Bally Photo @Funan is a Chopper shop!

[skyfokker]

Went hunting for 5D MkII batteries today. All shops at Peninsula said no stock. Just decided to try my luck at Funan - any shop also ask. Went Bally Photo and guess what this Ah Beng (complete with bleached hair) said:

AB: 'Have! LP-E6'
Me: 'Original?'
AB: Yes of course.
Me: How much?
AB: '$299'

At this point my jaw dropped.

Me: 'You mean $299 for this darn thing???'
AB: 'Yes!'
Me: 'Nevermind.' And I started walking to the door
AB: 'Wait I check what's the best price I can give you' - Pulls out trusty casio
AB: $190
Me: Nevermind thanks.

In a matter of minutes the price can be reduced by $100. WTF he think he's trying to pull? Me wet behind the ears tourist???

 

[ditikolon]

NPNT (no picture no talk)! I mean your picture. I want to see how you look like, guess you look like a tourist ^^

 

[DrSpock]

Let me guess... with a hat, flowerly shirt & bermuda:bsmilie::bsmilie::bsmilie:

The Ah Beng must be 1st day at work very eager to impress his boss how much $ he can bring in:devil:

 

[CS TAN]

You should have replied "I will counter offer $99" since he is the one started the bargaining attics. And then see his jaws drop.

 

[PrimePhotog]

I've had nothing but bad experiences at bally.I wanted to buy a b+w uv filter but all the shops did not have stock.I first asked the man how much the uv filter costs.he replied :$65.I then asked him how much the b+w cpl costs.he stared at me then said rudely:buying or not buying.not buying ask for what.the moment I heard that,I walked out of the shop and went upstairs to john 3:16.

 

[sequitur]

quite famous la..

but makes me wonder.. do they just go about employing people like that? i mean, seriously? the shop owner specifically looks for ah bengs to employ meh?

 

[skyfokker]

I really don't think I look or talk like a tourist... Uncle at kopitiam still call me 'ah di'...

 

[ditikolon]

I find Bally a bit Ah Beng shop. I've a friend who likes to shop there, he likes dealing with them. A bit more cheena pai. Hahaha. I guess different strokes for different folks. My advice is to find a shop that you are comfortable dealing with, and stick with that shop man!

Me? I prefer John 3:16, MS Color and Cathay. All three have very good service and honor their prices. I really believe in customer relations because I'm a friendly person myself. I prefer to forge friendships than transactions HAHA. I believe most of us do.

Let me just cite one example. I was enquiring about a 77mm slim filter for my 17-35, and the lady at Cathay Photo was busy with some customers. She called me back after her work (using her own mobile) with a price quote and because the item was out of stock, she offered to let me know when they brought it in. All for a Hoya HMC filter costing less than two fifties?

I believe the good folks (Sam, Les) at John 3:16 need no introduction As for MS Color, I'm always struck by their friendly service, willingness to help and patience.

 

[Shamsnap]

Maybe 'hang qing pai' must chop to survive lah.

 

[gazkw]

5D2 battery is rare ofc the shops are trying to squeeze as much out of one.

i would do the same thing on BNS for a rare item - maximize my profit.

 

[viewtofinder]

i actually bought my stuffs from the shop on the 5th floor and i found their price very reasonable with the good service...i realised there are 2 Bally shops in funan..are they the same???

 

[catola1010]

In term of service and knowledge....think the one on lv5 should be acceptable

 

[catola1010]

And the one at lv2 is the worst....especially the old man....dun buy ask for fun can get scolding from him...and few bengs with almost no knowledges....so sad....step in once and aslo the last:devil:

 

[hkingx]

Yes, blacklisted shop for me. NEVER step in again...

 

[grainpixel]

actually, we dont have to look like tourists and yet some shops will still treat us like carrots..
i wanted to buy some a wide angle lens for a compact camera..(market price about S$60~S$80), and walked into a shop in SLS...purposely wear bermudas, and tee..and ask a lau ah beng..

"brother, wu wide angle lens adapter..compact camera eng a bo?"

ah beng, replied.."wu..wu.."

I asked further "gui liew?"

ah beng replied "ba gao nia lah" (translate - S$190 only lah)

Btw, it was finally reduced to S$60, with my 1st foot out of the shop..
I told him "kam sia, mai liao" (thanks, no need liao)

Even speaking hokkien and singlish in SLS, wont guarantee our "safety"

 

[HeiPiGu]

The reason why the rest of the shops within the vicinity have no stocks and only this Ah Beng Bally has it is because no one buys from them.

Whenever I go to Funan, this Bally will almost certainly be empty while the rest of the camera shops will at least have a few customers....for one is queuing customers :bsmilie:

 

[ditikolon]

The reason why the rest of the shops within the vicinity have no stocks and only this Ah Beng Bally has it is because no one buys from them.

Whenever I go to Funan, this Bally will almost certainly be empty while the rest of the camera shops will at least have a few customers....for one is queuing customers :bsmilie:

Heyer, rent is not cheap okay. I hardly notice any customers in Bally too... so there must be some reason why they've held out for so long. Perhaps to a loyal group of customers, they aren't as bad as some make them out to be? ^^

 

[DrSpock]

Or maybe the shop is just a front for something else thay are selling...

 

[kitticc]

In Funan. only shop i go is John, No matter you buy or not, you get the same service and same smile

I banned other shop long long time ago

 

[Tachyon]

I went to Bally's at 2nd floor last week and asked for the 'cheapest UV filter'. I explained I wanted to remove the glass element of the filter and make my own special effects filter so the quality of the glass is not important. The salesman (middle age, quite tall) was very friendly and immediately guided me away from the Hoya section to cheap $15 filters. I walked away with 2 filters for $30 and he was very friendly throughout the process, and did not push any other stuff to me. He even spent time to write a receipt for 2 $15 filters!

My experience is very different from yours....