picayou wrote:
Who knew?
http://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2014/04 … s-a-buyer/

That explains why they are not liquidating San Francisco.

J O H N  A L L A N wrote:
Not exactly "prices slashed".
I'm sure cameras and lenses are 10% off which (as usual) ends up with them being slightly higher than B&H still. Nice fake firesale Calumet, you should sell oriental rugs.

Sadly a court approved sale is not fake nor is Calumet closing..

J O H N  A L L A N wrote:
Not exactly "prices slashed".
I'm sure cameras and lenses are 10% off which (as usual) ends up with them being slightly higher than B&H still. Nice fake firesale Calumet, you should sell oriental rugs.

That's why they are going out of business.

RennsportPhotography wrote:
Normally in a bankruptcy the assets are purchased by a liquidation company and while most of the store level staff the boss is from the liquidation company.

As the "sale" progresses the prices go lower on a predetermined schedule and initially may be higher than the going price of the items. Usually there is no negotiation on any prices, all sales are final and customer service other than being polite, goes out the window. I worked with folks who went thru a liquidation and at the end they were told they could even tell customers to F off if they were a pain and wasting time. They fire staff for any infraction of policy as they need to trim staff.

If there is anything you want at a good price you have to check back frequently and it helps if you know their stock situation on the item and if you know someone working there they may have an idea of how long the process is expected to take. Just don't expect fire sale prices soon but some big ticket items, especially displays, may go real cheap at the end.

You sure? I thought the liquidation company is hired by creditor(s) or appointed by court. However, some do get a percentage/cut of the sales.

GlamourPhotoChicago wrote:
is there a date?

got the email today but there was no date.

also not sure if "court appointed" means that a third party comes in and oversees the liquidation of assets.

Don Garrett wrote:
Well, my Calumet is listed-can't hurt to check them out ! Maybe something I need is cheap.
-Don

Absolutely. You never know ... you might get a deal!

RennsportPhotography wrote:
Normally in a bankruptcy the assets are purchased by a liquidation company and while most of the store level staff the boss is from the liquidation company.

As the "sale" progresses the prices go lower on a predetermined schedule and initially may be higher than the going price of the items. Usually there is no negotiation on any prices, all sales are final and customer service other than being polite, goes out the window. I worked with folks who went thru a liquidation and at the end they were told they could even tell customers to F off if they were a pain and wasting time. They fire staff for any infraction of policy as they need to trim staff.

If there is anything you want at a good price you have to check back frequently and it helps if you know their stock situation on the item and if you know someone working there they may have an idea of how long the process is expected to take. Just don't expect fire sale prices soon but some big ticket items, especially displays, may go real cheap at the end.

Chuckarelei wrote:
You sure? I thought the liquidation company is hired by creditor(s) or appointed by court. However, some do get a percentage/cut of the sales.

You are close, it is normally the trustee that makes the arrangement.  When the trustee is ready to liquidate, he normally has to get the approval of the court, but once he gets it, he is "entrusted" with the liquidation.  That is why he is called the "trustee."   Creditors, however, can object, file motions and do all kinds of things along the way.

Robb Mann wrote:
What's funny/sad to me is that two of the locations - Rockville MD and Vienna, VA - used to be Penn Camera stores. Calumet only acquired them about a year ago when Penn Camera went out of business.

Looks like the E Street (Washington DC) Location may survive.

Robb Mann wrote:
What's funny/sad to me is that two of the locations - Rockville MD and Vienna, VA - used to be Penn Camera stores. Calumet only acquired them about a year ago when Penn Camera went out of business.

Rockville should have never stayed open.

Optical Prime wrote:

Rockville should have never stayed open.

I always got great service from the Rockville location, both as Penn  and Calumet. Very sorry to see them close.

GPS Studio Services wrote:
Absolutely. You never know ... you might get a deal!

OK, that does it, I'm going right now ! By the way, the Escondido store is just down the street from me, I could walk there if I were a bit more ambitious.
-Don

Don Garrett wrote:
OK, that does it, I'm going right now ! By the way, the Escondido store is just down the street from me, I could walk there if I were a bit more ambitious.
-Don

We're Californians. We only walk when we go hiking. We drive for everything else.