Jessops are clueless!

Kryptix

Kryptix

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I've read a lot of negative comments about this store but I always thought people were exaggerating a tad -- until yesterday.

I was at Bluewater in Kent and walked past Jessops so I decided to go in and get some information on Canon TC's. I saw they had both a 70-200L f/4 IS and a f/2.8 IS so I wanted to hold them both as I'm about to 'upgrade' my f/4 IS to a f/2.8 IS. A lady approached me so I asked if I could hold them and try them both on a 50D (the same camera I own). She looked very nervous and sort of had a eye-contact-discussion with her colleague who was behind the till. She nervously agreed and passed the f/4 IS over to me. I have one of these, so I only wanted a quick feel to get an idea about the weight. I then asked for the f/2.8 IS and she handed that over, but the entire time she looked incredibly un-professional and sort of flinched at my every move, as if I was about to run off with the thing!

Obviously she's a nervous girl, fair enough -- not sure why they'd employ her as she made me feel a bit dodgy too. Anyway, I asked if I could bolt the f/2.8 IS onto the 50D. She stuttered for a bit, and then shouted across to her colleague: "Will this lens (whilst waving it in the air) fit on the Canon EOS FIVEZEROD?"

My jaw dropped. You were kidding, right?

But no, she wasn't. Her colleague said it would (obviously) and she tried to attach the lens. Lets just say I would NOT want to buy that ex-display model. She had no-idea what she was doing, and scratched the £1,600 lens against the £1,100 camera for 30 seconds before I asked if she needed a hand. "No, I'm fine."

She finally got it attached -- I had a play and I could see her watching me extremely carefully as I lifted the camera up to my eye. I loved the lens, even if the zoom ring felt a bit 'gritty' compared to the f/4 IS. I then asked if I could attach the 2x TC. "Uhmmm..." she said... She then shouted for her colleague again, and he said it'll work but it won't AF. I was pretty sure it would AF, as there's no telephoto faster than f/2.8 so surely it'd be pointless otherwise. He assured me it wouldn't AF. She then began trying to attach that whilst laying the 50D on the floor (yes, the floor) as she was un-doing the rear lens cap and so on. Her colleague then interrupted and took the bits off her, attached them all and gave me the camera. I told him it did AF fine, and he said, "Oh, they don't normally." and walked off. My jaw dropped even further. I best buy this 2x TC right-now I thought, this could sell for thousands and thousands seeing as it's a lucky one!

I asked if they had any 1.4x TC's in stock. Obviously she had no-idea what I was on about, and didn't know how to use their computer system and by this point the other bloke was on the phone. It became all too pathetic and I had to leave. I suppose you had to be there, but my god -- they really must just randomly pick them off the street. I thought Currys' staff was bad with HDMI cable advice, but this was shocking -- it's scary to think that people go into that shop all the time and listen to their advice and then pay their rip-off prices.
 
Mind the doors please. Next stop, floor 2, Shopping, Suppliers and Bargains.

Ding! Doors opening.
 
Sorry, I wasn't sure.
 
Most shops today are like this You need to know what you want PCWorld are just the same ask a question and if the answerer is not on the leaflet which you can read yourself any how then they are lost.
Best bet is a local shop with a reputation to keep most or into photography as well so know what you’re talking about.
 
Yeah, I know, but it shocked me a little. I can now see why they're going under and I think they will because that was a truly shocking experience. I mean, I know it's only two people and one store. It may be a one off, but I doubt it.
 
You would have got the answers to those questions quicker here - even if you could only type with one finger!

I point blank refuse to pay for help reading shelf tickets (that Curry's staff et all seem to do when they ask if you need any help).

And as for a hands on experience, with an assistant watching you like a hawk, not surprised you walked.

Don't they see that this is not good customer service. They could probably get away with asking a premium if they offered that.

And of course it varies as actual staff are only human. I can't blame the staff, but the people who employ the wrong staff.

Graham
 
I completely agree Kryptix, Jessops are clueless.

