, and a $7 52mm step down ring .

Am I being totally ripped off? I could have probably spent that extra $100 on so many things....well, one or two things, at this particular store. At least a ND, and possibly a whole reflector kit, such as this - http://www.amazon.com/Westcott-301-...98/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1288391847&sr=8-12

P.S. I've always loved Amazon.com, I personally think they are amazing and they love returns, I've always used it for everything I need in life, everything's always super discounted, it's like an online walmart.
 
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No, you didn't get ripped off. Physical stores have a lot more expenses, and therefor have to charge more to stay in business. What you are also paying for is a staff that is (hopefully) helpful and experienced, and can provide advice and education.

If all you are looking for is the cheapest price, no physical store will ever be the best choice.

That being said, if you don't feel like you are happy with your purchase, why don't you go and return some or all of it?

Amazon will almost always have the lowest prices you will be able to find, but you will not get a staff full of photographers to help you figure out exactly what you need, what is overkill, and what is a necessity. If your photo store wasn't able to give you this extra service, than you should not go back there in the future.
 
Uninformed customers usually overpay. That is no fault of the store's and you didn't get ripped off. Next time, before you go shopping, have some idea of what market prices are, and you'll do far better.

It is also not unreasonable that brick and mortar stores will have higher costs than Amazon. Especially if you are in a small market. For that higher price, you should be offered superior service both before and after that sale. That is the advantage of a Brick and Mortar. IF you don't get that service, then it is probably not in your best interest to do business there.
 
Well its not really that the sruff was just overpriced, its that the much cheaper versions on Amazon do a whole lot more. A 8gb card vs. A 4gb. A much cheaper white-black-grey card thats also a reflector vs. A little simple white one. A cheaper Gorillapod that already has a level head with it vs. One that doesnt and the head by itself costs 50$ more. Cheaper remotes that have timers and tons of features for way less vs. A insanely overpriced off brand on that only has a button.

I mean, thats pretty extreme stuff.

Can you guys help with this though?

So I payed 40$ for my little tiny remote that probably doesn't stretch 2 feet and only has a button. Can you review these other remotes to see if any of them sound worth it to you or if they'd create problems?:

http://www.amazon.com/Equivalent-RS...3A4G/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1288458875&sr=8-4
http://www.amazon.com/Timer-Remote-...RY/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1288459183&sr=8-21
http://www.amazon.com/Cowboystudio-...HK/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1288459183&sr=8-29
http://www.amazon.com/Remote-Shutte...70/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1288459362&sr=8-23

So the one I payed 40$ for is worth $4, while $40 on Amazon give you wireless and 100 feet, or a endless timer combination for time-lapse photogtaphy...

Here's something else, I payed 40$ for the little white balance card, do these options look better:

http://www.amazon.com/CowboyStudio-...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1288459425&sr=1-10
http://www.amazon.com/PhotoVision-O...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1288459425&sr=1-15
http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Coll...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1288459538&sr=1-37

None of those much better ones are even over 20$, even the DVD one...

I mean, really, with that extra money + extra features saved, I could have bought a couple other very useful things, and could have gotten use out of the stuff I actually bought. I bought the stuff at the store because the guy talked like it was the best stuff around...

Also, mind sharing which filter brand yall prefer/hate? Sunpak, Fotodiox (<3), Tiffen, Zeikos, Hoya, Vivitar, or self-brands like Sigma, Nikon, Polaroid...the guy at the store tried selling me a $30 Sunpak circular p, but luckily they didn't have it in stock!
 
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Can't help you with remotes. I don't use them. Gave them up when I stopped doing nature photography. In terms of white cards, I don't use them either as I don't white balance in the camera.

As for filters, Hoya or Tiffen. Nikon and Canon are fine also.
 
Basically, one main reason I'm thinking about returning $200 of this stuff (just 4 things added up to $200, the ($10) white card, the ($20) tripod, the (20$) memory card, and the ($4) remote, all worth only $50, because with that extra $150, I can put that toward another good IS lens for that or a 35mm prime on store credit, they indeed had a pretty superb lens selection at this store that stayed 100% true to online prices. OR I can buy a decent reflector set, microphone, and possibly a battery grip.
 
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Sounds like you are a internet shopper bummed on paying for service, not to come down on you. You get what you pay for. If you know what you need, you can buy it online with no customer support and be completely satisfied. If you don't know what you need, you need direction from a sales adviser that has hand on testing. You believe you are being ripped off, the shop believes you are a online shopper and doesn't want to give you a deal because you will quickly buy all your stuff online. Both of you are battling each other for saving/making a buck. You have to realize you only went into the shop once so your are just a random customer, you have to show loyalty to a shop before they go up and beyond to help you out or give you a deal. The bottom line is the shop will be the only thing that gets you out of a bind when you truly need it, with out these guys we are screwed. Choose your purchases wisely, who is really paying for your monthly pay check?
 
Lower prices on the internet and the cost of gas have me doing pretty much doing all my shopping online.
 
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