YM camera — Attraction in Boardman

My father and I stopped in last week to see about trading in some of our DSLR gear and F-mount Nikon lenses towards the purchase of a new Z-mount lens and some accessories. I had a great experience purchasing a used lens from the online shop a while back, and always wanted to check out the store in person. We're coming from near Pittsburgh, so it isn't "down the road," but it is definitely close enough for an easy drive.

The store itself is great. They have a wide selection of gear from the popular manufacturers, from simple point-and-shoot to pro-level bodies and lenses. They also had a range of accessories in store, including tripods, bags, straps, memory cards, film (including medium format), screen protectors, cables of all sorts, lighting, filters, etc. If you need a quick item or want to actually get your hands and eyes on something before buying, a trip to the store is definitely worth it!

Staff is really important for a store like YM that is catering to everyone from the person who wants a simple pocket camera for vacation to the pro who depends on their camera for a living. YM shines here, as their staff really seems to know their stuff. We had a chance to observe interactions with multiple customers while they were cataloging the items we brought for trade, and they were always kind, courteous, and most importantly, HONEST.

Speaking of honest, we did go there to trade in some gear. What they offered for our gear was beyond fair! I had done my research before making the trip, and I knew about how much I could expect to get from selling the stuff myself. With a good bit of effort, I probably could have beat what they offered, but not by much, and it would have taken me far more time and work than the drive to Boardman. What they offered was beyond what I was expecting. Again, fair and honest, all the way!

Our experience has definitely won us over. While we don't buy a lot of camera equipment, it is nice to know that we actually know the people on the other end of the website now. I'm confident that, if I had a question about a piece of gear, I could call the store and get an honest, thoughtful opinion from someone who cares about my experience. Without reservation, I'd highly recommend checking out the folks at YM Camera online or in person for your next camera...

I flew to Ohio from Alaska to photograph my first wedding in mid-July 2014. I found myself at YM Camera looking for a device to handle multiple cameras without handing them around my neck. Fate stepped in when Adam E answered the phone that day at YM Camera.

From that moment on, Adam, an experienced photographer, talked to me regarding photography as though we were old friends. His knowledge base guided me to purchasing the correct equipment that I was missing for weddings. He didn't try to sell me something I didn't need. He didn't "talk" he "showed" how the Small Soft Box would diffuse better than my standard diffuser on my camera not the store's camera. After purchasing two lenses and a few needed items, I headed back to Sharon, Pennsylvania.

The day before the wedding I decided to practice with my new 35mm prime and my new Tamron 70-140mm on my Nikon D90 and D7000. When my 50mm prime would not come off my D90, I called Adam. I needed to take the camera to the store. YM Camera did not sell the D90 to me and had no ties to it but instead used their resources help me so that my first wedding would not be a disaster.

Unfortunately, my D90 had issues that were not immediately repairable. YM Camera, packaged it up and sent it to the closest Nikon repair center closest to Alaska. I could not have asked for more from any store. I don't even know if my local photo store would have done the same for an out of state customer.

To shoot the wedding, my only camera was my D7000 and I didn't feel comfortable without a backup. I had no problems buying a D7100 from Adam on the spot. He set it up out of the box so that I could get to work immediately.

YM Camera exceeded my expectations for a customer that was out of state, and in dire straights. They did not take advantage of my situation. They helped me instead.

I would refer them to everyone in the Tri-State area of Youngstown/ Boardman-Oh/...

Slipshod appraisal. And a judgemental attitude about a cus word I dropped sotto voce while describing the history of one of my cameras.

Anybody who makes a fuss about a cuss word muttered under one's breath nowadays needs to get a grip. Chances are they think "clean" language matters more than all the wars happening in the world and increasingly destructive climate change. You own a camera shop. Don't tell me how to be. You are not my priest.

BTW, B&H is the best outlet to sell used camera equipment. You don't have to pay for mailing packages and they provide quick pro assessments, payments and deliveries, free of small-time, small-store quirks and prejudices.

A PS to the owner, after his response that I was speaking loudly when I uttered my cus word. I was not. Secondly, the camera in question was not broken. It was working and he had agree to pay a fee for it, but after hearing my cus word changed his mind as I had tarnished his Christian establishment with a word he deemed unpleasant.

His right to deny me business, but he is misguided, particularly if he thinks any child is going to get through his young years not hearing a cus word. There are worse...