AlanPhoto Complaint

[Fishye]

Would like to share my experience, as I still feel angry when I think about it ;(

I purchase a Panasonic Camera sometime ago which suppose to cost $999, then the salesman suggest me to get the Vitacon Conversion Lens 58mm 2.5X which he said usual price is $300 plus and if purchase together with the camera cost only $200, after the deal, I search around the internet and noted that the lens should not cost that much, because trusting the reputation of Alan Photo Trading, that's why never suspecious when the staff suggest me the lens, what a smart way of doing business by offering $999 to scam people in to the shop, then find a way to fish people so that at the end, the selling price for the camera still the same as market price $1199. Now I know why sometime Alan Photo manage to offer such cheap price to customer, through doing part time cheating occasionally.ic

I will never step in that so call Alan Photo shop again, and the "friendly" salesman "with sincere look" i remember is call Mr.Peter Tan.

From my experience, for anyone who would like to purchase camera, you may consider "Ms color" as they also offer good price or even cheaper than Alan Photo, their customer service is normal, what I mean normal is, they answer what you ask and does not act friendly or talk extra bullshit asking you to pay extra for extra thing, like what I encounter on that above good reputation shop. One bad thing, "Mc color" is slightly far to me.

 

[Simon_84]

if you know the market price and can close the deal fast, alan photo still can visit but don't expect much customer service from them...

can visit OP if you're at the sim lim branch.
if you're at the funan branch, can give CP a try.

 

[reuters]

in the first place, were you able to get the camera without throwing in another S$200.00 for the lens? and did you know about this lens before he recommended to you?

one word of advice, get what you are supposed to since you have already done research on it.. if you are unfamiliar with the other items that they suggested to you, you might want to consider first before paying.. these bundles sometimes are not attractive as it seems..

 

[CS TAN]

So is this AP SLS or AP Funan?

 

[chris667198]

"because trusting the reputation of Alan Photo Trading" Yeah right...

 

[krishna91]

hahahahha "sincere look" . The best advice i can give you is : stick to one shop. I stick to Cathay Photo because they give me great service all the time and great prices as well

 

[ahbian]

Asuming that the market price for the camera is as you said-$1199, then actually you didn't make as bad as loss as you could had.

But yes, its a common trick by the "black shops", offering you a good price for a camera, then jacking up the prices for the "assessories".

 

[RezzShaz]

this is a common tactic used by a lot of shop...they quote u attractive price on the first item u enquire because they know u might already done ur "research". then they will push u to buy filters, accesories etc. to help them hit target and blah, blah.....

 

[thomasq]

Fishye, i think it is about research before buying. I agree with "reuters" (not sure if he will get a note from Thomson Reuters to ask him change his nickname ) ), buy only when needed and do appropriate research to know the item you are going to buy.
Can you now find a place that you pay $1199 for both the camera and conversion lens? Bear in mind that shops are open for business, and if they don't make enough money to maintain their operating cost, they will fold up. From experience, some shop sells camera body cheaper than the other but doesn't mean their accessories are cheaper. So do some homework, that's all i wanna say.

 

[Nikonnew]

if you think about it its not too bad a deal what? you pay actual retail price with a convertor thrown in.....ok lah....:dunno:

 

[stinkyboy]

I actually like going to Alan (funan)

Only place I know where the sales people really try to convince me not to buy something...

And , I do enjoy the un-pretentious-ah-beng ness of the place.

 

[shazie]

I actually like going to Alan (funan)

Only place I know where the sales people really try to convince me not to buy something...

And , I do enjoy the un-pretentious-ah-beng ness of the place.

Hahaha.... true! whenever i go into the shop, i adopt their "don't-bother-me-unless-you-have-$$$" attitude! So far, I've bought accessories and the 50mm f/1.8 from them. I prefer to buy big ticket items from Cathay.

