Re: B&H puts another local camera store out of business (with my help, unfortunately)

In article <465868fe$0$14074$742ec2ed@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, 8\
<nospam@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> It floors me how many local stores simply don't get it. I will always
shop 
> online when I can get a better deal. They need to understand this or
they go 
> bye bye plain and simple. I have no sympothy for businesses this stupid.

> This is a global world now when it comes to shopping we don't have to
put up 
> with high priced local stores with poor customer policies, sup****t and 
> before sale sup****t. Screw'em is what I say if they can't keep up or are
too 
> worried about the extra couple of bucks.

Well... if your local store charges list and didn't allow returns,
that's pretty extreme; BUT:

A small local camera store can never really compete on price. The
economics of purchasing and business expenses make it impossible.
They'll ALWAYS be higher, and must find ways to justify it; hopefully
ways that are cheaper than simply lowering the price.

This can be a better showroom, more knowledgeable employees; heck, even
a lounge/gallery with free coffee. All trying to win the customer's
business and loyalty.

And you know what? None of it means anything. Every year, customers pay
less and less attention to anything but the absolute lowest price. The
result is that the customer will never be able to handle cameras before
purchase, or ask questions after, because the local camera stores are
gone. 

Does that make price conscious consumers part of a problem? Not really;
they're just voting for what kind of buying experience they want, and
will get.

Me, I wish it was otherwise, but my stores closed a long time ago. Much
as I loved the business, and honor the current survivors, the small
local camera store is a "dead business walking."