this shop is really "chop" people...

[ck0112]

i went to this john 3:# to check it out the casio exilim battery and got this fellow quote me the price $65,after i heard that price i really got shock,below is our conversation.

me: haaa..$65 dollar..why so ex
him: ya la,then how much you saw the price
me: AP only quote me $38
him: you sure or not?this is ORIGINAL le,and AP always quote without GST one.but you wait for while....

later he come back to me and say,today i give you special price la..$55.then i say is ok la.thks.then walk off.

what i wanted to say is the price he quote is more 80% markup..i think he tought i am "vegetable head" and trying to chop me ar..

NB... ;( ;(

i call MS color only $39 and challenger and sell at $39.90...finally i bought it chalenger..


__________________

 

[Papilio]

i went to this john 3:# to check it out the casio exilim battery and got this fellow quote me the price $65,after i heard that price i really got shock

John 3:16 at Funan? Their prices tend to be usually higher than MSColor and AP. Did you speak to the Chinese owner or the Indian chap?

They're usually friendly and chatty, but prices are not so competitive.

 

[ck0112]

the guys i spoke to is an indian with specs..any deference if speak to the chinese guys?you know my fren call them couple of days ago and ask for the Casio exilim Z3 and you know how much they quote?$699 without any freebies..my fren straight away say thks and put down the phone..AP selling at $590 and they " ka ka "quote that high..think we all "vege head" ar..NB ;( ;(

 

[Papilio]

the guys i spoke to is an indian with specs..any deference if speak to the chinese guys?you know my fren call them couple of days ago and ask for the Casio exilim Z3 and you know how much they quote?$699 without any freebies..my fren straight away say thks and put down the phone..AP selling at $590 and they " ka ka "quote that high..think we all "vege head" ar..NB ;( ;(

They used to have a good reputation for reliable service. I wonder what changed them. I suppose they expect us to do quite bit of bargaining to lower the price. I tried once before, after shopping around for the price of a lens at MSColor, CP and ParisSilk. MSColor gave me the best quote. When I tried bargaining at John 3:16 to match MSColor's quote, they admitted that they can't and wished me good luck! ;p

At that time, the difference was only about $30 for a $1,340 lens. But if what you're saying is right, more than $100 difference for the exilim Z3 is a bit too much... :think:

 

[kiwi2]

I won't be biased here as putting down shops without valid reasons is unjustified... but I'll be as objective as possible in accounting my own experiences.

What I know and feel about John 3:16 is this: They are a small family-run business and can definitely not compete with the bigger names like CP or AP. So price-wise, I think I can safely say more than 99% of the time, it wont be the cheapest. Sometimes, yes, the quote will be way off. I know, as I wanted to get a camera bag some 3 years ago. The price quoted was some $20 more for a $60 or so bag!

The folks there cater to faithful and long time customers.. You'll see lots of old-timers there, sometimes not to by cams but just to gather round for a chit-chat. If you are an "intermittent" customer who comes in once in a long while, it's "good luck".

What pissed me off once was when I was there with a friend to buy a camera for him. We waited for a while cos the shop was busy. That was ok. After waiting for more than 15 minutes, I tried to get the attention of the "Chinese guy" (as you mentioned) Samuel. He talked to us sporadically. To cut a long story short, when this ang moh lady came in with a faulty camera, he greeted her with his sweetest smile and asked her how he could help. Her cam broke down and without even so much of an "excuse me" left me and my friend waiting there like goodoos not knowing whether he would come back to serve us. After another waiting for some 5-10 minutes, when I sensed he wasn't so interested, we walked away. Well... I wasn't so offended, and I did ask my friend to buy the camera from him in the end cos CP was already closed then. Even though the price was higher, heck, let them have the business. They're pretty friendly on an onrdinary day, just that they really are the ang-moh seekers and cater more to regulars. (As I was told by others and even Samuel himself admitted.)

On the brighter side, those guys won't cheat you.. just that it's such a small shop they can't serve everyone and unfortunately, their prices are certainly not the lowest.

I've never gone back there anymore for the above reasons and also bcos of 2 other experiences. I was given the wrong info and even discouraged from buying 2 Canon lenses which have been given extremely good reviews. He just said, "Actually this lens is not fantastic, not sharp" Wow, dampened my spirits then. I just thanked him and walked out. Bought the lens from MS Color and I must say, Darn it, it's one of the best I've ever used!

