Tempe Camera Repair Inc — Attraction in Tempe

I've purchased equipment and have done some repairs here. The service was fine. I never had an issue.

My problems stems from a competition they held last year. It was in October and they were looking for submissions to print and hang in their gallery. I submitted a pic and it was chosen as a runner up. That meant they would hang my image in the gallery as well as provide me with a free print. They initially stated that they were going to have prints done before Christmas. At the beginning of November they asked for the RAW/Full-Resolution photo and print info. I sent this on the 10th and it took almost 3 weeks for a response. We exchanged a few emails and Gigi said "Great, I will get this into production!" Gigi also stated the "production estimation is 14 business days." That was November 29th.

A month passes with no follow up so on December 28th I sent an email inquiring about the print. Gigi responds that the holidays were busy and "Let me look into this with the Lab Manager and I will contact you by Wednesday of next week at the latest with an update." That was two and a half weeks ago. I sent two follow up emails and still have had no response.

I don't mind that it takes time to get the print made. I understand that they are busy, especially around the holidays. What bothers me is not hearing anything for over a month when it was a 14 day eta. What bothers me is then telling me you'll get back by "Wednesday of next week" and weeks later there's still no update AND they ignored my follow up emails after two weeks of waiting. As someone who has spent thousands of dollars here throughout the years, I am disappointment by the communication and the fact that they have ghosted me.

My frustration has little to do with receiving the print or even how long it's been. It has everything to do with Gigi's timeframes and never following up. Especially the last few emails which have been completely ignored. Regardless of the competition I was still a loyal Tempe Camera...

Guy Reed, Thank You! If you are looking for knowledge and direction, Guy has watched over me for years. I am on my 4th camera! I won't say everyone at Tempe Camera gets customer service, but I will say "Most of them do." Guy, David and a couple of the other sales and service people get what it takes to keep people buying local. I buy a camera online, I have to spend hours learning the new features. If I buy a camera, lens, backup camera or anything else. I either set a time with Guy or Call before I drop in on him and ask for a walk through on my new, Camera, Len's or anything else I need a better understanding of. I can say, I did not get this when I first climbed into the Digital World, but with allot of patients from Guy and some of the other sales and service people, I learn and get what I need ASAP in order to get back out in the field shooting. I will say, you need to time things right, if you drop in right as an ASU semester starts, theses folks are going to be running 100 mph, use your head, have respect and you will get respect. I needed allot of direction and help when I was converting to digital and getting back into Photography. My first experience was on the development side, it did not go so well. I did not go back for a year. But I did go back, Guy has taken personal care of me, my family and friends, like they were his family. I walk in now, he knows what I tend to photograph most, what my style is and what equipment I need. We may discuss it back and forth a bit, but I end up with the right equipment for my art. He doe's not push, he guides. Please remember to take the time to get to know your sales and service people and they will get to know you. The extra you may pay in tax vs online purchases is well worth the backup when stuff hits the wall. Aaron Blackburn wrote the review before me, he is one of 3 of the hardest working full time photographers I know. The other two live in different states, and still come back to deal with...

To start off, I am humble in my outlook: The more I learn the less I know and after a month of stewing and sleeping on this, I have to say something honest about Tempe Camera and it's a conscience decision to speak up...

As a longtime customer who has spent thousands of dollars at Tempe Camera, I never imagined I’d be writing this. For years I defended this store, choosing to spend locally instead of online, because I wanted to support a family-run business. I even referred countless photographers to Tempe Camera. One employee, Guy, consistently showed professionalism and respect, and he’s the reason I made major purchases here.

But after my most recent experience, I can no longer recommend Tempe Camera. During a simple visit to check camera bags, I offered another customer some honest feedback about a lens I’ve researched extensively. Instead of respecting the exchange, a staff member stepped in and “politely” scolded me to stop speaking—as if my knowledge and perspective were a threat to their sale. That wasn’t just an isolated insult; it reflected a pattern I’ve felt for some time: Tempe Camera treats loyal, knowledgeable customers less like friends of the community and more like obstacles.

For the record, I’ve never returned a single purchase here. I’ve supported them faithfully, and I have influence in Southwest photography circles. To be silenced for sharing honest, experience-based advice crosses a line. A shop that polices conversations between customers is no longer fostering community—it’s protecting sales at the expense of trust.

If you’re a serious photographer in Arizona, consider your options. Foto Forum in Phoenix offers a more professional atmosphere (in my opinion), and Monument Camera in Tucson has earned a reputation for welcoming and respecting customers. After years of loyalty, I’ve realized Tempe Camera no longer values the people who built...