SLRR Moved - Bally Took Over Shop Location
- Thread starter kennynah
- Start date
chooster
New Member
I bought my equipment not too long ago from the EX SLRR . I did not realized it at first until, I saw the receipt. The receipt show Bally Photo Electronic. Anyway the staff was friendly and I have checked my equipment, so I paid and left. If I knew it was Bally, most probably I would not have walk into it. The staff was surprisingly friendly and helpful unlike the Bally at other places.
Huh? SLR Revo and Camera Talk in SIM Lim are related???
The Camera Talk in Sim Lim is a RIP OFF!!!!
Correct me if I'm wrong.
- There are 3 shop asst, but only 1 asked your friend while ignoring you.
- You namedrop an expensive item to catch shop asst attention and then ask for a quote.
- 1 Shop asst replies in full while the other 2 are bantering in the background.
So what seems to be the problem here? :dunno: You already got your quote which is comparable to the "reputable" shops. Those other 2 shop asst didn't bother/pester you in any way besides talking among themselves.
Anyway, while I do agree with the whole ethics thing, it doesn't make sense from a buyers viewpoint. From what I gather, SLRR provides low pricing and good service. Isn't that what most people want eventually? It's like how people still continue to eat at places with good food/price despite crappy service.
FYI, I am not affiliated with SLRR in any way. All of my camera stuff are 2nd hand except for a few flashes and filters.
Odyssey-Boy
Senior Member
Yes, all of them are under a big boss, in the back scene.
Not only that, they have more than 13 shops with different names..
ricleo
Senior Member
it doesnt matter to me if SLRR has the same owner as Bally or any other camera shops with poor reputations.
Just because they have the same owner, doesnt mean that the people running the shops on a daily basis are the same. AS long as the person at SLRR that serves me gives me good service n price, who gives a hoot who the background big boss is, or if they are related to other shops.
For example, if u think of this in the corporate sense. Parent company A owns 10 subsidiaries 1-10.
so all 10 subsidiaries are related to company A. As long as Subsi 1 I do businesss with gives me good pricing and is ethical in their dealings, i dun care if subsi 1 is related to subsis 2-10, even if subsi 1 sometimes gets stock from the other related companies.
Just because they have the same owner, doesnt mean that the people running the shops on a daily basis are the same. AS long as the person at SLRR that serves me gives me good service n price, who gives a hoot who the background big boss is, or if they are related to other shops.
For example, if u think of this in the corporate sense. Parent company A owns 10 subsidiaries 1-10.
so all 10 subsidiaries are related to company A. As long as Subsi 1 I do businesss with gives me good pricing and is ethical in their dealings, i dun care if subsi 1 is related to subsis 2-10, even if subsi 1 sometimes gets stock from the other related companies.
If i had to means to open 13 camera shops, i would want to put them all under the same name, and i would want to be proud of my store reputation. i think it's dodgy and sad that to have to use different names... just to avoid the bad rep associated with the shop name.
That he could survive and thrive to 13 shops with less than stellar sales tactics... says quite a lot about the effectiveness and profitability of his methods.
To those who say rep doesn't matter as long as price and service are ok... sorry, can't agree there. It's one thing if you're selling chicken rice or stationery, but people who are more serious in this hobby shell out easily >$10k+ of moolah over the years. i think reputation does matter for a camera shop.
That he could survive and thrive to 13 shops with less than stellar sales tactics... says quite a lot about the effectiveness and profitability of his methods.
To those who say rep doesn't matter as long as price and service are ok... sorry, can't agree there. It's one thing if you're selling chicken rice or stationery, but people who are more serious in this hobby shell out easily >$10k+ of moolah over the years. i think reputation does matter for a camera shop.
kennynah
New Member
i went in...asked for a quote for a lens...and seeing there was no signage indicating the shop's name, i asked the salesman...he said "Bally"...
and that's how i knew
ricleo
Senior Member
as long as SLRR still has good reputation and service and ethics by itself, why does it matter that the ultimate boss owns bally photo too.
The different shops cater to different parts of the market segment, eg the more savy ones will go to SLRR by word of mouth, while the less savy ones/tourists will get chopped by Bally.
Its the same as in London, where there a 3 big electronics shop chains, namely PCWorld, Dixon, Curries, 3 big chains with a wide online and retail shop presence.
all 3 chains are actually part of the same group/company, and the 3 chains cater to different market segments.
woeilee
New Member
Not sure how SLRR is related to other not-so-good shops, but I can say that I got good impression dealing with them. Got my Canon 70-200 f/2.8L II from them (from saleman called Willy). I would say that their service is like OP, straight forward and no pushing of extra things.
