A solid camera store with friendly, knowledgeable ...

A solid camera store with friendly, knowledgeable staff. I've bought a handful of accessories and equipment over the years from this place, even before their move to the current location. I'm not a professional, so my purchase history is moderate, probably on par for someone who is a hobbyist. If you're looking for a new camera and need some help finding the right one for you, I strongly recommend this place.

But why only three starts? My experience has always had been that there is always just 'one thing' that nags me about my interactions with the store. Not quite a bad experience, but not a perfect one either. I often feel like if I had the time to wait for Amazon or could make the drive down to Holland (for prints) I might as well.

Two recent examples:

1) I called about a film developing class they had to make sure I had the right equipment to bring. I spoke with one sales rep who was extremely helpful and friendly but not completely sure that I would be good with what I had (using a medium format camera as well as my own film development canisters for a class that said students would be developing 35mm). So he transfers me to the education coordinator who is away at from desk. No big deal, I leave a message. But here's the rub: the dates for the class came and went and I never got a call back. So maybe I was transferred to the wrong desk, maybe the education coordinator was out all week, maybe something else... but I was prepared to spend the money for the class and had made sure my calendar was free. I should have to call back to follow up (and I didn't). I spent my weekend doing other thing and have contact folks at Dougherty about developing/darkroom classes one-on-one.

2) I sent some digital files for prints. It wasn't a big order: just a half dozen or so 4x6 prints and one 8x10. I got an email about 1pm that my order was ready for pick up. When I showed up at 3pm, my 8x10 was not with my files and in fact, the very friendly rep at the counter had no idea there was an issue. When I asked where my 8x10 was, she went to the back in case they were printing it. She came out to tell me that the file was corrupted. So my options were (a) get a refund for the print, (b) go home and get my computer and re-export another file, (c) re-send the file through the online print order system. But here's the rub: no one called me in the two hours between when my order was ready and when I showed up. The rep at the counter was under the impression that my prints had just been placed in the pickup bins, unaware that a sufficient enough time had gone by for someone there to pickup the phone and let me know there was an issue. I could have easily resent a file before driving to the store. Thankfully, these prints were just some that I wanted for family and friends and not mission critical. I could imagine that if this were a professional job with a deadline, I'd be much more upset.

Again, not like these are deal-breakers but they do kind of rub the wrong way. I'll keep shopping here when I need stuff.