Berger Bros Camera Video Digital

During the past year I have made a substantial number of purchases from Berger Bros., and have been pleased to say the least. Brad and the staff have been courteous, price competitive and responsive to all of my requests. I am an amateur enthusiast purchasing higher end merchandise and quite familiar with the products available and the respective competitive price points. Most importantly, if you want a new «in-​demand» product Brad and his staff will tell you «upfront» if it is in stock, and if not, where you stand in the queue with an estimated timeframe for delivery, unlike some of the big stores which tell you information of that nature is «private» and not to be disclosed leaving the prospective purchaser «hanging out there» unable to plan especially if a trip is on the horizon.

Several Months ago I bought a good used Nikon Digital Camera the D70s at what I thought was a fair price from Berger Brothers in Amityville on Route 110. Well after a few months the camera went dead and I brought it back to Berger Brothers and they checked it out on the spot. It turned out that my charger was fried, there was nothing wrong with the camera. Well the person that helped me gave me a brand new charger, straight off the rack, no charge.
I was really delighted with the courteous and knowledgeable staff already, but then the charger. I thought that was really nice. That was a few months ago. Actually, I’ve been doing business with Berger Brothers for well over 30 years. But not every day, several times over the years, it’s not like they know me.
The other day I thought my camera was dead again and I was sure it was the camera. Back to Berger Brothers. This time, I was wrong again, it was the battery. So the guy gives me a battery, brand new, again no charge. This time I was impressed enough to write this review. It’s very rare to come across this type of service anymore. Everywhere you turn it’s all about money.
— Jeff Hopkins

Don’t waste your money. They’re very overpriced and the snotty brats they hire a clueless and confrontational.
I’m done with these people. There are other stores that will get my money.

What really sets Berger Bros apart from other stores is the service. I cannot stress enough how professional and dedicated every employee that I have dealt with there has been. This stuff isn’t really my area of expertise, so I expected to be stressing some people out with all of my questions… But to my surprise, everyone was happy to help! This may seem like a minor detail, but the way I am treated in a store really makes or breaks it for me. 5 stars!

We went here tonight with an old 35 mm camera that she had bought. They got it set up with batteries and film and showed her how to use it. They did not rush through it-​they took the time to make sure she knew how to use it-​A+

I have to say I am a fan of Berger Bros. The store layout in Amityville may seem messy but the expertise in helping me achieve what I want and need clearly out weighs it. The fact that they offer so much along side the specials they run, such as cleaning and repairs for most items bought from them for free is a huge plus. The classes when small are awesome and their willingness to be available for advice via email, phone or just by walking into their store has been priceless. I am a novice who always loved photography and now with the extra cash being able to learn and afford it has been a big dream. I’ll always recommend them and their staff for equipment and classes. My only suggestion is to give smaller classes too many people show up not even knowing how to turn on their camera.

I will agree that the layout of the store is pretty bad– it IS cluttered and appears disorganized. However, I did not go there for scenery. I went for the advice of a camera professional and to have my questions answered. I had a lot of questions and my goal was to have someone knowledgeable answer them, and help me decide which camera is best for me.
On a Saturday afternoon, with a lot of customers in the store, one salesman spent a very patient 2 hours with me. He answered every question I had, and explained what I didn’t understand in an easy-​to-​follow way. He clearly knew his stuff and made the decision a lot less daunting for me. All staff were helpful and friendly, so were other customers in the store who had been there before. Their familiar interaction with the staff and myself made it feel more like you were in a friendly, welcoming social club, not a store.
When got home, I compared what I paid to prices on the internet, and it was pretty even. Plus, 2 photography classes are included at Berger’s. I spent a little more than half of what I’d expected to spend, and am very happy with my purchase and the overall experience.
I will definitely be going back to (and recommending!) Berger’s.

Store Layout: ¹⁄₅
It’s a mess. Stuff is all over the place. Lighting and décor is tired and dated.
Service: ¹⁄₅
I walked in the store ready to spend over $ 2500 on a professional lens.
I was the only customer in the store. One clerk was talking on her cell-​phone. Eventually a second one came over. I asked about the availability of the lens I needed. He didn’t know the details on what to look for so he asked for help.
The third employee looked up on the wall shelves and said, «Yes we have it.» but did not seem interested in having to climb up and get it for me so I could look at the lens before I bought it.
I asked him if they sold any bundled kits like a local competitor was offering (IE: with a UV filter to protect the lens, carry-​bag, etc.) Then, he told me – with an attitude — «You don’t want a cheap kit, we have everything you need.» Then he walked away!
Stunned, I quickly realized that this isn’t a place I trust to back the products they sell and provide service on expensive optical purchases. I left.
On the way out he yelled out something to me like, «Why do you want a cheap kit?» without even knowing the details of the competitors offerings (which weren’t cheap.)
I have made other small purchases in this store twice prior to this experience and each time was consistent with the one described above. (messy store, uninspired sales people, etc.)
Selection: ²⁄₅ — OK for local but nowhere as comprehensive as online.
Parking: ³⁄₅ — Street parking. Private lot
Prices: ²⁄₅ — with brick and mortar places I expect to pay more than online, but if I’m buying locally I expect great service. Since Berger Bros lacks good service, the perceived value is much lower.
Return Policy: Unsure
Likeliness to return: Very unlikely.
Overall: Berger Bros. lacks pride in both appearance and service. Sales reps are not consistently trained on the products which leaves little reason not to purchase from other local competitors or go online.

Went to purchase a camera from the store with a copy of the item from their website, the salesperson gave me a price much higher than the web price. The reason given was I was paying for his expertise. What a joke, he then tried to insult me by saying he could take a few dollars off. I also had a coupon from a local paper he proceeded to tell me that it wasn’t good on cameras (not mentioned on coupon, also a joke). If you want a good deal on cameras don’t go to Berger Bros,

This store is cluttered with unorganized old merchandise. It smells like 1956. As I walked in, ready to spend some serious money on equipment, my friend and I were completely ignored by the sales staff, even as I stood at the counter looking at the associate push a Canon T2i on another customer. He actually described the T2i as «not high, but not totally low end, just in the middle, so yeah, its good for you.» Quite the sales pitch. I’d rather not give my business to a company that ignores me! Go down the street 1 block north to Cameta.