Jim's Cameras

I was gruffly greeted by a man with a mustache, glasses, and a somewhat confrontational and grumpy attitude. I said I needed a sensor cleaned. He asks me to show him the camera and proceeds to give me a disclaimer regarding the service: he might not be able to do it. All he would do, he said, was blow on it with an air puffer. He would not touch the sensor with a brush or anything as that might damage it. He told me to come back in 30 minutes. I come 40 minutes later, and the door is locked, so I stand around for a while. He finally lets me in, and said that he fixed it, no problems at all. But, I need to buy a filter. I protested that I didn't need one. But he argued with me that it was necessary, not with logic or words, but with the kind of ""you're just a stupid kid"" kind of face. I would scratch the lens or break it, he kept repeating. I tried another approach. I'm planning on upgrading, I said. I'm not going to use this lens for long. Stil, he kept that condescending look on his face and basically said I'd be stupid to risk the resale value of the lens I had by not buying the filter. I then said that I think it degrades the image quality. It produces lens flare, and two more surfaces for light to hit. Oh, no no no, he says, the multi-coated glass won't make a difference! No difference at all, he insists. I used my last excuse. I can't afford it, I said. Oh, it's hardly an increase to your bill, it's like nothing, he countered. The cleaning fee was $40. The filter was $20. A 50% increase is quite a big deal to a college student (and I say this), quite frankly. I told him that I needed that $20 to eat for a week. You know what he said? He told me that the food bank was down on 50th Ave. I was shocked. For the first time in my life, a shopkeeper is telling me that I should eat from the public food kitchen so that I can afford his merchandise. I gave up. He starts ringing me up, and I realize that the filter he is selling me is the wrong size. I bring it to his attention. He was annoyed that I noticed, but goes to the back and grabs me another filter, this time, not in a box. This one is three dollars more, he says (no box, no price tag) but since he already wrote up the bill, he'll maintain the $20 price. He puts the filter directly on my camera and gives me the total for the sale. I pay and then start asking about lighting equipment, as I saw some things on the website. He didn't know what I meant by Alien Bees. Really? Are Alien Bees some unknown type of strobe? There are two of them on his website. Again, he avoids my questions and refuses to give information about high speed strobe systems. He changed the subject or gave me that ""what a stupid question"" look whenever I asked something. I felt that there was no respect at all coming from that side of the counter. I put my camera in my backpack and looked around as we continued to talk about selling pictures and how he wanted a new car but his wife wouldn't let him get one. Everything in the case was old, dusty, and over-priced. I couldn't stay long enough to look at everything. I felt so uncomfortable, so violated. He has cool stuff, but of course I'm not going to take food from the food bank so that I can afford any of it. I'd rather shop at a friendlier location where my business and my presence is appreciated and respected. I will never go back to this place. Unprofessional conduct and complete disregard for others' opinion/expertise are not worth the ""cheapest sensor cleaning in town."" It was cheap because he didn't do it the way professionals do it. Duh. I should have realized that before I agreed to it. My mistake, and I'm happy to pay for that. I shouldn't have to put up with one of my overall worst shopping experiences. (Seriously, ever.) Oh, and when I got home I found out that the filter that he slipped onto my lens was not multi-coated, and it is only worth $15. I feel cheated; it's a nasty, slimy feeling. How do you clean that? more

A retired photojournalist, I sent the proprietor of Jim's Cameras $342.42 for a used camera, ordering it ? this after extensive e-correspondence ? by name and specific item number from a photograph on his website. What he sent me was an entirely different item, NOT the camera identified by the item number, NOT the camera in the picture, NOT the camera I had ordered. Worse, what he sent was a piece of useless, inferior junk that was also obviously defective ? a seemingly deliberate bait-and-switch that was not just a stunning insult but also a breathtaking slap in the face. Then in subsequent correspondence, the proprietor refused to agree to a refund. The result is that I ? a crippled senior citizen whose sole income is a meagre Social Security pension ? was not only out the $342.42 but had to spend another $150 to have the defective camera repaired in the hope of being able to sell it and thus recoup at least some of my loss. Now though I find I am stuck with a camera for which there are no buyers anywhere ? final proof of the absolute worthlessness of what I was sent. As far as I am concerned, Jim's Cameras now owes me $492.42 plus untold damages for the stress imposed on my ailing heart. Obviously I will never be able to collect because ? having no automobile and being crippled as well ? there is no way I can ever get to Seattle to file suit. This is the most maliciously damaging business transaction I have ever experienced. Hence I would rate Jim's Cameras as the most untrustworthy camera store on the planet. Indeed it is the ONLY such store I have ever encountered ? here, on the East Coast or anywhere else ? in nearly 60 years of photography. more

I HAVE BOUGHT LOTS OF STUFF THERE & A FEW SOMETHING BEEN WRONG HOW EVER THEY STOOD BEHIND WHAT THEY SOLD & FIXED IT IN A FEW DAYS Pros: THEY HAVE STUFF YOU JUST DONT SEE ANYWHERE ELSE Cons: PARKING HOWEVER I DO MY BANKING AT WA MU & RUN ACROSS THE STREET more

The selection of used SLR camera lenses here is the best in Seattle. They have lots of used camera stuff in general (some digital too), but the used lens selection is amazing. People may not know this, but old AF nikon lenses work perfectly on modern nikon DSLRs (but not D40). I've bought SLR bodies and lenses at Jim's and been very happy. Pros: Great selection of used camera stuff, great value, used stuff is warrantied. Cons: Their hours can be unpredictable. Call before you go. more

Do not go here, it is not recommended by other businesses. Pros: Cheap Cameras Cons: Defective equipment, False Guarntees, Not Trustworthy more