Mike’s Camera

After doing my own research I decided it time to upgrade my old Sony A700 to a A77ii. I wanted to buy an A77ii body and a Sony 18 – 135 lens. I prefer to spend money at smaller local stores and chains rather than the big companies. Mike’s Camera’s website had the body listed for $ 200 more than literally everyone else and the lens was $ 50 more. I emailed the Boulder store and asked if they will price match Best Buy, after waiting for 5 – 6 days and not getting a response I figured ok forget them, Best Buy it is. Today I drove past The Boulder store and noticed they had a tent sale going on. I decided I’d go in and see if they have the lens or body on sale. The guy who helped me was great, the camera was on sale for $ 998 or $ 999 but they didn’t have one, I asked if a different location had it because I’d like to go pick it up. They said Thornton had the body. I asked about the lens and he said they had one there in Boulder but it was a display model. When I inquired he said display models are full price. I told him thanks but no thanks, I’m not paying new in the box prices for out of the box display units that people handle and check out. He said he understood and looked up that the location off Exposition had the lens there. Now because I want to be fair and honest, he asked if I wanted him to call ahead to reserve it, I said no it was fine I’d drive down and grab it.
So I drive all the way down through downtown to the store on Exposition to get the lens. It took them a while to find it, when they did eventually find it, it was a display model sitting out on a shelf without a lens cap on it. Again, I’m not paying new in the box prices for out of the box display units. He said most of the locations have 1 in stock each but they are all going to be the display models… Why didn’t the first guy tell me that before I drove an hour and half through traffic down there for nothing.
So on my way back I go to the Thornton store where they have the body pulled and set aside waiting for me. I walk in an it’s pretty slow in there but it takes a few minutes to get some help. I tell the guy an a77ii body should be pulled waiting for me, I just need to grab it. He says ok great I’ll go get it in a minute. He went back and forth to the phone for at least 15 minutes before actually going to get the camera. This should have been a walk in and walk out visit. So he rings it up and it’s $ 1200 + tax. I said it’s supposed to be $ 998-​$ 999. He asked where I got that price from and I said the guy who sent me over from Boulder. He said he can’t find the rebate and keeps asking me questions about it. I tell him if it’s going to be a problem I’ll just go over to Best Buy and get it from them. He says no it’s no problem we can price match it either way and goes back to trying to find the sale price Boulder quoted. He says I know you’ve been waiting for a while do you have some more time for me to call over to Boulder. I said no I don’t, I’ve already wasted time going to Boulder, and Denver, and standing around here. Instead of just matching Best Buy’s price and getting me out of there he walked over and started making phone calls anyway. Don’t ask me if I have time if you’re going to ignore the response and do whatever you want to do anyway. So he’s on the phone for a while, eventually he hangs up and says he needs to talk to his manager and walks into the back. I gave it another 2 – 3 minutes and he hadn’t returned so I walked out. 4 hour of wasted time going 3 locations trying to spend money just to leave empty handed and pissed off as a lost customer.
Update — The following day I bought the body, lens, a camera case, and a 16GB class 10 memory card somewhere else for $ 1,446 and that wasn’t for gray market items, full US spec and full US manufacturers warranty from a Sony Authorized dealer. The website for Mikes shows the body and lens by themselves coming to just over $ 1800 out the door.

Is the premier camera service shop in the greater Boulder area. It’s definitely not ideal as everything is marked up considerably, but they do have a great associated used shop that is quite good. I’m thrilled to have access to this shop.

Mike’s camera photo online ordering can be a process and a headache. I find that the average person would have a hard time figuring it out. But the customer service I received over the phone from Sarah Martin at the Bolder store made everything worth my time. She stayed on the phone with me throughout the whole order and a second order I decided to add in. She has great interpersonal skills and helped me through the process and connected with her managers to help me answer questions. If this is not excellent customer service then I don’t know what is! This girl deserves the employee of the month award in my mind! I definitely will do business again with Mike’s camera if I continue to receive customer service at this excellent level! Love it! 5 Stars +++

