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The Armadillo Way

At Armadillo Camera, we believe that you, the customer, are our single most important asset.  The reason we have been successful for 20+ years is that we have never lost sight of the importance of customer service, both before and after the sale. 

So why should you choose Armadillo Camera?  The reasons include:

• Knowledgeable, friendly employees
• No high-pressure sales
• Better value than mail order
• Camera classes
• Record keeping 
• Warranty Repair service  

Knowledgeable, Friendly Employees

Our employees are all photographers first and salespeople second.  They can answer, or find the answer to, almost any photographic question you may have, from assisting you in the use of your camera to discussing the finer points of darkroom technique.  See our Employees page to meet them individually. 

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No High-Pressure Sales 

Our employees do not work on commission, so they have no incentive to sell anything that the customer does not need.  We would rather have a satisfied customer who happens not to buy anything this time, because that customer will remember us and come back when he or she does need something.  We believe in building long-term relationships, not just one-time sales.

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Thoughts on Mail Order and Internet Sales

We realize that price is an important factor in any buying decision.  However, we also believe that service, knowledge, and friendliness are very important considerations.  You might be able to find an item at a slightly lower price through mail order or on the Internet, but you will certainly not find the same level of service and expertise at your disposal after you make the purchase.

In fact, mail order and internet sales sites are notorious for their lack of service.  They have neither the time nor the expertise to do anything but process your order.  We encourage you to call up a mail order company and try to ask questions about how a particular camera works, for example.  After you have done that, come in to Armadillo Camera and ask any of our employees the same questions.  We are confident that our knowledge and friendliness will more than make up for any small difference in price you may find.  We are believe that we offer a far better overall value than any mail order or Internet site ever can.

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Camera Classes

We want to do everything we can to ensure that you get many years of enjoyable use out of your purchase.  With this in mind, we offer a free six-hour camera class to everyone who buys an SLR camera at Armadillo Camera.  The class is designed to familiarize the beginner with the basics of photography and to help them use their new camera to its full potential.  Topics covered include:

• Exposure
• Effects of shutter speed and aperture
• Filters
• Flash photography
• Film selection

Customers are encouraged to bring their cameras and ask lots of questions.  Kim Brown, one of our most experienced employees, teaches the classes, which meet in the evening and are split into two 3-hour segments.  You can also use our online tutorial, which gives a very condensed version of our class.

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Record keeping 

Every camera and lens that we sell is entered into a database, so that if you should ever need a copy of your receipt for any reason, we will be able to provide it.  This service has proven very helpful for purposes such as:

• Proof of purchase date for warranty repairs.
• Proof of value for insurance replacement purposes.
• A record of serial numbers for insurance purposes.
• A record of equipment a person owns, to avoid duplicating items when purchasing gifts.

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Warranty Repairs

If you need repairs done on something you purchased at Armadillo Camera, just bring it in or ship it to the store.  We will take care of the entire process for you, including:

• Checking our records for warranty status if you don't have your receipt.
• Sending equipment to manufacturer for warranty repair.
• Getting an estimate for non-warranty repairs.
• Keeping track of your equipment during the repair process.

 If an item was purchased elsewhere, we will of course be happy to take care of it for you as well; we will simply need your proof of purchase for warranty status, and we will charge you for shipping expenses.  See our Repair page for more details.

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Text copyright © 2001 Armadillo Camera Sales & Service, Inc.   All photographs copyright © 2001 individual photographers.  All rights reserved.
Revised: May 03, 2005 .