Encinitas Photo — Local services in Encinitas

If I could give negative stars I would. I have grown up in Encinitas and have been going to this place on and off for many years. The reason I have continued to go there is because there are limited options in Encinitas. Ritz closed down as have others. I really try to support all local businesses and will always spend a bit more to do so. However today was the absolute last time I will ever go in there. The lady in there is very nice and always has been so half of my visits are good. The problem is I was dealing with Gary in there today. Every time I go in I feel like I am rolling the dice on getting him or her. So it was a simple task that he did take care of but being the novice photographer that I am I asked him a very simple question. I knew in my heart and soul from past dealings that I shouldn't even bother with a question because I am always met with condescension and a lack of any friendliness or patience. Basically, he always makes me feel like an idiot and I am far from an annoying customer. His tone and demeanor after I asked my simple question ("how do I remove the lint behind my viewfinder"?) was that of total disgust. I had finally had enough of this guy and told him that I was a long time customer and that I really try to support local but always feel belittled in his shop. He immediately got crazy. I kid you not, the following is completely true. He called me a "big baby". He told me to "get more self esteem". He said if I own my own business I can also treat people however I want to. He also asked if I watch Seinfeld and he compared himself to George Castanza and he stated "we are just having fun here right?" This story can't be made up. I live in Encinitas, pay taxes here, work here, born and raised here, want to keep it as soul as possible and try to support only the local shops but this guy is the worst business owner I have ever dealt with in town in 36 years. I certainly told him how I felt just so it doesn't appear like I am hiding behind the anonymity of a keyboard. I should have followed my gut instinct every time I began to head to that shop but I guess I was too lazy to drive out of town to patronize a different photo store. Like I said earlier however, the lady is always nice in the store so if you go in there try to get her to help...or better yet...

Disgustingly rude shop keepers with no technical expertise or knowledge to speak of. Make no mistake, these people are by no means photographers or camera experts. They are salesmen pure and simple. If they can't shame and humiliate you into buying the merchandise they need to move, they simply throw up their hands and play the victim. "Poor me! You won't help me make my commission! Obviously your an amateur! No real photographer would dare not to buy what I demand of them. I know all! Everyone mock and degrade this lowly piece of filth who dared to come to my store!" If their sickening, drunken, frat boy mentality isn't enough to rob your life of any meaning, they have very little selection, and what they do have is monsteroudly overpriced. They aren't even consistent with prices on their merchandise. One LED light was priced at $79, while the same model, on the same rack was $59. On sale? No, just lazy price marking. Oopsies! It just goes to show you how little effort these monstrous cheats put into the shop. Do not give these charlatans your business. You can get everything in their store on Amazon for far less! Don't for a moment be deceived into thinking that buying here is supporting a small business. It's supporting a group of swindlers who somehow manage to keep their shelves stocked and afford the rent on a brick and mortar store by marking their prices way up and bullying people into making purchases. If you are a victim of sexual assault, prepare to be harassed and humiliated to the point where you have flashbacks. That's no exaggeration! They are that brutal and that desperate to...

Went into the store today ready to purchase a camera as a beginner. Like ready to drop some $ and excited to start my new hobby. Dude was ridiculously aloof and at the same time seemed bothered when I waked in. I actually thought that I was getting Punked. I asked the owner if he could recommend a camera, and he said to take pics of the available cameras, go home and look them up. I asked to see some cameras and he placed them on the counter and walked away. I said I’d really like to purchase something today, dude said come back another time when I have more inventory. I’ve been looking forward to checking out this establishment as I’m a local and like to support small local businesses. It was a really off- putting experience, because most vendors in Encinitas are very kind and polite. I see from some of the other reviews...