I have never been so blatantly disrespected by an establishment. My family has tried to give our camera business to Mike’s for years; supporting local businesses, knowing where our purchases come from, etc.
I’ve gone in a couple times with questions about products and the help I’ve received has always been brief and given with the sense of «are you making a purchase? no okay you’re not a priority» but never disrespectful.
Today however was a totally different experience.
I received a camera bag for Christmas as a gift, and tragically it didn’t hold all of my photography equipment. I took the receipt (original and gift as it was my mother who made the purchase) and went to return the bag. Yesterday, I was told I could not make a return at all and I would need to do an exchange. I left, confused to talk to my mother about what she had been told when she made the purchase, she had be told I would «have no problem making the return» and she encouraged me to try again today.
So, today, Monday December 28, I returned. I approached the main counter and was directed to the back, where I was then told I would need to wait for the manager. The manager came around the corner and behold! it was the same man who had ‘helped’ me yesterday. He looked at me, made a scoffing noise and said he would «deal with me» in 10 – 15 minuets! Then bustled off. The employee helping me called after him about how that was a long time and the manager declared he «had other costumers to help and there was only one of him» the employee I was speaking with apologized for his manager, which is never something that should be warranted.
I was then approached by the manager, Shawn, and he asked «what the problem was» I told him I needed to make a return and I had my gift receipt and I told him what my mother had been told when making the original purchase.
He informed me that a return could not be made without the credit card the bag was purchased with. When I asked what the point of a gift receipt was and why my mother had been told I could make a return he said he had to find a manger! After making a scene about being the only one in the store.
A female employee then approached me and began to tell me about Colorado credit card laws, which is fine and dandy, except for I made a return without a gift receipt (simply the original) and without my mother’s credit card, at another store in Boulder yesterday.
After the manager returned I was told I would need to leave and come back with the original purchaser and her credit card in order to do a return or I could take a gift card. I declined the gift card seeing as I plan to take my business elsewhere for the rest of my photography days.
Mike’s Camera’s policy on returns needs to be conveyed across the board to all their employees so that someone making a gift purchase doesn’t run into this disaster in the future. I would also suggest their managers learn some customer service skills and that they don’t lie to customers about being the only ones in store or about «getting their managers.»
Had the manager treated me as a valued customer and been polite and not brisk in his response to my return I wouldn’t feel attacked and undervalued.
Perhaps Mike’s could take note from Amazon or Best Buy on how to process complaints and returns; they certainly should if they want to survive in this big box digital age.
Take your business elsewhere, you’ll save money and probably receive the respect a paying customer deserves.

I had to have prints re-​printed FOUR yes four times. They are still mediocre. Not only that, the last time they sent me an email to come pick them up but when I arrived they’d thought it was a duplicate order and had DESTROYED them. I had to wait another day for them to reprint them yet again. I like the IDEA of this place, but in actuality it is no longer worth my time. I’m in the market for another. I’m so sad to have to write a review such as this one.

The Colorado Blvd. store is okay, as long as I can find one of the long time employes do deal with. I drove up to the Boulder store to see about renting some lights and a background. That’s the only store in the chain that has that capability, along with their repair shop. The store manager did not know that they didn’t rent backgrounds anymore. He indicated he would look in to it and that I should call him later. Several calls later and a voice mail and he still hasn’t responded. Guess who won’t get my business anymore?

The people were all very nice but service won’t have me back if I can help it.
It was pretty slow but still waited 10mins to speak with anyone just to find out which counter to go to.
Was quoted $ 20 for a high res scan while the really lovely guy at the desk somehow managed to touch primarily and repeatedly the 40% of the page that had smudgable art. Why $ 20 for «quality service» and high res if you’re actually messing up what I’m hoping to capture? I know it’s not the Mona Lisa but if I’m there I clearly want you not to damage it. *Pleasssse maybe touch anywhere on the 60% of the page that’s perfectly blank and can be edited out?*
Went to 8 Days A Week. Paid $ 15 for 2xs the scanning, they let me in while closing — had me out in 2mins — and were also very nice and helpful.
I don’t get it Mike’s.

