John 3:16

[ettk75]

I have been reading about all the postings here and felt compelled to comment about my experience. I have only started photography is a bigger way this year and had purchased eqpt from many of the top shops and has been largely disappointed with the service and experience provided by these shops until I visited John 3:16. Before I continue, I am in no way affiliated to them. I think I have spent many hrs there on each occasion and have visited them on many occasions over this year to give valid views of my experience and observation.

Yes, the shop is crowded all the time and the wait is long. That is not really a fault of theirs. The suggestion that this is created is a farfetched one. I did not see that at all.
There are only 2 full-time staff there and the rest are part-timers and I can see that they are trying their best to serve everybody. They have more than their fair share of trying customers and you can see all sorts including those that are plain unreasonable but I have not seen any rudeness from them. I seen customers being served over 1hr and have all their queries answered only to go to the rival store over 10-20 bucks cheaper. Yes, some of you will comment that this is
the real world but the point is that both buyer and seller have "grievances"so we shouldn't generalize and condemn the shop over 1-2 instances where you have caught them on a bad time.

So far after a few purchases, the experience has been a very pleasant one. On many occasions, they have given me service and support beyond my expectations and I see the same given for many people who came into the shop. I hv seen diffn generation of families going to buy from them and it is amazing to see they can remember what they purchased 5yrs ago!
My dad left us an old Rolleiflex and it is not working. I asked Sam for help and he had that serviced and negotiated a good deal for me. I had a chance to speak to the repairshop and know what they charge. Sam even went the extra mile and help me get the film needed for the camera despite being so busy. This is just one occasion on going the extra mile that I experience.

So far buying from them is a pleasant experience for me and it is an experience why I still go back to them despite the long wait. Some bros here have given their "method" on when to visit the shop and I too have my own. It is no different from buying any other purchases where the shop is so popular.

Some of you will say why bother? Well, I like to have a peace of mind buying from a shop where I know they will helped me when I need help though it takes sometime to do so. The personal touch in servicing customers works for me so we all have our favorites.

Just go down and take another look and observed. It is still one of the most patronised stores. There are many loyal overseas customers as well. If it is so bad as it is painted here, why they continue to be so crowded all the time!

You have to get to know Sam as he likes to joke around and do not mean anything bad. I have seen him giving other suggestions but always end with telling the customer that he will still sell to them if they are not convinced. I wished somebody told me that as I was stucked with some "bad" purchases from shops that only interested to make money.

PS : I am not a big customer if some of you thinks that I get good service because I spend a fortune there.

Yes, I agreed that they give good service at times. But being too personal can, at times, lead to become over-board that some comments are to be kept within themselves.

Honestly, not everyone has the luxury of having big bucks to buy better equipments. For some, they can afford only the simplest of all. Some might want to get better ones but due to financial constraint, they are only restricted to what they have.

So if a customer ask for 52mm filter, its like that he or she is using a kit lens, which I believe with Sam's experience he can tell that.

What if I buy alot of stuffs from them on the same day, and suddenly I pop out the question to ask for 52mm filter, do you think he will comment the same? Or he will just say ok he will look for it and end his sentence?

Whatever it is, each of us has our own say or preference. Some might feel ok about this incident, some might just hate it to the core. This discussion here will have no ending.

Just an advice to all shops, be more careful in handling customers from all walks of life, before you lose them one after another.

For Photobuff9889, you are lucky to be have good experience and become personal with Sam and his shop. Keep it up.

 

[coolsigg]

ok

i hv finally visited this John 3:16 on Friday afternoon

there were 2 humans in the shop when i stepped in; think they were both guys, at least the one who served me was

he was very polite... when i stepped in the shop, he seemed to stop whatever he was doing (with some customers) and approached me asking my reason to be there

i asked for "the cult" nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6 DX non VR of which his reply was that he has no ready stock and perhaps nikon has no longer the non VR version

still, he agreed to no end that the non VR is the version of 55-200mm f4-5.6 DX to buy saying that he will call up his supplier this coming monday and that i wud be kept informed

first impression was more than pleasant

let's see on monday

today tues liao...any updates?

