London Camera Exchange Embarassment

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Julesgurr23

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Julian
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I all, just hear to have a little moan more than anything.

Whilst shopping in Reading today, I stopped in at the London Camera Exchange to buy a couple of filters, and to look at tripods.

Now whilst I am fairly new to photography, I'm not sure exactly what I'm talking about, so was asking questions to gain a better understanding of the products, which I see as fairly normal and understandable.

Whilst I think this, the guy in the shop clearly didn't seem so understanding, answering my questions shortly & almost sarcastically, and even said to me "do you need to ask so many questions". I'd understand if I had asked stupid amounts of questions, but 4 or 5 about different filters I don't see as being too many.

The worst was when I was looking at tripods. I've grown an interest in photographing water, such as streams, lakes etc, and read an article in a magazine about having your tripod in the water, to get a different view and perspective for the shot.

Now bearing this in mind, I asked the guy about a couple of tripods, and how they would fare with being placed in low levels of water such as a shallow part of a lake. To this question I was "answered" with laughter and asking if I was taking the p*ss, if I was stupid and if I have a clue what I just asked him.

At this point I felt completely embarrassed, left & went a few shops down to a small, independent shop who were very professional & helpful.

Don't think I'll be using London Camera Exchange again.

Julian
 
I can see why after that performance, I'd put a complaint in.
 
Julesgurr23 said:
At this point I felt completely embarrassed, left & went a few shops down to a small, independent shop who were very professional & helpful.

Don't think I'll be using London Camera Exchange again.

Julian
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sorry felt that the person in LCE was rude I just hope it was someone about to get fired ;) if I was you I'd take the time to go and complain the idea of these shops is to help you if spoke to my customers like this my boss would rip me a new one.

have to say station camera's in reading (the small shop in reading) is full of helpful people and will even fix stuff if you brought it there only a few days before (if they can)
 
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Oh dear.... I sympathise with you and apologise on his behalf, obviously some smart -@ss with no respect for anybody.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

Beeje it was Station Cameras where I ended up. Very helpful shop, will be back again.

Julian
 
IME there will be this sort of "assistant" in some stores. The only reason they behave in such a manner is an attempt to disguise their own woeful lack of knowledge. Do not despair, there are good retailers out there.
 
Can I just point out that LCE is a franchise, so while I completely understand if you never want to darken this branch's door again, please don't ignore the other branches, as it's an umbrella name for local shops to use. I've had fantastic service in both their Bristol branches as well as the one in Cheltenham.
 
Cuchulainn said:
Can I just point out that LCE is a franchise, so while I completely understand if you never want to darken this branch's door again, please don't ignore the other branches, as it's an umbrella name for local shops to use. I've had fantastic service in both their Bristol branches as well as the one in Cheltenham.
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I think this is the problem, people do not just relate it to the one store/person, it can effect the whole image of the franchise. The smart A** should of being more helpful towards you, i always say you never know if you don't ask.

If i was you i would try again and see what results you get the second time could have been a bad day etc....

But i have encountered a similar to this in Jessops...I wanted to buy a prime lens and been new to the game wasn't sure what it was i was really looking at or for, when i started asking i got a talk around the subject in a patronising way and when i mentioned a lens i wanted was told that an £800 lens would be better for a host of vague reason again.

I would avoid using them again unless there is something i want at a cheap price then the morals go out of the window!

Do hope you get better service next time.
 
Oh no that's a shame. I've been going in the Bristol Branch (both of them) recently, and the service I've received was great they answered all my questions and did not make me feel stupid whilst I was asking them lots of possibly "silly" questions to them.
 
Julesgurr23 said:
I all, just hear to have a little moan more than anything.

Whilst shopping in Reading today, I stopped in at the London Camera Exchange to buy a couple of filters, and to look at tripods.

Now whilst I am fairly new to photography, I'm not sure exactly what I'm talking about, so was asking questions to gain a better understanding of the products, which I see as fairly normal and understandable.

Whilst I think this, the guy in the shop clearly didn't seem so understanding, answering my questions shortly & almost sarcastically, and even said to me "do you need to ask so many questions". I'd understand if I had asked stupid amounts of questions, but 4 or 5 about different filters I don't see as being too many.

