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Calumet Photo Went Bankrupt

Yes, I learned this sad news yesterday. I feel very bad for the employees, who, with little or no warning, are without jobs now. I had been a long-time customer at Penn Camera in the Washington, DC area, which was taken over by Calumet a year or two ago, and had known some of that store's employees for many years. I will miss the store and I will miss them.......
 
Clix Pix said:
Yes, I learned this sad news yesterday. I feel very bad for the employees, who, with little or no warning, are without jobs now. I had been a long-time customer at Penn Camera in the Washington, DC area, which was taken over by Calumet a year or two ago, and had known some of that store's employees for many years. I will miss the store and I will miss them.......
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Ditto...what's left here in the WDC area...Ritz Photo???:confused:
 
I've only stepped foot in a Calumet Store once, and that was 5-6 years ago to pick up a memory card for my DSLR. The associates were very friendly, and I kind of got into a conversation with a few of them about some of the newer DSLR bodies they had in stock.

It's unfortunate in the digital age that a lot of brick and morar stores are closing. Even though I would browse Calumet's web site, the prices and selection were always better over at B&H or Adorama.

Not that it directly affects me, but I am sad to see them go. However, I did hear that they will still be operating their stores over in Europe.

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egis said:
Ditto...what's left here in the WDC area...Ritz Photo???:confused:
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Didn't Ritz file for bankruptcy a few years ago, too? I only know because I worked there during college (this was 6+ years ago though).
 
A few times when I was in the store we would get into a conversation about the impact of online sales on B&M retailers -- it definitely has affected them and now Calumet is the latest casualty. The sales staff at Penn/Calumet were well aware of how many people would come into the store, browse, then ask to see various cameras or lenses, then after taking up quite a bit of time would go home and order the item of choice online. That's not right but a lot of people have done and continue to do that, saying that they want to save money on taxes (which one is supposed to pay anyway) or that it is more convenient to have something shipped to them, etc., etc. I have always purchased as much as I could locally, and when I go into the store and take someone's time and pick his or her brains about various aspects of an item, I expect to then purchase that item or a similar one then and there. The few times I've ordered camera gear online has been when whatever I needed was simply unavailable locally.

What's left in the DC area? Ace Photo in Ashburn, VA and PhotoCraft in Burke, VA. Embassy Camera in DC (related to PhotoCraft) and Service Photo in Baltimore. Those are the ones of which I am aware, anyway. I've shopped at both Ace Photo and PhotoCraft -- each has great inventory of both professional-level and consumer-level gear and good prices.
 
nburwell said:
It's unfortunate in the digital age that a lot of brick and morar stores are closing. Even though I would browse Calumet's web site, the prices and selection were always better over at B&H or Adorama.

Didn't Ritz file for bankruptcy a few years ago, too? I only know because I worked there during college (this was 6+ years ago though).
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Somehow I am not surprised. There is (or I guess now, was) a Calumet store only a few blocks from my house, but most of the time they didn't have what I was looking for in stock. I bought film there sometimes. But I usually order supplies from B&H or Freestyle. They have everything and an order from B&H is at my door the next day. Freestyle takes longer but they have a lot of specialist stuff.

Yes, Ritz went bankrupt but they must have done a reorg, since there are still Ritz stores around. Why, I don't know, but there they are.
 
Clix Pix said:
A few times when I was in the store we would get into a conversation about the impact of online sales on B&M retailers -- it definitely has affected them and now Calumet is the latest casualty. The sales staff at Penn/Calumet were well aware of how many people would come into the store, browse, then ask to see various cameras or lenses, then after taking up quite a bit of time would go home and order the item of choice online. That's not right but a lot of people have done and continue to do that, saying that they want to save money on taxes (which one is supposed to pay anyway) or that it is more convenient to have something shipped to them, etc., etc. I have always purchased as much as I could locally, and when I go into the store and take someone's time and pick his or her brains about various aspects of an item, I expect to then purchase that item or a similar one then and there. The few times I've ordered camera gear online has been when whatever I needed was simply unavailable locally.

