B&C Camera — Attraction in Las Vegas

I have been a professional photographer since 2001, and work all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. I own all of the gear I typically require for a shoot, but sometimes things get damaged mid-trip and consequently, I have an occasional need to rent. That being said, I have rented gear from countless places all over the country, from the large online houses to small, independent camera stores.

The employees at B&C have been friendly and professional on both occasions that I've used them, but their rental policies and procedures are certainly not in line with most places that serve the professional photographic community. The policy to require a credit card authorization for the total retail value of the rental is crazy and not typical when renting professional equipment. Those authorizations can quickly climb into the tens of thousands of dollars. Most places that require a security deposit (many do not) will at least allow a COI, which is industry-standard. All the credit card authorizations and charges, coupled with signatures and initials (not sure whey you have to initial on the same line you just signed) on several pieces of paper and let's just say, picking up equipment isn't a quick process. So if you're a pro, don't plan on picking up on the way to your shoot. That brings me to my final warning - the battery policy. I rented lights that are battery powered for an on-location shoot. I assumed they would be fully charged, like every other rental house I've ever used. These batteries lasted less than 5 minutes and both lights were dead - because the batteries were on less than 5% when I picked the equipment up from B&C. Their policy states they are not responsible for the charge status or potential malfunction of batteries, but you're welcome to BUY batteries at full retail with no return policy for equipment you are also paying them to rent? That's absolute insanity, and in my case, my client flew me across the country from the east coast for a shoot that I couldn't complete due to dead batteries. It was a waste of two days of travel, airlines, hotels, rental cars and the time of my client - not to mention the loss of revenue and having to reschedule it all over again.

Again, it's a nice store if you know exactly what you want to purchase, but I'd look elsewhere on the rental side, especially if you're a working professional. Between the laborious paperwork and pickup process, the credit card authorizations and the lack of accountability that the equipment you are renting is in proper working condition, there are many...

Best. Place. Ever.

It was a very last minute decision for us to purchase a camera early November for our engagement photos in early December. We wanted something compact and easy to carry around, yet still extremely powerful. The Leica Q3 caught our attention, but as we scoured the web and made phone calls to my local camera stores (Vancouver, BC, Canada) and other camera stores in California where we often travel to, we were hit with 6-10month waitlist times. I came across B&C camera off of a Leica Q3 waitlist Reddit post where another user was raving about how great this local store was (he was a Vegas local). I immediately searched up the store and saw their Leica Q3 waitlist was ~3-4 weeks. 3 TO 4 WEEKS!!!?! I ordered right away. During the first 2 weeks I was getting worried because other users on Reddit were talking about how OTHER stores gave false ETA’s and started to get anxious that it would also happen to me and I would need to purchase a back-up camera in case the Q3 did not arrive. At 3 weeks, I dm’d the store on Instagram and they were super kind to pass the dm to the store directly to inquire about our placement on the list. Just a few minutes later after the DM, I received a call from the store and was given all the details I had inquired about by a very kind gentleman. (PS I inquired about possible ways to move up spots in line , and B&C camera are the most fair and honest people that respect every customer exactly the same. You can trust that your spot in line will be your spot forever, and they don’t give anyone preferential treatment). Right as week 4 hit, I got an email saying my camera had shipped. It arrived super quickly overnight and was safely packed. That was 3 days ago and we now leave for our engagement trip in 2 days. Talk about perfect timing and the most worthwhile decision. Since then I’ve also ordered a few more accessories for the Q3 with them. If I’m ever making a trip to Vegas, I will definitely be visiting here in person. You guys are amazing!...

Well, there's a lot of good and a fair share of not so good about this place. First, there is a broad range of excellent equipment, both for sale and to rent. If you need something highly specialized and expensive that you don't need often, they likely have it, and if they don't, there's only one other place in town that rents to the public. If you know the place i refer to, good for you, but out of respect, I won't mention it here. Now, the staff is generally knowledgeable, and some of the staff is highly knowledgeable, and they tend to be, well, RUDE. I hate to say it, but it's true as there is a looking down the nose and impatience to some of these individuals. If you buy here and photography or videography are more than an avocation but less than a vocation or even if you are a pro then you know getting out the door for less than $1k is not the norm. As such, if I am buying a gimbal with NO RETURN POLICY, then I expect you to know how to walk through the functioning and have the patience to earn your commission and do the job. This is why I give 4 and not 5 stars. I go to a store like this not because I need to for the equipment but for the knowledge of the staff. EVERYTHING I can buy at this store i can find online and likely have the ability to return it should there be a defect or I bought the wrong thing. To drive the point home, if the staff does not know or does not care to educate me, then I don't need to be there. Don't be a snob, be of service, guys. Everything else is spot on, and I have always been satisfied with my purchases if I am not thrilled at the experience of purchasing. Maek it a joy to come in, not a place to feel out of place because you don't know everything and even if you are supporting someone elses sale or it is close to closing, DO THE JOB WITH A DECEMT ATTITUDE, please. I buy everything there with a separate email, so I won't be in the system with this...