Mike’s Camera

It seems that this store lacks customer service. Each time I’ve come (this will be my last), there is an issue. Today, I came in to have 34 prints (31 ⁴⁄₆ & 3 ⁸⁄₁₀). I asked about one hour service, which they advertise. I was told it would be closer to two. Ok, I went and ran a few errands, and came back in 1:50 minutes to be told «oh, we won’t have it ready because some came and requested 3000 prints just before you so we aren’t able to print it.»
Ok, you have my phone number on the ticket, why didn’t anyone call me? No empathy, no consideration that you’ve wasted my time (yet again) and no effort to even try to get the order done. You can come back tomorrow. Ummm… if I wanted them tomorrow, that’s when I would have come to you. It’s 2:15.
I received a response from the Corporate Office and the guy was genuinely concerned about my review.

I always receive excellent service when I go to Mike’s Camera at Strawberry Village in Mill Valley. I have been 2 times in the last week and received excellent service from Danielle Barrow. She was so helpful and helped me transfer photos from my iPhone to prints done for me in the store… the price was reasonable too. I would highly recommend Mike’s Camera for anyone having photo needs.
Sincerely,
Diane Fraser (Tiburon)O

I’ll keep this quick because it was a quick visit that brought me in. I came here for a basic passport photo, which at $ 13, I found completely reasonable.
It’s always surprising to see a camera store still in operation in this day and age. Good on em! So many camera-​based businesses have gone the way of the record store.
I had a positive experience in the store. The store was clean well staffed and friendly. They had a lot of up to date gear and looked like they were doing digital printing. I was surprised how many people were working (4 – 5) given how quiet Thursday mornings are in the retail world.
My visit couldn’t have been easier. I was greeted immediately, given fast service and was in and out in five minutes. If only the lines at the passport office were this efficient!

Extremely disorganized with rude customer service during holiday season.

The store was kind of busy, but there was a woman in front of me who had waiting foreverrr to just make a payment. When she asked Mike if she could pay he was fairly rude and noted that he was helping a customer. She noted she was a customer too and that it was unneccesary for him to tell her that as she could obviously see he was with someone. But that was going to be a long process and she simply wanted to pay someone and leave. Then a young woman, whose name I did not note, asked if I had been helped. I said «no» and told her that I was trying to blow up some pictures from digital pictures sent to me on an e-​mail. She was discouraging from the start, but told me to go over to their computers and download it. I told her I didn’t know how to do that and that I needed help. She had me hook up my IPad and then came back 30 seconds later to see if I had downloaded the pictures. I said again, I don’t really know what to do — and with an attitude emblematic of techo young spoke to me in a snotty tone that I was simply to download them to something — of which I did not understand. As I said — I needed help. I was outta there in a flash. I find it completely disrespectful to talk down to less techno-​saavy people when they come in and ask for help. RUDE RUDE RUDE. My husband is in the market for major new camera equipment — we will be going elsewhere where people treat their customers with simple courtesy and not a condescending attitude.

I recently went in the store to buy something else but instead wound up buying a new camera instead. The store was busy and the staff was very focused on the customers they were working with. That said, when it was my turn I was very impressed with how focused the sales person, Mary Richardson, was with my needs. I never felt rushed or pressured to buy. I knew I could buy a camera «package» for less at another company based in NY. But in the end Mary was able to explain this to her manager who made it worthwhile for me to purchase the camera from her. Also, the store offers many incentives for a customer to purchase from them. Workshops, a 30 minute one on one lesson, and some printing options to name a few are included and having a local source to answer questions and help with any issues that may arise. I also want to acknowledge Brett Stone who provided me with a lot of good information and knowledge about the camera. I can see the importance of buying locally now as there is a value added to having a someone available to assist down the road with any issues that may arise. I will shop there for my future needs.

Mary at Mike’s Camera’s was the best! My teenage daughter had a technical problem with her Canon T3i SD cards and Mary showed her how to reformat them! Mikes Camera will also match prices. We will be coming back to Mike’s for all our camera needs!

Came here to get passport photos taken for myself and my 2 mo old son. Great customer service, very helpful staff. Price is reasonable.

I have worked with the staff and management at Mikes as well as the Ritz and even Wolfe. I have had very positive experiences over the years and will continue to use them going forward. I especially like working with Chris he is very helpful and knowledge about cameras and accessories.

Wow, sadly I’m quite disappointed! I hadn’t been in the store for a while, but remember being quite satisfied when it was still Wolfe Camera.
Today, I walked in with the purpose to purchase a photo backpack. They have several different bags and backpacks, so I spend a long time locking at them. Although there were several available employees behind the counter, nobody came over to greet me or help me out in the ¹⁵⁄₂₀ minutes. I took most of the bags off the shelf to take a closer look and would have loved to get an opinion on them, but nobody seemed to be interested in actually selling anything. Of corse I could have asked them to help me out, but I kind of expect store employees in a store like this to greet me and come over to help me. I was the only customer in the store. Backpacks are around $ 100 to $ 200, that I will now spend somewhere else.
Besides the not existing customer service, the store carries a fair amount of quality photography products.

This is a really poorly run store. Each time I order something it seems they screw it up. I ordered a couple of cards recently for a special occasion, came in to pick them up and was charged for both of them, but was only given one of the cards. By the time I realized it I was at home and it was too late because the store was closed. They should have at least checked to be sure the cards were not in the envelope or if the second card wasn’t done yet, they should have told me that. Then I called about it and they just made excuses instead of apologizing.

Only go if you’re willing to wait a long time for something as simple as dropping off film. I put up with it for a while but can’t anymore.

Love this camera store! Great customer service and knowledgable employees. They were so patient and helpful as someone with no knowledge of cameras. I also found out they print photos with quick turnaround. Support your local business!