What's left in the DC area? Ace Photo in Ashburn, VA and PhotoCraft in Burke, VA. Embassy Camera in DC (related to PhotoCraft) and Service Photo in Baltimore. Those are the ones of which I am aware, anyway. I've shopped at both Ace Photo and PhotoCraft -- each has great inventory of both professional-level and consumer-level gear and good prices.
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Clix Pix - Thanks. Thought all ought to take a read of this...

http://petapixel.com/2014/03/13/exclusive-calumet-employee-reveals-happening-behind-scenes/
 
London Camera Exchange are also always worth a look (their name is a misnomer, they have stores all around the UK). They have a great selection of second hand equipment, a lot of which comes with a short warranty. You can often pick up lenses and flashguns in great condition at a price way below 'new'.

I also feel secondhand digital bodies are well worth considering now. The past couple of generations of cameras have been incredible (since approx. 2008/9 - before that the improvements between each generation were very significant). I'm not saying there aren't still improvements, I just feel the rate of change is plateauing. A second hand D700 or 5DMkII still make for a great camera.

LCE also stock new equipment too btw.
 
Padaung said:
London Camera Exchange are also always worth a look (their name is a misnomer, they have stores all around the UK). They have a great selection of second hand equipment, a lot of which comes with a short warranty. You can often pick up lenses and flashguns in great condition at a price way below 'new'.

I also feel secondhand digital bodies are well worth considering now. The past couple of generations of cameras have been incredible (since approx. 2008/9 - before that the improvements between each generation were very significant). I'm not saying there aren't still improvements, I just feel the rate of change is plateauing. A second hand D700 or 5DMkII still make for a great camera.

LCE also stock new equipment too btw.
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Yes I've used them as well. Got my D7100 from them and my 70-300 mm. Both second hand. The D7100 has less than 500 on the shutter count.
 
Wonder what happens to all the rental equipment they still have out? Feel back for the people who have stuff in for repairs,gift cards etc.
 
dmax35 said:
Wonder what happens to all the rental equipment they still have out? Feel back for the people who have stuff in for repairs,gift cards etc.
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On this weeks RAW talk they said people just got to keep the loan stuff, but that seems unlikely. Hadn't thought about people who had stuff at the shops.
 
Apple fanboy said:
On this weeks RAW talk they said people just got to keep the loan stuff, but that seems unlikely. Hadn't thought about people who had stuff at the shops.
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Cool you watch Jarod Polin also. Good show, thou I could do with out the signing.
 
dmax35 said:
Cool you watch Jarod Polin also. Good show, thou I could do with out the signing.
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Yes. More entertaining than informative, but I like the style. Plus he's a Nikon man but isn't really bemoaning Cannon all the time which makes for a more balanced view than some photography sites.
 
Activity re Calumet and rental equipment

This is a bit dated..(10 days) but suggests there might be some light at the end of this tunnel...my source is the WSJ.

Calumet Photographic Inc., the photography retail chain whose abrupt shuttering and bankruptcy filing surprised customers, has found a buyer for some of its assets.

According to court papers filed Monday in Calumet’s bankruptcy case, CalPhotoUS LLC—a new company formed by Calumet’s former principals—is offering $2.825 million to acquire inventory, store leases and other assets.

The inventory and leases are for former Calumet stores in such cities as Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. CalPhoto would also take responsibility for any liabilities related to the leases as well as the stores’ former employees and customers.

Calumet, which sold high-end photography and video equipment, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation on March 12 with plans to close all of its 14 U.S. stores. Its European stores will remain open.

Chapter 7 trustee Catherine Steege, an attorney with Jenner & Block, urged the Chicago bankruptcy court to approve the sale at an April 29 hearing.

Calumet is due in bankruptcy court Wednesday for a hearing on such proposals as its request to hire a consultant to help it find buyers for its remaining store leases and other assets.

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