Camera Store Rant

[Alex_B]

well, told this story already on this forum... but I was turned down by people in a pro shop once ... that person actually said " I don't think that I can help you" .. only because I was wearing some comfty but very old fleece jacket, was not shaven and pretty hung over from the night before. He apparently thought I was not about to spend a fortune on equipment.

people in that pro shop were so arrogant. well i then told them about which price category I was thinking and they became VERY friendly . (was about so spend A LOT). but of course I bought my stuff elsewhere

how can people who want to sell, whore jobs depend on selling, be THAT stupid ...

 

[Big Mike]

Big Mike, you're an Edmonton guy...

I bought my D50 about 3 weeks ago from the McBain on 75st and Whyte Ave, as it's right by my house. I knew what I wanted, so I went in there and just asked a few questions about what else I might need, etc.

The guy who was helping me? TOTAL. DOUCHEBAG. I've never dealt with someone so condescending in all my life. It was like he thought being behind the store counter was like being behind God's Official Camera Guy Pedestal. I wanted to deck him. And it's not like I was asking retarded questions - I know the basics of photography and what my needs were.

Yet I bought the camera cuz they were closing and I didn't want to go somewhere else. I think I WILL be going elsewhere for my other purchases though.

I was in that McBain shop last week, (not far from where I live) & I talked to two guys working there...one didn't seem to know anything...but the other guy was helpful. They didn't have what I wanted though...they never do.

I usually go to the main store on 107th Ave & 109th Street. A buddy of mine works there, so I usually chat with him...but some of the other guys working there know their stuff.

 

[DeepSpring]

I had a few unhappy incidents. I was hanging out with my gf and we went to goodwill and I saw this old Canon Cannonet rangefinder from the 70s and it was only $5 so I got it. There happened to be a hooper camera really close by so I decided to walk in and ask the guy if he could tell me if it was still working. He looks thru it presses the shutter a few times. Then he goes without saying anythign to me he opens a battery and puts it inside the camera. After a few more minutes he tells me it seems to be working just fine and told me the basics of how to use it. So I thank him and start walking out and he tells me I have to pay for the battery, the battery he never even asked if I wanted. So I then have to tell him I don't have enough for the battery so I take it out and leave. I thought that was kind of rude he shouldnt try and charge me for it without sayign anythign about it.


This is just un-knowledgeable sales men. I was at ritz getting a bigger bag. Someone walks up and asks if they can help and i tell him im looking for a bag that can hold a camera a few lenses and a flash. He tells me hes only been working a few weeks and hes sorry but cant help me. Is it really that hard to tell which bag can hold that stuff?

 

[skates94]

Never Judge a Book by it's Cover...... I did sales for 5 years before becoming a police officer. To this day 5 years after being out of sales people still go into the store where I worked and ask for me.

3 things make to good sales associate.... 1-Knowledge of your Products, 2-Respect for your Customers, and the thing that's hard to find in most sales associates Honesty. If someone can cover those 3 things they will do very well.

 

[Alex_B]

1-Knowledge of your Products, 2-Respect for your Customers, and the thing that's hard to find in most sales associates Honesty. If someone can cover those 3 things they will do very well.

1, 2 and 3 are often hard to find though! In larger shops to my experience it is a lack of 1 and 3 .... in the smaller more psecialised shops it is sometimes a lack of 2

 

[ladyphotog]

Never Judge a Book by it's Cover...... I did sales for 5 years before becoming a police officer. To this day 5 years after being out of sales people still go into the store where I worked and ask for me.

3 things make to good sales associate.... 1-Knowledge of your Products, 2-Respect for your Customers, and the thing that's hard to find in most sales associates Honesty. If someone can cover those 3 things they will do very well.

Amen, sales or anything in retail is all about the customer, no matter if they are right or not. I have worked in photo labs and you would lose customers very fast if you tell someone that they can't shoot. There are better ways to help them out besides being a jerk. They ARE the reason you have a job.

