Unpleasant experience with TKFoto

[edwthy]

Hi, just wanted to highlight an unpleasant experience with TKfoto with a tall, middle-aged/senior salesperson last Friday. Firstly, he helped me to fixed the GGS stick on screen protector onto my D7000 haphazardly, leaving a large spot in the middle of the screen. Then, he claimed that the spot was a stain that could not be removed/cleaned, and that I would have to change the actual main LCD screen itself, although it looked more like a large speck of dust. Thirdly, I found that I was overcharged and went back to the shop 5-10 mins after leaving. I was charged 16 SGD for the stick-on GGS protector, when the shop price is actually 12 SGD for stick-on and 16 SGD for clip-on with eyepiece protector. The same salesperson claimed that there was no clip-on type GGS protector for the D7000, then he said that it was 16 SGD for the stick-on GGS protector for both top LCD and main LCD, and 12 SGD for only the main LCD protector. Despite my insisting that there was a clip-on type GGS for D7000 selling for 16 SGD, and it was 12 SGD for the stick-on GGS protector, the salesperson refused to admit he was wrong. I gave up, went back home, and removed the GGS protector (which cracked in the process, impossible to remove without cracking it), and the supposed unremovable/uncleanable stain on the main LCD was cleaned in 1 swipe. Spent another 30 minutes cleaning the adhesive left behind by the GGS.

Went back to TKfoto on Saturday and asked the shorter, young bespectacled salesperson about the price of the stick-on GGS, which he said was 12 SGD. I then showed the receipt and he refunded me the 4SGD excess charge. I described the whole story to him, about how that tall middle-aged salesperson had anyhow stuck on the GGS protector without checking, charged me extra, and refused to refund the difference even after I went back to the shop to question him. I also asked for a replacement for the GGS that I had to remove (and which we both admitted could not be removed without breaking it), which he refused to give, although he gave an apology instead.

So in the end, I have wasted 12 SGD, wasted time removing the GGS and cleaning the main LCD, and wasted time going back to the shop to get back my money. I'm not that particular about the money, and don't mind just sticking to the plastic protector that comes with the D7000. But I'm just bewildered, because I am used to people bending/distorting the truth, but I see no business sense in outrightly saying something that is completely opposite of the truth. They have lost me as a customer, and I definitely will not encourage anyone else to go to TKfoto to buy stuff unless it is very much cheaper accessories that is less likely to have trouble with the shop.

Instead, I went to SLRR to buy lenses, which the shop had no stock but got for me by the same day evening. Has the cheapest quotes for most of items I wanted to. John 3:16 is very friendly, helpful, unfortunately the pricing is higher, although honesty in a salesperson is priceless.

 

[Rashkae]

You talk talk talk until liddat when:

1. We have a forum section for TK photo where you can contact them
2. This is not the "Consumers corner" where rants like this belong.
3. You don't see TK photo in the usual recommended shop list.
4. John 3:16 gets their stocks from TK Photo and they are far from as honest as you think they are.
5. They refunded you the $4. Be happy, that's about as good as customer service will get in Singapore.

 

[Riebuz]

I dont buy anything from them anymore. Should be the same tall guy u said that make me go other shop to buy my M4/3 & NEX stuffs without looking. Anyway, their stuffs & pruce are not cheap. Better buy from other shop near them.

 

[Limited]

:bsmilie: There's no "Perfect Shop" in this world. Just do your homework hard enough before stepping in. And, try not to buy just from one "Perfect Shop". Looks (this is what eyes for), asks (this is what mouth for) and hears (this is what ears for). You will soon found out that your so called "Perfect Shop" is not really that honest too. There're all doing business.

 

[crysmeth]

Although the TS should have pointed this out on TK thread, they should really note this. Funan is a small place and if they continue to do such stuff, they will soon lose business. I myself am not too keen on purchasing from tk as their lack of service is appalling.

 

[daredevil123]

I feel sorry for your experience.

Most stores do not install GGS screens for customers anymore due to the occasional problem. Most of the time, folks at TK Foto will not install screens for customers. I am not sure how you managed to convince one of them to install for you.

