Penn Camera just declared bankruptcy!

<p>For people in the DC area, L'Imagerie on Rockville Pike in Bethesda is still there and they do great work. I take my E6 there.</p>

<p>I just heard about the filing. I'm upset to say the least. Penn Camera is not just a camera store. It's a place where young photographers can be inspired. It's a place where seasoned photographers can come in to brag about their latest gig. It's a place where out-of-town pros (and locals), can rent equipment they need quickly, and can either not afford to purchase nor transport profitably. It's a place where great professional photographers like Bob, Ken, and others' smiles like Barbara's, and George greet you as you walk into the doors of 9th and E St. It's a place where you can find the most difficult to locate accessory, or no longer manufactured "whatchamacallit" to make your shoot go smoothly. It's a place that never was a place....it has and will always be a community of great people whose mission has always been to assist the world in capturing, seeing, and documenting the beauty that surrounds it. <br /> <br />From the first day I walked in that door as a teenage kid and saw all of those great Black & Whites and Cibachrome 16x20s & 20x24s on the wall above the counters...to four days ago, New Year's Eve, minutes after closing time when the manager signaled the clerk to unlock the door so I could buy 150 cardboard frames, lens cleaner, and 4x6 paper for a gig that had just come through.... Just try ordering from B&H on one of their many closed Fridays or weekends.<br>

I have always loved my hometown camera store and the people who worked there. You guys helped change this poor kid from Northeast DC's life, and I will never ever forget it. Thanks to all of the staff and managers there for being beyond a blessing to me, my family, my clients, and now my photography students. So what they didn't always have something in stock, I've seen the same of Amazon and B&H as well as other stores. And whoever said that Ace is the last one left in the area, you're wrong. Embassy still exists, Pro Photo and a few others, but none of them have ever been quite like Penn Camera. So, somehow just saying thanks doesn't seem to cut it. <br /> <br />Peace</p>

Adorama has earned my loyalty through superb customer service. BTW, I am an attorney and represented the suppliers

in the Ritz bankruptcy.

<p>I would like to say I am shocked, but am not. Over recent months, my visits to the Rockville store have been depressing to say the least. Folks at Penn have always been helpful and enthusiastic, but the selection has always left a lot to be desired and I can imagine the problems they had competing at any level with J&R, B&H, Adorama and others. Considering that the remaining Ritz stores are also pretty poor in terms of selection, this leaves our area with nothing.</p>

<p>It's always sad when a major specialty retail presence hits the ropes, but I had found my dealings with Penn less and less satisfying over the past few years. I've been using Photocraft (in Burke) for almost 10 years now, buying Leica, Nikon, Zeiss, and Fuji gear (plus my brief flirtation with Olympus digital). They are a family business and their prices have been good. While certainly no B&H or Adorama, if you're in Fairfax County, I'd suggest a visit, or check out their web site.</p>

<p>@Derrel What a nice tribute to Penn Camera and their employees. I have also appreciated the knowledge that they have and share. Living in Laurel I was often in their store, sometimes buying sometimes just asking for advice. I will certainly miss the convenience of having a store in my back yard!</p>

<p>@<a href="../photodb/user?user_id=2373135">David Cavan</a> Thanks David! I've never been to Ace, but I've heard good things about them. I didn't know they rented gear. I'll definitely check them out.</p>

<p>Having gone through what Penn is going through, I first want to let everyone working at Penn to know that "this too shall pass" and I hope the three stores come out of this strong and in tact. I am currently a District Manager in the Balt/DC area with Ritz and have had to make many sacrifices for my career over the last couple of years (including demotion and moving across country). I have seen many good people lost and have had to deal with the struggles of competing with online, having stock/services issues that effect my ability to get customers the things they need and all the struggles of trying to be competitive in todays climate. These are difficult times to be sure.<br>

