Ritz Camera store liquidations start Saturday
In case some of you missed this Thursday, Ritz Camera--and by association Wolf and Kits Camera among others--is shutting down more than 300 stores around the U.S. as part of a court-supervised bankruptcy reorganization. This of course means stock liquidation sales, which will begin Saturday, April 4.
As with the Circuit City liquidation, I wouldn't expect huge discounts despite a senior VP at one of the four LLCs handling the sale saying we'll find "quality, brand-name merchandise at greatly reduced prices." (I'm willing to bet his idea of "greatly reduced" and mine don't jibe.)
Though it's sad to see more stores shutting down, at least Ritz isn't going away entirely. The company as of right now plans to keep more than 400 stores open.
Click here to see the full announcement and view a PDF of all the stores shutting down.
Josh Goldman is a senior editor for CNET Reviews, covering digital cameras, camcorders, and related bits and pieces, along with writing the occasional laptop or software review. He doesn't have a podcast, newsletter, or CNET TV show, but you can follow him on Twitter if that's something you do. E-mail Josh. 
You are not going to save on equipment that has been sold to a liquidater to then sell off.
Like the previous post read " I went in, saw something I liked, then used my iPhone to get a price off of Amazon" and then figure out if you are getting a good deal. For a scant 3 months I sold cars rught out of college and will never forget this "How do you know you are getting a good deal, because you leave and you feel you got good deal". This happens all the time on eBay. People pay retail if not more on items because the think they are getting a good deal.
I ventured up to the store closing at the Paradise Valley Mall in Phoenix. Walked into the store to see the sign saying they were closing the store and moving the inventory and all the photos they had processed that hadn't been picked up to another location.
I queried the manager who said she didn't know anything about the liquidation sale and they were simply moving everything to a store that wasn't closing. No discounts. No specials. Nothing.
She did offer me 10% off of the frames. Nice gesture until I saw the "10% off all frames" flyer taped to the shelves holding the frames.
http://consumerist.com/5198039/no-deals-notorious-cabal-to-oversee-ritz-camera-liquidations
So i guess everyone on here can keep complaining that they are not getting something for LESS than the cost of the company to sell it to you and that a web only store is "cheaper" when the reality is after these stores are gone your ONLY option is buy products blind with no display from your "cheaper" web store.
Oh and if this keeps up you can be dam sure the "tax free" status on online goods will go away as states will RALLY to charge sales tax online. NY state is already going after Amazon to collect sales tax even though they are no based in NY just because they do substantial distribution here. Also states are pacing together to standardize and simplify there regulations. That and that many states also force you to pay a use tax. NY for example just assumes you buy stuff online and tacks a fee onto your income tax return for "use tax" to make up for the sales tax you should have paid on online purchases. If you think its too high you can itemize EVERYTHING you bought online, or just pay the fee.
So in the end we wind up with less local choices, lose the ability to get anything the same day you pay for it (so allot of good amazon dose for you when your camcorder or camera JUST died and your daughters wedding, sons graduation, or once in a lifetime trip to some exotic remote country is in 1 hour) and lose the ability to "test drive" products before you buy, instead you are FORCED to rely on online reviews, and assume those reviewers opinion of products are the same as yours, down to the shape and size of your hands, and you both have the same dominant hand etc...
- by gonar_acosta April 7, 2009 8:44 PM PDT
- Every comment about buying cheaper online is a reason this business struggled last year and will continue to. An intelligent buyer who uses online resources and their phones to find cheap prices should not take up time for an associate, who is working on measly commission, to answer question after question only to see potential $15 extra bucks walk out to buy online. Employees at Ritz, most not all, have real interest in image technology, fashion photography, art, and so much more than a cheap price. Most do not 'upsell' rather tell you what is not included in the box. Ritz' damage protection covers customers abuse to their product as well. So long, farewell, thanks for cross processing my film and high res scanning cheaper than anywhere else.
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