So, I've been eying a new camera on Amazon.com for about a week and a half, now. It's got a ton of great features, and sounds a lot like it has a more solid feel to it, less slip-in-pockety, more hang-around-necky. Which is what I think I need, for whatever illogical reasons may sway me. It'll get me out more, off my ass and enjoying my hobby.
I went to the little camera shop on Mass Ave. in Arlington, the one between Arlington Center and Blue Ribbon, to see if they had it there for me to hold, and see, and mess around with. They did. But here's the (predictable) kicker: they're selling it at full retail price, while Amazon has a significant (over 10%) discount on it. If I buy the camera from Amazon, that's one more straw on the local shops' camelbacks...
There are free market arguments here, and there are tragedy of the commons arguments to be made.
If I buy it from Amazon, do I put a penny in the jar of "Don't let anyone but serious customers look at the equipment" at all the camera shops around the world? I suppose at some point even Amazon has to worry about this trend; I don't think I'd buy this camera without getting to see it first, and I imagine most people are in the same boat.
Bleah. It's the wrong season to be looking at stuff for myself, anyway.
I went to the little camera shop on Mass Ave. in Arlington, the one between Arlington Center and Blue Ribbon, to see if they had it there for me to hold, and see, and mess around with. They did. But here's the (predictable) kicker: they're selling it at full retail price, while Amazon has a significant (over 10%) discount on it. If I buy the camera from Amazon, that's one more straw on the local shops' camelbacks...
There are free market arguments here, and there are tragedy of the commons arguments to be made.
If I buy it from Amazon, do I put a penny in the jar of "Don't let anyone but serious customers look at the equipment" at all the camera shops around the world? I suppose at some point even Amazon has to worry about this trend; I don't think I'd buy this camera without getting to see it first, and I imagine most people are in the same boat.
Bleah. It's the wrong season to be looking at stuff for myself, anyway.
Comments
I should go back during tomorrow's store hours and try it, though, maybe.
Alternatively, search for your camera on thefind.com -- Amazon has high prices generally.
If you had a store you liked, but the store down the street sold the same product for $10 less, would you not mention this to the store you liked in hopes that they would match it for you?
They're going to make a profit, even if they sell it for you at Amazon's price. Amazon made it so you knew exactly what you wanted, and didn't have to waste time consume their staff's time. If you buy it from them at Amazon's price, you're supporting small business and giving them a profit they wouldn't otherwise have.
pick a product type (digital cameras). buy one of each up front at some discount. rent a storefront. display products, answer questions, provide a terminal to order from amazon. get a percentage of each sale from amazon.
think "apple store" but less acreage and less shiny.
It's ethics. There isn't necessarily a right answer, although there may be a right answer for you. Anyway, that's how I resolved the dilemma when I was faced with it.
to try out camera gear that has prices close to and sometimes better
than Amazon. They're targetted at Pros, though, so they mostly
have high-end gear.