The worst was when I was looking at tripods. I've grown an interest in photographing water, such as streams, lakes etc, and read an article in a magazine about having your tripod in the water, to get a different view and perspective for the shot.

Now bearing this in mind, I asked the guy about a couple of tripods, and how they would fare with being placed in low levels of water such as a shallow part of a lake. To this question I was "answered" with laughter and asking if I was taking the p*ss, if I was stupid and if I have a clue what I just asked him.

At this point I felt completely embarrassed, left & went a few shops down to a small, independent shop who were very professional & helpful.

Don't think I'll be using London Camera Exchange again.

Julian
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That's shocking!! No need for it what so ever.

I've never really asked for information in a store like that. I find that the Internet, especially forums like this and magazines etc give better information. Then just shop around for the best deals and either buy online or go into a store knowing exactly what I want. The last I'd want was to be made to look stupid, that's not on and I'm not surprised you won't be going back.
 
I hate hearing about incidents like this but that's human nature for you.

On the flip side, I use Jacobs Digital in Leicester and have found them to be excellent. All the staff are friendly and very helpful, they seem happy to spend time with customers which is how it should be.

Don't be put off, there are plenty of really good assistants out there :).

Andy
 
There really is no excuse for this type of behaviour. I would have found the manager there and then and made a complaint about their attitude.

As others have said, don't let this put you off going back / using other stores. I have been in a Wilkinson's camera shop and the person I spoke to (turned out to be the store manager) was not in the bit interested and made me feel as though I really was wasting his time. I haven't been back there, but have been to one of there other branches and the lady I spoke to couldn't have been more helpful.
 
That's terrible... I would have said there and then 'Can I see your manager'

When I worked in Game I ALWAYS treated people well and had loads of compliments about how helpful and patient I was. I would get people who knew NOTHING about games consoles and would ask LOADS of questions that I was always happy to answer even if it meant less business for Game
 
Thanks again for all the replies. I've emailed them with my complaint, and await their reply.

Julian
 
Definate shame you got treated like that, a I wholehearted encourage you to make any complaints you feel are necessary.

As mentioned, it is a franchise, so quality of staff will vary from store to store, for example the LCE in Leamington, the guys there are sure knowledgable but I never got an overly warm welcome from them when asking questions etc. However, the staff at the Nottingham branch I cannot fault. They have always been helpful with a smile on their faces even when Ive been being difficult, with a genuine interest in helping me get what I need. Even going as far as to suggest other stores if they're unable to help me or dont have in stock what I need :thumbs:
 
I'd go back and show the assistant the advert on the back of a photography magazine of the bloke with a Gitzo tripod in rough tidal waves and ask if that's taking the p *** !
God sake you only asked him if you could use in a lake of shallow water and you got a pathetically rude answer, i'd see the manager or take it higher.
 
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That's appalling treatment, I would have complained and asked to see the manager there and then.

I have used LCE Reading and indeed bought my 550D from them, they were very helpful, that was May 2010. I have also used LCE Guilford and apart from having to wait because they were so busy, found them to be very helpful as well and indeed bought my Sigma 10-20 from them.

It is such a shame that one bad apple can spoil a lot of good work.
 
I may have to try the Guilford branch. I guess I can't judge a whole company from one experience. Thanks guys.

Julian
 
I don't think there's any need to complain, this assistant is singly handedly going to get the shop closed down - natural justice will prevail
 
I agree that really is poor service (no service) but I can honestly say, every time I've been to my L.C.E. in Lincoln all the staff have been very helpful and courteous. I even decided to spend the extra and get my first 2 L lenses there. I could of saved myself around £200 by getting the lenses online, but as I'd been into the shop to ask questions, try the lenses on my camera and also have the knowledge that if anything went wrong they were local I decided to buy them there.
 
It's their loss. In a time like this when there are deals to be had on the internet and retailers are looking for custom...... we aren't exactly in the boom years!

I would vote with my feet if I received that kind of service.

Interesting to see what sort of response you get from your complaint...
 
MnM said:
I don't think there's any need to complain, this assistant is singly handedly going to get the shop closed down - natural justice will prevail
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There is EVERY need to complain - this guy used offensive language to a prospective customer. If his management don't know about his attitude then they will never be able to do anything about it.
If the store shuts down, that's more people out of work - and who's to say the other staff in there are not more/quite/very knowledgeable.

