Confusing experience with cathay photo

[CS TAN]

I think as a consumer, I would like to see shops implement a one-price system so whoever comes in will only need to look at the price tag and know that it is the actual price without the worry of whether it is 50% or 60% of that listed price or not.

If CP can quote me a Sto-Fen flash bouncer at $30 instead of the $60 price tag that is on the product, I would question their motive on why they put the $60 on the product in the first place. Are they trying to rip off the newbies? If so, the shop's integrity is in question.

It is all good and simple to buy a product that is the same such as a camera. A local warranty Canon 40D is the same whether I buy it from CP, TK, John or MS. However, what happen if the item is an one carat diamond or a piece of jade? Due to the nature of the product, the price of that same one carat diamon will vary quite drastically depends on the 5Cs.

I really hate to bargain in this kind of situation when the salesman quote you an initial price and then after a few rounds of bargaining, the price can go down to a fraction of the original quoted price.

I know of a jewelry shop in Hong Kong (Chow Tai Fok) that gives you one price on their jewelry and I feel a lot more confident buying from them than those that look at a code and do their calculation before telling you he is going to give you a very good deal.

Of course, shops like Chow Tai Fok will still want to make profit out of the deal but at least I don't have to worry about getting rip off with their price scheme. They might cost a few percentage more but I am sure that I am not paying 50% more than I should.

 

[ombre]

If I may add a bit of input. I don't think its the amount that matters. The question being put across here is one more of discrimination and also of ethics.

A Coke Zero in the mini mart in my estate is $0.80. However in the Petrol Kiosk is $1.20 and 5 blocks away in another provision shop is $1.00, while in some 7 eleven is $1.50, and if you go to those wholesale distributors, it is only about $0.50 to $0.60 a can if you buy in bulk. So what is so murderous?

chngpe01 quoted out a good example, but the setting is totally different. True the prices are different, so are the places, and their rents, and owners. Now its true that things can double, a bar of kit-kat in Cheers vs the 7-11 opposite is $1.20 against $3 dollars. But you can't go to 7-11 and demand refund because... quite obvious, and no one is forcing you to buy, yes. But on the other hand, cheers wouldn't say to an old lady who has not eaten chocolate for 5 years, "Mdm, this chocolate is actually $2.50, cheaper than 7-11 opposite" when their retail is set at $1.20.

So whats the bottomline? I think the solution we know is practical enough. Have fixed prices and label the products with them. Even if they want to double the price, fine, but it should be labeled for all to see.

Which does help them a lot because they can now label their stores with "prices negotiable" labels everywhere, and people will step in. Its actually beyond ethics, practically and customer service/protection, theres much psychology involved.

 

[GELworkz]

just 4 words: willing seller, willing buyer

 

[dkuan88]

You are living in a world where everyone is an angel!

 

[cufre84]

Every shop have their own biz model . For cathy their actual price is half of the stated .


For me I would check out the price then quote it to them if it is reasonable they would let it go . And it is always good to find the same sales man

 

[N-user]

This is the biz model of CP.... you cannot say it's wrong, unless they sell you the price stated on the product..... then that's chop carrot and unethical.... it's pyschological pricing... you see the bag, wah so ex, you ask the staff how much, can cheaper, they quote you half of the stated price, you happy, you buy.... if you think too ex, then buy from another shop, the sales cannot force you to part with your $$$....

and yes, every shop you go, talk to the sales, get to know at least of them, at least know their name, next time you pop by, ask for him, he may not remember you, but you call him by his name, he will feel that you must be regular, sure to get good service...... my regualr shop I go, one of them is CP, I know one fella selling cam and another selling tripod.... I only look for them, even sometime did not buy thing, go chit chat (choose the right timing), they are willing to help you and give you sound advise........

 

[sgconnection]

Remember always do your homework before buying anything from any shops.

My friends got a very expensive Giotto rocker blower for $15 after discount of $5 from $20 at MS. It was Florence that serve him.. OMG.. how can this happened?. However, i got a shock when he told me this as the price tag i saw in CP is only $12 before discount.