 

[Shadus]

No lar, they're known for their high price for "low-end" stuff. But service + knowledge is top-notch. though Mr shop-owner can be a bit too much of a tongue-wag occasionally.

So if u wanna buy from them, expect knowledge + service, but pay a premium for it. if u're getting low-end consumer digicam, they're definitely not the shop to go for.

 

[kingpin]

They are not competitive on price. And the "premium" u pay does not justify their service or knowledge. Also find them "unfriendly". They bo-chap u even if u had been patiently waiting for them.

 

[tan131]

what i wanted to say is the price he quote is more 80% markup..i think he tought i am "vegetable head" and trying to chop me ar..

well.. i think every singaporean has got a wrong mentality... when shop A sells a product @ $10, we assume shop B must sell around the same... well to me..to each his own..if u find the pricing too high then go back to shop A lah.. there's no need to stress that shop B is trying to "chop" you... anyway.. i must say that John 3:16 is a small family business,there's no way they can fight with the big boys...they mainly target at regulars, sames go to family run provision stores..their prices will might be higher then BIG supermarkets.. anyway..till this day.. i never once find them pushing a product to you.. "u like it,u take it..dun like it..its okie" seems to be their policy...plus..they never fail to greet u with a smile..

well...i'm not trying to defend john 3:16...but i'm trying to stress the fact that if u find the price alrite..then go ahead and buy it..else, go to the shop that offered u the lowest price.. using the word "chop" here on a family run shop...seems a bit too harsh in my opinion..no offences~

 

[sulhan]

Hiee.....

Come on Guys......do not forget that rentals do have a part to play on costs considerations. Though CP may be in the same Peninsula area......as Funan. But due to the economics of scale....its obvious isn't it to have a larger shop offering a lower price???? A smaller sized shop (i may be incorrect on this point....god knows)...like the one in Funan....may have to "up" a little to get the comfortable profit.....as compared to the ;arger inventory shops like CP...

rgds,
me

 

[fastlane]

As long as a shop sells a product below the recommended retail price, they have done nothing wrong. If don't like the price or service, don't buy.

No reason to say 'chop' here, as I believe $699 they quoted was still within the RRP.

 

[ydanz]

went there couple of times, find their service ok, got time to chit chat and TC with ya but prices are indeed a little premium from AP, CP and MS.

somehow, i still don't like the idea of being given a quote w/out GST cos when you add everything up esp when you are gonna pay four figure sums, the GST can mean quite a bit. No I dnt have that kinda four figure sums to splurge everytime I go but it's just an example. But then again, USA and Japan lists their price tags w/out the 8.5% and 5% tax respectively.

my first choice is still AP now having gotten to know some of the fellows as I go during the quieter periods, on weekdays in the afternoons or around lunch time. sometimes i don't buy anything but just to say hi as i am in the area and they're friendly enuf to chit chat too. I like their policy on quoting with G inclusive price (not sure if this is the case for your guys out there).

my lesson leanrt is this. Do your homework on the net and read up all the reviews you can gather on the stuff you want and then see if anyone you know in the CS community that has the stuff you are looking for and ask for his/her experience and two cents worth. More often than not, they're willing to share. Previously there was a thread discussion about people who list their equipment showcase in the sig saying that they are a bunch of show-offs but I beg to differ. If I know say "so and so" has this lens, I would send a friendly PM to that "so and so" and most prob get a "local perspective/comment" on the product itself. Its better to do this first before heading down to the shops direct yourselves. However, I do understand that AP can be quite busy busy on weekends and in the evenings so, I avoid those periods too.

 

[Prismatic]

Guys, dun need to get so worked up lah, different people all have different experiences at different shops lah.

For example, I got 3 different quotes from CP on a lens within 30 mins, and I was asking the same guy. My experience with 3:16 is that they treat all customers the same lah, they give everyone the same pricing even with regulars and tourists. It doesn't really make business sense to be 'ang-moh' seekers cos they are mostly one-time buyers and usually tough bargain seekers.