However, I would, still, like to remind all to check out all shops for the best price available, and not to buy extra thing promoted by the shop unless you knew the market price. Also, do ensure that the price you are quoted is inc. of GST.
However, I would, still, like to remind all to check out all shops for the best price available, and not to buy extra thing promoted by the shop unless you knew the market price. Also, do ensure that the price you are quoted is inc. of GST.
raydio
Senior Member
raydio
Senior Member
It makes a big difference. What if you go to SLRR and buy an expensive lens.... they explain to you that they are out of stock but in the interest of customer service, they will get the lens from another store while you wait. Unknown to you, they get the lens from one of their affiliates.... let's say Bally Photo.
The lens is presented to you for inspection. It looks like a good lens and because the service was excellent, you trust that the lens is legitimate and you buy it. But in reality, how do you know if the lens is gray market or if it is used? Who knows what kind of practices go on at Bally Photo (where the lens originated)? We do know from one poster, that his purchased items were "thrown" out of the store and the sales staff yelled at him to get out.
When I used to live in Hong Kong, Canon-Hong Kong had the right to refuse any (warranty) service on gray market lenses. I don't know if Canon-Singapore employs the same policy. But in the end, it is you the consumer who gets shifted.
We have come to know that a sizable number of photography stores, which include SLRR and Bally Photo, are owned by the same person. Some have argued that if SLRR provides good service then it is fine to support it with our dollars. My argument is that, if the 'root' is evil then the entire tree is evil. If SLRR is part of this 'tree' then I can conclude that it is nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing.
If you intend to spend your money at SLRR, then I urge you to consider what you are ultimately supporting.
eleveninth
Senior Member
Check the local warranty with the lens and serial. If you know what you're doing there shouldn't be a problem. Different shops have different regulars who'll say the same about other shops. EG. this one not good, that shop not good.
ultimately caveat emptor.
Personally I've bought a few lenses from SLR revolution, no problems pretty straight forward price also not bad, When the 85 f1.8 wasn't in stock they didnt throw the "I'll check with other shop" deal. They definately don't have the same practices of bally.
But nice take on the "root of evil" theory. I don't really care, as long as I get a good deal and the item is good.
ricleo
Senior Member
Why not say that it is the Bally Branch that is rotten instead of the root / entire tree is evil.
IF SLRR really starts to cheat people's money by selling grey as warrantied sets or giving rip off prices, or bait n swap transactions, then I will agree about "wolf in sheep clothing". Before you can even show examples of that, or see people complain about that, i will just say your theories and accusations are baseless.
IF SLRR is owned by Bally, what you said will make sense. If SLRR and Bally are both owned by somebody else, show us the evidence that the ultimate owner is rotten.
anyway, i am not affiliated to SLRR. but I have come to trust the service they have provided to me so far from all my purchases, and all the friends I have recommended to buy items from them. All the way from DSLRs, lenses, P&S cameras, even small ticket items like spare batteries / filters / screen protectors, none of my friends have complained about getting ripped off.
To detect if anyone is selling you a grey set, just check the warranty card and match it to the serial number of the lens/body. Simple.
raydio
Senior Member
If you are happy with SLRR and are happy with their service then that is good for you and all your friends and family who buy from them.
In terms of ownership, Bally Photo and SLRR and are owned by the same person. This has been proven by other posters. If you really require proof, then I would refer you to them. And you are right, I cannot prove any malpractice at SLRR nor do I wish to. That was not the point of my post.
With respect to my post, I am suggesting that if the owner has put in place the business practices employed by Bally Photo (which are despicable), then the mere association to SLRR from a philosophical and ethical standpoint is enough to keep me from associating with SLRR.
I understand that many (including yourself), have had very good dealings with SLRR. Additionally, SLRR has built up a decent reputation among the photographic community. But from a personal standpoint, I cannot lend my support to a shop whose owner supports the business practices used by some of his photo shops including Bally Photo (he owns other disreputable photo shops). If I were to find that Alan Photo, Cathay, J-3:16 were owned by this person, I would feel the same way. That's just me.
eleveninth
Senior Member
raydio
Senior Member
Check this thread, post #39:
My Scammed Experience in Bally Photo Electronics @Funan
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=781036
In this thread:
Post #8, #25
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