 

[vonlichenstein]

Remember always do your homework before buying anything from any shops.

My friends got a very expensive Giotto rocker blower for $15 after discount of $5 from $20 at MS. It was Florence that serve him.. OMG.. how can this happened?. However, i got a shock when he told me this as the price tag i saw in CP is only $12 before discount.

i bought the large giotto rocket bolwer from CP at $10 (IIRC)

 

[anglejn]

yeap, as always, do your homework and read the fine print. if you do, you can actually find good offers ard. i've had no probs with MS colour, john 3 16 and audio house.

 

[macingrouch]

actually hor, since my father's time Cathay and the peninsula plaza had already been known to chop tourists one... so the best advice is still wad the rest have said... do your homework!

but hor, i tot i heard some CSers say they had bad experience with audio house neh.

 

[kodeiko]

I bought my 24-70L at Cathay Peni, I don't think I've been chopped though.. in fact I thought they provided relatively great services. YMMV.

 

[jonlock]

I too also had a unpleasant experience with cathay. I called then for a bushing so that I can use a larger female thread can be used on a smaller male screw for my ballhead. (10 grams of metal) which I know costs about $5. The salesman who answered told me that they have this manforotto base that does the same thing but costs $28. I told him that my ballhead was Gitzo and that i dun need that chunk of metal to do the same job as a 10g of metal that costs. He said that was all they had for my purpose.

When i went down to Cathay to see for myself, I asked a saleslady and she produced a bagful of bushings that I wanted that costs only $3 a piece!!!.

Well its not that we can't afford the few dollars or tens of dollars. I think many CSs cannot swallow the fact that all these "extra dollars" are going to an undeserving dealer.

 

[Daedalus Trent]

Well its not that we can't afford the few dollars or tens of dollars. I think many CSs cannot swallow the fact that all these "extra dollars" are going to an undeserving dealer.

:bsmilie:
but seriously, i don't give a hoot about "undeserving" or "shop's integrity" and i don't know why some of you do!

To put things bluntly, I go to a camera store just to buy a piece equipment i want, so as long as they can sell it at cheap price, so be it. Even if i know they're dishonest/liars, so long as they offer the lowest price, i'll be heading there.

 

[albinosage]

:bsmilie:
but seriously, i don't give a hoot about "undeserving" or "shop's integrity" and i don't know why some of you do!

To put things bluntly, I go to a camera store just to buy a piece equipment i want, so as long as they can sell it at cheap price, so be it. Even if i know they're dishonest/liars, so long as they offer the lowest price, i'll be heading there.

Agreed. I have had quite a few purchases from Cathay over the last few years, different sales person each time, but the sales pitch is the same whether you look for the friendliest or most grouchy face there. I can only conclude that it is not the sales person who is out to "chop" us, but more likely to be company culture and business practice.

I shop at a place for its price, convenience of location and time - not how much my salesman loves me. And to be fair to them, I have never overpaid for my purchases, or been pressured to buy unnecessary accessories.

IMHO, I find that the shopping experience at Cathay is not as bad as some might say, once you get past the first inflated price quote ("inflated" is subjective, cos I have never been quoted above RRP). I just politely but firmly tell them that I expect the same price I've heard others have paid for the item. The salesperson will lay their hands off you and soften their hard selling tone once they know you are a discerning buyer who has done his research.

 

[chanjyj]

Actually AP's not bad..only that KNS botak man is to be avoided due to b******ly service :bsmilie:

Eh? that botak man is the only sales person I go to in AP! The rest I avoid. As in, if I don't see him in the shop I won't go in (Alan Photo as in the Funan outlet, I avoid the Sim Lim outlet like plague).
or
He even rings in "special stuff" for me without import charge (I.e. I buy on internet and he bring in for me = same charge+shop warranty).


