Em Willis

Review of Arlington House of Cameras

Been here twice and will never go back again. Both...

Been here twice and will never go back again. Both times, when I walked in, nobody offered help, asked how I was or even acknowledged me. There were a bunch of guys hanging around the counters but nobody gave a carp I was there. At least, not until I had to fend for myself and start opening boxes of tripods to figure out what everything was, seeing as how I had zero help. The only one who did help me was a nice woman who was the only good thing about the place. Pleasant and helpful. Whoever the other dudes are that work there, they were too busy chatting up area photographers and folks they already knew. I was glared at and ignored. A man came in they knew by name and he was greeted warmly even though I had been there for several minutes already. I ended up spending about $385 but you'd never know it judging from how they treat new customers. Despite the fact that the woman who was helping me was so polite, she never told me they had used equipment. I only needed a 1.4/50mm lens that I could've bought online for 1/4 of what I paid at this shop. She even told me not to buy used equipment. I didn't realize they sold used items until I came home and read the REST of the reviews. That's what I call "sheisty". If I didn't need this stuff for class, I would've returned it ALL already. This is why I'll only buy online from now on. I'm beginning to think maybe photographers are bitter that their pseudo-art form is no longer some exclusive boys club with the advent of digital photography. I'm not some snot nosed kid who thinks they are a photographer because I can take pics with my smartphone. They will never get another dime from me. So much for supporting local businesses. Hard to do that when they have no concept of customer service. Maybe this is why print photography is DEAD-- crabby, cantankerous, inflexible old fogies who aren't receptive to change. Or newcomers.