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

Happy Traveler wrote:
> With the states pu****ng online retailers to collect their sales tax (and

> some large retailers already complying), the equation is changing back
in 
> favor of the locals. I priced several carbon fiber tripods and ballheads

> yesterday in a local store, then compared to B&H. In most cases the 
> difference was between zero and $10. And then there is ****pping: the 
> expense, the delay and the hassle if you are not at home when the brown 
> truck arrives. Not to mention that for items like a tripod, where
ergonomics 
> is so im****tant, putting your hands on the product before purchase is 
> crucial.

That last is a big point; one of my rules for myself is that if fondling 
the merchandise in a local store was an im****tant part of the buying 
decision, they deserve the business.  If they go out of business, I 
won't be *able* to fondle the merchandise before buying.  So bags and 
tripods and such tend to be purchased locally.  And sometimes they have 
the right price on cameras and lenses, too.