RTHOMAS:
About the Second Sunday Camera Show that you asked about: I had been going from Philadelphia (public transport) for about two years and there was a patron on the bus with me who was a regular like me. He had a 50mm El Nikkor for sale for $15 and I said I would like it. We got off the bus and walked to the Firehouse (where the show is held) and as we were walking in I asked to see it. The proprietor told me that that was not permitted so we went out to the parking lot. He followed us and started to give me royal hell and threatened to call the police. NOTE: the patron NEVER received even a modicum of criticism and HE was the person selling the lens. Can anyone infer why? I gulped and went back into the show area and made my purchases as always. I will state now that I bought tons of stuff every show because there is a dealer there (Artie Duren) who is a human example of exemplary humanity. After the show was over I went to the female at the ticket counter and apoligized for anything I might have done despite distinctly hearing her thank the thug who screamed at me. I then left to go back to get the bus to Newark where I would get my train back to Philadelphia. I thought and pondered and decided to write a rather lengthy letter to the show's management and also posted it in the 'Lounge forum' here (I believe Jan 2008 or thereabouts). I received a torrent of hate emails from many of the show's dealers and many, many hate postings from this forum. Oddly, Photo.net respondees were much more understanding and conciliatory. Thinking hard and honestly about this incident I have come to the conclusion that the hate was really because I was such an astute buyer and did not patronize dealers who wished to fleece me (I do not think that either Arnie nor Arite, who are twins by the way, even know HOW to fleece anyone). They were jealous that the Durens got 90% of my business. After that hate spate I decided to never return because I was not prepared for both the hate gauntlet at the door the next time I entered (both management and dealers) and was genuinely afraid of the Wayne police waiting for me to stub my toe and then arrest me. When you are a local proprietor and hold a show at the Wayne, NJ firehouse you have 'clout' and sometimes 'own' the police whom I have no reason adhere to a sense of ethics (that would place me in a neutral position). I could name names, some of whom are familiar to this forum, but I will spare the ignominy. Each morning when I wake up I remember fully, and personally acknowledge to myself that I have hurt no one. I would rather be a victim than be a perpetrator in life. But that assessment is not good enough for some ethically challenged people out there. - David Lyga (david33x@yahoo.com)
About the Second Sunday Camera Show that you asked about: I had been going from Philadelphia (public transport) for about two years and there was a patron on the bus with me who was a regular like me. He had a 50mm El Nikkor for sale for $15 and I said I would like it. We got off the bus and walked to the Firehouse (where the show is held) and as we were walking in I asked to see it. The proprietor told me that that was not permitted so we went out to the parking lot. He followed us and started to give me royal hell and threatened to call the police. NOTE: the patron NEVER received even a modicum of criticism and HE was the person selling the lens. Can anyone infer why? I gulped and went back into the show area and made my purchases as always. I will state now that I bought tons of stuff every show because there is a dealer there (Artie Duren) who is a human example of exemplary humanity. After the show was over I went to the female at the ticket counter and apoligized for anything I might have done despite distinctly hearing her thank the thug who screamed at me. I then left to go back to get the bus to Newark where I would get my train back to Philadelphia. I thought and pondered and decided to write a rather lengthy letter to the show's management and also posted it in the 'Lounge forum' here (I believe Jan 2008 or thereabouts). I received a torrent of hate emails from many of the show's dealers and many, many hate postings from this forum. Oddly, Photo.net respondees were much more understanding and conciliatory. Thinking hard and honestly about this incident I have come to the conclusion that the hate was really because I was such an astute buyer and did not patronize dealers who wished to fleece me (I do not think that either Arnie nor Arite, who are twins by the way, even know HOW to fleece anyone). They were jealous that the Durens got 90% of my business. After that hate spate I decided to never return because I was not prepared for both the hate gauntlet at the door the next time I entered (both management and dealers) and was genuinely afraid of the Wayne police waiting for me to stub my toe and then arrest me. When you are a local proprietor and hold a show at the Wayne, NJ firehouse you have 'clout' and sometimes 'own' the police whom I have no reason adhere to a sense of ethics (that would place me in a neutral position). I could name names, some of whom are familiar to this forum, but I will spare the ignominy. Each morning when I wake up I remember fully, and personally acknowledge to myself that I have hurt no one. I would rather be a victim than be a perpetrator in life. But that assessment is not good enough for some ethically challenged people out there. - David Lyga (david33x@yahoo.com)