Friend of a friend just got a job as a camera expert

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Wow wow calm down boys! The only reason I posted this was to criticize the way those shops tell those new hires "we are making you a camera EXPERT", then teach them a few things and then get them to give stupid advice on uber-expensive stuff to people that come in with money they may have been saving for quite long.
 
ajax_andy said:
And once again a thread gets derailed with petty arguments about nothing.

How long before this one gets locked just like all the rest that went before?
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But they are not petty arguments, it is discussing retail. Experiences from customers, the view of the people working in retail etc,.

It seems that a lot of people in this forum really don't like a bit of discussion and banter, but surely that is part of a forum isn't it?
 
Soda Farl said:
That is the second assumption you have made in this thread that is completely incorrect.
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Apologies, I incorrectly interpreted your comments about the job being low in priorities as not putting any effort into it.

However, my visiting shops and never buying anything has taught me that the majority of people working in shops couldn't care less. And while I largely don't blame them it is still an issue that retail shops need to address. John Lewis seem to have done it.
 
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ernesto said:
But they are not petty arguments, it is discussing retail. Experiences from customers, the view of the people working in retail etc,.

It seems that a lot of people in this forum really don't like a bit of discussion and banter, but surely that is part of a forum isn't it?
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So the thread hasn't been massively derailed then with petty squabbling?

If you say so
 
ajax_andy said:
So the thread hasn't been massively derailed then with petty squabbling?

If you say so
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There is some squabbling as always in any debate but the thread has not been derailed, no. It is about training for retail jobs and the consequences of that with input from the consumer and retail side.
 
ernesto said:
There is some squabbling as always in any debate but the thread has not been derailed, no. It is about training for retail jobs and the consequences of that with input from the consumer and retail side.
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You're saying someone takes no pride in their work and do the bare minumum, someone's asking you what you do for a job, someone's questioning someone else being on here in work time etc etc

Yeah I think the thread has been derailed.

The OP was on about how shop workers are given very little training and then passed off as experts to customers. It's a fair point they made as many people rely on the 'expert' they are talking to when buying an expensive item like a DSLR.

The question should be is it fair to expect more from the shops when passing off people as experts, or are the customers expecting too much from someone on probably fairly low pay to be able to advise on a multitude of products to an extremely high standard.

Not how you'd be running a Jessops equivelant if you wanted too, whether someone valuing time with their kids over busting their gut to make it to the top is wrong etc etc.

So let's get things back on track eh?

Personally I think anyone spending hundreds of pounds on something like a DSLR should do their homework before stumbling in to a shop with a roll of £50 notes and no clue what they're after. Staff can try and direct them to the best of their knowledge but at the end of the day the customer has to take responsibility for spending their money wisely and correctly.
 
ajax_andy said:
Personally I think anyone spending hundreds of pounds on something like a DSLR should do their homework before stumbling in to a shop with a roll of £50 notes and no clue what they're after. Staff can try and direct them to the best of their knowledge but at the end of the day the customer has to take responsibility for spending their money wisely and correctly.
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Definitely true. But I often walked into stores with friends having talked to them quite thoroughly and suggesting what the best camera is for them, and then the guy there goes like "No get this Nikon. All pros use those". Then my friends go like: "look you know what you are talking about, but this guy is an expert so I will do what they say"...
 
iced_jacob said:
Definitely true. But I often walked into stores with friends having talked to them quite thoroughly and suggesting what the best camera is for them, and then the guy there goes like "No get this Nikon. All pros use those". Then my friends go like: "look you know what you are talking about, but this guy is an expert so I will do what they say"...
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Get smarter friends :)
 
Is this really any different to walking into a high street PC retailer and being told a load of non-sense by so called experts?

Fact is most people who walk into high street shops will know less than the poorly trained staff, so it really makes no difference. Blind leading the blind......




ajax_andy said:
And once again a thread gets derailed with petty arguments about nothing.
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NO it doesn't!!!!! :lol:
 
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Lyonspride said:
Is this really any different to walking into a high street PC retailer and being told a load of non-sense by so called experts?

Fact is most people who walk into high street shops will know less than the poorly trained staff, so it really makes no difference. Blind leading the blind......
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Then turn those into something like argos where staff doesn't claim to know everything
 
I think some people actually enjoy "knowing more" than the sales assistants. They relish challenging them on their knowledge in a louder-than-necessary voice so the whole store can share their victorious one-upmanship.

We all know one in one vocation or other. These are the people not to go shopping with. ;)
 
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Some of you guys are just amazing.
 
