Bad experience with Alan Photo-Funan

[maxtheevil]

err,

i don't think differential pricing is allowed in singapore.

anyway, the real life case from me, went to shop, ask them for price at lunch time, quoted one price.

went back later to confirm the price to buy, the price has increased 20%...

sorry, alan photo is obviously being on the grey side of trading here...

want to operate like a small-time shop keeper?

then bear the backlash of the information age...

we are not in the 1970s anymore, where everything is not connected....

today, you try to over-quote once, in 5 minutes, that event is posted online for everyone to see...

in the 70s, u can still get away with the relatively more naive consumer.

today, if u are not competitive, i get my goods from taiwan, hong kong, korea or even japan, which ever is cheaper.

if that is the way alan photo conducts biz, good luck to them.


i went to an audio shop where it bragged it was the sole distributor for south east asia region.

today, it's shop is almost closing down... very sleepy.

why? the parts it brings in are nothing short of awesome.

then, i almost got tricked by them, they swapped the expensive parts for the cheap, when i make my purchase...

no wonders that they 'grew' from big to smaller.

 

[maxtheevil]

Precisely! We should boycott them!
How about putting them in the black list? Considering others have had similar experience...
Just a thought

they are already on my black list

say no to supporting ah-beng vendors who are not progressive ...

no wonder our government imports foreign people by the container-loads...

 

[aspenx]

In fact I never recommend my colleagues and friends to ever mention clubsnap as it may attract displeasure from sellers. Can't blame them, because there are complaints that were not verified, thus introducing poor perception to buyers.

Actually, I quoted ClubSnap once when buying a point and shoot a few years back at a "famous" shop. Immediately the price was slashed by $200+! :bigeyes:

Anyways, Funan AP has really bad rep and I got slighted by them once even. I had a old beaten manual focus pancake lens attached to my D700. A tall guy in white polo tee with the Leica logo said "Oh......... You're still using old lens." He said it as though it is a bad thing and gave me "the eye" and was sulking the entire time. He asked about the Lexar cards and he said it was very expensive (as though I can't afford?) so I asked him for the price and he nearly gave me two different prices.

Very shady shop that doesn't even respect it's (potential) customers. A disgrace to the already bad reputation of Singapore's service sector and Leica itself because he was wearing their logo and acting like a snob.

To be AVOIDED unless you know you are getting an okay or good deal for something that you are looking for that other shops can't offer. Even so, I am not going to be their customer anymore. :thumbsd:

 

[reuters]

ok.. i must admit i did not have similar encounters like the rest of u at AP.. because i know the boss through a friend.. so purchasing from AP was not a problem as i just go look for the boss directly, bypassing the salesmen around.. and i do get good offers from him as i had bought my camera body with kit lens there (50D with 18-200mm lens), 70-200 and camcorder..

do your homework before visiting the shops, try calling them or ask for e-quote before deciding to go down.. if u are not happy with the prices, then don't bother to go down to the shops and bargain.. stick to those shops that they honor their prices via e-quote or telephone conversation..

 

[maxtheevil]

if that's the case they choose to operate,

to give competitive prices only by referral,

they might as well close down the 2 shops and operate solely on the internet...

they get more sales and save overheads that way.

no?

what a boss with a limited vision...

fail.

 

[reuters]

of course referral has it's own advantage and i do not think that it is wrong by any means..

if they can survive until now, then they have their own means to maintain the business, this i do not care.. most important is that i get my stuff and i'm satisfied with it..

 

[2evans]

Patronize and spend money at places that give you the service you're looking for. I'll gladly spend a little extra if I get better service.

 

[reuters]

Patronize and spend money at places that give you the service you're looking for. I'll gladly spend a little extra if I get better service.

yes, even if it's more troublesome why not.. at the end of the day, you must be satisfied and happy with the things that you bought.. not because you saved a few bucks..

 

[maxtheevil]

of course referral has it's own advantage and i do not think that it is wrong by any means..

if they can survive until now, then they have their own means to maintain the business, this i do not care.. most important is that i get my stuff and i'm satisfied with it..

i did not imply it's wrong for u or him to give u a competitive price.

but

it makes poor business sense in this day and age to practice differential pricing, as it damages the brand equity of the biz.

consumers like business owners are wise too, we only get conned once.