Anyway, it is possible to remove GGS screen without breaking it with no residue and you still can reapply the screen. Just have to be slow and careful. You cannot fault TK for a broken screen and ask for a refund simply because you are the one who removed it and broke it yourself.

Shops that will always apply the GGS for you will sell them at $18-$20. Even some shops that sell at $18 do not apply the screen for you.

 

[eleveninth]

im always baffled as to why ppl cannot paste their own screen. it's bloody simple right.

 

[esoeij]

There is no perfect shop. I find the quality of service depends more on who serves you, rather than the reputation of the shop itself. This was my experience with Alan, Cathay, TK, Parisilk n some of the other more reputable shops.

John 3:16 seems to be a love hate kind of shop. People either seem to love or hate their experience there. I belong to the latter n absolutely disliked my experience there.

To me if the price difference is small, I wld rather buy from my regular shops from my regular sales people even if it costs slightly more. It's a reward for the better n more reliable service, esp in case post sales service recovery is required.

 

[SNAG]

Can't agree more, it's more of the guy that you deal with rather than the store reputation. AP/CP still cuts it for me relatively to the others.

 

[tecnica]

im always baffled as to why ppl cannot paste their own screen. it's bloody simple right.

everyone is good at something and the opposite holds true.

there must be one simple thing which you cannot do but hordes of people out there can accomplish it without breaking a sweat.

just saying~

 

[bonrya]

If you go to Tk often you'll know who to go to when you want to buy stuff. Not everyone there are like that.

 

[edutilos-]

Do you have a smartphone, TS?

 

[NDividualistic]

As mention by other members tat comments, it best you check out the quote from diff shops before head down. they are one of the few shop at Funan i will get my gears from, but seriously, they dont always have the best price around too. and for customers service, i guess every shop has black sheep so just move on with it.

 

[sjackal]

The tall lanky guy with gray hair and wear specs only right?

Hiyah people had been complaining about him since donno when, maybe even pre clubsnap, and he is still there than-jiak.

 

[catchlights]

first of all I sympathy your encounter of your unpleasant shopping experiences,
but why you need to delete the original thread in consumers corner and make a same new thread in newbies corner?
you give yourself extra work, as well to the moderators.


thread move back to consumer corner.




As for TK foto, so far my shopping experiences are rather positive,

few months ago, I walk into their shop randomly, just want check out the price of sirui tripod and have a good look.
I have no intention to make any purchase on that day, and I believe is Philip who serve me,
I'm not a regular customer there and I don't think they know who I am,
nevertheless he did gave me a very detail introduction about the model which I'm interested in,

in the end, I walk out the shop with a R-2204 and K20X.



As for the screen protector, I use Martin Field, they will help me to install it, and I very happy to pay that price.

 

[blazin]

Yup I had good experience from them getting sirui tripod and CSLR glide strap too~
They give details on the product and how to use and pro and cons of the product~

I alway go to the same person who sell me the tripod when I need to get something cause his service is good~
When i decided to buy the product he will open up the product help me fix up and adjust or teach be how to use the product effectively.

I think you just approached the wrong person~

 

[SNAG]

Initially didn't want to name the store, but a reply to the D800 thread on my experience made me think otherwise, so here's another brickbat:

Bought a Nikon EN-EL15 from TKFoto in late June and got a affected battery without knowing. Tried to exchange it within the 7 day grace with the same salesguy (his name was printed on the receipt), and he just dissed it off as my problem. They didn't know about this (I had to highlight that this was a global advisory, in which they found the Nikon Singapore announcement eventually), but were still reluctant to exchange it for me. That guy had the cheek to tell straight in my face (without even feeling apologetic) that "if the battery's dead, we'll exchange it for you, but for this, you need to go to the agent..."

He told me that their stocks were fresh. Not that I don't give them the benefit of the doubt, but my newly received D800 (latest batch with pre-flashed L1.06 firmware) was already receiving the new battery batch. And I don't think Nikon Singapore would send to stores the affected sets when the advisory was issued by them in Apr-12.

