it is understandable that you were offended. but sometimes the truth hurts. for what its worth, i also asked about the lens hood for my old 100 Macro (different shop, i know them well). i was told "no need". but they explained further "You shoot mostly macros right? a hood would cause shadows since macro shots are shot at close distances. But i know you can shoot portraits with it too, but do you intend to use it for that often?". it brought a smile to my face and i went "Oh yah hor..."! maybe alittle lack of tact in yr case but nonetheless, always feel happy that they're talking to you as a friend rather than a salesman!
John 3:16 @ Funan
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greenieadi
Member
The salesman thinks he is giving a professional advice but to a customer it is kind of personal matter and such remarks sounds offensive.
And how and where the customer wants to spend his/her money is his/her business.
Customer service is such a delicate profession and salesperson shouldn't try cross the professional/personal boundary, if possible.
Whatever personal opinion of the salesperson should be used with discretion, even how well the intention is unless a personal customer relationship and trust has already been establish.
Reading the TS 1st post alone, I already feel offended.
And how and where the customer wants to spend his/her money is his/her business.
Customer service is such a delicate profession and salesperson shouldn't try cross the professional/personal boundary, if possible.
Whatever personal opinion of the salesperson should be used with discretion, even how well the intention is unless a personal customer relationship and trust has already been establish.
Reading the TS 1st post alone, I already feel offended.
Ah.. I am another frequent visitor to their shop. You kinda get used to their sense of humor after having spent many hours talking to them. I can almost imagine how he said it and I would read it as half joking. Of course humor can sometimes backfire even if it was not intended that way. They are good guys at heart really, and they don't try to chop carrot head. There are plenty of shops that smile and smile and yet try and chop you at the earliest possible opportunity. There's a case on CS every so often.
Don't worry about it. If you really want it, just tell them "Aiyah, never mind lah, I still want it". Remember it's YOUR decision in the end.. you have the right to say that you still want it regardless
(then if they don't have/can't get you have the right to buy from elsewhere too)
I like the 17-85 lens and I have the hood for it....maybe next time I go down to chat I will suan them back a little bit on your behalf for calling it a lousy lens
(personally though, I find very little difference between hood and no hood for wide angle/standard zoom lenses, whether L or non L. I tend to use hoods more on tele lenses.)
Don't worry about it. If you really want it, just tell them "Aiyah, never mind lah, I still want it". Remember it's YOUR decision in the end.. you have the right to say that you still want it regardless
(then if they don't have/can't get you have the right to buy from elsewhere too)I like the 17-85 lens and I have the hood for it....maybe next time I go down to chat I will suan them back a little bit on your behalf for calling it a lousy lens
(personally though, I find very little difference between hood and no hood for wide angle/standard zoom lenses, whether L or non L. I tend to use hoods more on tele lenses.)
cichlid
Senior Member
I bought a Nikon D80 from them and when the sale staff was packing the camera for me, he jokingly said.." I'm gona insult you by giving you a Canon bag"...we just laughed it off, no offense taken.
In the TS case, I think may be the tone of voice and body language might be a bit out when the sales person said it, causing the "discomfort" to the TS.
Dont take it too hard la....
In the TS case, I think may be the tone of voice and body language might be a bit out when the sales person said it, causing the "discomfort" to the TS.
Dont take it too hard la....
Samuel is still there. He is the son of the boss of the shop. They are honest guys, maybe sometimes too straight forward because they treat their customers as friends. Last time i wanted to buy a diffuser for the nikon sb400, samuel say use tissue paper better. They do give good advice to their customers.
OT a bit.
I have so much trouble reaching them over the phone (they never pick up). Any idea if they have an email address where they can be reached at for quotations and any other misc. matters? Can't seem to locate a website for their store either (if they have one).
Thanks.
I have so much trouble reaching them over the phone (they never pick up). Any idea if they have an email address where they can be reached at for quotations and any other misc. matters? Can't seem to locate a website for their store either (if they have one).
Thanks.
They seldom answer the shop phone because they only have two or three staff manning the counters at any time (sometimes more if there are helpers), so it's rare that you'll find a free hand to pick up the phone. PM me and I'll pass you Samuel's HP no.
Old Man Lee
Deregistered
Why do people pay to be treated like this. Come to Orient Photo, a shop with good service at competitive price
lennyl
New Member
The one and only time I'm there (also the one and only photo shop I've been in Singapore in the last 10 years) I stood in there for more than 10 minutes while 2 staff talked to 1 other customer and wouldn't look in my direction, greet me, or ask me if I need help. I didn't interrupt them initially because I thought it was 1 staff attending to 2 customers. It's about 1:30 p.m. on a weekday afternoon, and there is no one else apart from us in the store.
Service, when I finally got it, was good. And price definitely competitive. I'll go back again, but I'll be sure to plant myself in front of a sales staff to get his attention.
no need to plant in front of the sales staff just make the 1st move to speak to them.
else maybe thats the way they do business in china and they kinda bring the culture across to sg.
gd thing is you can browse in their shop without them ever disturbing you.
even if you have eye contact with them, they still wont open up talking to you 1st.
btw they are quite honest as well but recently they seem to charge a little steeper than ms colour and lords.
Did you mention to him the hood you want is for 17-85? I guess he might thought that the hood you want is for 18-55.
flipfreak
Senior Member
i beg to differ.
As a matter of fact, it was Samuel who sold me my lens hood for the very same lens. Admittedly, he has given similar advice for me too in other cases, but not in this case. When you are in the buying mood you don't really like such ice water on your fire, but when you go home and think you feel happy that you saved your money. In any case, he did offer to find the hood for you right?
It was my first time at John 3:16, and they didn't have the hood but offered me to get it, and when i went later on the day he said the hood would come, he simply remembered "oh, 17-85 hood right". It cost some 60+ too, and *looks* really good on the lens compared to third-party. If you don't want to spend that much, you can try the cardboard solution some other member suggested and as far as the image quality goes, both would be the same.
Frankly, i won't agree with them on the necessity of the hood. Hood for me if the first defense against accidental touching of the filter and hitting lens on surfaces. Even if it doesn't do much to quality (it WILL, in some conditions), this use is worth it.
It sounds out of character for any of the staff at John 3:16 ... so far we only have the TS's version of events. These kinds of threads can get a bit out of hand because the exact conversation and context (including body language) is not communicated here.
To the TS, they are good people, in all the years I've bought from them (and I haven't bought for several years but I'm still greeted like an old friend whenever I drop by), so if you want to buy the item, do think about giving them the business, no matter how small, so that they survive in this tough market.
To the TS, they are good people, in all the years I've bought from them (and I haven't bought for several years but I'm still greeted like an old friend whenever I drop by), so if you want to buy the item, do think about giving them the business, no matter how small, so that they survive in this tough market.
I patronized almost every reputable and major photo shops, this is one that I frequent and will continue to do so, simply because they are honest and good people. Some of their pricing might not be the lowest but understandably when they are not a mega store nor have many outlets which enable them to stock-up in bulk
.my 2 cents..
U from Orient Photo? :think::think::think:
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