 

[reuters]

i did not imply it's wrong for u or him to give u a competitive price.

but

it makes poor business sense in this day and age to practice differential pricing, as it damages the brand equity of the biz.

consumers like business owners are wise too, we only get conned once.

yeah i know.. but still there are people who get conned not once, but twice or even more.. and each day we will see more and more such posts..

so most important, do your homework and know the market before jumping in to buy.. :thumbsup:

 

[KelvinDestiny]

AP is always blacklisted in most cs ppl unlike for those who know someone inside. Otherwise you will get a **** load of service. I got a lens from them due to cheaper quote and I have to suck my thumb n toes for their bad service and their "knowledge" on cam stuff is throwing smoke grenade so not all can believe but I overheard them telling to a couple who looks like tourist saying they are one of the most famous shop in sg.

 

[spheredome]

I am too not a fan of the IT and camera shops here. Putting pricelist and mass order price aside. Now, list down all the guaranteed reliable shops on your paper (not good to publish online), frankly I came up with none.

In the end, better go to Harvey, Courts and Denki where price are listed; not the best price but at least displayed.

Hanging up phones is definitely no good customer service and all I can say bad Alan.... bad Alan but what can you do. Can't sent them for mandatory training just like pet shop owners. Something that may be sensitive to even mentioned but a fact we faced. Buyers in this country are not united unlike the west. The fact that bad shops will survive no matter how bad it is because there is no such thing as boycott. You don't buy, others will.

 

[LuCiDaAl]

The mentioning of CLUBSNAP made the saleman to hang up only reaffirms that AP knows of their bad reputation in Clubsnap which is not a bad thing afterall. THEY ARE PISSED. Maybe the boss should try to improve from now on.

 

[maxtheevil]

not really,

most of my 'gang' buy things from online shops.

better pricing and prompt delivery.

good that we are near hong kong, taiwan and korea

 

[ed9119]

...price and dicsount and clubsnap comes later

but in your very first post you mentioned "Me: Has the price increased? Its mentioned in clubsnap that you were selling it for 175 earlier"

Thou shalt not use the name of Clubsnap in vain........ it is not an affliation or secret code or signal that gets you a better 'wink wink' price

To many shops: Clubsnap means price comparisons

So best not to say things like "But our online discussions in Clubsnap reported that X Shop is selling at .... prices " etc etc ..... sure bound to upset shop people

If you know what and who is selling at what price.... keep this info confidential to yourself and use it accordingly...... no need 'chak' the salesperson with 'Clubsnap'

 

[maxtheevil]

but in your very first post you mentioned "Me: Has the price increased? Its mentioned in clubsnap that you were selling it for 175 earlier"

Thou shalt not use the name of Clubsnap in vain........ it is not an affliation or secret code or signal that gets you a better 'wink wink' price

To many shops: Clubsnap means price comparisons

So best not to say things like "But our online discussions in Clubsnap reported that X Shop is selling at .... prices " etc etc ..... sure bound to upset shop people

If you know what and who is selling at what price.... keep this info confidential to yourself and use it accordingly...... no need 'chak' the salesperson with 'Clubsnap'

he's just looking for a good price,

give him a break.

he is a consumer, naturally he wants a low price.

of course, retailers naturally want a good sales price

but for them to command a higher premium than current market price

they either fleece the customer (one time deal)

or value add to their product by providing intangible services.

eventually, one of the retailers here who reads english , would read my post and become enlighten and would be a pro-user retailer

hehe

 

[CS TAN]

We need shops such as B&H or Adorama that listed the price on the internet and sell to anyone at the same price. That will be the Utopia but Utopia is a fictional island...

 

[Freakie]

I went to the shop that was mentioned over here when I was about to get the 7D. Yes, no doubts their pricing are lower than some but the sales staff suck big time. It is like "hmm, you want to buy or not?" kind of attitude. Even when we had not make the purchase, I wonder what will happen when we made the purchase..?? :thumbsd:

Then I went back to 3:16 John..The wait is long but it is all worthwhile..even when it is more expensive by a bit..

 

[doodah]

I went to the shop that was mentioned over here when I was about to get the 7D. Yes, no doubts their pricing are lower than some but the sales staff suck big time. It is like "hmm, you want to buy or not?" kind of attitude.

Same experience for me.

I just go across the road to Cathay Photo.

 

[Timolol]

I went to the shop that was mentioned over here when I was about to get the 7D. Yes, no doubts their pricing are lower than some but the sales staff suck big time. It is like "hmm, you want to buy or not?" kind of attitude. Even when we had not make the purchase, I wonder what will happen when we made the purchase..?? :thumbsd:

Then I went back to 3:16 John..The wait is long but it is all worthwhile..even when it is more expensive by a bit..

Similar to Sim Lim Square, isn't it, can't expect cheap prices and good service to go hand in hand.