We were quite spoilt here with our Belfast store, knowledgeable staff who wouldn't push you on a sale if they knew it wasn't right for you. (my mate used to work there) They have, only recently, offered all the good staff 12 hour contracts.

As far as I can see, and it's the same with my work, repeat business means nothing in this day and age.
 
I have to say, when I pop into our local branch for a mooch, I can't believe the utter bilge that comes out of some of the staff's mouths. Having said that, there are plenty of branches still with knowledgeable staff, it's just the luck of the draw. :shrug:

As for the nervous woman you dealt with Luke, you're young and were looking at gear worth thousands and she probably jumped to conclusions. ;)
 
fabs said:
As for the nervous woman you dealt with Luke, you're young and were looking at gear worth thousands and she probably jumped to conclusions. ;)
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She was only 18-22 herself... But fair point.
 
Kryptix said:
Yeah, I know, but it shocked me a little. I can now see why they're going under and I think they will because that was a truly shocking experience. I mean, I know it's only two people and one store. It may be a one off, but I doubt it.
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Hmmm, possibly a one-off, I've been in the Bluewater store a few times and found them really helpful and knowledgeable. My mate's sister works there (at least I think they're related, could just be mates :lol: ) - I'll speak to her tomorrow and let her know you weren't very impressed
 
kelack said:
Hmmm, possibly a one-off, I've been in the Bluewater store a few times and found them really helpful and knowledgeable. My mate's sister works there (at least I think they're related, could just be mates :lol: ) - I'll speak to her tomorrow and let her know you weren't very impressed
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Already e-mailed 'em with the link to this post. :lol:
 
:)
 
Marcel said:
Mind the doors please. Next stop, floor 2, Shopping, Suppliers and Bargains.

Ding! Doors opening.
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You forgot to say 'I'm free!'
 
I always enjoy asking questions in these shops,Because it's fun to see if i know more than the knowledgeable people behind the counter,Most of the time yes,They should surely ask them some questions in an interview about this kinda stuff?!
 
but to clarify, you werent really planning on buying anything ? just really in for a 'feel' ?
 
I know it is not good but it might of been her first day or she was being trained, and the manager may have been watching from a distance to see how she deals with people, and what knowledge she has.
 
Davec223 said:
I know it is not good but it might of been her first day or she was being trained, and the manager may have been watching from a distance to see how she deals with people, and what knowledge she has.
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Or they might have been filming a new series of Candid Camera :lol:

Graham
 
My local branch of Jessops has a mix of knowledgable and useless staff. Up 'til now there has always been someone competent there to rescue the not so good staff, but I guess that's all about to change if they're making all the staff part time. It's a shame because Jessops is the only camera store for miles around here.
 
lazaroonie said:
but to clarify, you werent really planning on buying anything ? just really in for a 'feel' ?
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immaterial and very short sighted of the girl, you have sent buying signals by asking to play.

my best sales have always been people who said they were browsing, it's usually more fun selling to browsers than a hands up " i want to buy ....." customer.

and never judge a customer by their clothing.
 
andrew748 said:
immaterial and very short sighted of the girl, you have sent buying signals by asking to play.

my best sales have always been people who said they were browsing, it's usually more fun selling to browsers than a hands up " i want to buy ....." customer.

and never judge a customer by their clothing.
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This is very true, but you can also sometimes tell when people are tyre kicking.
 
lazaroonie said:
but to clarify, you werent really planning on buying anything ? just really in for a 'feel' ?
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The 2x TC was WAY overpriced but I asked about the 1.4x TC as I would have bought it if I was happy with the price. So no, not really. I also had a friend with me who wanted to purchase a Sigma 10-20mm. He was going to ask about it after I had my turn. He's the type that prefers to buy items over the counter so he was prepared to pay that price, but he saw how shocking they all acted so left it.
 