This place was halfway decent when it was Wolf Camera but under new ownership it’s taken a nosedive. Horrible service, rude and incompetent workers. I asked if they had m to x mount adapters and was first asked what an x mount even is. When I explained its a Fujifilm mount used on the x-​t1 and I wanted to try my voigtlander lenses on a Fuji camera, this incompetent snob scoffed at me. As if my peasant mirrorless camera wasn’t worthy of such a lens. What’s more is they followed me around the store, peaking around the aisle corners like I was going to steal something. Not to play the minority card but it says something that amongst all the white customers, I was the only one they treated this way. And no, they were not attempting to be helpful. To pour fuel on the fire they jack prices up like CRAZY. When it was Wolf Cameras they weren’t afraid to show the price tags on cameras and lenses because they didn’t charge a premium. But I guess that’s why some money grubbing snob named Mike was able to buy this place and turn it into a piece of crap. If you are remotely savvy on photography, don’t waste your time with these disgraceful Leica wannabes.

I’m a total newbie to cameras. I walked in to the Boulder store and spoke with Brian Rabin. He took the time to sell me a great camera that did what I needed it to. Sold me some lenses as well. He took time to work with me and train me, as well. I have a new hobby now and I wouldn’t be where I am without Brian and Mike’s.
FYI — my friend, a semi pro photographer is amazed by the equipment that I bought as well. That really validated my happiness beyond the great shots that I’m getting.

I went in looking for a camera to buy to fiancé, knowing nothing about cameras. Chelsea helped me find one by asking all the right questions & filling me in on the differences between different ones. She was so polite & very helpful. Definitely recommend to all those who are experts or not!

I bought a Sony 57 from Mike (not the owner) and just now moved up to a Nikon 7100. Could have bought on line or from Costco but the folks at Mike’s are friendly, patient and very knowledgeable. And if you have questions you can always stop back in and they will take the time work with you. You remain an important customer even after you hand them your credit card and walk out the door with your purchase.

What a terrible experience!
Mike’s Camera, in particular the Mill Valley Strawberry Village location is a terrible photo store, with the most deplorable service. I would give them 0 or negative stars, if I could.
Their staff are unhelpful and rude, and completely incompetent at the most basic of computer and photography technology that you would expect anywhere (especially at a camera store!). I originally came in to get 1 5×7 photo print; they could not deliver.
They mislead and downright lie about their prices, and time-​frames.
To name just 3 examples, they told me that it would easier & faster to transfer 6000+ photos from my iPhone (in order to print one!) than to upload or email that single photo.
I inquired about whether there was a ‘significant’ price difference between 2 different photo order options, and the staff assured me that there would be no significant price difference, but when I inquired a bit further, and pointed out to them that one order was (exactly) three (3) times as expensive, the staff snickered at me, and said «well, if you think so». Well, yes, I consider treble the price to be ‘significant’.
Because they don’t have Internet! (what reputable commercial establishment in the US «doesn’t have Internet»?, they sent me away to another store (Starbucks), which has Internet, to send/​upload my photo and return. When I returned, they said they could prepare the print (s) in a minute. After I waited over ½ hour, they said they needed another 15 minutes. I left
Terrible service. Overpriced.
Utterly stupid and useless staff

Do you know what you want to buy and they have it in stock at a reasonable price? Go here.
Are you looking for expertise, advice, customer service? Avoid this location.
The SF store did not have the item I wanted in stock, but were kind enough to locate it at their Mill Valley location. I called the Mill Valley store after hanging up with the SF store, and suddenly Mill Valley no longer had it in stock. HUH? I called the SF store back and told them Mill Valley couldn’t find it. The SF store called Mill Valley again and confirmed they did indeed have the item in stock. HUH?
Afraid they would «lose» the item again, I went to the store immediately to purchase it. I was also looking for a UV filter for lens protection. First the guy tried to sell me the wrong size filter for my lens. When I asked about a Hoya, Tiffen, or B+W filter, he said their generic brand was much better than those. I asked why Promaster was better. I had done my homework before arriving at the store, and knew the answers he was giving me were BS. When he realized I knew more about filters than he did, he stopped trying to sell me.
I’ve read the reviews about generic filters being big money makers for camera stores. I’ve also read varying reviews that say they are pretty sure the generic filters are actually quality filters that have been rebranded by Tamron and Hoya. But no one can prove this.
Don’t try to sell me something if you don’t know what you are talking about. Just because I am polite does not mean I didn’t do my homework before showing up at your store.

It’s rare to have kind and patient customer service… especially over the phone. They didn’t have to take the time to chat with me — I am not even a real «customer» yet, in that I haven’t spent a dime at his store. I had visited the previous Wolf Camera store, and bought a camera from them… but the service was never that caring. I love Mike’s, because I went to school in Boulder and bought my first hobby camera from them. Now I am advanced amatuerish, and got a new Nex-​6 for Christmas. Day one out of the box, it dropped from 4 feet onto a marble floor. I’ve been sick about it, and thought I would call to talk about short term and long term effects of a Nex /​digital camera. Mike, the manager, took my call, and chatted with me at length about how things break (usually the lens, usually depends solely on how things hit), and if there are long term impacts on the camera, and whether I should use the extended warranty, etc.
He was kind, calm, patient… it was a great experience that will certainly capture my future photography needs. I am always adding more stuff, and already need a new bag… so it’s that kind of service to the community that will keep my biz for a long time coming.
I really have no idea about the other reviewers — this guy Mike is solid. The person who answered the phone didn’t seem too knowledgeable, but she passed me along immediately.
Mike’s is new to the community here, and I am excited to have a proper photography store at our disposal. Cheers and thanks!