Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)?

Paul Rubin wrote:
> "Mark²" <mjmorgan(lowest even number here)@cox..net> writes:
>> I checked reseller ratings, and there's only one entry.
>> This place does have a decently brick & mortar shop, but I haven't
>> found much in terms of reviews.
>
> The brick and mortar shop has been around forever and is very good.
> I'd have a positive predisposition to the mail order operation. They
> used to be called Hunt's Drug and are still sometimes referred to that
> way. Seems that the MA town they were originally in had a blue law;
> retail businesses except for drugstores had to stay closed on Sundays.
> So they put up a drugstore storefront, with one of those yellow signs
> (familiar form the era) that said "We sell Kodak cameras and film".
> When you sent inside, sure enough, they had Kodak cameras and film, as
> well as Fuji, Nikon, Canon, Leica, Linhof, Sinar, Hasselblad, Metz,
> Norman, Gitzo, you get the idea. A huge store full of pro photo
> equipment including studio lighting and tripods and the whole works.
> Somewhere in one corner there was a section that had stuff like
> aspirin and toothpaste, that they needed in order to call themselves
> a drugstore. Quite amusing.

Thanks, Paul!

Just the info I was looking for...
I had a good sense about them, but it's always good to ask, short of other
confirmations...

Mark²

--
Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark² at:
www.pbase.com/markuson
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

Paul Rubin wrote:
> "Mark²" <mjmorgan(lowest even number here)@cox..net> writes:
>> I checked reseller ratings, and there's only one entry.
>> This place does have a decently brick & mortar shop, but I haven't
>> found much in terms of reviews.
>
> The brick and mortar shop has been around forever and is very good.
> I'd have a positive predisposition to the mail order operation. They
> used to be called Hunt's Drug and are still sometimes referred to that
> way. Seems that the MA town they were originally in had a blue law;
> retail businesses except for drugstores had to stay closed on Sundays.
> So they put up a drugstore storefront, with one of those yellow signs
> (familiar form the era) that said "We sell Kodak cameras and film".
> When you sent inside, sure enough, they had Kodak cameras and film, as
> well as Fuji, Nikon, Canon, Leica, Linhof, Sinar, Hasselblad, Metz,
> Norman, Gitzo, you get the idea. A huge store full of pro photo
> equipment including studio lighting and tripods and the whole works.
> Somewhere in one corner there was a section that had stuff like
> aspirin and toothpaste, that they needed in order to call themselves
> a drugstore. Quite amusing.

BTW... As a result of your info, I just placed a pre-order with them for a
1DmIII at $3999. Considering that Calumet has it listed already for
$4499...I think this may have been a good move.

As for Hunts...I talked to a real person in teh real story...a gal named
Robin...who was very pleasant and helpful. She also called me back to
answer a question she didn't know the answer to at first... They seem to be
good folks.

Mark²

--
Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark² at:
www.pbase.com/markuson
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

"Mark²" <mjmorgan(lowest even number here)@cox..net> writes:
> As for Hunts...I talked to a real person in the real story...

You mean the story about the drugstore? I'd be interested to know how
much of it I actually got right .
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

Paul Rubin wrote:
> "Mark²" <mjmorgan(lowest even number here)@cox..net> writes:
>> As for Hunts...I talked to a real person in the real story...
>
> You mean the story about the drugstore? I'd be interested to know how
> much of it I actually got right .

Typo. That should have read "real store" (as opposed to a web-site phone
person only).


--
Images (Plus Snaps & Grabs) by Mark² at:
www.pbase.com/markuson
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

Bob Salomon <bob_salomon.DeleteThis@mindspring.com> writes:
> Not quite. They were a drug store with, later on, a photo counter. Later
> on they became a camera store with a pharmacy department. Now they no
> long have the pharmacy.

Yes, that sounds right, the drugstore came first, and the huge photo
store didn't spring into existence all at once. I mis-remembered.
But I visited the place in the 1990's when the drugstore section was
still operating, and it was quite entertaining.
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

> One oddity -- Hunt's mail order prices are frequently less than
> the in-store prices.

I've seen this before, too, and when I've inquired about the difference,
I've been told that it's done to offset the cost of shipping.
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

In article <7xfy8v9phr.fsf.DeleteThis@ruckus.brouhaha.com>,
Paul Rubin <http://phr.cx@NOSPAM.invalid> wrote:

> "Mark²" <mjmorgan(lowest even number here)@cox..net> writes:
> > I checked reseller ratings, and there's only one entry.
> > This place does have a decently brick & mortar shop, but I haven't found
> > much in terms of reviews.
>
> The brick and mortar shop has been around forever and is very good.
> I'd have a positive predisposition to the mail order operation. They
> used to be called Hunt's Drug and are still sometimes referred to that
> way. Seems that the MA town they were originally in had a blue law;
> retail businesses except for drugstores had to stay closed on Sundays.
> So they put up a drugstore storefront,

Not quite. They were a drug store with, later on, a photo counter. Later
on they became a camera store with a pharmacy department. Now they no
long have the pharmacy.

