Bad experience at CP Marina


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kifo, what i meant is, at least the chap didn't try to tell you that canon products have to die-die follow the suggested price list... :D
 

Originally posted by ST1100
Erm, can share with us where to get After 8 at $6.90?

i had suggested to the admin/moderators to start a price list page, at least for major items like bodies and lenses, something like what hardware zone has. At least it'll save us a lot of time and legwork when we're planning which lenses to get and where. And no, i don't know if they're taking up my suggestion.

Looks like there are more chocolate (After Eight) addicts here too apart from camera/lens addicts.........the shop is indeed called Shen Shiong or something like that, it is in a big building and there is a big foodcourt at the grondfloor. the building is located between the entrance of Little India and Sim Lim Towers. Walk from Little India's entrance to Sim Lim Towers and it is on your left hand side. Haven't checked prices of other stuff.....was only interested in the After Eights......a real addict! (btw: I used to buy these at Mustafa untill this shop opened a few weeks ago)

HS
 

It seems that there are some who still don't know where the Little India entrance is :-)........it is the Serangoon rd entrance at the side of the Rochor Canal.....follow this canal towards Sim Lim Tower and the supermarket/foodcourt is on your left hand side........

Hong Sien
 

Originally posted by kifo

I get the feeling that they will try to give you the best price so as to get your business (when thay know you are serious about the purchase).

I agree to that. Once they know that you are serious in buying, they will become more friendly to you and oblige to more questions ask.

I bought 50mm F/1.8D for SGD 185(They quote me this price) from them and also ask for a quotation for SB-50DX (SGD 315). I do not know if I was been "makan" but at least he is friendly when he knows I am buying. And when I ask where can I get T400CN film, he brought me to the entrance of the store and guide me to the opposite CP store to get the film. That impresses me.

Personally, I must say that for budding photographers or beginners such as yours truly, inexperience might costs us several ten of dollars, that can be better use in buying film and for developing costs.

I say unless the newbie is a super rich person, I should try to cut down on our starting costs to allow me to buy more equipment to try out, or more film to shoot.
 

Originally posted by hori
I bought 50mm F/1.8D for SGD 185(They quote me this price) from them and also ask for a quotation for SB-50DX (SGD 315). I do not know if I was been "makan" but at least he is friendly when he knows I am buying.
I just bought a Nikkor 50mmf/1.8D lens from CP(Marina) this week. Cost me $185 without equote too. I know some chap probably say that they got their's at less than $185 elsewhere. But nevermind lah, it's probably one of the cheapest anyway.
 

there are many types of buyers in d world. Some want the cheapest (even wishing that the sellers sell below their costs), some just buy at the price that they think is fair, and there are even buyers who would like to pay "more" so that the sellers will not die from selling things ... all these I have seen ( just ask those stallholders in the wet market).

there is nothing wrong being in any kind of buyers but we need to realise something. When you have decided to buy an item, just feel happy and satisfied that the item will serve you need and expectation, and it is within your ability to pay at that price. That is to say that "rich" buyers should not go to too extreme to bargain for a few dollars and make the sellers suffer coz the few $$$ make no difference to his wealth. As for those "poor" buyers, there is nothing wrong to buy at the lowest price cos the $$$ means so much to his family.

i have an rich aunt who goes to market and every stallholders actually increase the prices for her to bargain! another "poorer" aunt actually goes round to different stalls and buy foods at any prices the stallholders dare to ask. How this? the reason she gives me is that most stallholders are poor and need to support family.

as for me, i do my homework before i go to shop and if i decide on a price, i do not want or wish to bargain further, even though i know i could get the items cheaper elsewhere. What is important to me is that the items are genuine (of good quality) and the service is above average. if u r unsure, don't buy or "force" to buy on the spot.
 

I share the same sentiments. Juz got 420ex from mscolor. Was quoted 330 over the counter. Although I know I can get it cheaper with an equote, I juz went ahead to buy, even got a tripod as well. Sometimes its juz not worth the trouble to wait for the equote. For me if the store is able to give me a good price over the counter, I will take it. Furthermore, service to me is very important and I won't mind paying abit more for that. Some people swear by John 3:16. Yes, the price is a bit more but the kind of after sales service is unbeatable. Haven't gotten anything from them yet, will do it someday ;)
 

Originally posted by kifo
Thanks for all your replies.

I never said I was going to write off CP. I also never imply that what they did was wrong. All I intended was to relate my "bad" experience at CP Marina to new users on this forum and hope that they learn something from my rather "expensive" mistake.

