No, I did not buy the camera yesterday.

In the morning, Donna heard an ad on the radio from Ritz Camera.  Free Epson photo printer would come with the DSLR. 

So, being a smart husband, I knew I had to at least make the effort.  So, I drove to Reston to the RC where a clerk tried to help.  yes, they had the camera.  The zoom lens?  Hmm, she'd have to ask her Manager.

Now, understand that retail background I have makes me reluctant to break my word, i.e. buy the camera at Ritz and not at Penn Camera, where the folks behind the counter are photographers.  So I got on the phone to call Peter, the Penn salesman, and tell him my dilemma.  Free printer ... same price ... wife wants printer for jewelry business ... competition is competition. 

It is apparent that Peter is not on commission.  There is no eagerness to make a deal with me.  "We don't have that printer.  It's discontinued."

Well, how about a free battery?

"Free?  Oh, we don't have that deal." 

(Business at Penn, I think, must be pretty darn good, eh?)

Peter, I say, "I don't want to buy it here.  I want stores like yours to stay in business.  Yes, Ritz is in bankruptcy, but you have to at least try to be competitive."

"Peter, did the lens you ordered for this package Friday come in?"

"The truk came an hour ago. Uh, I'll know in a few hours."  Peter! 

"Oh, OK.  Let me look .............. Yes, it's here."

By this time, the RC clerk is back.  "No, we don't have the lens."

Fine, I drive to Penn Camera. 

Peter is with a customer.  He sees, me, I believe ... does not acknowledge me, and spends another five minutes with another customer. Ron, the assistant store manager sees me waiting.  He talks with Peter who tells him where the lens and camera is.  Ron puts the items on the counter.

THE CAMERA IN THE BOX IS the Canon XS.  Not the XSI with which Peter helped me take some test shots a few days earlier. 

This is my fourth contact with Peter. I'm disappointed that I have made no impression. 

Ron asks me if I want the XSI in silver or black.  "Black." 

Ron rummages in the cabinet ... "No black."

I stand there.  Calm. I tell Ron how 'disappointed' I am.

"Ron, I'm going to go away and stew."

On my way home, I remember my friend is a fan of another pro/sumer camera store 20 miles away.  I say to myself, "Let's get this thing done!"  On the way I call and ask if they have the camera and the lens.  "I have one camera in silver and no lens."

I go home.

Things to do Tuesday: Take friends to airport at 3:30pm and on the way home, go back to RC.  Order the camera and lens (and get the free printer).

Maybe I'll get it before Memorial Day.

Comments

[Mike McDermott]

You'd think in this ecomony, the merchants would at least try to be helpful . . . don't let this experience taint your eventual joy taking photographs (no longer will you be a picture taker).