nospam
competitive doesn't mean below cost.

however, it does mean not charging as much as twice the price as available elsewhere, for the same item.

offer products and services to make customers want to buy from you, otherwise they aren't going to. it's really that simple.

either adapt to the changing landscape of online shopping or be gone. that's harsh but that's just how it is.

Scott Schuckert
You really don't want to be swayed from your agenda, do you?

You seem to want "competitive pricing." Would you care to define that for me? Granted, I've been out of the business a long time, but things don't seem to have changed - only difference is, customers order from a web page, not over the phone.

And, to be honest, some of the very worst mail order scum have been put out of business.

Now, when I left the business, I had three stores, so I wasn't the tiniest of the tiny. Keeping the doors open, paying and training staff, incoming shipping, all the little things that put a camera on the counter for you to look at, cost about 12-15% over the cost of goods. In other words, if the invoice for a camera read $100, I was selling at a loss if the price didn't exceed $112. Then, there's that troublesome little "profit" thing, so add another 5-7%. So, the selling price goes to at least $117.

Now, the mail order/internet seller, with his lower costs and much, much larger volume is selling the same item for $99. It probably cost him $92. Who's in the wrong here? Customers vote with their wallet; they've voted that all the services I offered like demonstration, free training, rental darkroom, contests, photo gallery, equipment rentals, etc. were not worth eighteen dollars to them. I get that, I'm not in that business anymore. Nor are a lot of other people.

Now, here's a challenge for you: SHOW US a camera (not a lens cap or a battery) that sells for twice at much in a retail store as through a mail order house. Exact same, current model and brand, that is, say, $200 at Cardinal Camera in Lansdale Pa. and $100 at B&H in New York. Or any other comparable vendors.

In the meantime, stop making out like small resellers are doing anything "wrong" - other than trying to best serve their customers, and the customers want "cheap" over "full service."