That was when my blood started boiling, where I started to question their definition of a "defective good", and if honouring the 7 day warranty wasn't part of their business practice. Of course, our conversation started to attract more onlookers, and that was when a younger sales chap tried to do damage control by checking for replacement stock (fortunately for them, they were OOS).

So in a nutshell, look for the younger chaps to serve you in the future, but I'll probably be a happier person to bring my purchases elsewhere.

 

[edwthy]

You talk talk talk until liddat when:

1. We have a forum section for TK photo where you can contact them
2. This is not the "Consumers corner" where rants like this belong.
3. You don't see TK photo in the usual recommended shop list.
4. John 3:16 gets their stocks from TK Photo and they are far from as honest as you think they are.
5. They refunded you the $4. Be happy, that's about as good as customer service will get in Singapore.

Hi Rashkae, sorry I don't normally post in cs cos i'm too amateur to offer anything constructive anyway, although I always surf the forum reading ppl's threads. I do agree that John 3:15 may appear honest on first impression but who knows how they are like post-sales, I shouldn't have commented on that as I have not had any transactions with their shop.

 

[yrh0413]

Initially didn't want to name the store, but a reply to the D800 thread on my experience made me think otherwise, so here's another brickbat:

Bought a Nikon EN-EL15 from TKFoto in late June and got a affected battery without knowing. Tried to exchange it within the 7 day grace with the same salesguy (his name was printed on the receipt), and he just dissed it off as my problem. They didn't know about this (I had to highlight that this was a global advisory, in which they found the Nikon Singapore announcement eventually), but were still reluctant to exchange it for me. That guy had the cheek to tell straight in my face (without even feeling apologetic) that "if the battery's dead, we'll exchange it for you, but for this, you need to go to the agent..."

He told me that their stocks were fresh. Not that I don't give them the benefit of the doubt, but my newly received D800 (latest batch with pre-flashed L1.06 firmware) was already receiving the new battery batch. And I don't think Nikon Singapore would send to stores the affected sets when the advisory was issued by them in Apr-12.

That was when my blood started boiling, where I started to question their definition of a "defective good", and if honouring the 7 day warranty wasn't part of their business practice. Of course, our conversation started to attract more onlookers, and that was when a younger sales chap tried to do damage control by checking for replacement stock (fortunately for them, they were OOS).

So in a nutshell, look for the younger chaps to serve you in the future, but I'll probably be a happier person to bring my purchases elsewhere.

:dunno: shouldn't you be reaching out to Nikon Singapore instead? Just like Canon 5D3 light-leak issue, you deal direct with Canon Singapore instead of making noise at the shops... what the shop can do for you? Change another battery that is still within the affected range? The shop did not sell you a defective product; Nikon did.

 

[edwthy]

I feel sorry for your experience.

Most stores do not install GGS screens for customers anymore due to the occasional problem. Most of the time, folks at TK Foto will not install screens for customers. I am not sure how you managed to convince one of them to install for you.

Anyway, it is possible to remove GGS screen without breaking it with no residue and you still can reapply the screen. Just have to be slow and careful. You cannot fault TK for a broken screen and ask for a refund simply because you are the one who removed it and broke it yourself.

Shops that will always apply the GGS for you will sell them at $18-$20. Even some shops that sell at $18 do not apply the screen for you.

Hi. Thanks very much for replying. It was prob a combination of knowing that I wouldn't have bought the GGS if I had to apply it myself, and the salesperson was prob feeling very bored/free I guess? I definitely should have asked TK to help me removed the screen, so that I can clean it and reapply, but I did not really want them to touch my camera again, and having read up on how some ppl found it hard to clean the adhesive, it was more convenient to do it at home where I had scotch tape cloth and lens cleaning liquid. Because I removed the screen myself, I wasn't upset about TK refusing a refund, although it would have been a nice gesture given that the original problem begun with them. Furthermore, the salesperson said himself he couldn't have remove it without breaking the GGS. Although, as you said it's possible if you are really careful. For TK, they sell the GGS at a standard price which is also listed on their website, hence I was just totally in disbelief with the salesman.