 

[muvouser]

Rubbish.

Higher price and good salesman NOT EQUAL to good service.

Good service need 2 components:

1. Price
2. Service


If your chop shop lucky plaza salesman curry favour you but sell you high price, is that good service?


There are other shops that can offer lower price and provide the same and even better service than J3:16.

Loyalty doesnt pay. If you have no money to buy, your "loyal" shops wont welcome you either.

Just buy from where the cheapest can be found!

 

[artspraken]

Good service need 2 components:

1. Price
2. Service

your math so cheem...

u mean Good Service = Price + Service?

 

[Ted888]

In order to sell, you need to serve the customer first, and then enter pricing which if practical, done deal. If there is no service offered up front, customer should leave. Nothing to do with price.

 

[peterpan1975]

Haha .. look like lots of ppl not happy with J3:16, anyway the true of life:

1) $$ is with u, if you are not happy, then don't spend it there. Go somewhere else to spend.
2) no matter how u complain, J3:16 will still have their own crowd = they will not die that easily
3) ITS LIFE ... live with it.

 

[artspraken]

On contrary, I think many people are jealous of John3:16 success.

There is no such thing as bad publicity. The longer this thread becomes, the more crowds will flock to John

 

[phoakm]

Realise this thread had reached 12K of views. Is this the most number of viewership on the camera shop? :think:

 

[oneluckyguy]

On contrary, I think many people are jealous of John3:16 success.

There is no such thing as bad publicity. The longer this thread becomes, the more crowds will flock to John

haa, well even if that is true, at least the people who flock to 3:16 will know what to expect.

1. Long waiting time
2. Good service (if you like people telling you what to buy)
3. Not the cheapest equipment around, but they're trustworthy and you won't feel cheated
4. Prepare some 'tactics' if you want to facilitate your purchase faster

If people are curious, I'm sure they'll just go there to see how crowded it is, but doesn't necessarily mean that they'll get more business. If they've thoroughly read the thread, they already would know that there are cheaper places.

Anyway, this isn't a hate thread, but just consumers talking about how 3:16 really is. Whether it's the supporters or non-supporters, both agree that the salespeople have a tendency to talk more, and that the shop is always crowded. The difference of opinion comes from each person's personal tolerance for queueing.

 

[CCx9]

On contrary, I think many people are jealous of John3:16 success.

There is no such thing as bad publicity. The longer this thread becomes, the more crowds will flock to John

Well said indeed.

A friend told me about this thread, and I have been sitting quiet following it for a while. Reason... as long as the thread is heading in a direction that is biased - against a particular party and for another party, any additional posting is just going to be adding fuel.

Then why post now? Simple... I am finally seeing neutral posts showing up... posts that really make sense and not biased... posts that are actually constructive. So here's my attempt at a constructive post... feeble as it may be to some:

Businesses are formed with a least the basic goals to:

1. provide some form of service and/or products to the potential customers
2. make some profit (more or less depends on the salesmanship of the business owners and their staff, and the products and services provided by the business)
3. continue the above points 1 & 2 for as long as possible

Sam and his dad are not a here-today-gone-tomorrow outfit, otherwise, they would have been gone long time ago, buckled due to the pressure of economic pattern shifts over the years. Same can be said about the many other long-been-around camera shops. Like all other businesses, new competitors join in the industry as the business owners see a potential in going into the business... don't need to look far... our Parallel Importers in the car industry is a great example. New PI's are born regularly, but only the real solidly founded ones will survive... this is normally read as outfits that provide good service and offer purchases that are generally considered value-for-money.

So what is value-for-money? This is where the subjective thing comes in. To some folks, price is the issue... so as long as one can get it a a cheap price, no worries if it is a "bicycle in car's clothings", if this is at all possible. Some others may want status symbols.. so comes the group of consumers who will splurge on a luxurious car and yet end up with debts everywhere. The folks in between the two aforementioned extremes are left out intentionally so as not to make it even more complicated. So.. To both groups mentioned above, the car they bought is what they deem as value-for-money as it bring to them what they are looking for.

