Lon Williamson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >Herb Chong wrote: >> you're assuming that cameras stores will outlast film. > >I think that is a safe assumption.
I don't. What we're seeing all the time is people coming into camera stores, picking the brains of the knowledgeable sales staff and then going over to Best Buy/Circuit City/Target/Office Max, etc. to make their actual purchase. Now what's going to happen when these camera shops go out of business and there's nowhere to go for the expert advice before making the purchase at Wal-Mart or Comp USA? I've been discussing this with people in the business lately and we're hoping there will be a backlash from consumers and manufacturers. Of course, even if that happens, there's no telling how many real camera shops will be left to enjoy it. It would be nice if the manufacturers recognized the importance to their business of the small, independent shop staffed with experts and came up with a way to help them survive. Right now, volume purchases are the only way of getting a break and the only places that can afford to buy in large quantity are the chain stores. -- Mark Roberts Photography and writing www.robertstech.com