 

[neea]

I usually go to the main store on 107th Ave & 109th Street.

You beat me to it Mike.
I was gonna say that I've never had any luck at the one on 75th (oddly. my bf also lives not too far as well)

When ever I've been to the 75th one I usually walk around waiting for someone to say 'Can I help you'. And they never do. So I swore that the downtown one was better, until my last experience of course.

Mike, you'll have to give your friends name so when I'm in there next I can say 'Big Mike sent me'

 

[benstewart]

*Sigh*

I work at a Ritz Camera in Minnesota and I HATE to see many of the problems mentioned in this thread.

Here is a brief list of questions I ask customers who are not yet sure what they would like:

1) What do you like to shoot pictures of?
Another question along with this is a simple "What kind of camera do you currently use?"
2) Where will you be taking it?
3) Do you prefer a particular size camera?

This is my first retail job (I'm a little over 21) and I often find that people with photography experience will open the conversation by telling you what they shoot because they intend to continue whatever they were doing after they leave my Ritz - only doing it maybe a little differently.

"I sell cameras as part of my job and we rarely get anyone in who is really interested in photography"

Huh? Per my experience, a grandmother taking pictures of her kids has the same intentions I do when I shoot for the school newspapers - we are both trying to capture the story.

" they dont care how the camera works. I expect 90% of the cameras ive sold have never been switched from "auto" mode."
So? I only explain how the camera works when a customer requests an explanation. Other than that, you are right, alot of people are more than capable of "figuring it out" through auto mode, which produces pictures they will like.

I recently spent a half hour on the phone (we were REALLY slow) with someone trying to decide between Panasonic and Canon. She was located well over an hour away, but we were unable to "Ritz Express" her order over the phone though she preferred to buy it from me so I could get commission. Honestly, I don't know how much commission I get per camera, I don't even look it up after the sale - I was not offended when she purchased the camera from the Mall of America.

This is just the way I prefer to do it.

 

[benhasajeep]

How about if a camera store steals over $5,000 in equipment from you?? I am still hurting from it. And it has been 6 years now. I took a bunch of equipment in about half as a trade and 3 items to have tuned up / fixed.

I took in a Nikon 300 2.8 AF, a F4s, and a F3hp for service. In the store they had a big display for the new D2. I said I was interested. And after bsing. I decided that when the F4 and F3 came back I would trade them for partial payment on the D2. The 300 I was supposed to get back (aperature was sticking, warranty). Anyway because of the cost of the D2 I went back another day and traded in a fairly new 990, and a nearly new 995 coolpix. And the accessories that I had for them.

Well I travel for work and was going to be gone for 3 weeks. Plenty of time for the lens to come back and D2 to come in. Well I got back and no lens and no D2. He said he would have to check on the lens, and there was a show in NY and he could get the D2 cheaper in a week. I said well ok. I was gone 6 weeks this time. I came back fully expecting camera and lens to be there. I called and no camera and no lens. Owner was on vacation. At this point I was not worried just mad. I wanted my stuff. So again I was gone on a long trip. To the point it was 5 months after I had originally gone in the first time. Again no camera and no lens. My first thought was where is the heck is my lens. His reply was Nikon lost it! I then said where are my F4 and F3 then. He said he already sold them for the D2. I then said where is my D2. His reply was I was gone for so long that he sold it to another customer and would get me another one!! Now I am steaming at this point. But I was gone a couple months and can see it somewhat. I told him I was going on another big trip and gave him the dates I would be back. I wanted my lens and the D2!

Well I go back after the next trip and I walk in while movers are moving the shelves out of the store. The guy shut down (I think he moved to NY). I was out over $5000 at used prices at the time!! I am quite sure the guy inteneded to screw me right off the bat. Unfortunately I did talk to a lawyer and it would cost me what the equipment was worth in fees. If I could even collect on the guy (not sure if he declared bankruptcy or not).