Didn't know you had such a bad experience. Sure, he may not be as talkative as Sam from J2:16 upstairs, but once he gets to know you, reliable, and even if you spend 1h in his shop asking questions and don't buy a thing he doesn't mind. (Or maybe he treats consumers and professionals differently I don't know. I haven't seen him serve a consumer yet)

 

[chanjyj]

This is the biz model of CP.... you cannot say it's wrong, unless they sell you the price stated on the product..... then that's chop carrot and unethical.... it's pyschological pricing... you see the bag, wah so ex, you ask the staff how much, can cheaper, they quote you half of the stated price, you happy, you buy.... if you think too ex, then buy from another shop, the sales cannot force you to part with your $$$....

and yes, every shop you go, talk to the sales, get to know at least of them, at least know their name, next time you pop by, ask for him, he may not remember you, but you call him by his name, he will feel that you must be regular, sure to get good service...... my regualr shop I go, one of them is CP, I know one fella selling cam and another selling tripod.... I only look for them, even sometime did not buy thing, go chit chat (choose the right timing), they are willing to help you and give you sound advise........

Bag section is always 50%. You got to bring calculator to calculate your own price.

 

[ianwurn]

I called up CP the other day asking for a Tok 11-16 replacement hood and was told :-

1. Not a stocked item
2. Costs $69.00
3. Need to order from Tokina
4. Leadtime 1-2 months
5. Order now 1- month or so

My neck suddenly pain. Is this chop or no chop ? ;p ha....

 

[drewdam]

Bag section is always 50%. You got to bring calculator to calculate your own price.

that only applicable to lowepro..not for the rest like NG, NW or Domke...

 

[drewdam]

oya..they have this e-quote thingy ..i did tried once for e-quote for one of the bag taht am interested..

While...when i walk in the bag that m asking will have 20% off the price from the tag..is $131n payment by CC..cathey accept CC payment (or in CC installment, still the same price) w/o surcharges btw...

and i tried e-quote...they replied with $123 (hmm..cheaper) but T&C stated that it subject to 7%GST n payment by CASH only n the mentioned quote only valid for 1 weeks.

well...sales...sales...

 

[David]

Dun understand what's your take, already apologise to u and offer you FOC and yet you not only complain but more perturb.

As I say before and now, price discrimination exist in all sectors.

A Coke Zero in the mini mart in my estate is $0.80. However in the Petrol Kiosk is $1.20 and 5 blocks away in another provision shop is $1.00, while in some 7 eleven is $1.50, and if you go to those wholesale distributors, it is only about $0.50 to $0.60 a can if you buy in bulk. So what is so murderous?

As a consumer it is up to you to check the price and your choice and rights to buy or not. Nobody is pointing a gun at you to force you to buy.

I think you missed the point slightly with your analogy. The issue is not so much how come a shopper is paying some price difference in Shop A compared to Shop B. For that, we have little dispute as it's up to us as buyer to make an informed choice about which shop is best to go to in order to get a good deal.

The problem, rather, is the rubber price that exists in the afore-mentioned shop. From $20 to $15, to make it sound like charity or what, I dunno. In actual fact, we know nothing in life is so easy. So I don't blame the original poster (soory forgot your nick) for feeling "perturbed". In fact, he did right to walk away on that fateful day.

FOC also "perturbed"? That's cos Cathay has had these sort of sales people playing such games from years ago. We've all read it in the forums before about their rubber prices. How many FOCs are we expecting? Why did it happen yet again? Is the FOC tactic used to shut up the mouth of one customer but let them earn more profits from other unsuspecting customers (especially tourists)?

For those who think this is the way to go in doing business, maybe you've not had experience in other developed countries. I love it there. It doesn't matter if I'm Chinese or Caucasian, tourist or local, if the price quoted is $ABC, it will be sold for $ABC. FIRM. You think other shops sell cheaper, be my guest, go over to buy from them. But my price will not change cos of some lame excuse like you are my old time customer or because I love your cute smile. It gives me confidence shopping certainly.

From what the guy from Cathay has done, it's so "passe", old-fashioned, "3rd world" practice. The kind of bargains you get when buying cheapo stuffs like at a local pasa malam or in the streets of Bangkok. But I mean, here we're talking about buying high quality camera stuffs. And we're in the 21st century, 1st world country. No?