Comparison Shopping at SPECTRUM PHOTO

[mcdude]

The PROMASTER Compact Flash memory cards are designed to allow you to easily upload, download, store and capture images, music and data in your digital camera, MP3 player, or PDA.

Wolfe's Camera Shop (on-line) price = $39.99

Penn Camera (0n-line) price for 2GB = $44.99

Spectrum Photo Wolfeboro price for 1GB card = $99.99
__________________________________________________ _________
Penn Camera price for:

On sale in the current on-line ad at SPECTRUM PHOTO = $599.95
(includes a 1GB memory card!)

BEWARE RETURN POLICY:
There is no "return policy"...there is a merchandise exchange policy subject to timelines and restocking fees. The website states:

Purchases made at our store locations may be returned for merchandise credit within seven days of the date of purchase. Note, this is a merchandise credit only. Unfortunately, unscrupulous customers are changing the way the industry has to handle returns.
Some people buy a camera, or product, use it for an event, and then expect to return it for a refund. Sadly, it is a common situation.
If a product is to be eligible for a merchandise credit, it must be in factory new condition, with all papers and instruction manuals, a fresh warranty card and all accessories.
Sealed packages that have been opened may not be returnable, or at full value. All returns are subject to a minimum restocking charge of 20%.

[ApS]

I would not even attempt to comparison-shop at Spectrum.

A glance at just their workaday camera batteries show them to be pricey. (As are Wolfeboro business rentals )

In their defense, however, they are knowledgeable and you are unlikely to walk out having purchased the wrong battery!

The "Spectrum" part extends to the very wide breadth of their services. I can't keep track of all the equipment they continuously upgrade to that make quality prints while you wait. They'll copy your 8mm movies onto VHS, DVDs or CDs. One employee is conversive with older cameras—has been helpful with my occasional camera problem—and offers repairs and advice I've never seen offered at other stores.

For me, they've cleaned up old 35mm slides and put them on a disk. It wasn't cheap, but then I didn't have to buy the hardware/software or take the time for a two-hour roundtrip elsewhere, either. (Two hours = $12 of gas).

With too many major Wolfeboro townscape changes proposed, I'm glad they're around.

[fatlazyless]

...some big difference in prices here....need to get a ten dollar or less, phone anwering machine at Gilford Wal-Mart today so will report back their price for a Promaster compact flash memory card...not a buyer....just a window shopper....

[Newbiesaukee]

I think it is important to support the local businesses; but there are limits. I don't think there is a real answer and certainly not one to please everyone. In general, in a local store I frequent, I expect to pay and am OK to pay up to 20% higher on certain items in return for personal service and advice. This is totally realizing that some of the online items are "loss leaders" and sometimes there are problems with delivery, etc. That said, I have rarely been unhappy with online shopping but I am a very careful shopper. Along the same lines, I find it difficult to pay 40% above the Home Depot prices in Tilton ( at least there are local employees) for the same can of wood stain at my local hardware ( and this is a real price).

[SIKSUKR]

Wow people. Has anyone ever heard of shopping online? Items like memory cards are so easy to shop for price and APS doesn't have to spend $12 on gas driving 2 hours.