Samy's Used Cameras

I'm a working photographer in Los Angeles,I've been renting from Samy's Camera for more than 15 years. The reason that I've stayed that long is because of how MIke Kampler runs the rental dept.. His guys are knowledgeable, if they don't know something, they will find out and let you know. They have always been nice and courteous (no attitude), I get greeted with a hello when I walk in. My order is always ready. The equipment doesn't look like it's been abused. If I ever have a problem Mike takes care of it. I have recommended the rental dept. to several other photographers, (in the US and abroad) and I have never heard a single complaint before. So that's my experience with the rental dept. at Samy's Camera especially the one Fairfax.

My photographer friends and I know that ONLY as a LAST RESORT will we rent from Samy's on Fairfax. We all have a running joke that if the other rental houses are out of that certain lense or power pack or umbrella etc.....be prepared to reluctantly go to Samy's and bring your tools and tape because you're going to need them if you rent the shotty equipment from Samy's. Also be prepared to spend more money as Samy's is the most expensive rental house in Los Angeles. Even my photo friends in NY know not to go to Samy's. Is M. Kampler the heavyset guy who runs the dept? If so, my buddy told me about how he was told by this guy that he couldn't rent a 200mm lense without having to put down an exorbitant amount of insurance. Then this guy copped a major attitude at this well known photographer. Unbelievable.

I don't know but the person below MUST BE MIKE KAMPLER FROM THE RENTAL DEPT at Samy's because the photographer's that I know in Los Angeles cannot stand the rental dept. at Samy's because the customer service is so poorly managed, inexperienced and rude ALL AT THE HELM of MIKE KAMPLER. Seriously, if you go there out of desperation, like I have just trying to find that certain lens when Bel Air and Calumet are out, you find out how the people running and working in the RENTAL DEPT AT SAMY'S are HACKS!!!!!! Do NOT go to Samy's unless you want to pay through the nose and be treated like a 2nd class citizen!!!!! Go to Freestyle, go anywhere but to this greedy, arrogant attitude's and incompetent establishment.......ESPECIALLY THE RENTAL DEPARTMENT!!!!!!

The rental department at Samy's camera is the best. The staff really knows their stuff and they have more equipment then anyone else in the city. Mike Kampler the rental manager is great and if you have a problem with your rental he is by far the fairest person I have ever met. So go to Samy's camera and find out for yourselves. I can't say enough good things about them I rent from them all the time along with all my other colleagues.

Like most of the reviews here, the customer service is the worst. I'd rather go to Calumet or Bel Air Cameras than go to this jacked up prices place with horrible people working there, especially in the rental department. Mike Kampler, the manager, is the worst. He pretends to be on the up and up and then brags that he makes more than a pharmacist. There is also a woman in the office named Maria who is this angry, obese slob who is the rudest and nastiest of them all. I'm telling all of my New York and So Cal photographer buddies to do business elsewhere!!!!

Wow I'm so frustrated with Sammy's camera right now, I'd have to get in here and join the club with those complaining about Sammy's customer service. These people think they are the elite of all and that we, the customers, should be privileged to do business with them. I personally dealt with people at the registration office when I tried to register for one of their workshops and the woman who works there is a real b*tch! Not to mention, I registered for the class while it was still available, thinking I was in, I called them to ask a few question about my registration, they called me back too late when the class was already closed and I find out my registration didn't go through. And that wasn't the first time I had difficulty signing up for their classes. I never want to deal with these guys again!

Fairfax's renowned camera retailer consists of several floors of cutting-edge photography gear and equipment, complete with scores of helpful staff members.

You definately miss something when you go to Bestbuy to get a Digital Camera. Most people at box stores don't know anything. But these guys are serious about their cameras. I took my point and shoot that was broken and the guy told me straight up "you are screwed" It was going to cost $160 to fix, or I could buy a brand new camera with 10x as many features for $185. So I went for the new camera, and the guy walked me through all the questions I had. Great service, and the price was just as cheap as best buy!