If it were me, I'd get back in the shop and speak to the manager.

If it happens again, I always find that asking to speak to another member of staff normally reigns them in - especially if you say "maybe a supervisor or your manager? Perhaps they won't talk to me like that and may actually be able to help me."
 
Pity this fella is letting down the franchise. Used the Leamington LCE shop for sensor cleaning and to buy a Sigma lens and they couldn't have been more helpful, as opposed to the local Coventry photography shop (not Jessops) who wanted to charge almost £100 with a six to eight week wait for sensor cleaning!
 
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MnM said:
I don't think there's any need to complain, this assistant is singly handedly going to get the shop closed down - natural justice will prevail
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so you would rather have another business go down the pan than complain, I am sure the management will want to know about this and deal with it as, they would not want this behaviour in their shop.
 
joeteds said:
You should of picked up a tripod, smacked him over the head with it and said "are YOU taking the ****".
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great answer, that would be assaultwhich would end up with the op having a criminal record.

to the op, I have used guilford on a number of occasions and have always had good service.
 
Best way to show your annoyance is by voting with your feet and wallet

Tripods are fine in water, try not to get the bottom leg locks wet though, so even if you don't need the full height lower the bottom legs a little then wipe dry when finished (if salt water wash them off too)
 
The staff of LCE in Chester are very snotty!!! I've tried to buy bits and pieces there and always without exception been served by staff with a superiority complex.. I must say I didn't know it was a franchise operation!
 
Paddysnapper said:
The staff of LCE in Chester are very snotty!!! I've tried to buy bits and pieces there and always without exception been served by staff with a superiority complex.. I must say I didn't know it was a franchise operation!
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LCE in Chester was previously Chester Camera Centre which I used to visit now and again, but have never been to it since it was taken over. The owners of the original Chester Camera Centre also owned a branch in Piccadilly, Manchester under the same name. This is also now an LCE branch.

I have in the past sent a couple of e-mails to the Manchester branch when making enquiries regarding some used items as I couldn't get through to them on the phone. Unfortunately they have never replied.
 
joeteds said:
Great sense of humour, I was messing about.
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But there was no smiley, came across as a serious answer. My apologies, tis hard sometimes to translate the written word.:thumbs:
 
my local LCE's aren't great, but maybe im expecting to much... I like to go in and have a chat, catch up with industry news, get opinions etc...

my guys dont do that, not even after i asked them to price match the jessops down the road, and i still bought the product from them even though it was £10 more expensive... didn't even get a smile.
 
i couldnt rate my local lce store (colchester) highly enough. allways helpful and very knowledgable!

dissapointed to hear thats not the case elswhere!

personally i would have complained, bloke sounds like a tool. interested to see what response you get!
 
Again, thanks for the replies & words of encouragement that there are better people & shops out there.

Still waiting on a reply from my email.

Julian
 
Julesgurr23 said:
Still waiting on a reply from my email.
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Good luck with that, but I'm afraid you may be in for a very long wait. I've never had any replies to emails I've sent to LCE, yet other stores such as Grays, Mifsuds, Bob Rigby's, have all replied within a couple of hours.
 
beeje25 said:
have to say station camera's in reading (the small shop in reading) is full of helpful people and will even fix stuff if you brought it there only a few days before (if they can)
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Yeah, thoroughly recommend station cameras, great people in there. It's only 30 seconds from Reading station too so if you're waiting for a connection it's worth wandering over. I used to live in Reading and had the same experience in LCE; there's an arrogance about the place and the people inside. It's a little bit like that in the one in central London on the Strand but not quite as bad.
 
tomh1982 said:
i couldnt rate my local lce store (colchester) highly enough. allways helpful and very knowledgable!
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Excellent store. The manager there (Dave) is a Pentax K-5 owner and I used to chat with him on the Pentax forum. When the Canon 7D first came out and I was thinking of changing brands he sent me a brand new 7D/15-85mm kit along with the just released Sigma 50-500mm OS to play with for a week and then had it picked up ... all free of charge.

To be honest I could have been anyone ... was well impressed.
 
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