Few salesmen are Experts, except perhaps on selling.
They know enough to get by and need little more.
It is obvious that an photographer with a life time in Photography will know more than a salesman, who has not had the same experience.
However I do expect them to know generally what I am talking about, when I ask something about a product they are selling, and not give inappropriate opinions.

Today there are far to many products with little to distinguish between them. This is a nightmare for both the salesman and the buyer.

A salesman's job is to convert foot fall into sales. ( if they come into a shop, people want something. This should be converted in to a sale.)
The days of the technical sales man is long gone. He would be as worried about over selling as under selling. he would even tell you "That is not necessary" when it was not.
He sold to long term customers.
 
ernesto said:
Maybe. I am spending 8 hours a day at work 5 days a week for 40+ years so doesn't it make sense to actually get something from it, challenge myself, feel rewarded etc,. if it makes up such a large part of my life?

If I worked in a camera shop it wouldn't be long until I was running the shop and then owning a shop and then having more than one shop etc,.
Like I said, I don't plan on spending almost half my waking hours making up the numbers.
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How pompous do you sound mate.
 
ernesto said:
Maybe. I am spending 8 hours a day at work 5 days a week for 40+ years so doesn't it make sense to actually get something from it, challenge myself, feel rewarded etc,. if it makes up such a large part of my life?

If I worked in a camera shop it wouldn't be long until I was running the shop and then owning a shop and then having more than one shop etc,. Like I said, I don't plan on spending almost half my waking hours making up the numbers.
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That's like a soundbite for The Apprentice.
 
Steve said:
John,

Pookey is a lecturer. I have lost count of the number of times I have seen him be unfairly criticised in these forums for issues related to teaching and for the so often used 'those who can't, teach' moronic mantra.

His post is obviously ironic, so please give the poor guy a chance.
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Totally accepted, completely missed any irony & cocked up my spelling!
 
If Ernesto worked in a camera shop, it'd probably be the best camera shop in the world. ;)
 
ernesto said:
Apologies, I incorrectly interpreted your comments about the job being low in priorities as not putting any effort into it.

However, my visiting shops and never buying anything has taught me that the majority of people working in shops couldn't care less. And while I largely don't blame them it is still an issue that retail shops need to address. John Lewis seem to have done it.
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I'd tend to agree, we've had all of these grand schemes to "save the highstreet" but ultimately the weakness is a result of a problem few companies(other than co ops like John Lewis) seem to want to address, undervaluing the workforce.

These half assed "training courses" are I'd say just another symptom of it, a way for management to avoid the gorilla in the boardroom and pretend their creating a skilled motivated part time minimum wage workforce.

I do tend to make camera purchases on the highstreet but only from smaller speicalist stores that are actually able to offer decent advice.
 
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kendo1 said:
Nice misquote, David, especially coming from you!:lol:
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...and again the irony was lost.

I don't agree with the statement I made... I was highlighting the futility of making such quotes by juxtaposing teaching and retail.

Never mind :bang:
 
Pookeyhead said:
...and again the irony was lost.

I don't agree with the statement I made... I was highlighting the futility of making such quotes by juxtaposing teaching and retail.

Never mind :bang:
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That was my point, I didn't miss the irony.:bonk:
 
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It's threads like these that are the reason I come here less and less...

Pointless arguing, one-upmanship and it's not like it was even a great topic to start with tbh.
 
What I find very interesting is the above posts by kendo1 and ZoneV where the wee blokes are bashing themselves over the head with the mallet type thing.
They're in perfect time. Seriously - have a look.
 
RBaker said:
What I find very interesting is the above posts by kendo1 and ZoneV where the wee blokes are bashing themselves over the head with the mallet type thing.
They're in perfect time. Seriously - have a look.
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Sorry, that's the worst audition I've ever heard. :thumbsdown: :D
 
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Ernesto. You were "Billy Big Balls" at the start of the thread yet when someone asked what you do for a living you have become interestingly silent. Stop hiding behind your keyboard and tell us what you do :D

Andy
 
Keebsuk said:
Ernesto. You were "Billy Big Balls" at the start of the thread yet when someone asked what you do for a living you have become interestingly silent. Stop hiding behind your keyboard and tell us what you do :D

Andy
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Why should he? Up to him! :shrug:

He gave an opinion as a potential retail consumer in a thread complaining about a retailers training/result of that training.

He is entittled to an opinion like any one else and should have a right to hold back any personal info he wish to.
 
kendo1 said:
That was my point, I didn't miss the irony.:bonk:
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Well...


johnb said:
So Pookeyhead you have managed to insult one of my daughters who is a teacher & one who works in retail!
Their opinion of you- looser!
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Forgive me if I missed you being subtle about me me being subtle.... but there's something that makes you assume the worst in here... can't quite put my finger on it....
 
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