Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/02/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jim, all is not yet lost. A recent and very positive sign - my "local" (it's based in Hannover) Internet camera accessories store, "enjoyyourcamera.com" has opened up a real shop so you can drop round and take a look at things before you buy, present complaints (very rare) face-to-face without being connected to a helpdesk in Mumbai and drop in for a coffee and a chat about gear and gadgets. And that despite the fact that they are gradually becoming one of Europe's biggest operators in their segment. I hope the idea catches on! Cheers Douglas On 17.02.2011 00:18, Jim Shulman wrote: > As for camera stores staying in business, suffice it to say that the > business model has changed so radically in the past decade that few are > able > to survive. Cameras have gone from a specialty item, requiring technical > assistance and a variety of consumable supplies, to a computer peripheral > requiring little additional supplies (save for batteries or the > now-occasional print). The whole point-n-shoot market has largely > disappeared, thanks to sophisticated cell phone cameras. The rock bottom > end are paper cameras in drugstores; the top end, prosumer equipment sold > at > big box stores, and pro gear sold in the few real camera stores left with > sufficiently wealthy markets. > > Jim Shulman > Wynnewood, PA > > > -