Digital Labrador

I moved out of KC and to the west but I have an upcoming commercial shoot in KC. I considered calling them but I just can’t, they were so rude each time I’d call or rent. Even their website copy is rude —
«If you cancel your reservation less than 24-​hours from your scheduled pickup time, you are a total deadbeat. You will be charged for the ENTIRE rental fee. Don’t be a jerk.»
It’s not humorous guys, it’s just bad business. There are too many better-​priced options that are available to photographers.

I cannot believe how old some of these reviews are. Wow, a lot has changed. First of all if you are in need of some advice on equipment from pros, do not go to Digital Labrador. They probably have the worst customer service I have ever experienced. The staff is pretentious and they seem to have other things to do than talk shop with you, and eye rolling does not count. I have heard of them hanging up on people who ask too many questions on the phone. 2^nd, I am a pro photographer who needs equipment fast and reliably. If you rent from Digital Labrador don’t expect them to have your equipment ready for you when you come in to get it, even though it has been reserved well in advance. Your time does not matter. If you want a real professional experience, go to Lights On. They know how to take care of their clients. Seriously guys, it’s a small community. Word gets around fast and your not the only game in town. Prints are fast and cheap on the internet so if you want to be a box store, step it up. For now Digital Labrador is an «only in an emergency» vendor.

I have been a Digital Labrador since the summer of 2009. Shari, Brud and Steve are all very helpful and knowledgeable about all aspects of photography, from gear and digital darkroom workflow to printing.
I regularly rent lenses from them and it’s rare they have not had the lens in stock that I wanted. When that has happened it was usually when I needed something last-​minute. The staff have been helpful coming up with an alternative, based on my use-​case.
My only minor criticism would be their rental prices tend be geared towards short-​term needs, so renting a long zoom for a week-​long trip photographing wildlife for example would get expensive compared to similar services online. Weekend rates however, are very competitive compared to renting from one of the online services when you take the cost of shipping and convenience into consideration.
I have also attended 4 workshops/​presentations and always thoroughly enjoyed them and got a lot of benefit from them. I will surely attend others.
Their quality of services, convenience and friendly, knowledgeable staff ensure that I will be a customer for a long time to come.

NOTE: This is a heavily edited version of my first posting.
I really, really want to like this place. I had some photos printed recently, and the quality is great. Nevertheless, as Devin noted, the customer service experience at the store leaves a lot to be desired.
I’ve been to Digital Labrador once. I had four photos printed, with the expectation that if the quality was good, I would come back to print more in the future. During my visit, there was a rather large customer service breakdown, which precipitated the unedited version of this review. To Digital Labrador’s credit, as soon as they found out about the breakdown, they fixed it.
The quality of the four photographs I had printed was excellent. I know of no place in the area that produces prints as fine.
So, here’s where my review stands now: I will come back to Digital Labrador at least once, in hopes that the same customer service breakdowns won’t happen again. If what I experienced was an isolated event, then I’ve found a premier printer in the area.

If your’e into photography or into art, Digital Labrador is probably already a weekly stop.
The place can seem a little pretentious upon first entrance but it just follows an artist’s eye for color palette and design. It’s modernesque vibe lets you know the group are born creatives and passionate about visual imagery. For you gearheads, they have almost any lens you need for rent (on hand) or purchase (special order — which is a bummer). Beyond that, they offer top-​tier services and products, right down to Moab paper for printing. Wanna get your hand on a Hasselblad? No problem.
With a complete rental studio and Profoto lighting equipment to boot, they are a serious consideration for the aspiring and established photographer.
If you’re in need of a good chat, talk with Frank. His knowledge is outstanding and quite the friendly fellow.