 

[Prismatic]

My advice, for any shop, if you really attention, go during the off-peak periods like Saturdays or in the evening.

 

[sehsuan]

somewhat higher price, good service - i'll settle for this shop anytime (not J3:16 - i have yet to step in so far) but for a few (relative) dollars more, service is more important. so that next time if i pop by, i know i can rely on the store. that's why i'm a regular with CP. but i must admit now i'm patronizing AP a bit more...

 

[kiwi2]

No lar, they're known for their high price for "low-end" stuff. But service + knowledge is top-notch. though Mr shop-owner can be a bit too much of a tongue-wag occasionally.

So if u wanna buy from them, expect knowledge + service, but pay a premium for it. if u're getting low-end consumer digicam, they're definitely not the shop to go for.

Hmm, maybe for other products but I can vouch from my experiences, they got their facts about Canon stuffs wrongly and even provided some biased misconceptions. Ok, it's not fair to conclude anything just based on my experiences but personally, it was simply one too many times for me to want to go there to make any more purchases, besides their higher prices.

Actually, I don't mind paying $10-20 more for a piece of $700 camera equipment if they do provide the service and product knowledge that I think they deserve. Unfortunately, they were below my expectations.

For those who are comfortable with the shop, of course by all means continue patronising or recommend your friends.

 

[rncw]

What pissed me off once was when I was there with a friend to buy a camera for him. We waited for a while cos the shop was busy. That was ok. After waiting for more than 15 minutes, I tried to get the attention of the "Chinese guy" (as you mentioned) Samuel. He talked to us sporadically. To cut a long story short, when this ang moh lady came in with a faulty camera, he greeted her with his sweetest smile and asked her how he could help. Her cam broke down and without even so much of an "excuse me" left me and my friend waiting there like goodoos not knowing whether he would come back to serve us. After another waiting for some 5-10 minutes, when I sensed he wasn't so interested, we walked away. Well... I wasn't so offended, and I did ask my friend to buy the camera from him in the end cos CP was already closed then. Even though the price was higher, heck, let them have the business. They're pretty friendly on an onrdinary day, just that they really are the ang-moh seekers and cater more to regulars. (As I was told by others and even Samuel himself admitted.)

experienced almost same about a year ago from this shop. never step in ever since.

:thumbsd: :thumbsd: :thumbsd:

 

[moos blues]

hie guys...

From what i know esp for lenses and stuff, they will only give what they know or feel personnaly, would they discourage you if they got a sale to make? :think:

But reg or not u'll be quite sure the price is the same, esp for consumer level equip. True price is alittle higher, but service is good, esp after sales, that i can vouch for.

waiting wise.... well the fact is... the better u know him the longer u wait! :bsmilie:

bear with them lor... small shop...




:lovegrin:

 

[whoelse]

The "Invisible Hand" will do it's work.
If a shop is bad, it will not survive for long.
No matter how many people praise, it will not survive.
Otherwise, if the shop has been in business, it has it's own customer group.
Regardless of how good the shop, there are always unhappy customers. Same goes to bad shops, they too have happy customers for whatever reason.

Back to the point, it's nice to share experience. Good or not for reference. If you like the shop, give them business or if you have other prefered shop, deal with them. It's just sharing, no need to judge "my point is valid then your or your point is valid then mine". They are all meaningless, opinion/experence are welcome.

Let the Invisible Hand do it's work.
Heal the world, make it better place...

 

[whoelse]

Also, we are the consumers, we can shop all over the place, buy from all of them. Use our advantages, if shop A is good today, buy from them, not satisfy, try next shop etc. There is this sophisicated word call "shopping" haha. Which is different from "Buying". Under no shop's mercy.

 

[chaotic]

typical singaporean shops mainly based on price which is almost a dominant factor in the purchase decision. this is sad as all the other factors such after-sales service, customer service, convenience etc are ignored. this is why we get so horrible service in singapore in general. to put it crudely, it's almost like the salesman are prostitutes, use once and go. sad state of affairs in my humble opinion. But, I am glad there are shops like John 3:16 that capitalizes own their service and not on their price. I am sure there are people who appreciate that. For those who don't, please don't comdemn such shops, you need to visit those no-service high volume shops so that they can provide you low prices.