My local Costco now only sells 3 cameras...: News & Rumors Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review (2024)

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Stopped at my local Costco today and found only 3 digital cameras for sale: Canon T6, D80, and Finepix XP130. That's it, no other cameras on display.

Not too long ago they had at least 2 dozen cameras on display. Then the numbers began to dwindle. Now only 3.

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DiffractionLtd wrote:

[...] BTW, I'll buy a camera from Costco when someone in the "camera area" can tell me what ISO is.

I assume you mean: "... when someone in the 'camera area' can give a correct explanation of what ISO is".

Don't hold your breath, but get plenty of popcorn while the usual suspects go in endless loop mode over what is correct.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_D80

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Who goes to Costco to shop for cameras?

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Rarely, but they have great deals sometimes, and with a 90 day no hassle/no re-stocking returns, it's good for some people. https://www.costco.com/all-digital-cameras.html

I never bought a camera there, but I see no reason not to. Not a camera store, but just another retail store.

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DiffractionLtd wrote:

But I'll bet they have a lot of phones? BTW, I'll buy a camera from Costco when someone in the "camera area" can tell me what ISO is.

I'm thinking there are better places to learn about ISO than A WAREHOUSE STORE.

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teejaywhy wrote:

DiffractionLtd wrote:

But I'll bet they have a lot of phones? BTW, I'll buy a camera from Costco when someone in the "camera area" can tell me what ISO is.

I'm thinking there are better places to learn about ISO than A WAREHOUSE STORE.

Right on. I think what draws people to the Costco camera department is low prices, not technical knowledge of the sales people. Also, Costco usually offers pretty good package deals...camera, 2 lenses, case, memory card, and extra battery at a good price.

I also noticed my Costco was not selling any Nikon gear.

DiffractionLtd wrote:

But I'll bet they have a lot of phones?

Yes, they did have a good selection of phones. Also tablets and laptops. And portable hard drives.

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keeponkeepingon wrote:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_D80

Uh-oh, my mistake. I should have said Canon 80D, not D80.

In fact, no Nikon cameras were being sold.

Costco is only selling three cameras?

How will it stay in business?

sam45 wrote:

Rarely, but they have great deals sometimes, and with a 90 day no hassle/no re-stocking returns, it's good for some people. https://www.costco.com/all-digital-cameras.html

Yes, great deals at good prices. Especially when you get a bundle...camera, lenses, and accessories. Very useful for people starting out in dslr photography.

Maybe a contributing factor in the decline of cameras being sold by Costco...sales tax.

Where my Costco is located sales tax is 9.5%. With just a few keystrokes on my phone or laptop I can order the same camera from an online store and not be charged sales tax.

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teejaywhy wrote:

DiffractionLtd wrote:

But I'll bet they have a lot of phones? BTW, I'll buy a camera from Costco when someone in the "camera area" can tell me what ISO is.

I'm thinking there are better places to learn about ISO than A WAREHOUSE STORE.

Seriously...that was a total red herring. Does anyone go into Costco expecting expert advice from the employees on ANY product they carry? No! All we ever expect from them is to tell us which aisle they moved a product to this week. That's why the prices are so low. You go in already knowing what you want, you grab it off the shelf, you go to the register.

(If a Costco employee really did know, their answer to DiffractionLtd should be: "ISO means International Organization for Standardization, a standards-defining body that has developed over 22,000 standards for a wide range of industries, located in Geneva, Switzerland. Or did you mean ISO speed, sir?")

The last camera I bought at Costco was for my mom. She needed a little pocket camera. We saw one on the shelf, I looked it up on my phone, specs were good, price was competitive...sold. That's who those cameras at Costco are for, consumers. That's why the DSLRs there come in convenient kit boxes with cheap zooms.

A D80? Really?? that's a model from 2006!

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Paul Pasco wrote:

A D80? Really?? that's a model from 2006!

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61278728

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My local Costco has the Canon 80D in a two lens kit, the Nikon D7500 in a two-lens kit with both the 18-55 and 70-300 VR, as well as two batteries and a case. A good deal at $1499 right now. Also a Rebel T6i, and a couple of small P&S things, forgot the brands...Panasonic was one, I think. These are more or less the only cameras they have been selling for well over a year or more so Costco must have special package deals with Canon and Nikon in particular.

If you buy a camera at Costco, you need to know about the cameras and which one you want before you go in to buy one, no one there can tell you a single thing about them. Costco doesn't hire camera experts. If you want what is in the kit, it's usually a fairly good deal.

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