I am not really that sore about the measly $24. All the time there I tried to bargain but the salesman wouldn't bulge and kept saying that is the lowest he could offer. I suppose I was under the naive idea that CP will always give me the best price. and got stung.

Why Marina and not Peninsula? My experiences at Peninsula has always been more positive. I get the feeling that they will try to give you the best price so as to get your business (when thay know you are serious about the purchase).
:sweat:


Maybe after hearing from the many different viewpoints, you were more subdued above and thought more logically compared to your initial post. the present post contradicted somewhat your emotions and expressions then. Here's part of what you had written then:

"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."

I still don't see how it was an "expensive" mistake if the difference in $ didn't matter so much to you. But newbies and others alike need to be aware of any strong viewpoints given by posters which could imply some negativity when it is not totally true.

Just because you are an enthusiastic photographer doesn't mean CP will give you the best price without e quote. And also, just because you were there a few times doesn't mean you are their valued customer. I wish it were so too but it's not how business is done. One way I know you'll get a good price is if you have RAPPORT with the sales person personally there. That is, the person knows you are a regular, and I mean really regular and know your stuffs well. If you are coming down as an enthusiast thinking Hey I bought from Peninsular a few times b4, spent a couple of thousands, so treat me well also when I come to Marina... I don't think that'll work. Only you know and wish so, they don't.

You only "get that feeling" (as you've mentioned) that CP Peninsular will give you a better price. Not true.

The truth is, in your situation, without an e quote, CP will tend to charge you higher. Not just in Marina, but in Peninsular too. U accepted the price, so you naturally had to bear with it.

Based on that, contrary to what you had said in your first post, I think you should not "end your experience at CP Marina". And others who read should be careful of other implications. Just know how the business is done there and you'll have no problems. There's nothing distrustful or dishonest in their dealings. It's just their way of doing it. Either you suit to it or buy elsewhere.
 

So, winston, where was the place that gives u a better price, tell us leh.:D :bwhat:
 

Originally posted by hongsien
Looks like there are more chocolate (After Eight) addicts here too apart from camera/lens addicts.........the shop is indeed called Shen Shiong or something like that, it is in a big building and there is a big foodcourt at the grondfloor. the building is located between the entrance of Little India and Sim Lim Towers. Walk from Little India's entrance to Sim Lim Towers and it is on your left hand side. Haven't checked prices of other stuff.....was only interested in the After Eights......a real addict! (btw: I used to buy these at Mustafa untill this shop opened a few weeks ago)

HS

You mean it's cheaper than Mustafa??

I have Sheng Siong here too but a bit lazy to cross the road... he he.. :D
 

Originally posted by psyche
Just because you are an enthusiastic photographer doesn't mean CP will give you the best price without e quote. One way I know you'll get a good price is if you have RAPPORT with the sales person personally there. You only "get that feeling" (as you've mentioned) that CP Peninsular will give you a better price. Not true.

The truth is, in your situation, without an e quote, CP will tend to charge you higher. Not just in Marina, but in Peninsular too

I fully agree with the above. CP marina usually qoute a higher price for me even though I have countless purchase there. Similarly, CP penisular also does the same. It become some what indifference to me as to where I should get my stuff from. As far as I know, my equote are usually cheaper than what they say "The Best Price They Can offer". So it doesn't matters to me which store to go since both will sell you according to the equote + 4% gst.

However, one thing I must bring out is, CP marina is the only CP outlet that stays open after 7 daily and operates on Sunday. This makes it very convinent for people who works late on weekdays and wish to avoid the crowded CP penisular on saturdays. It is not very wise to boycott CP marina and let is close down. A equote is only a few clicks away, i'm wondering why people are refusing to obtain it and starts complaining about the price tag? :dunno:
 

Originally posted by jasonpgc
A equote is only a few clicks away, i'm wondering why people are refusing to obtain it and starts complaining about the price tag? :dunno:

Well, the last few times, I tried it, I got a response in 1 week later (too slow for me) and sometimes I don't even get a response after 2 weeks.

Makes me wonder, if they missed my e-quote or is it no stock, if no stock at least reply me to let me know what...

MS Color's e-quote is very fast compared to CP, I can get a reply in abt 3 days.

I think given the volume of e-quotes CP receive and their popularity, they should have a people in charge of updating the website and replying emails, inquires and e-quotes.

A prompt reply and updated website speaks a lot about a company's image if you want to be online in the first place.
 

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