So I think back and still get mad or it. I am very cautions about any camera store now!

PS I called Nikon and found out later after he closed down. The lens was in and out in 4 days!! I am absolutely sure he sold the lens!

 

[Peanuts]

This is just un-knowledgeable sales men. I was at ritz getting a bigger bag. Someone walks up and asks if they can help and i tell him im looking for a bag that can hold a camera a few lenses and a flash. He tells me hes only been working a few weeks and hes sorry but cant help me. Is it really that hard to tell which bag can hold that stuff?

I am not necessarily trying to defend this person, but just from personal experience, it can be a pretty steep learning curve for the first few weeks - and sometimes the best service is to call on someone who is truly knowledgable on the products, as opposed to .. er.. bull crapping (for lack of better terminology) your way through it and having the customer buy a product they neve really wanted. Now if this individual didn't extend another resource, now there I can see how you are frustrated. Thought I would just mention that though

P.S. They in most likely hood felt just as crummy not being able to answer yoru question as you were disappointed to not have a response

 

[droyz2000]

I personally am not a big fan of child pictures myself. However, I can totally respect a person that wants high quality photographs to keep of their children. (I am only 22 and do not have children) I would think that as a sales person, even if you did not enjoy visually pictures of kids, that you could put your own opinions behind you so that you can make a customer happy.

 

[DeepSpring]

I am not necessarily trying to defend this person, but just from personal experience, it can be a pretty steep learning curve for the first few weeks - and sometimes the best service is to call on someone who is truly knowledgable on the products, as opposed to .. er.. bull crapping (for lack of better terminology) your way through it and having the customer buy a product they neve really wanted. Now if this individual didn't extend another resource, now there I can see how you are frustrated. Thought I would just mention that though

P.S. They in most likely hood felt just as crummy not being able to answer yoru question as you were disappointed to not have a response

Yeah I know what you mean I'm not really mad at him or anythign I know he's new, I just don't like new people lol but I know how it feels. I got a job at a jewish resturant, and I am jewish so it isnt like im foreign here, but someone asked me what was in the sandwhich and I had no idea so I ran to the kitchen and asked then run back over trying to remember a bunch of items. After listing everythign they say oh we just wanted to know if it was the chicken or steak (a few people at the table ordered them so they needed to know whos it was)


It just seems like bags would be pretty easy?

 

[Peanuts]

You would be amazed at how many options there are out there. Especially the crumbing names of all of them! "The Sinking Barge" as opposed to "The Customary Barge" the difference? 2" in the laptop compartment + a tad bit of room? Ah, I use to think I knew some stuff before I started my job, and now I look like a completely flustered idiot. What can you do

 

[Iron Flatline]

Adorama right now. I bought a filter, and wanted to exchange or return it. They said "no problem." 4 months later and I still haven't gotten a refund. I call every two weeks, and I get a different excuse. The last two times they said they already refunded my credit card. They haven't.

 

[Groupcaptainbonzo]

Hi Jen.
BOY DID YOU OPEN A CAN OF WORMS THERE ! !

I agree though. I deal with the public every day. I know more than they do about my profession (That's why they come to me) But my job is to help them, not tell them how good I am... you did well. I would have left with a police escort.....
I don't know much about the D50, I'm sure it's a very good camera (Hey it comes from Nikon, it can't be bad..). I have just bought a Canon 400D (Digital rebel XTi). and can't fault it. even the kit lens that comes with it is better than I'd hoped. It gives pretty damn good results. Go into a Different camera shop and have a play with both...If you are in the U.K. (You say "Camera STORE" so I am assuming that you may be the other side of the pond). Jessops and Jacobs are A). very good. and B). Everywhere. you can play the price differences off against each other as well. there are also plenty of other camera shops around. Wherever you are I am sure that there is a similar set up somewhere near you. And well done once again for turning round and walking..