wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (06/28/84)
Hi! I am soliciting information regarding the best (most reliable and lowest priced) mail-order discount photo outlets for accessories, as opposed to cameras and lenses. My experience with audio mail-order discount houses is that they will offer well-advertised low prices on major items, such as stereo components, but much less of a discount on accessories. (Traditionally, dealers have shaved prices on big-ticket items, but maintained full markup on accessory items, and tried to make up on accessory sales for the low profit margin on the major items.) I notice that the 47th St. Photo catalog I have doesn't list much in the way of the kinds of accesory items I am looking for. (Right now, I am interested in a source for the foam-padded, nylon or similar fabric protective carrying cases in various shapes and sizes, preferably with belt loops or such attachment/carrying facilities.) This may be because a) they don't carry this sort of thing; b) they don't want to expend catalog space on them; or c) their prices are not competitive, so they don't advertise them. Can anyone recommend some mail-order photo houses whose catalogs show a good selection of these kinds of accessories, and whose reliability and prices make them worthy of consideration? If they have 800 numbers which I could call to request a catalog, I would appreciate your including them. Also, since it's been many years since I read the popular photographic magazines, which one(s) are most likely to have a wide range of advertisements from such mail-order houses, and do any still have Business-Reply-Mail "bingo" cards to request literature and catalogs? I'll pick up a recent issue & start getting inundated with mail from such outfits if this service is still available. (As an aside, does anyone have specific recommendations for brands or styles of these padded carrying cases? I have heard of a brand called "Lowe Pro Opti-Pouch" or something similar; I don't know if this is the only one, or one of dozens of competitors.) I'll accumulate any mail on the subject sent me, and post a summary after a while, in addition to anything anyone wants to post to the newsgroup. Mail can reach me at "seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin" via uucp-mail, or at "wmartin@almsa-1" via ARPA/MILNET, if you can use that facility. Thanks and regards, Will Martin
wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (07/03/84)
I posted the oiginal of this item, and I received a mailed reply from "ihnp4!iwu1a!fma". However, it consisted solely of the message-header lines; there was no text. This has happened several times in the past to mail coming from various uucp locations; I don't know what causes it. I cannot reliably mail a reply directly to this person (see my recent posting in net.mail about mail problems). Would "ihnp4!iwu1a!fma" please POST the comments he/she made to net.rec.photo? Thanks! Will Martin (By the way, aside from this, I have only received one other comment, more in the nature of "let me know what you find out". Let's see more traffic from the rest of you out there! Surely most, if not all of you have dealt with the mail-order photo outfits and have something to contribute! -WM)