Don't think its about right all wrong, the way he came in with guns blazing accusing the TS of this and that just hurts MS Color more than helping them. I understand customers who may be loyal to a store, but be careful or what you're saying / doing that may adversely affect your 'favourite' shop.
MScolor service going down? Recall of my encounters...
- Thread starter Taurus
- Start date
- Status
i bought a camera from MS Color several months ago because i had bad experience with AP.
Recently, a friend of mine wanted to get lens. She got a quote of X price. However, for safety sake, she ask me to accompany her.
When she ask for the lens, *called and got price before going down* a female staff quote her X +200. My friend say she got a quote of X. Then the staff replied oh, must buy with body then can have that price. Then my friend pointed to me, say im her friend. immediately the price is X.
I only bought 2 cameras from them, one was bought 2 years ago, and one about 3 months ago.
My advice is always do homework if you can before buying. if u intend to buy from the particular shop, make sure got e-quote or quoted pricing before going down. try not to approach the staff who gave you the quote. go to someone else if you are new to the shop. you never know. sometimes the person may quote you a lower price.
if you are a regular patron to any shop, u still need to do your own homework. whether you do homework via online or walking around asking for pricing.
Recently, a friend of mine wanted to get lens. She got a quote of X price. However, for safety sake, she ask me to accompany her.
When she ask for the lens, *called and got price before going down* a female staff quote her X +200. My friend say she got a quote of X. Then the staff replied oh, must buy with body then can have that price. Then my friend pointed to me, say im her friend. immediately the price is X.
I only bought 2 cameras from them, one was bought 2 years ago, and one about 3 months ago.
My advice is always do homework if you can before buying. if u intend to buy from the particular shop, make sure got e-quote or quoted pricing before going down. try not to approach the staff who gave you the quote. go to someone else if you are new to the shop. you never know. sometimes the person may quote you a lower price.
if you are a regular patron to any shop, u still need to do your own homework. whether you do homework via online or walking around asking for pricing.
hotwork77
New Member
I have an office colleague who is related to the boss of MSC. All these while, I have resisted patronising MSC as I have never felt comfortable in the shop when I was brought there by my colleague. You can't just go to the shop and ask for X or Y. They may not be there when you drop by. This may not necessarily be bad but the customer service experience is not consistent and the quote offered is not consistent and looks like bait and switch tactic. We have far too many "young carrot heads for chopping" so the practice goes on and on.
"Carrot head chopping" can also be found in other reputable stores but stores like Cathay/Alan Photo, John3:16 can be considered to be in the top tier in Customer Service and with a premium price to match.
Let me relate an experiece I got at Cathay Photo:
One of the salesman (no name here) noticed that I always walk into the shop at Marina Sq and asked to see this camera model and that camera model but ended up buying only small items for under $20. So last week when I accompanied my friend to buy a D5000, this same salesman gave a very good discount and threw in some freebies that made my friend smile. Yup I smile too. Nope, we didn't dress like a rich customer. But what we got was customer satisfaction which exceed our expectation.
Support your favourite shop by all means but I hate forumers coming in "guns blazing" and start "interrogating" TS as if he is telling a lie. He has already stated it clearly in the start of his thread. Why hide under a cloak by taking it privately. If it is true, why hide it? Making your grievance heard is an effective customer feedback for service recovery and improvement. But talking down TS and then claiming wanting to hear the other side of the story is going to make matters worse and tarnish a reputation which takes time to build.
Lastly, don't forget that behind every forum nickname may not just be a 15 or 20 year old student that can be easily swept away with a wave of the hand.
KelvinDestiny
Senior Member
agree with you bro ;p
wildcat
Senior Member
My own experience with MSC used to be good. I bought my G1 more than a year ago from AMKHub at one of the cheapest price around. Maybe the guy had too many queries, no buy, so sian and just quoted me cheapest he will offer. Didn't bargain, I took the cam and realize could not get any cheaper than that. Back then, I didn't know better, and had lady luck with me.
Like TS, I believe that I have found "the shop" that I will frequent but somehow a few other (fortunately, smaller items like IR filters) bought lately and well as enquiries, did not fit the bill of "best offer". I still go back there, but always prepared with prices from other shops or CS price guide and if they don't offer me what I think is reasonable, I walk away. Or if bo pian (no other shop carry, or just inconvenient for me) then I may still get, but I always go to the S11 side now, and deal with either the small ger ger or Florence. Don't even bother going AMKHub now.
Like TS, I believe that I have found "the shop" that I will frequent but somehow a few other (fortunately, smaller items like IR filters) bought lately and well as enquiries, did not fit the bill of "best offer". I still go back there, but always prepared with prices from other shops or CS price guide and if they don't offer me what I think is reasonable, I walk away. Or if bo pian (no other shop carry, or just inconvenient for me) then I may still get, but I always go to the S11 side now, and deal with either the small ger ger or Florence. Don't even bother going AMKHub now.
fotoudavid
Senior Member
service went down or not not sure, but my friend yesterday just call me saying he was disappointed, as he placed an order, put deposit, and that fellow from MS sold the set to another, claiming forgot.........
I've bought a couple of items from them a few years ago. Maybe 7 to 8k worth, a body, maybe 2 lenses and a few accessories. They had good service and competitive prices then. Not unlike places like Lords, TK, etc. It's one of the shops I will rotate my purchases.
