DEATH of a camera shop

[Boddie]

I used to work as Head of Sales and Marketing for Brooks Saddles, the World famous bicycle saddle manufacturer.

Time and again, on one of the forums I subscribed to, it was argued by bicycle retailers that the warehouses were killing the good old fashioned bike shops. Turns out that many cyclists who purchased their machine over the internet, only to find it gave up on them for whatever reason, turned to the local bike shop to have it repaired. This was always a hot topic on the boards.

Then someone put a thread on asking for advice on where to get an Ipod and was instructed to go Amazon. A debate ensued regarding the fact that this was as bad as shopping on the web for bikes.

So I was wondering. Time and again people have suggested that the likes of Jessops are too dear and suggested warehouses. Do you not think this will kill the large stores? Do you think this is a cause for concern? Do you care?

Is there anybody out there willing to pay that little extra to shop at somewhere like Jessops or do you feel potential savings outweigh that personal service?

I tend to shop at the likes of Jessops as I feel more secure. Just my feeling

[nightshade]

Jessops used to be an excellent shop full of expert advice from people that used the cameras and admitted brand loyalties to Nikon,Pentax,Canon etc. now it is all children
nary a grown up in sight all vying to sell sell sell.There are exeptions to this of course
but this is based on my own recent experience. I ended up at a small shop in Bath where
the camera was put back for me to make up my mind overnight(it was the last in stock)
nothing was too much trouble despite having a shop full of people

[Tinkerbell]

Have to agree with you in the main, Boddie. I try whenever possible to shop locally if they have the same thing I'm looking to buy, in a larger town. If something goes wrong the local retailer is just down the street and I also find that when I point out how much I could pay for it in a bigger store, they will often almost match the price.

Nightmare earlier this year with a big DIY store, who would not accept their responsibilities (according to Trading Standards) and I had to write many letters and wait for months for the problem to be resolved.

So, if poss shop locally I say. I don't want my Market Place to disappear.

Tink

[Alan]

I would say it depends on your personal experiences with them. There is a local photographic shop called Comley Cameras, and I have dealt with them for several years. I know some of the staff by name, and was even awarded £50 gift voucher from them for the best set of images when they judged an exhibition a few years ago. Most of my camara gear has come from them and they even give discounts if you trade with them for any length of time.

I do use the likes of ebay or warehouseexpress if the deals are very good, but would much prefere to use the local shop. This is especially true if the item you but is particulary expensive as if anything goes wrong, I can take it straight back to them.

The Jessops stores I have had experience with have been pretty useless knowledge wise, as they seem to employ young kids just out of college, who haven't got a clue what you're talking about. But of course this doesn't mean all Jessops stores are like this!

But in the end I guess it all comes down to price, and if you're willing to take the chance buying expensive items online. I certainly prefere the local shop if the prices aren't to different.

[Boddie]

There is a fantastic shop in Leicester called Cecil Jacobs. A big old unit and the staff seem very knowledgable. The Jessops in Leicester seems pretty good, but I think Jessops are from Leicester. There is 3 Jessops in Birmingham town centre, two in the street and one int Bullring. They always are busy and seem to do a good trade

[Weeksy]

I do not mind paying a reasonable premium for the service provided by high street shops, but I have found Jessops quite expensive recently (almost twice as expensive for a memory card as compared to certain big internet sites).

I do think it is a shame if internet shopping replaces the small specialist High Street shops, after all it is the small specialist shops which add to the character of a town. So many places these days all look the same, same street furniture and the same major high street retailers.

Boy, I'm sounding like my Dad, time for a nice cuppa!

[jezlee]

My view is that if I could find a little shop in my area, staffed with polite, intelligent, knowledgeable staff where you could go and try out various items at your leisure and receive helpful advice, without feeling as though you are being pressured into a sale, then I would be willing to do so. But alas, I feel those sort of shops are few and far between these days, whatever they are selling - all our shopping soon will be done at the large out-of-town shopping malls or via the Internet, and all the stores we use will just be the local outlet for vast chains. It won't be long before you will be able to pick up a Nikon D50 at Asda when you go for your weekly shop, and pay £50 or £80 less for it than at a recognised camera shop, thanks to their huge buying power.

We may not like it, but I think there is an inevitability about it, and whatever our views on it, this is what the future holds for us all when we come to shop for anything, be it a new camera or a simple loaf of bread.

I think the days of all small, specialist independents are numbered ....

[RichBrew]

I agree with nightshade with regards to Jessops. Once upon a time, I could go into my local Jessops and talk to the Nikon/Canon/Olympus/Minolta/Pentax (delete non-applicable) man about specific requirements. These days the knowledge is not there. One member of staff even denied the existance of a particular item and was prepared to argue the fact, even though the manufacturer had written to me with all the relevant details of the product. On another occasion I had to ask the "salesperson" if I could perhaps speak to a grow-up!
Large stores are killing themselves with cheap labour and inexperienced staff. This, of course, varies with location, so try out your local store. If you're happy, OK, but you still may not be getting the best advice. Beware.

[Flora]

Sorry, but I have to stick up for both Swansea and Carmarthen Jessops. Always had first classs service whether it was for myself or for school(lower budget then me!) Admittedly they are young but they know their stuff. I would always try to go local first.

[RichBrew]

Sorry, I don't want to dismiss all Jessops branches as I'm sure they're not all the same, but enough is enough when I'm trying to spend my money. I'm fortunate to have Robert White on my doorstep. He trades (internationally) from an industrial unit, and his staff are both knowledgeable and courteous. He's a pro dealer, but you get what you pay for.