This is same for the discussed topic here... the buyer chooses from whom he wants to get the service and products... or by how he is 'pampered' by the sales persons... or by how good a feeling it is to be associated with a particular vendor or branding.. etc So J3:16 will always have their clientele, just like the other camera shops will also have their own regulars.

Talk will always be there, especially when folks are envious or jealous about the success of others. If Sam and his dad are not made of steel, they will crumble and fall. Likewise, any business will for that matter. So if J 3:16 survives this, will others stop talking ill about them? Likely not, and there will be others who seek similar success level as J3:16. I have joked with my friend about being in the wrong business after seeing Sam's almost daily crowded store.

I think we all need to take a few steps back and re-read these last few pages of posts by everyone here. A pattern can be clearly seen.

I would end by saying these:

1. If the posts are realistic and genuine, then Sam should pick up the pointers that are being left here, and become better as kindly informed by the bro's and sis's here. It is indeed a blessing from God that he is being reminded before it is too late so that he can continue to serve the photography community the best way possible without losing the ground that he has worked hard to gain.

2. If the posts are non-realistic and biased or with an agenda, then Sam should have nothing to worry about as the truth shall prevail in time... Let God work out the bugs and buggers, and let Sam continue to serve the photography community in the best possible way he know how.

Wow... another novel just written. :embrass:

Let's all move on...

Let's shoot more pics and post more pics, yes???

 

[sequitur]

Yeah, waiting time is long because of the chummy-talk and all that, but if you're getting an item from their shop, you WILL appreciate the chummy-talk.

One man's meat is another man's poison, get over it. I got a good price from them over a purchase (not cheap), and they made little money from it (because I locked in the selling price, but when they got the supply the cost price was raised), but Samuel still treated me like how he treated everybody else - the chummy-talk thingy.

Frustrating if you're a new customer trying to get something, but if you're willing to wait your turn you'll get your turn.

 

[oneluckyguy]

Yeah, waiting time is long because of the chummy-talk and all that, but if you're getting an item from their shop, you WILL appreciate the chummy-talk.

One man's meat is another man's poison, get over it. I got a good price from them over a purchase (not cheap), and they made little money from it (because I locked in the selling price, but when they got the supply the cost price was raised), but Samuel still treated me like how he treated everybody else - the chummy-talk thingy.

Frustrating if you're a new customer trying to get something, but if you're willing to wait your turn you'll get your turn.

an example of good things are worth the wait?

A quote from Mark Cuban, billionaire Internet entrepeneur, "Make your product easier to buy than your competition, or you will find your customers buying from them, not you."

 

[Dninety]

I would end by saying these:

1. If the posts are realistic and genuine, then Sam should pick up the pointers that are being left here, and become better as kindly informed by the bro's and sis's here. It is indeed a blessing from God that he is being reminded before it is too late so that he can continue to serve the photography community the best way possible without losing the ground that he has worked hard to gain.

2. If the posts are non-realistic and biased or with an agenda, then Sam should have nothing to worry about as the truth shall prevail in time... Let God work out the bugs and buggers, and let Sam continue to serve the photography community in the best possible way he know how.

Wow... another novel just written. :embrass:

Let's all move on...

Let's shoot more pics and post more pics, yes???

Well-said. Let "God" judge and act. But do remember to be sincere and do not make fun of other customer and competitors. Be humble.

ANy guys that can quote from bible on sincerity and humbleness?

 

[fabianaino]

I am going to visit john 316 this thursday
hope they treat me well .

if they are reading .... I am Fabian

 

[IamJeFfy]

it is a C_________ shop.......

fill in the blank

 

[IamJeFfy]

it's a free market everyone got their own cup of coffee

 

[fabianaino]

it is a C_________ shop.......

fill in the blank

errmm ... cordial?
hahha

 

[fabianaino]

i got it ... is it "coffee"?
hahaha

 

[IamJeFfy]

no C for Copi.... hahaha!

let your imagination run wild!!

 

[oneluckyguy]

it is a C_________ shop.......

fill in the blank

1. it is a camera shop
2. it is a christian shop
3. it is a credible shop