I was passing thru last month and and dropped by to check out a few items. They seem to be busier now. All three items I enquire was quoted at RRP. From the saleman's hot and bothered attitude, I gathered he was doing me a favour by even entertaining me. If the shop think they are too good to take my money, who am I to argue? They are expensive and the service qualify for stink. I won't be back, there are many better places to buy from.
I was passing thru last month and and dropped by to check out a few items. They seem to be busier now. All three items I enquire was quoted at RRP. From the saleman's hot and bothered attitude, I gathered he was doing me a favour by even entertaining me. If the shop think they are too good to take my money, who am I to argue? They are expensive and the service qualify for stink. I won't be back, there are many better places to buy from.
CS TAN
Senior Member
That's how customer service works. One bad experience will wipe out a long and good relationship and then the customer will be gone forever. It is good for you to tell them here this is happening as they can look at themselves and decide to do something about this problem. The worst is they don't get to find out what they did wrong and continue to lost customers due to their bad customer service.
hotwork77
New Member
After a while when the business go downhill...they will blame SARS, Asian Financial Crisis and H1N1. I just wonder why other equally expensive stores are still around after 50years? It's customer service...Dr Watson. Customer Service.
geekbrains
Senior Member
I'll be more glad to print these to all these shops who forget who the customer is
"A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.
- Mahatma Gandhi"
Thanx for the quote. This is gold.
Sadly, many SG shops are far from this yet. Many brick and mortars shops still have the tau tow kay mindset of the 1930s, left hand bird cage right hand smoking pipe, talk down to customers with a stinking bad breath.
I've got my very first DLSR and Lens from Cathay. Got served by an old lady, coincidentally whose name also Florence :heart:
The service is good. She let my friend (I'm newbie) tested the camera and lens (tried Sigma and Tamron) thoroughly and lengthy. I almost went asleep :bsmilie:
The price in Cathay was little higher ($20) compare to MS, but Cathay have the stock at that time. So, I ignored the difference and went for my heart's urge, which I'm very glad I did. Manage to shoot the firework at Marina rather than wait until January for MS stock.
Pls don't bash me, I'm definitely in no way affiliate with Cathay or any camera stores :bsmilie::sweat:
hotwork77
New Member
Did you read my post #83. Cathay Photo made me feel like a King. I happily left as a pauper. Expensive? No doubt but what can you say about a delighted customer. By the way I'm not a regular customer but a regular window shopper who pop in to try out toys I would not buy. Still I'm treated as if I am their only customer.
yah, if i remember correctly, I was also served by florence previously few years back and she was quite good and patient...
got most of my stuffs from CP and MS and both of them have the so called "black sheeps"... so just know who they are and just avoid them. its our cash that we are departing with.
i also have the same encounter when i want to buy my 50 1.4 ef lens some times back. Called u MSC before coming down to chat out stock and price. Same salesgirl answered and quoting me a price which i remenber to be the RRP from Canon SG. I asked talked to Florence instead n she was given a price $30 cheaper than what Cathay Photo was wanting to self me.
So morel of the story is to away look for Florence at MSC who alway not fall to give the best price.
So morel of the story is to away look for Florence at MSC who alway not fall to give the best price.
Camera stores in SG are normally very unprofessional with the exception of John 3:16, Cathay Photo and SLR Revolution (SLR to a certain extent.)
The first time and every consequent time i walked into John 3:16 and Cathay Photo, I wasn't given the cheapest prices, but I was received well and given discounts on most occasions. I will continue to patronize these places whenever I come to Singapore.
This is not true of the blank faced salespeople of Alan Photo in Funan, who just give me a stare like I'm a criminal or something.
Every other store i've gone to, including Alan Photo, TCW and so on, have just given me blank stares and have never offered to serve me. I have blacklisted these places as sh*tholes in my books.
And now, after reading this thread, MS Color has been added to the list.
The first time and every consequent time i walked into John 3:16 and Cathay Photo, I wasn't given the cheapest prices, but I was received well and given discounts on most occasions. I will continue to patronize these places whenever I come to Singapore.
This is not true of the blank faced salespeople of Alan Photo in Funan, who just give me a stare like I'm a criminal or something.
Every other store i've gone to, including Alan Photo, TCW and so on, have just given me blank stares and have never offered to serve me. I have blacklisted these places as sh*tholes in my books.
And now, after reading this thread, MS Color has been added to the list.
wakaowalao
Senior Member
Have you heard of buying lens and had to bring your own camera body to try? That is exactly the worst bull**it I ever heard! Yes, from yours truly MS color.:sticktong
Hi Florence or any MScolor stuff who might be reading this thread. Send your staff (and esp that short lady) for some basic sales training. Keeping that fake smile and giving bull**it reply like above ain't gonna last very long for you.:sticktong:sticktong:thumbsd::thumbsd:
Hi Florence or any MScolor stuff who might be reading this thread. Send your staff (and esp that short lady) for some basic sales training. Keeping that fake smile and giving bull**it reply like above ain't gonna last very long for you.:sticktong:sticktong:thumbsd::thumbsd:
CS TAN
Senior Member
I think most people will bring their camera to test out when they want to make lens purchases. What is so odd about this? :sweat:
Of course, you can ask them to provide you with a demo camera body to test the lens but they might not have the same model of camera that you are using.
While I agree that they should provide you a body for testing if you ask for it... I think its always a good idea to bring your own body down
- Status
Similar threads
