Indeed, 1st impressions are important. But I am too old to know that it is also erroneous to go by 1st impression alone. If it's just a look, it's nothing. But when they actually say "Are you buying or not ? Don't waste my time !", then there is no doubt that you better leave. I actually know one such shop, but not dealing in cameras :dunno:
Anyway, if I go to a camera shop, I am buying or looking for something to buy, and not really to to hang out. I found Lords to have good stock of Nikon lenses that can't be found in others. The only problem I found with them is that they try to charge a lot higher for their lens filters after you buy a lens, so better skip their filter offers, or bargain to the market price.
As for John, definitely always smiling. But they always don't have what I want (always). Always crowded too, have to wait for some time, I don't know if those people are buying or just talking, I only need 5 minutes to buy something, no need to talk much. In that sense, I prefer Lords or Cathay, more staff even if crowded. Cathay has a mix of different personalities of salesmen, but after visiting them so many times I now know who to approach. One guy who doesn't know much about their products is actually one of the nicest chaps
(this also means you need to know what you want).
I went to Lords today the first time, my first impression was they doesn't seems to be as helpful, they just gave me the look like "are you buying or not" after asking the price. I have to agree that the price is lower than the rest but service is not as good, say John 3:16 (very very friendly and helpful with a smile):thumbsup:
First impression is always important for me.
