So I'm stating the obvious in the subject, but I was checking the few camera shops I have in the area, and the 5d is running $300 over what b&h, adorama, and the like are charging. It would have been nice to support a local business with a purchase like that, but $300 can go a long way into other stuff. oh well, I guess there won't be any instant gratification on that front.

I have had mixed results from my local camera shop. I got my Mark III faster and cheaper than I could have from B&H.

yeah, i was hoping to pick up the 5d for a wedding tomorrow, since I just sold off some music gear, but it looks like that isn't going to happen. and i'm leaving the country for three weeks starting monday so it'll be july before I think about it again. best buy has a sham of a "low price guarantee" so they're out.

considering buydig is $50 cheaper than b&h, and they include a 2gb card (never hurts to have more memory!), i guess i'm going that route when I'm back. plus they do free shipping.

I live on LI and have the day job in NYC, so B & H is my second home. BUT...I do have a question for you. An opinion question.

If I buy at B & H, I am paying sales tax. On small stuff it does not bother me. Bodies and lenses though...I don't want to give NY $80 or $300 just so they can spend it frivilously.
If I order through the web in NJ, the store does not collect the tax.

In theory, I am supposed to claim this purchase and pay a "use" tax to NY.

1) How many of you are aware of this issue, or your state's version
2) How many of you shop out of state to avoid paying sales tax
3) How many of you volunteer to pay this use tax
4) If you shop out of state to avoid sales tax and do not pay the use tax in your state to you feel bad about it? Do you lose sleep? Do you worry about having to break big rocks into little rocks for 1-4 years?

For us smaller studios, a penny saved is a penny earned. Larger studios with higher revenues, this is probably a non issue given the dollar amounts in question and you probably do it the "right" way.

uh oh, i've been exposed! i should have gone on FM forums!Well, if you're buying equipment for a biz within state, you shouldn't be paying sales tax anyway (I believe) because you use the equipment to generate sales tax, if that makes any sense.

I think this varies state by state. That is the case in Ohio, so we don't have to pay sales tax on equipment, but I think in some states you do.

You are not safe their either -- we have Melody!!!

Try to tell it to your tax auditor. You have to check your local state low. If it is required to pay use tax on items which you purchased without sales tax for business (like in WA), then you have to report it. In case of audit, you are busted. They specifically are looking for cases like that.

Yep, what Alex said. In WA we pay sales tax (or use tax) on equipment, even if it's used for business. We don't pay it on items that will be resold (frames, prints, etc.). I hate having to do it, because I then pay for shipping AND tax. Ugh. It's the law, though, even if I don't like it.

An advantage to buying with B & H and I have used it is their extended warranty. With the local shops they only give you the one year Canon Warranty. I wish I could have a local person, but have found with me larger expenses the warranty is well worth it!

Yeah, try our local stores (shutterbug and wolf/ritz camera - which both suck bigtime in my opinion anyway) who are charging $1000-1500 over B&H, Calumet etc. for the 1D series cameras... That on top of their incompetent staff make me regret even walking through their doors at all....

Sure it's nice to support local businesses but not when they are ripping you off.

Considering B&H is a brick and mortar operation I don't have any qualms choosing them over a local vendor. sales tax has little to do with the decision I look at pricing and service. The fact that they deliver to my door step doesn't hurt at all. I just make sure nothing gets shipped by UPS. lol

My local shop: Service Photo will usually match an internet price with a screen shot if it is from a reputable dealer (like B&H). It can't hurt to ask.

My local shop is Robert's.

I can usually get a slightly better deal online, but I like the people that work there and I want them to have jobs. They are helpful and knowledgeable and treat me well. So sales tax or not, if I want them to stick around and be available- for me to buy from, sell to, rent from, or whatever- then I have to shop there. And on certain things I can get an even better deal in-store than online (edit to clarify: not that their in-store prices vary from their online prices, but that certain -totally random- items are the cheapest there over other online or B&M retailers).

Me too. My local shop always matches B and H.

haha. i didnt send no stinkin paypal payment......

i buy in the states whenever possible, my local camera shops, or any camera shop here for that matter, charges an unbelieable price - i think they just slap a £ symbol in front of the dollar amount. i just saved myself $600 buying the 50 1.2 in the states and having my husband bring it back with him - $600???? that is a huge savings, huge huge huge!

I wish I lived closer to Indy to make Robert's my local shop as I've heard such great things about them! But I find that my local shop charges WAY over the prices I've bought things for online at B&H (or Amazon). I've bought a lens off them, only to find I paid $75 more than I would have online and I'm glad I didn't buy my body there or it would have been a $500-$600 difference. I am a HUGE supporter of buying local, but in this case, I do my research beforehand and have found I usually know more about the Canon stuff I ask about than the person who's helped me (it's possible they were a Nikon person). (Plus, when I bought that lens, I went in, told them what I needed and they rang it up - it's not like they gave me super-awesome customer service.) I just get frustrated and wish I had a better opinion about my own local store ..my two cents.

My local shop sucks as well. Overpriced, seemingly uncaring staff, limited stock...I buy online as it's cheaper and just more convenient. I"d love to give my money to a local but it's all I've got.

Those aren't technically "local businesses" anyway. They are chains, perhaps run by locals or even franchised, but your money doesn't stay local with places like that. The money ends up in the hands of Ritz camera rather than your community. If you buy from a purely locally owned shop, 68 cents of your dollar stays in your community. Much better than the majority of it going to line the pockets of those working at corporate headquarters.

Great point. Not that I consider them local businesses, it's just that they *are* local (location-wise.)

I just bought my D700 there. They had no problem matching a local (Long Island) competitor and I got a D700, grip & extra Nikon battery for under $3100 shipped.

Two years ago, they were awesome at getting me a couple of the hard to get Nikon 18-200VR lenses. The folks I have spoken to have been responsive and keep their word.

If I am not at B & H or BuyDig....I am shopping at Roberts.

Local stores run quite a bit higher for me too it seems but that is not so different from retail as a whole (brick and mortar vs web).

There is a convenience to a local brick and mortar store to be sure. You can pick the merchandise up and hold it. You can even try it out. You can (hopefully) talk to an experienced, knowledgeable, caring employee (or high tail it out of there). If you have a problem after purchase you can head right on back and get things squared away as opposed to shipping something in and waiting.

Anyways what I am trying to say is that there is a value to having a store a mile or two away. Value enough, I think, to speak to them and see if they will match the price of the other places you are looking.

At a local store I was curious about a third-party lense. I asked if it was compatible with Canon and the guy suggests that we just try to stick it on the camera to find out. In my mind I pictured myself trying to remove the thing with a large wrench. Needless to say, I did not return for more stellar advise.

It must be different for you guys in other states but in NJ you only have to pay Use Tax on taxable items. Therefore because cameras and lenses are not taxable you don't have to pay use tax.

I checked NY's laws and they didn't have anything particularly setup for photographers (which is bull) I'd suggest giving them a call and asking, they may have literature that's not up on their website.