went in to a store today, The guy who "attempted' to serve me was eating. Completely unpolite and unprofessional eating while trying to sell me a product. He could have sold me a product if he knew a thing about cameras. Asked if they could get me a price for a sigma 70-200 f/2.8 cannon fit. After looking at me weirdly. having another mouthful off food he went on to the till and replied they dont make them any more. When i pointed out there official website has them for sale he turned around and went buy one off there then. Completely unprofessional and they wonder why the company is failing Over priced and not the service you expect.
 
ltully91 said:
went in to a store today, The guy who "attempted' to serve me was eating. Completely unpolite and unprofessional eating while trying to sell me a product. He could have sold me a product if he knew a thing about cameras. Asked if they could get me a price for a sigma 70-200 f/2.8 cannon fit. After looking at me weirdly. having another mouthful off food he went on to the till and replied they dont make them any more. When i pointed out there official website has them for sale he turned around and went buy one off there then. Completely unprofessional and they wonder why the company is failing Over priced and not the service you expect.
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:eek:

i would have called head office and complained, but then i'm a git:suspect:
 
First I would recommend the 1.4 converter against the 2x version for the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 lens , this would give you a constant f4 across the range, I have this setup for my Nikon D300 and it works very well. My manageress has this setup for her Canon and is well pleased with it. I would avoid the 2x converter having read that it can produce "soft" pictures at max range and also you would be looking at a guess around f6 but other members may be able to advise better.


As for the company you mentioned I think the overall impression is poor, I have had trouble with them as well when they tried to pass off a second hand D300 as new.

Realspeed
 
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Whilst it sounds like the service you received was pretty poor, might I suggest that something like 'Bad experience at Jessops' would have been a better title rather than implying that Jessops as an organisation are clueless?
 
My local jessops is full of arrogant old men. They seem offended when you ask something they don't know about, and presume you are a fool making stuff up. I sometimes go in for the hell of it, and as I have often researched what I want to look at, I'll ask them questions to justify what I have read about (and to keep them on there toes). Often times they'll get it wrong, and when I correct them they'll say "yes yes, that's right"

I think that if your job is to be knowledgeable about products you are selling off your shelves, then you should study them to ensure your customers know what they're getting.
 
This is a shame, but you can't expect much from any of the multiples. As mentioned above, its luck of the draw.
 
A little off topic although I will add a token relevance at the end...

I am also a longstanding AV freak, I have had many an argument with with the spotty faced youth telling me I need to have a £400 insurance policy to cover the gas running out in the plasma screen! "Re-gassing is really expensive" My first Panasonic Plasma is 8 years old and still going strong.

However the Sony store in Warrington (The new one) takes first prize...

Upon asking the salesman, yes sales Man not boy, why Sony have gone 100%LCD he replied...wait for it...drum roll...

"Because they could not deliver the plasma screens lying down, the plasma was running out of them. Some box's even had liquid plasma in the bottom of them! And you know how dangerous that can be!!!" So there be Sony's argument for Plasma vs LCD, brilliant.

Now for the relevant bit...would you really buy a "Sony a" SLR camera from them if that is the sales advice you get about their core products?
 
I have to be honest, every experience that I have had with Jessops this year has been very negative. I only go there as a last resort and to be totally honest, it's a "hello, i want xxxxx, thanks, bye" I tell them exactly what I want including the price, lol, even then they've got it wrong before! They tried to sell me the display model sony A300 as new at full price - after all those people have been playing with it before deciding to make a purchase, it's a second hand camera, there wa no way that I was paying full price!

I don't rate Jessops TBH. The staff that I've met don't know their products, have poor customer service skills and are rude.
 
MagicMynx said:
I don't rate Jessops TBH. The staff that I've met don't know their products, have poor customer service skills and are rude.
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Which kind of flies in the face of what the man in charge of Customer Services at Jessops, Simon Joseph, had to say on the subject in a recent interview....

"Jessops position as the UK’s largest specialist multichannel retailer of photographic equipment has been established through consistently delivering a superb customer experience. We achieve this by employing passionate photographic enthusiasts.............(Our) stores have earned their reputation for personal service and we therefore receive extremely few issues from this channel"

Full article here
 
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