Their tel. customer service rep. is the worst ever... rude... no respect ever.... wonder how he got that job as a customer service rep. He must be a family member of the owner otherwise, he would be fired a long long time ago. he' better take a class "customer serive 101"...seriously....

i am willing to spend more $ if customer service is up to par, so i went to samy's WHAT A JOKE! some insider reviews had WARNED of how BAD t...

I did Sammy's on Sepulveda and got instant, knowledgeable service, and I love my Cannon EOS D40. I was prepared to pay more to shop at a rea...

Recently, I stopped into my local Samy's Camera (Fairfax Ave.) to buy a 2GB memory card for a digital camera. I asked an employee for help, and she (the brunette on the 3rd floor) acted as if I was putting her out. Shuffling over to the memory card section, she pulled out a high-end card, which sold for $60. I asked if there was something in the $30 range, so she pulled out another card. I then asked her about the difference in features, and she looked at me like I was a moron. Wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible, I asked her which card she'd buy. She said, "I wouldn't get either one of these." [PAUSE HERE, AND THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT.] She then pulls out the card she'd buy ? all the features of the high-end model, but only $35. Why, I ask, couldn't she have just pointed me to this model in the first place? Isn't this why Samy's charges so much more than, say, Best Buy ? because of their "expertise" and "customer service"? Afterwards, I mentioned my experience to... Read more

I got snobbish service. They treated me like I know nothing even though their job is to teach and help me make an informed choice. yOu might as well buy online or go to Westwood to Bel Air Camera for better service.

I come here all the time to rent lenses. Their staff is friendly and they usually have what I want in stock. They have a free valet in back.

Let me first say, I have never written a bad review about anything before.... This review is for the repair desk only...I left my camera with the repair desk for 11 months and it was never fixed. I was told a different story every time I went in or called to check on it. Sometimes, it was that they were tracking down the parts. Sometimes the story was that they were not sure my camera was going to be able to be fixed at all. I also got a number of different time-frame promises "it will be ready in another 2 weeks." (Never realized, of course). The story changed every time I checked in. Often I was told that I had to talk to someone who was not there that day, or that they needed to call to the actual repair place out-of-state and they would get back to me. Not one time did anyone ever follow up with me. This is possibly the worst customer service I have ever experienced. Let me say again, 11 months, and it was NEVER FIXED.

This was a camera store that was tailor made for the professional photographer, but it isn't a bad place to go shopping (or at least educate...

This franchise is a great outlet for those well-versed in the nuances of photography. If you're just learning, don't bother though, as the s...

The LA Samy's is the flagship store and the one most often used by big name professional photographers.. And the attitude of the employees s...

This store does not cater to the average consumer. They are used to dealing with a lot of pros and they seem to have a serious attitude. Som...

i have been dealing with samy's camera for about 10 years. they can repair any camera -- and are honest enough to tell you when your camera...

I really love going to this place for advice and to look at what new products are available. The staff is very friendly and knowledgably. Yo...

They are the best. The sales men are eduacted in the product. They will jump though hoop for the client. All of the newest items on the mark...

If you are an amateur or advanced photographer, this is the place to find the latest cameras, lenses, bounceboards, light reflectors, film s...

Sammy's Camera is THE palec to shop for a camera. We went to Best Buy and waited for 30 minutes before anyone ever approached us, and even ...

Samy's is a good place to go if it's an emergency and you need a camera product right away ... they have just about EVERYTHING. In my exper...

The pasadena Sammy's Camera location allows it almost exclusive access to Art Center College of Design students. That being said don't expec...

This camera store is one of the best i have been to in Los Angeles. Not only do they have a wide selection of cameras, camera equipment, dark room supplies and literature on the subject, but their staff is so helpful and friendly. They are very approachable and patient with even the most amature photographer. Rental equipment here is great as well. The prices are reasonable and the equipment is always in good shape. Just be prepared to lay down a hefty deposit fee.