How to Choose a Digital Camera Store

These days the word “digital camera store” has several meanings. It can be a brick and mortar store in the mall or on the street or it can be an online store (Amazon, eBay, etc.). Upshot – same rules apply when trying to find the right store for a digital camera online or off – research the product you want to purchase, read the reviews, learn the suggested retail prices and then start shopping at reputable retail establishments.

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The good news is that a decent digital camera these days are not hard to find – you can walk into 42nd Street Photo and hundreds of models will be open to you. As a matter of fact – if you are a novice or amateur photographer, it can be downright confusing given all the options available. Digital cameras are sold everywhere from major chains to online powerhouses such as Amazon to mom and pop shops on the street corner.

So to avoid too much confusion – here are five tips to help you find the right digital camera store:

1. Decide on what kind of camera you want.  You can peruse several expert sites where digital cameras are aptly reviewed such as Steve’s DigiCam blog and CNET.com according to WikiHow.com to help you determine the type of camera you want and need. This is important as you want to make sure you buy a camera within your knowledge and expertise range. If you are an expert photographer willing to pay thousands – some models will be more appealing than others. Novices will likely be turned onto cameras at a lower price range with less features.

2. Find out which stores sell the level of cameras you need.  As a professional, you may want to peruse stores that cater more to expert photographers where you find not only cameras but peripherals as well (lighting, screens, lenses, etc.) Sites such as Steve’s DigiCam as well as Yellow Pages will help you locate such specialty shops.

3. Go on TrustPilot or other similar consumer rating sites to ascertain if the store you choose is any good. People on TrustPilot are very honest and will let you know if the store has a good selection; top notch sales help; good delivery services (if store is online); warranties, etc. Check out the reviews to help you learn more about the retail establishment.

4. Look at the prices/warranties. By doing your research ahead of time – you can get a sense of what different cameras cost. You don’t want to pay too much or too little – both can be red flags. Also, make sure the store offers warranties for their products.

5. Helpful Sales Support.  One of the key aspects of shopping in a store or even online is helpful sales support. Google+ Local and other popular review sites can help you determine which stores have knowledgeable staff. Whether you are a professional or amateur photographer – being able to interact with a knowledgeable salesperson who can understand the products is a very important part of the buying experience. Reliable shipping is also important, for large bulk purchases of expensive equipment, you may want to consider a freight quote from multiple shipping companies to make sure you are getting the best price from a reliable company.

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