I used to like their neighbour Bally Photo but nowadays I just don't feel comfortable going in 'cos they have "bodyguards" at their entrance :sweat:

 

[eddy400d]

i believe n from experience, one must have a rapport with the sales person of any shop they frequent to reduce the chance of such frustrating post purchase experiences. For me i only look for Ben in AP SLS. To me the most important factor sales person's honesty and being sincere to thier customers as they will only be rewarded with +ve word of mouth and gain referrals and repeat purchase.

If not for Ben, i would not go back to AP because i had a horrible experience once when Ben was on leave.

For the record, i am in no way related to AP nor Ben. I am just another camera freak..... hee... sharing his purchase experiences...

Lastly, do ur research and ONLY buy what you originially intended to purchase and make sure to RESIST buying anything that was recommended at the point of retail.

 

[TheChef]

Nowadays, I don't trust any sales guys ot ladies whether they look sincere or otherwise. Under their sheep clothing lies a chopper.

 

[wing oscar]

all this camera shop service is depend on individual.. some like the sales to follow all the time and some don't like.. some like to know more by the sales talk more and some just like ask 1, answer 1..

i trying to say is, maybe go try those recommended shops.. out of so many shop, i believe u will find the 1 u like it..

 

[eosandy]

Nowadays, I don't trust any sales guys ot ladies whether they look sincere or otherwise. Under their sheep clothing lies a chopper.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

I have found CP and J3:16 are best to frequent for friendly service and reasonable price.

 

[dradttg]

Actually, I encountered the same situation with Alan Photo Sim Lim 2 years ago too. Before this incident I was a royal customer to them; Bought my Ixus V2, A95, A620 and G7 from them, now i have decided to give them a miss.

I bought my first 400D from them and he kept pushing the conversion len to me. I was ignorant and learnt a $350 lesson.

Regards

 

[night86mare]

From my experience, for anyone who would like to purchase camera, you may consider "Ms color" as they also offer good price or even cheaper than Alan Photo, their customer service is normal, what I mean normal is, they answer what you ask and does not act friendly or talk extra bullshit asking you to pay extra for extra thing, like what I encounter on that above good reputation shop. One bad thing, "Mc color" is slightly far to me.

what do you expect from AP... i don't like buying from there, the place gives me the creeps.

other than MS color, there are also shops like orient photo that are fine. OP has never tried to overcharge me before.

 

[maxtheevil]

most of the shops in singapore operate like alan photo,

salespeople with no pride nor interest in the products that they sell...

so i don't think alan photo is exclusive.

i went to MS color where the salesperson either

1. was totally ignorant on his product range (and he is the senior staff)

2. can't be bothered with finding out the product details before he sales pitch me

or

3. was trying to smoke / con me


I asked him if he carries a certain product, where he assured me that it only comes in one format, which I took his word for, as I have lost touch with SLR world for quite sometime.

unfortunately, for him, i decided to google, and realised that he furnished me with a lie!

so, really, alan photo is not exclusive...

most of these traders are simply chinese educated, not interested in what they deal with, simply in it for the money.

fortunately, there's the internet where I make most of my purchases from for wares grey or mint, which is more competitive than visiting those guys...

the only shop that impress me so far is ...

1. cathay photo, though u don't get the cheapest price, you have some salespeople who have an idea of the products they sell. and the fact that they have the $ muscle to bring in hi end products, make them attractive to visit.

2. ...

sorry, the rest of them are pretty much the same...

alan photo, ms color compete on giving cheaper prices but not much value from their sales staff... pretty much still the chinese kind of trading.

i think the shop "the camera workshop", the old gentlemen, the one with the white and balding sir is another salesperson i enjoy buying things from. he does have the product knowledge of things he sell to, as much as he can.

john 3 : 16 scores low on product range, the prices are higher. hmm, at least the salespeople speak english. but their prices are significantly higher for me to want to pay money to them.

i don't know, i guess internet shopping is probably the way for me since i don't get great service through product info nor great pricing from the brick and mortar shops here...

 

[Leong23]

"because trusting the reputation of Alan Photo Trading" Yeah right...

AP have the reputation that make me never want to step in their shops. :bsmilie: