Bad experience at CP Marina

[kifo]

Just went to get a Canon 10D 2 days ago.

I went armed with an equote for the 10D for $2,640. The salesman at first quoted 2,680. I told him I have an equote, so he took a look at it quietly and said that he will give me the camera at that price.

I also wanted to buy the 550EX and an extra battery. He quoted me $630 for the flash and brought a 3rd party V-tage which he says is cheaper at $46. I was unsure about all these prices and blur blur agreed.

Then he offered to sell me the Hagiwara 512MB CF for $230. Although I knew I could get a 512mb for much cheaper at Sim Lim, I am not sure about the Hagiwara brand and it was already late so I agreed again without barganing!

After I did a search on this forum then I realise that some of you have bought the flash and the battery from CP at a much lower price!

Although I have bought many stuff from the CP at Peninsula many times, this was my first time at Marina and never have I imagined that the difference is so great!

This is the end of CP @ Marina Square for me.

I hope all of you reading this learn a few valuable lessons from my expensive mistake.

Haiz...
;(

 

[BoXXer]

Originally posted by kifo
Just went to get a Canon 10D 2 days ago.

I went armed with an equote for the 10D for $2,640. The salesman at first quoted 2,680. I told him I have an equote, so he took a look at it quietly and said that he will give me the camera at that price.

I also wanted to buy the 550EX and an extra battery. He quoted me $630 for the flash and brought a 3rd party V-tage which he says is cheaper at $46. I was unsure about all these prices and blur blur agreed.

Then he offered to sell me the Hagiwara 512MB CF for $230. Although I knew I could get a 512mb for much cheaper at Sim Lim, I am not sure about the Hagiwara brand and it was already late so I agreed again without barganing!

After I did a search on this forum then I realise that some of you have bought the flash and the battery from CP at a much lower price!

Although I have bought many stuff from the CP at Peninsula many times, this was my first time at Marina and never have I imagined that the difference is so great!

This is the end of CP @ Marina Square for me.

I hope all of you reading this learn a few valuable lessons from my expensive mistake.

Haiz...
;(

referring to the 550EX and CF card, how much of a lower price did u find from the forum??

 

[kifo]

Searching on this forum...

I have seen $600 for CP
(There was a $580 but I guess that wasn't CP.)

I have no idea about the Hagiwara CF. But I found it selling for $215 on HWZ price guide.

Sheesh. I have more lesson to learn...
:mad2:

 

[qinglai]

Juz to share this... went to cp marina on mon. Thinking of either the 420ex or 550ex, was quoted 340 and 630 respectively. Tried to bargain but not successful. In the end, din buy. Maybe that is the current price for the flash.

So far, my best shopping experiences is mscolor, followed by cp. The worst I had was ap (swear never to patronise ap again).

 

[Shib]

Originally posted by kifo
Searching on this forum...

I have seen $600 for CP
(There was a $580 but I guess that wasn't CP.)

I have no idea about the Hagiwara CF. But I found it selling for $215 on HWZ price guide.

Sheesh. I have more lesson to learn...
:mad2:

Price always up and down, cannot compare like that.

 

[kifo]

Thanks for sharing the info.

Anyway, the lessons to be learnt is summarised here:

1) Do your research on the internet first. Search through the postings on this forum and elsewhere to check for the current market price.

2) Get an equote from CP first.

3) Go down to AP and MSColor to check the prices.

4) Finally commit your purchase.

 

[StreetShooter]

In three words:

"Always Ask Around".

 

[kthan]

I think the prices posted here is the best price you can get, so being quoted $630 and $230 isn't that far off from the so-called best price. The diff is less than 10%

I have been makan by more than 30% when I bot my first walkman years ago .....:embrass:

 

[kongg]

Sometimes, the retailers have to "make a bit" to survive mah. If not, how to pay the rents and salesmen??

 

[neuro]

just wondering.. are the sales pple on commision cuz sometimes they very fierce in their prices... some pple say they know u so well so it's the best price they give but another sales person see u for the first time give u better price without u asking.. hmm...

 

[Shib]

Originally posted by kifo
Thanks for sharing the info.

Anyway, the lessons to be learnt is summarised here:

1) Do your research on the internet first. Search through the postings on this forum and elsewhere to check for the current market price.

2) Get an equote from CP first.

3) Go down to AP and MSColor to check the prices.

4) Finally commit your purchase.

Agreed! Especially when you buy any electronic goods

 

[West_ray]

last time my bro also ... he asked the price of 135mm lens and was told at a higher price than the equote. then my bro showed him the equote, then he also quietly gave the latter price, which is much lower....

 

[Snowcrash]

Originally posted by kifo
Thanks for sharing the info.

Anyway, the lessons to be learnt is summarised here:

1) Do your research on the internet first. Search through the postings on this forum and elsewhere to check for the current market price.

2) Get an equote from CP first.

3) Go down to AP and MSColor to check the prices.

4) Finally commit your purchase.

But one never factor in the amount of time needed for the above.

So how much is your time worth? - 'eg. $10per hour?'

 

[lavenderlilz]

Originally posted by Snowcrash
But one never factor in the amount of time needed for the above.

So how much is your time worth? - 'eg. $10per hour?'

ya I won't walk back & forth between marina square or peninsular Plaza or sim lim square just to save $10 or $20. My time is worth more than that.

Kifo,

No offence but it the prices given to you by marina square CP is still less than the RRP - you can't really complain cos its cheaper & u agreed to the price (plus u didn't check on those prices prior to visiting the shop). If you have your doubts or are not sure, then hold back from buying there & then. My 2 cents.

 

[E1g3]

Originally posted by qinglai
Juz to share this... went to cp marina on mon. Thinking of either the 420ex or 550ex, was quoted 340 and 630 respectively. Tried to bargain but not successful. In the end, din buy. Maybe that is the current price for the flash.

So far, my best shopping experiences is mscolor, followed by cp. The worst I had was ap (swear never to patronise ap again).

Was there an offer of Card reader 'Flatron' usb 2.0 from AP to CSmembers sometime back? I paid $35 instead of offer price of $30. AP said the sale was over. Comment

 

[psyche]

kifo, I don't think it's fair to imply from that one experience that CP Marina is so "bad" you won't go back there. Even if u had gone to the one in Peninsular, u'd prob be treated the same way too.

CP is known to be a place where if you are a newbie or u buy something big costing few hundred to thousand of dollars without an e-quote, u're asking for "trouble". U can try bargaining but even then, the salespeople will usually tell u all sorts of stories, like it's a good price already (they dare to say this cos they know if you are experieced enuff you'll produce an equote), brand new, good price, last one left, etc etc. Just produce an e-quote and they will shut their mouths.

I'm not sure what's the deal with all these equote business... But I suspect it's to target newbies who know little about their purchase, tourists and people who are in a rush but need to get the things urgently without the time to wait for an equote.

To be fair, CP's people are not that unfriendly (well maybe 1 or 2) but above all, they don't cheat u. It's just their way of doing business. Personally, I find it of "double standards"... if your products are competitively priced and u want to attract ur customers with honest pricing, you don't have to resort to equotes. If possible, I would certainly like to boycott them for doing such a business, not bcos the people are bad or anything. But unfortunately, CP is one of the largest camera stores in Singapore selling pro equipment and it's hard to really tell myself to do that.

 

[limhousen]

Yes yes...... Just went to CP Marina last weekend. Was looking at Canon G3, G2 and Olympus C-750. The sales person told me Olympus does not come with battery, charger etc. Must buy separate. Canon better deal. Is it true huh? I became suspicious and left.

 

[rueyloon]

recently there has been a few reports of bad experiences and I find it very unfair to the shops.

I dun think the shop has the responsibility to quote you the CHEAPEST price in Singapore. They are doing a business, they quote you a price if you not happy, you don't have to buy.

I believe from your mail, the difference from the other quotes you read is just 30+15 = $45

$45 out of $2650 + $230 + $630 is only

1.4% difference !!

You can always take your money to other places that you're happy with. Prices at CP is resonable, definately not the cheapest but you know you won't get conned.

Even prices of food in different McDonalds differs, prices of stuff in NTUC vs Carefour differs this does not mean they are cheating anyone.

Y equotes ? the same reason Y fast food chains give out coupons..... staggered pricing... (or something, I only did 6 months of economics hehehe)

If you can wait, you'll get a slightly better price, else... still a resonable price.

 

[newbie99]

well, they give u a better deal for the camera body. They have to earn it back from the accesories u bought along the camera.........
But most important, if the total cost is less, i guess should be ok....

 

[BoXXer]

Originally posted by rueyloon
recently there has been a few reports of bad experiences and I find it very unfair to the shops.

I dun think the shop has the responsibility to quote you the CHEAPEST price in Singapore. They are doing a business, they quote you a price if you not happy, you don't have to buy.

I believe from your mail, the difference from the other quotes you read is just 30+15 = $45

$45 out of $2650 + $230 + $630 is only

1.4% difference !!

You can always take your money to other places that you're happy with. Prices at CP is resonable, definately not the cheapest but you know you won't get conned.

Even prices of food in different McDonalds differs, prices of stuff in NTUC vs Carefour differs this does not mean they are cheating anyone.

Y equotes ? the same reason Y fast food chains give out coupons..... staggered pricing... (or something, I only did 6 months of economics hehehe)

If you can wait, you'll get a slightly better price, else... still a resonable price.

i agree! i mean, a few bucks more for the flash and CF card peanuts compared to th price you've paid for the 10D....