This was my second year attending the Best of Boulder reception/​ceremony. If you haven’t been (or gasp haven’t voted?!) this is a party not to be missed. It highlights all the most coveted businesses in Boulder (according to us Boulder Weekly readers). This year Mike’s Camera featured a photo booth (which is common at these types of events) but they did one better by offering each participant a voucher to have a hard copy of their picture printed. This courtesy card included a code for the free 5×7″ print as well as instructions for how to locate the picture on their website.
For days following the event I was checking the Mike’s Camera website. Finally, the pictures were available for viewing. I excitedly entered the promo code but was surprised I couldn’t figure out how to select the «in-​store pick up». Living close-​by to the store I decided to drop in for the picture ordering so as to avoid the unnecessary shipping.
Naturally as life goes I didn’t make it into the store for a couple of weeks. Walking into the store for the first time was a bit overwhelming, this store is HUGE. Though obviously lost I was disappointed not to have been greeted on my trek to the back of the store where I thankfully found the picture processing center. I approached the desk hoping to get things squared away and was ushered to the computers to do the same thing I had done already (navigate to the website, select the picture, add it to my basket, enter code — oops while this time the code didn’t work (BOB2015). I returned to the desk where the not all that helpful gal was located and she was stumped. She suggested I just go ahead and pay and then they’d refund me (which I thought was a pain), or contact the marketing person (Kat). I opted to contact the marketing person who’s information was written down for me (she’s on the newer side and they do not yet have business cards for her).
When I left the store I immediately called Kat at her extension but did not reach a voicemail box. I then called the store and left a message for the managers (I never heard back).
The following day (during the day) I called and was able to reach Kat. Upon explaining what happened I was interrupted to her asking me «What’s your name again»… to be followed by «oh, you’re another one» (seems I wasn’t the only person encountering difficulty with my picture. She then explained to me that the event was a long time ago (hadn’t yet been 3 weeks actually) and that the code must have expired. I nicely informed her that neither the tech at the event nor the voucher featuring the code reflected that there was any sort of expiration date. She then inquired how many pictures I wanted. I let her know that although the picture contained 3 people I was looking to get 2 pictures and that one of the friend’s in the picture had given me their voucher so I could get their picture as well. I was then informed that I could only get one picture. I confirmed that I totally understood and inquired if my friends should also go ahead and contact her directly regarding their photos seeing that the code no longer worked online. She seemed a bit hesitant to say ok to that.
I was then referred to order the picture online (shipping indicated and all for $ 6.85) and she would run down to the lab to let them know that it was for store pick-​up. I ordered on-​line as advised with a note that pick up would be in store as well as that per my conversation with Kat the fee would be waived when providing my voucher.
The following day I called to see if/​when my photo would be ready. The person on the other end of the phone (who I must add was the nicest person I’ve encountered there thus far) was not able to locate my pictures — seems the confirmation numbers noted in my email did not agree with their computer system (that’s weird). Thankfully this gal was patient and was able to locate my pictures another way. She confirmed the pic would be ready in an hour.
On my way home later that day I stopped in to pick up my picture. I surrendered my voucher and the gal behind the cash register (same gal that wasn’t that friendly on my first visit) made a note that I was to be refunded for shipping fees. I reminded her to please also indicate that the print itself was to be free with voucher (as per Kat). She made that note as well.
I’ve given the store 2 stars as I have not found their customer service to all that friendly or helpful. I never did receive a return call from the store managers and regretfully report that as of today I still have not received my refund (2 days later).

Rude service from two separate employees there on my first contact with them. Who needs it?

I had to get two large prints printed and mounted on gatorboard within 2 business days and Mike’s Camera saved the day with a rush order within 24 hours. Thanks guys for the flawless service. I entered important info in the Special Instructions field in the online order and they followed them to a tee. Picture quality is amazing too. Pick-​up easy. Thank you again.

After a bad experience last trip, I went back in today and got a lot of help and good service from salesperson David. Totally turned things around.

Please reconsider before using their repair service. The on camera flash was sticking on my Nikon D800 (Purchased From Mikes Camera) so I brought it into Mike’s for repair. They quoted me $ 1200 for repair and stated the camera had «liquid» damage. I declined to pay the repair fee as the only issue wit the camera was that the flash did not automatically pop up. Every other function on the camera functioned fine… until I picked it up from them. Mike’s Camera returned my camera damaged. Strangely enough the pop up flash was no longer sticking but the camera would not turn off unless the battery was removed and the live view no longer worked. The on/​off dial appeared to have sustained damage while in their care.
Water and cameras typically do not play nicely together. That being said, the D800 is a weather sealed prosumer level camera body and mine had not sustained any substantial exposure to water.
I returned to Mikes Camera the same day I picked it up and asked them to repair my camera to at least the state in which I dropped it off. They acknowledged that the camera was damaged while in their possession but claimed that the «liquid» damage would have eventually ruined the camera anyway. Mikes camera would not repair the camera and only offered a warranty if I bought a new camera from them to replace the ones they damaged. This struck me as an exceptionally predatory sales trick especially considering I paid more to buy this camera from them rather than Amazon in the first place.

First off, I need to point out that I like supporting local businesses. So, instead of ordering a camera online, I decided to run into local Mike’s Camera, around since 1967, to give them a shot.
It seems to be a fairly well stocked store and definitely many useful camera accessories. But buying a camera from them is a bit of a ‘different’ experience, at least it was for me.
First annoying thing I encountered, there are no prices listed for the cameras in their display cabinet. Every single camera you inquire about needs to have a salesperson walk away to look up pricing. And, you have to pray they don’t get distracted or sidetracked with another customer. Not that there were very many in the store that day.
So, when you give a fairly broad range of what is available in the say $ 300-​$ 400 range, you end up with a game of the salesperson walking away a dozen times to get prices on different options. Silly if you ask me.
Next, I wasn’t particularly impressed with their knowledge. I was sort of excited to buy from a local shop and talk ‘camera’ with their salespeople thinking I was going to get an insiders trade secret about this great camera for this stellar price, but it just wasn’t my fate that day.
I’d say they knew the basics about each camera (like me) but really not that much more, at least my salesperson. Frankly, reading Amazon descriptions, customer reviews and questions and answers gives me far more information. I guess I now appreciate Amazon more than ever. Oh, and, unlike Mike’s, you know the price immediately on Amazon when you click the product link too.
Regardless of the Marco Polo game of price look-​up at Mike’s, I ultimately ended up purchasing a camera from them. Not the best deal, by any measure, but reasonable enough that I was relatively satisfied walking out of the store.
The next day, I decided on a whim to get a second camera for an upcoming international trip so we had plenty of cameras for the entire family. Marched back into Mike’s and grabbed the camera I did a lot of research on, including price. Before ringing up the transaction, I noted to the salesperson that the Mike’s price was roughly $ 100 more than I found and I was hoping they could price match or at least come close. I even showed him the iPhone with some of the pricing I found.
After pecking at his computer for a few minutes, the salesman said he had zero authority to discuss price so he walked away. A few minutes later, the Assistant Manager waltzed over and instead of a warm, friendly greeting for a loyal customer that had just purchased a camera (and accessories) the day before, he began the conversation with «So what can I do for you.»
Did I detect some annoyance and sarcasm? Definitely not much appreciation for a good customer. You always know from the «So what can I do for you» opening that it’s going to be downhill from there.
After sharing the pricing information with him, he said that as an authorized dealer they could not modify their listed price. I guess I believed him (though I really don’t know the rules) but I pointed out that Amazon at least had a nice bundle that came with the same camera which I thought included an expensive 64GB SDXC card, a bag, a tripod, a spare battery and a spare wall charger.
The camera at Mike’s included no accessories.
I said if he couldn’t adjust the price then simply throw in two relatively cheap accessories (a $ 14 strap and a spare battery) and I’d be happy. It was still probably $ 50 – 75 less in accessories than I could get from Amazon but I really didn’t need all the other accoutrements anyway.
The look on his face said «not in a million years» and his response wasn’t too much different. Begrudgingly, he said he would be willing to give a ‘discount’ but that I’d be buying any other accessories too.
Although surprised, especially with his pretty unappreciative attitude the entire conversation, I pointed out I had purchased a nice camera and accessories just the day before and even showed him the receipt. It wasn’t like it was a year ago, it was just yesterday!
He said there was nothing to talk about. I could take his proposal or buy the camera somewhere else. With a shrug of his shoulders, it was obvious that he simply couldn’t care less about me as a customer.
So, after walking out, not only did I buy the same camera happily on Amazon but after reconsidering my purchase, I also returned the camera I did buy from Mike’s the day before and also purchased a replacement for that too from Amazon (which was a better model). Almost $ 1000 of sales gone.
Moral of the story is that without good and appreciative customer service, local businesses just can’t compete against the outstanding customer service, reviews and prices that Amazon provides. I wonder how long a camera shop like Mike’s can survive in this modern world of commerce.
Not sure about that but what I do know is that I will never be shopping at Mike’s Camera again.

Mike’s Camera is a local independent business that I feel good about supporting. This is one of the only places that I’ve found that develops black and white film, and they sell lomography film and pretty much all your photography needs. If you’re ever around for one of their tent sales, you’re in for a treat. They have lots of great sales on cameras and supplies, and there are employees all around to help answer your questions.
I would however, not recommend their photo print service. In the store there are a number of stands where you can print photos and make photos books and buy other products. We tried and it was slow, not user friendly and didn’t have as many options as other sites such as Snapfish. It was also more expensive.
I recommend Mike’s if you are in need of specialty equipment, buying a camera or developing film. More simple everyday print needs can be done elsewhere.

I have only been to Mike’s Camera once, and I’ll never return.
Having just moved to the area, I brought a roll of 120 black & white film to be processed, as it seemed this was the only place around that processed such specialized film. I got a call when my film was finished being processed, but when I went to pick it up, I discovered that the roll they gave me was not mine. They assured me that they would figure it out and get back to me.
I heard nothing for a week. I persisted, calling back several times, only to be told there was nothing they could do and that my film «probably got switched with someone else’s.»
For my trouble, they gave me two rolls of film, which did not even come close to replacing the incredibly meaningful pictures they lost.
I have never experienced such carelessness and unprofessionalism in a photography company. If you care about your photos, please take your business elsewhere.

I am a photography beginner, and was interested in purchasing an entry level SLR from Mike’s. My husband and I spent more than an hour in the store with a nice sales associate and decided we wanted to purchase a camera. After all of the talking with the associate we come to find out the camera that he sold us on is not in stock, and they can’t even order it.
So we spend another 30 minutes learning about another camera that had similar features and a pretty good rebate deal. We make the decision to take advantage of the rebate and go for it since I am a beginner some of the finer details don’t yet matter to me. Well the salesman disappears for another 20 minutes to find the camera… this one is not in stock either and the only one he can get is a red one from another store. I’m not interested in the red camera, and ask to just order the camera we want. Salesman tells me that they are expecting a shipment of cameras in the next week and to call back and check the availability next week. So he doesn’t order it, and my husband and I leave thinking we can get the camera that will be in the upcoming delivery. Not so much.
I called the store every week FOR A MONTH, never got to talk to the same salesman, and was told by another that he couldn’t read any notes from the person we originally talked to because their handwriting was so bad. I asked again to just place an order for the camera and was told to continue calling the store. Well I stopped calling, walked into Best Buy and found the first camera that we wanted (that we were told could not be ordered??) and purchased it for $ 200 dollars less than even the rebate price at Mikes. Unfortunately I will not return to Mike’s. I really wanted to support Mike’s but the store is extremely unorganized, they don’t know what they have in stock or when anything else will be in stock, and were unwilling to order what we wanted.

I have had the worst luck with Mike’s Camera. I have been here three times, each time hoping things would get better. On this most recent visit I had 3 rolls of 120 film processed and then scanned to a CD. However, when I got home I realized they gave me three CD’s with nothing on them.
Going back to my first experience here, I had them process a few rolls of 120 film, which they processed incorrectly. And my second time going back they ended up cutting right through an image on a roll of film.
Now with this third screw up, I think I’ve finally learned my lesson. I am never coming back here again. I’d rather send my film out of state if I have to.

We have been buying photo gear here for years. Cameras, lenses, carrying packs, frames, some printing. Customer service is generally very good, but some members of the staff are just more helpful than others. Their pricing has become much more competitive in recent years as the the availability of discount pricing on the internet has put on pressure. The special order process has proven to be unreliable in timing and availability but there are usually other alternatives.
They carry quality brands and models.

I have to now update my review, as probably less than 24 hours after I wrote my first review, I was contacted by a manager of the store in Boulder through Unilocal.He apologized and offered for me to come in for a refund for the amount I had overpaid. I couldn’t get back to him for a little while, but I emailed him back around a week after and asked about coming in the next day. I got a response, again, right away and he said I could come in the next day and get the amount refunded.
We were running around like mad all day long, and weren’t able to make it over there until around almost 6 which was much later than I had told him, so I called to make sure that would still be okay. He said he’d be there for about another 15 minutes and he would relay everything to the person in charge of the repair department just in case he was already gone when we got there.
We got there right when he was getting ready to leave, and he apologized again for everything that we had gone through throughout the whole ordeal, and refunded us the difference paid from the ORIGINAL quote of 210 $. He was really nice and apologetic (in a genuine way, not a I-​just-​want-​a-​better-​review kinda way). ;)
My irritation settled and a bit more money back on the credit card, I went downstairs to pick up the floodlight I had been needing for my lamp, but had been putting off because I was still mad at Mike’s :). While checking out, the staff downstairs was nice and friendly. Hopefully this was just a fluke with a lot of miscommunication, that will be learned from for the future.

Every time I have gone in the employees have been very helpful and truthful. I will say I have had to wait in line while some employees went into extreme detail answering the customer before me, but I appreciate that when it’s my turn. I have sent my camera in for a few repairs/​cleanings and they were very professional. They did forget to give me my battery back when I picked up my camera, but apologized when I made the return trip. They let me use some of the coupons they gave me when I bought the camera even though they were expired and were very patient with teaching me how to use there system.
I love local things, so the fact that I can put money back into my local economy instead of spending it at Best Buy makes me very happy.