You may think that I would be happy to see a competitor in trouble, but I assure you I am not. I have been in the Photo Industry my entire adult life. I did not choose it to become rich. I chose it because Photography is what I love and I have developed some of the most interesting and rewarding relationships with others in this industry (that includes "customers"). I have watched the industry go though incredible changes over the last 25 years and it saddens me to see the struggles that many camera stores are experiencing today. I think there is a place for the photo specialty retailer and a need for us. The fewer there are means the less strength we have as a whole. <br>

I hear a message of the same sadness and concern in these threads and I want to try to help. To any current member of Penn's Imaging club - I would like to offer you enrollment into our Frequent Foto Club for free. Just bring in your membership card to any of our local stores. If you were going to attend a free camera class - contact any of our stores in the area and we will add you to our free class list. Anyone that has a gift card - I have no way to redeem them, but I will let you turn the card in and get 25% off any one Imaging sale of any amount (prints, canvas, video transfer and the like). I know that is not much, but I had to turn people away when we filed and it is something I can offer to ease some pain and maybe earn a little loyalty. <br>

I would also ask anyone that has specific product needs (gaffers tape, backgrounds, B&W supplies or anything else) to contact Susan (store manager), Mike or Darrell at our downtown DC location on L street (202.861.7710) and let them know what products you need or would like to see on hand. We have some limited purchasing ability in this store and would like to do all we can to have the products that you need. They have started a list to give to our Purchasing Department. We recently brought Canon back into our stores in limited capacity and I have already asked our Purchaser to increase our local selection and depth if at all possible. It is one location in the heart of DC and I know what I can do will be limited right now, but my team & I will do all we can to help. </p>

 

<p>As a high school photography teacher I am crushed to see Penn file. In the last 8 years I've sent literally hundreds of kids there and can't remember a single time a kid had a bad experience finding a used film camera for class. They often got "hooked" and would return to the store mid-year confident in their craft and would brag to me about the new filters they bought or the fiber paper they bought to enhance their experience at school. The guys at the counter probably recognized themselves in my kids because they treated them so well, knowing how exciting it is when you are first starting. All of us were probably treated similarly and it's how the craft is transferred from one generation to the next. It's a sad day coming when all our kids will know about cameras is that they are what you use to make your facebook page. I really hate to see the guys go especially at the Rockville store where they've treated my high school kids so well. I also want to thank Art in the educational/government sales dept. who could send me 200 packs of Ilford RC paper the very next day when I would call him in a panic because we ran out. Now because of our school system I will be forced to use Freestyle in CA and overpay for shipping while I wait an extra week.<br>

I wish the employees all the best and hope they land on their feet quickly.</p>

 

<p>I have been going to Penn for almost thirty years and let me say that I am heartbroken. Those of you from the D.C. area know that there are more than one Penn location which meant almost no matter where you live in this area, there was a store within a short driving distance from your home. In the age of buying gear online, I still prefer buying my equipment in a real brick and mortar store, and Penn, as far as I'm concerned, was the best. Say what you want, but if I'm paying $1500.00 for a lens, I would prefer to return it in person if there was something wrong, and at Penn, they always had the utmost respect for their customers as they were pros themselves. A few times I would go into the store looking for something I saw in magazine thinking that I needed the item to expand my photographic skills, and the people at Penn would always help me figure out if I really needed the item or not. Even at the risk of losing a sale. I can't tell you how many times I would get back home and realize how grateful I was for not wasting my money on something that I didn't need. This is what kept me going back over and over again. I agree with Mike Seymour as the Rockville store was my store as well. Those guys were the best. So many times I would go in to buy something real quick to beat the traffic home, only to find myself spending at least an hour wandering through the store and talking to the people behind the counter swapping great stories of photography. You ain't getting that in an online store.</p>

<p>I just drove down Route 7 in Tyson's and there was a one of those human billboard guys at the corner of 7 and International Dr. with a "Penn Camera Clearance Sale, Up to 30% off everything" sign. *sigh*</p>

<p>I have been to the Pikesville location only once. While I was there they were having some kind of demos going on with factory reps from Canon, I believe. I have been getting their e-mails about the classes that they run and always meant to sign up for one, but never got around to it.</p>

 

