While I love B&H and Adoroma, it seems that a couple of times a year when I need something they are closed for a holiday (not that there is anything wrong with that!).

Anyway, instead of waiting two weeks, are there any other stores online that carry the extensive inventory they do (darkroom and film in particular)?

thanks,

-- J. Rivera (jrivera@vapop.ucsd.edu), October 03, 2001

Answers

I believe Calumet does. They are very friendly in person too, as opposed to B&H. A bit higher prices, though.

-- David Carson (dave@davidcarson.com), October 03, 2001.

Funny, I lived in NYC for all my life and I never even thought of shopping in places like B&H. Ken Hansen, Olden, Lens & Repo--these were the stores I frequented. Their service was friendly, personal and generally knowledgeable. And I didn't have to wait on line with people who were buying toaster ovens and boom boxes.

Now that I'm in California, I go to Camera West in Monterey, Calumet & Aldolph Gasser in San Francisco, and Keeble & Shuchat in Palo Alto. I order nothing from NY. Occasionally I order film from Freestyle in L.A.

-- Peter Hughes (ravenart@pacbell.net), October 03, 2001.

Peter

I agree with you, but unfortunately I do find the prices of such stores and B & H and Adorama often better, even with their unhelpful "service". Homo economicus tends to rule here for me unfortunately..

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), October 03, 2001.

Y'all are fortunate (in one way, at least) living in areas where there are a selection of well-stocked camera stores. Down here on the Third Coast, you're lucky to find a freaking Nikon SLR in a camera store!

-- John Fleetwood (johnfleetwood@hotmail.com), October 03, 2001.

B&H has been a reliable supplier of my extensive photographic needs for the past 20 years. Their prices have been fair, and they have always taken back items that I ordered by mistake. That is why I don't complain when they are closed for religious holidays!.......

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), October 03, 2001.

Also have a look at the US-based stores listed in the Leica FAQ I maintain at:

nemeng.com/leica/#004e

I've done business with B&H in the past, but personally I dislike their charge-first, ship-weeks-later policy for out of stock items. Been caught twice by this.

-- Andrew Nemeth (azn@nemeng.com), October 03, 2001.

Not that it is very relevant for mail order, but responding to one comment above. Living in San Francisco I have found Adolph Gassers to be one of the worst stores I have ever been in, photo or not. I work a couple blocks from it, and after several years of dealing with rude, condescending people there I refuse to go into it. Grrr, I hate that place.

-- Nick Rab (shredder@daemonworks.com), October 03, 2001.

If you feel like participating in the global economy, you might try Harry's Proshop in Canada at http://www.harrysproshop.com/.

Good luck.

-Nick

-- Nicholas Wybolt (nwybolt@earthlink.net), October 03, 2001.

Gosh, you guys ought to live down here, on the Great Southern Ocean, I have to drive 25km just to get the newspaper, and 5hours to get chemical or papers. If you really want to go global, buy from Camera Electronic Service in Perth. Lovely people. cheers, PN

-- Paul Nelson (clrfarm@comswest.net.au), October 03, 2001.

Hi,

I have to agree with Paul. I too live in Perth, Western Australia and while I live in the Metro area it's still not always that easy to find what you want. For example I was looking for some Fuji Neopan 1600 and not one store has any in stock.

I have lived and worked on the East & West coast of the USA and found that even if I was to far a drive away from a good supplier that 9 times out of 10 I could UPS red label something from NY and have it first thing the next day. You guys certainly have the ability to buy from a wide range of suppliers.

Makes me very envious sometimes - until I look at the river and the ocean and figure that although it's the most isolated city in the world it takes a lot of beating ask Tom & Tuulikki Abrahamsson, they're both Perth fans.

Mark

-- Mark Griffin (jacaranda@mark-griffin.com), October 03, 2001.

Living in Alaska, we pay hazardous material handling fees when shipping in chemicals from Anchorage (180 mile drive). Film is available at the local 7-11 store and anything else is a 28 mile drive each way, and they are only open bankers hours, not even Saturday or Sunday. I am not complaining only letting you know all of us have to suffer for something. I do not have a shortage of wildlife, 1 beaver, 1 bear and 2 moose in my yard in the last week. Enjoy your shooting.

Mark J.

-- Mark A. Johnson (logic@gci.net), October 03, 2001.