--
To reply no_ HPMarketing Corp.
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

"Paul Rubin" <http://phr.cx@NOSPAM.invalid> wrote:

> You mean the story about the drugstore? I'd be interested to know how
> much of it I actually got right .

Pretty close. The drugstore was their previous location in Malden,
not the current location a few miles north. They had a little
more than aspirin -- if I remember correctly they had an actual
prescription counter as well. But most of the business came
from the photography department. It was actually a state-wide
blue law, not just the town.

I've purchased various items from them over the years, including
film, filters, lenses, batteries and other miscellany. But the
only actual camera I purchased from them was my Pentax 110 SLR.
I've had a few minor problems with them in the past, such as
losing orders, selling me the wrong remote control, and claiming
equipment I wanted to sell them was faulty when it wasn't. But
in general they are a reputable outfit.

One oddity -- Hunt's mail order prices are frequently less than
the in-store prices.

--
Michael Benveniste -- mhb-offer.RemoveThis@clearether.com
Spam and UCE professionally evaluated for $419. Use this email
address only to submit mail for evaluation.
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

Michael Benveniste wrote:
> "Paul Rubin" <http://phr.cx@NOSPAM.invalid> wrote:
>
>> You mean the story about the drugstore? I'd be interested to know how
>> much of it I actually got right .
>
> Pretty close. The drugstore was their previous location in Malden,
> not the current location a few miles north. They had a little
> more than aspirin -- if I remember correctly they had an actual
> prescription counter as well. But most of the business came
> from the photography department. It was actually a state-wide
> blue law, not just the town.

I think that's where my Omega D5 came from -- in 1981. They were the
photo store I went into most often while I was living in Hudson MA.

They were nice, fairly well stocked, good prices.
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

On Feb 24, 5:09 pm, Paul Rubin <http://phr...@NOSPAM.invalid> wrote:
> "Mark²" <mjmorgan(lowest even number here)@cox..net> writes:
>
> > I checked reseller ratings, and there's only one entry.
> > This place does have a decently brick & mortar shop, but I haven't found
> > much in terms of reviews.
>
> The brick and mortar shop has been around forever and is very good.
> I'd have a positive predisposition to the mail order operation. They
> used to be called Hunt's Drug and are still sometimes referred to that
> way. Seems that the MA town they were originally in had a blue law;
> retail businesses except for drugstores had to stay closed on Sundays.
> So they put up a drugstore storefront, with one of those yellow signs
> (familiar form the era) that said "We sell Kodak cameras and film".
> When you sent inside, sure enough, they had Kodak cameras and film, as
> well as Fuji, Nikon, Canon, Leica, Linhof, Sinar, Hasselblad, Metz,
> Norman, Gitzo, you get the idea. A huge store full of pro photo
> equipment including studio lighting and tripods and the whole works.
> Somewhere in one corner there was a section that had stuff like aspirin
> and toothpaste, that they needed in order to call themselves a drugstore.
> Quite amusing.

It sounds very quaint, with an old fashioned atmosphere. It reminds
me of the old fashioned drug stores that sold everything.....and
more! I for one would love to check it out! I'd go for it Mark...it
sounds wonderful, even if you're just using their mail-order service.
Good Luck!
Helen
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

"Mark²" <mjmorgan(lowest even number here)@cox..net> writes:

> I checked reseller ratings, and there's only one entry.
> This place does have a decently brick & mortar shop, but I haven't found
> much in terms of reviews.

I buy from the brick and mortar store every so often. Particularly if I try
stuff out in the store, I feel I should repay them for the service they offered
me (ie, trying it out in person). In terms of price, for new gear they tend to
be on the high side, particularly since they have to charge Massachusetts
taxes. I must say however, they could be faster for gear that they had to
order -- I was given a Hunts gift certificate for Christmas, and decided to
order two camera straps that they didn't have in stock in addition to my other
purchases, and it has been over a week, and they haven't called yet.

--
Michael Meissner
email: mrmnews.RemoveThis@the-meissners.org
http://www.the-meissners.org
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)? 

Mark² wrote:
> I checked reseller ratings, and there's only one entry.
> This place does have a decently brick & mortar shop, but I haven't found
> much in terms of reviews.
>
> Any experience out there?
> Thanks,
> Mark²
>

Bought Photoshop CS2 from them; got a discount price because of one of
the groups I belong to.

No problems with the transaction.

AFAIK, they're a regular local dealer that also does internet/mail order.
 >> Stay informed about: Anyone buy from Hunts Photo and Video (in MA)?