<p>Boyd Miller....</p>

<p>You're a smart guy. You've made a timely outreach that will save value for the unfortunate past Penn Camera customers and should increase your sales and profits. I can see why Ritz Camera kept you. </p>

<p>The small cost to offer your photo club and camera classes to those who just lost them, and a discount to who would otherwise get nothing for the gift cards, should well be offset by the increase in sales that will accrue to the Ritz Cameras involved and the goodwill that Ritz Camera will receive in general by photo enthusiasts. </p>

<p>It was just nice to see somebody within a large corporation use their head to make a good risk/reward ratio decision that puts both their employer and the camera-buying public in a win-win situation. </p>

<p>Well done. </p>

 

<p>The Penn Camera in downtown DC moved form this rinky dinky spot on 14th steet to a newer refurbished spot on E street and 9th several years ago. When I visited the the new store, the guys there recognized me and asked if I was still going to school. This is where I use to buy all my darkroom stuff.</p>

<p> I thought they were doing pretty good. Until I think it was last year I noticed there was this kind of low morale going around, I could sense it. One of the problems with the new store was trying to find parking space, although it was a little easier than the other spot on 14th street. I usually took public transportation.<br>

The Tysons corner store had ample parking space and the salesmen there where a little friendlier. I once went there to buy some seamless paper when I saw this used JOBO CPE2 processor in mint condition for sale. A salesman there asked me "You like it I'll give it ot you for 25 bucks". I was so surprised that I immediately stuffed the processor in my trunk and rushed home. It still works incase I want to get back into film development. <br>

This is where I use to buy my Epson ink cartridges. When I was working on a job and I suddenly ran out of Ink, I would hop in my car and in 15-20 minutes I could buy some ink with no hassles.<br>

When the construction for the expanded Metro started though, getting to Tysons Corner became an absolute nightmare. It would take 1+ hours just to get there from my house. I asked one of the salesmen there how long was this going to be going on, he said "until the year 2014". That's when I started ordering ink online from the Epson website.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I work just around the corner from the Tysons store, and can fight my way over there through traffic - I plan to check it out this week. Last time I was there it didn't feel like a very happy and motivated place, and had little stock that I could actually handle. It would be great if it gets back to some kind of reasonable form simply because it's close. If all the employees left have Boyd Miller's motivation and perspective I've say they have a chance.</p>

Got a $600 gift card in Nov. in exchange for a return. I called the E street store this morning and they

said they will not accept gift cards. I just called my friend, a bankruptcy lawyer to see what I can do.

Haven't heard back yet. Anyone heard anything? Thanks.

<p>Deborah - it was just on News 4 tonight at 6 pm that Penn has reversed their decision on gift cards and will start honoring them. I would get there soon. Maybe they have planned to wipe out their debt with this bankruptcy and re-open with fewer stores so they are trying to save any good will towards the company. Who knows? Best of luck.</p>

Just saw on channel 4 that Penn reversed their decision and would honor gift cards. I would run down tomorrow and use it before they

change their mind.

 

I haven't shopped at Penn in years since Ace photo in Ashburn is closer and I have always been happy with their printing and service.

<p>Penn Camera has been scooped up by Calumet Photographic, and the E St., Tysons, and Rockville stores will continue to operate under the Penn Camera banner. Calumet is expanding the range of products on offer, both for sale and for rent. This is very good news for the DC photo community!</p>

<p>And now Calumet is gone, leaving some of their former customers and employees high and dry from a BK as well. Old news, but this thread needed updating.</p>

<p>For me, the best part about Penn/Calumet was having a local place to grab rental equipment last-minute. Since the closing, Jerry (the tall guy who ran the rental department) has established <a href="http://f8rentals.com/">F8 Rentals</a> (also <a href="https://www.facebook.com/f8rentals">on Facebook</a>) based in Reston, VA. Definitely worth checking out if you need something fast and can't/don't want to wait for a mail-order rental to arrive.<br>

(For the record, I'm not affiliated. Just sharing a handy-to-have service.)</p>