The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

They'll be closing both the stores (21st and Lewis, 51st and Harvard).  Liquidation begins Friday.

I've always wondered how long they could last with the death of the film camera.

That, and their ridiculously high prices spelled doom.

No kidding. I was looking for a new digital camera for my wife and decided to take a look at the Wolf on 21st. The camera I was looking at was $30 more there than it was at Target or Wal-Mart

I agree on the over pricing of products and to and extent the smaller number of us "old school film photographers", I have a digital and a 35mm Nikon and it depends on what I'm photographing as to which one I use. I wish that I still had my medium format (2"x2" negative). I have to admit the digital gets more use but still love the warmth of film.

Here is an article about Wolf:
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/03/23/daily59.html (http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/03/23/daily59.html)

I used to love Wolf camera.  I went there all the time to shop for equipment and then go back to my office and buy it on Ebay.

i always liked the Mazzios at that corner....

Well, that probably explains why they're closing...

Although I do purchase things online, I'm often willing to spend a few extra bucks if I can buy something from a local store.  Especially if it's locally-owned. 

I'm often tempted by better prices online, but I like to think about local purchases as an investment in the local economy: bringing tax dollars and jobs to my own city...which is reinvested again and again...locally.

Wolf Camera was a great place to get professional prints made...where actual human beings could use their expertise to tinker with exposures and colors, to make the best possible print.  I also used them for making copies of historic photos that have been in my family for almost a hundred years.  (I sure wouldn't want to send those out to some internet company.)

Here's a nice little list of reasons for supporting local businesses:
http://www.sconnect.org/thinklocal/why/ (http://www.sconnect.org/thinklocal/why/)

And here's an interesting summary of economic impact research related to shopping at locally-owned stores vs. national chains:
http://www.newrules.org/retail/bigboxstudies.pdf (http://www.newrules.org/retail/bigboxstudies.pdf)

The places I used to buy equipment and supplies from were Englers downtown on Boston, Camera Gallery when it was at Fontana the at Woodland and Looboyle. The place I had do my processing was PIC Photo Lab at 21st and Memorial. My dad and brother got into doing team and indvidual pictures for sports in the early 70's about the time that PIC opened. They did a lot of great custom work for us.

is Wolf actually a local business or part of a bigger chain?

It's a chain. Wolf is one of several brands Ritz operates under.

Apparently, they also own Boater's World.

Its funny that you say that.

This is perhaps the most embarrassing thing I've ever posted on here... but here goes.

I have NO knowledge of Cameras or Boats. When that Boaters World place was put up on 71st Street (the building was later purchased by Said Music), I seriously had no clue that there was a camera store connected to it.

I thought a "Ritz Camera" Pronounced Ca-ma-ra was some brand of expensive boat.

Never pulled into the parking lot, and never imagined that a Camera store was connected to the boat dealer.  :)

Wolf was a chain. And not a very good one.

We switched our film needs to Apertures, which is truly a locally owned and Oklahoma-based business.

As a former employee of Ritz/Wolf with 8 years of service (Left the company in '06) I can definitely say that I am not at all surprised by the bankruptcy of Ritz camera. When I started with the company (Before Ritz bought out Wolf) it was an excellent company to work for and I would have recommended anyone shop there and have their photofinishing processed there. However, after Ritz took over the company went downhill fast. It seemed that there was one scheme after another to rip off the customer and their employee's. They blame their fall on "The Internet" and "Digital Cameras" but I have no doubt that this company could have been easily saved if they would have concentrated on helping the customer rather than scamming them. I do not miss working for this company, I do however miss the customers. We had excellent dedicated customers and I loved helping them with their questions and sharing their memories with them. Just as a side note I had actually mentioned to a regular customer how unhappy i was working for the company the way it was being ran and he actually hired me to work for him! Too bad Ritz camera could not see good employees when they had them, apparently the customers could. If they would have treated their employees like human beings (Instead of sales machines) maybe they would have been able to keep their knowledgeable, helpful sales staff and their loyal customers along with them.

I think they got a rep as one of those companies who would sell you a cheap digital camera then call and say they need to sell you another $100 in rechargeable batteries and table top tripods, etc.

I think textuality hits it on the head.

I'm an employee at one of the closing stores, and there's no question in my mind about it. The company is poorly run. It treats its employees poorly and seeks to make money at the expense of its customers. I have no respect for the company.

Go to Apertures--it's what I do...

I'm disappointed that nobody finds it amusing that for years I though a 'Ritz Camera' was a brand of boat.

 ;D

...and then the Atlanta Bakery that replaced it, which is now business space for a title abstract company.
Would have been nice if that corner had stayed a walkable destination for the neighborhood.

When I worked there we got this response a lot. People really wanted another restaurant to go in (So did we). I can almost guarantee that "guaranty abstract" will take over Wolfs space. I know the owner of guaranty abstract was wanting Wolf out the day he moved in and at one time they were considering cutting into Wolfs back room. Guess its Mr. Kirkpatrick's lucky day!

Ha! I overlooked that before. That's hilarious!

"We're taking the Ritz out this weekend, you and the Mrs. should join us!"

I've come across medium format cameras from time to time at yard sales.  I purchased a perfectly usable Rolleicord IV for $10, and a well-used Voightlander Bessa for $4.  The Bessa is a folder, so it was fun to keep in a pocket.  I used it until the shutter failed. 

Almost invariably, the owners say, "I don't think they make film for these anymore."  Then I go to Apertures for film.

If I come across any medium format cameras this season, I'll post about it here.

I shoot with a Mamiya RB67. There's just something so nice about those big negatives.

and i just saw the news that Wolf camera's closing sale will be run by the same company that handled Circuit City's closing...so that means inflated prices, then marked down so you think you are saving a buck, misleading ad's and zero assistance in the sale.

good luck, what a crappy exit.

Yeah you're right. They just took possession Friday.

The interesting thing about "zero assistance in the sale" is this: The liquidation company told us that we'd stay open as long we still had stuff to sell. Talk about motivation...Help sell things = get canned faster.

There has to be a better way to handle this sort of thing.