Art’s Cameras Plus

I have actually been a customer at Art’s camera for several years. I have spent hundreds of dollars with them in the past, and while I have had frustrating experiences previously, nothing that prompted a poor review. I’ve had to wait longer that I should in the past, and had to make multiple trips because I didn’t have what I needed, or they weren’t open, but the worst of it was today! I went in to sell or consign some older equipment and an unused brand name camera bag, and possibly sign up for a class. Rick had an attitude, and seemed arrogant from the minute I walked in the store. He told me that my equipment was junk, not in those exact words, of course, but I got the message, loud and clear. He told me that he came to this determination by using a website called KEH. I asked to write it down so I could look for myself when I got home, but he said, «It’s just KEH… the letters», apparently I look stupid, so I explained that I wanted to write it down so that I wouldn’t forget the letters when I had time to look at it. Yes, I’m disappointed that my equipment isn’t worth more, a button is missing, and that reduces the value, I get it. They don’t do repairs, so he couldn’t even tell me if I could repair it. Next, I had driven to the store on (January 10) yesterday, because I had received an email stating that they would spend 10 minutes helping to navigate a new camera, EVEN if I hadn’t purchased it from them, and that that they would honor this offer through January 10^th! Great offer, but they were closed on the 10^th! Not a huge deal, since it was Sunday, but their email led me to believe that they were open; I should’ve called first. Again, not a deal breaker. Lastly, I was looking at taking a class, maybe even the 5 week class for my particular brand of camera, but when I asked Rick about the classes, he said he didn’t have the syllabi for the classes, and could’t tell me anything about them and that I should just start out with the BASIC class, because I hadn’t taken any classes with them yet. Well, I’ve owned my DSLR camera since about 2004 or 2005, I understand white balance, ISO, Aperture, Shutter speed, F-stops…I was questioning whether there were intermediate classes, and was told that I needed to take basic, and he didn’t know what was covered in the intermediate class… and never offered to check. At this point, I was completely irritated, I told him that I felt like he was talking down to me and treating me like I was completely STUPID! (Of course, he never MEANT to do THAT)
I left there and drove directly to Mike Crivello’s Camera store in Brookfield. I was told that with the button missing, they couldn’t resell my camera, which I knew, but rather than make me feel really bad about my older equipment, Jerry told me to go to a repair shop in Madison that he thought could repair my button without paying a huge fee. He looked up the address and phone number, examined my lenses and camera body and told me that it is nice equipment, but it needed to be repaired. He told me that he had worked in a Camera shop in California before coming to Wisconsin, and he obviously knew lenses and cameras, which I could tell from our conversation. He was really a nice guy, and NEVER made me feel inadequate as a photographer. I inquired with him regarding the classes held there, and he was very helpful, explaining that I was probably more advanced than the BASIC class, but that it was not real costly, and may reinforce my skills. I know I’m not a professional, and there may be things that I could learn from that class, and for $ 30, I may be willing to do just that. For a $ 49 class, I want to make sure I’m taking the appropriate class, and not wasting my time and money.

I walk in to buy a memory card for my Nikon. Only one employee is there, doing someone’s fingerprints. I get no acknowledgement. I wait 10 minutes, then someone comes out of the back room and asks if I need help. I tell him my need, and he says I’ll have to get someone since he doesn’t do sales. I wait three more minutes and someone finally comes out to help. I explain my need and ask what maximum size my camera takes. She doesn’t know and asks the guy who was doing the fingerprints. He takes a guess which I know to be wrong. She shows me everything she has, which is absolutely not what I need. Don’t go there if you need any help with your camera.

I am SO excited to have found Art’s. I wish I’d found them sooner. They have the latest and most popular items from the best brands — Nikon, Manfrotto, Peak Design, Profoto, Sony, and staples like Op/​tech, Hoya, Tiffen, etc. and they’re competitively priced. While I’m stocked up on toys for the minute, all the toys need accessories and glass and I’ll be happy to do my shopping here from now on.

I came in to get an old film developed and received the photos in an adequate reasonable time despite the delay in their equipment needing some repair. Got the job done. Three stars for accomplishing the service I came in for. Hours are convenient!

I took the Sony DSLR Camera Basics 102 class with Ray, and it/​he was really very good. Ray is really an excellent teacher — clear, organized, and open to all questions. I especially liked that he connected his camera to the powerpoint somehow, so we could actually see how different settings effected the picture. I would definitely sign up for more classes. Art’s also offers Focus Group Excursions which I think everyone interested in growing their skills should look into.

This place sucks balls. I called the day before to ask if they could scan some artwork that a friend did for me and they said sure no problem. I drove 30 min. to get there and spent all this money on gas only to be told they wouldn’t do it because I don’t have a copyright release for the artwork. SO to get a scan of a drawing that a friend did specifically for me needs a copyright release. That’s fine, but that would have been nice to have been told that before I made a 1-​hour round trip. The guy wasn’t really nice about it either which is the reason I won’t come back here. I wasted all this time & gas money and they didn’t seem to give 2 shits.

Great store, very knowledgable staff. Unlike other camera store I visited, these guys are very customer focused and have excellent range of products in their store.
This is exactly what budding camera enthusiasts, semi professionals need.

Staff here really know what they are talking about.
At this location, it doesn’t seem too busy (the times that I have been there, especially in the evenings on weekdays. I can’t say for weekends).
There are a lot of various equipment and cameras to choose from.