Pro Photo Supply — Local services in Portland

I'll never go back. I've been a loyal customer for just about 7 years. I've purchased multiple camera bodies/lenses from here and had them print my images as well. I've also wasted time in there just chatting photography with Dan, he's the best!

So it's with a heavy sigh that I won't be back. The manager Travis, I think his name is, is on too much of a power trip for me to even consider supporting this place. I called ahead because I have a multi-hour drive to the store, to ask about store credit for a nifty little camera setup that I talked to Phil about. Phil was great, we had delightful banter and he called me back about my trade-in telling me why he could offer $500. The camera is selling for $1,200 used on Amazon and B&H but Phil said they were seeing $800 used so he could offer $500. No problem, I'm supporting what was my go-to camera store and it'll make a dent in the $1k I have to spend today.

Then I get to the store and Dan tells me to talk to Travis because he's the trade-in guy. I wait 20-minutes at which point Dan has to reengage Travis to help me. Travis takes one look at my camera and offers $375. I tell him that I talked to Phil and he talked to someone or figured out it would be $500. This is where a good manager would have said, "hold on, lemme talk to my associate" and then honored what I drove 2-hours into Portland for. Instead, Travis told me that he was the deciding factor and what he said went. Not one to get in a pissing contest, I left.

But then curiosity and fury got me wondering, where was the disconnect? So I called and asked for Phil as I was driving home. Travis answered, and told me that I didn't need to talk to Phil because he was the manager and what he said went. I asked him why I was told one thing on the phone but he was so eager to screw me over when I got in the store? He told me the best he could offer was 60% of the price he was seeing but Phil already told me the price they were seeing was north of $800. Even $800 even would make 60% = $480. And I'd added value to the deal by adding a lens and battery but wasn't asking for anything more than a fair price for the body.

Travis was too caught up in his own self righteousness that his word was The Final Word that he couldn't get out of the way for Pro Photo Supply to be appropriately managed and represented even when his subordinates made it as easy as possible. If it was up to Travis the place would just be known as UnPro Photo.

Since leaving Pro Photo I've met the guys over at Shutterbug and let me tell you they are excited to be of service! They even had the mic I was looking for that Pro Photo Supply still hasn't gotten in stock. Shutterbug is 5-minutes from Pro Photo and the manager isn't full of himself, give it a try! If they don't have you covered, try Camera Solutions!

If you're stuck going to Pro Photo, ask for Dan! He'll stick out as the super friendly, extra helpful, always knowledgeable, actual good photographer, stuck at a camera store. Honestly, just make Dan the manager, he put's the Pro...

Bought a camera from from this store, while purchasing I was told there may be a restocking fee 5-10 percent. I asked the parson helping me what if I get the camera and take it home don’t open it and bring it back was told again there maybe be a 5-10 percent. So I took it home took 20-30 pictures decide to take it back for few reasons. So going back to the store I knew I would be charged 5-10 percent restocking fee. But when I got there was told no it’s 15 percent. After asking store staff please pull security camera recording to see exactly what I was told they refused because they said there’s no sound. And said it’s not negotiable it’s 15 percent. So I was left with only options to lose 500$. Or buy something else for that money. I ended up getting another Camara instead, when I unboxed in there parking lot it had signs of it being lightly used.when I went back was told should be new, so I will take it home and figure out the shutter count hopefully it’s new.

If you do decide to buy something here make sure to double check return policy and maybe get it on paper or printed receipt that show the policy. Because I was only given txt receipt with no return policy on it.

Just so you guys understand why I am leaving this review it’s not even about the restocking fee it’s not a lot of money if somebody is buying Camara for 3000$ it’s more about the fact I was told 5-10 percent and when I got there they told me 15 percent. In that case by the look of my discouragement. They could of easily told me we can just do 10 percent and that’s it.

Update……….

About two hrs later came home with new camera downloaded shutter count software came out to be 2321 shutter clicks I have picture of serial number and shutter count. pretty disappointing I was sold a brand new camera with that much shutter, called store they told me that can’t be, but offered me full refund,I just left the store with full refund gift card, also was told I can come back next week and exchange that gift card for check/cash since it’s Saturday and they don’t have that much cash and can’t print check since nobody is available that can do it today.

Pretty discouraged and disappointed that I had to do all this and few drives back and forth to the store. Most discouraging is that 2nd time I was give a used camera that was supposed to...

I've shopped at Pro Photo Supply for a better part of two decades. As of recently my experience with them has been going downhill. There has been a change in staff and the new people clearly prioritize their commission over long-term relationship. Oftentimes I have trouble getting their attention, since I don't fit their appearance standards (I'm a software engineer, and I dress like one...). Getting a decent advise has become next to impossible outside of "buy this more expensive thing and it will totally make you a better photographer". Todays experience did it for me, though: on Saturday I went to the store to look at Sony 100-400, and while talking to the sales person specifically asked if the lest has any issues focusing in lower light conditions. I was assured that "no, will work great with [my] A7III camera" and if it doesn't, just bring it back in, and as long as it looks new there will be no restocking fee. Turns out the lest hunts a lot in less-than-ideal conditions, so I decided to return it and get 70-200 F2.8 + 1.4x TC. I was greeted with a "Oh, here we go again. What's going on with the lens?" by "manager", who acted as if I was stealing from him. Then he told me "of course it will hunt in low light, this is a slow lens". Oh, and of course there will be a restocking fee, even though the sales guy said there wouldn't, and no he doesn't care that I spent close to $7000 in the past six months alone (I and don't even know how many tens of K$ over the last two decades) at his store, and he will not make an exception. I get it, the item has been opened and I can see his point about needing to sell it as an "open box", but that doesn't make it OK to be unprofessional, belittling, and roll your eyes at a paying customer. The bottom line is that I would love to support a local store, but with this level of service from a "manager" is not excusable, and I will rather support a store that appreciates my long-term business or will just save a few bucks and buy online...