Utterly Disgusted by Alan Photo

[littlepea]

I’m utterly disgusted with Alan Photo. BOTH their outlets. ;( :angry:

I called up a number of shops today to check out the stock for conversion lens adapter for my Canon A640. (Canon Singapore stated $39 on their website) and also to check out the R72 filter (52mm - $33-$36.50)

Only Alan Photo and Orient Photo had the adapter. AP quoted me $35. OP don’t have stock for original, but they quoted me $16 for the compatible. AP got filter, OP don't have.

So I happily went to Alan Photo at Funan as it’s the nearest to me and i can buy both items there.

When I got there, the guy took out the adapter and to my amazement, there isn’t the word “Canon” on it..and it was SILVER!? (canon one is black)

So I asked him, is this original? And he said No. ?!?!!!?
I asked him if he have the original, he said yes. “But its much more expensive and its plastic” ?!?!?! I can’t remember what he said the price was for the original one.

When i told him OP selling at $16 for the compatible, he say cannot be so cheap one. :dunno: he tot i bluffing him. either that, he's acting blurr.

Nvm.

I asked if he had the R72 filter. He searched through. Initially can’t find, but managed to find ONE piece. A 52mm one.

How much?

$40. ??!!?!?!?!

Disappointed, I decided to head to OP.


Its quite a hassle to get from Funan to Sim Lim, racing against time, and on heels -.-


When I got there, I saw the other AP outlet.. so, I walked in, hoping that perhaps I could get the filter and the adapter there.

No luck. No adapter.

The guy searched for the 52mm R72.. initially can’t find, so he went to the back to check for me. *using the “last piece” method as well?*
I saw him holding the piece talking to another uncle.
I tot to myself..feeling happy that I could get everything in one building, coz I know OP don’t have the filter. When he came back out..

“$55..”

“WHAT?! $55 for that??”

“ya…”

I was so overwhelmed with disgust, dumbfounded with repulsion, consumed with abhorrence, that I could not even explain my reaction to him. i just walked out shaking my head.

They probably didn’t know that they had out-quoted themselves.:bsmilie:

I just want to get this message across to let all the consumers (pros or beginners) know that AP has absolutely NO business ethics and they probably pray everyday that ignorant customers walk in to let them slaughter.

I understand that some of you here may be AP supporters. Go ahead and buy from them.
But pls save your salvaging comments on how good they are, elsewhere.
Thanks. But no thanks. :thumbsd:

I would also like to dedicate this thread to all those kind souls who regularly help to update us on the price lists.. if not for you guys, I would probably have broken my heels going from shop to shop.

 

[GENO]

Is this yr first time there?

 

[littlepea]

If its first time, AP has failed to understand good customer service and pricing goes a long way to encourage recurring purchases. :thumbsd:

 

[eow]

R72 filter is not cheap and neither is canon original accessories

 

[iboey]

canon leased price for the lens adapter is sgd$39. please read the thread properly EOW :dunno:

 

[Static]

Did you check other shops like song bros or cathy?

I know song bro quote high but can slash prices

 

[night86mare]

Chop carrot head la, R72 is not cheap but it's not that expensive for the smaller filter sizes.

For R72, littlepea, try TK Foto, they seem to offer most competitive price for R72. Every shop has its lowly-priced stuff; I noticed that Alan Photo's strong suit is not really its filters. Neither is OP, actually, unless you're talking about certain Hoya filters. Cathay and TK would be a better place to buy filters.

Not so sure about the adaptor, though. =)

 

[Static]

R72 filter is not cheap and neither is canon original accessories

even if its original prices, different branches shouldn't have different quotes. This shows

that they quote differently to different customers. Not a good and wise practice for

reputable shops. :sweat:

 

[eow]

canon leased price for the lens adapter is sgd$39. please read the thread properly EOW :dunno:

yes dude so?:dunno:
ts expected $16 with canon branding for compatible lens adapter... abt filter price...even ms colour will slaughter u with their pricing of their filters if u not a regular

 

[Parchiao]

Me : How muchie?

Dumbo : $55, last one, noe more!

Me: You sure? Last time, your shop quote me $35 only, after GST some more.

Dumbo : So low meh? Cannot be lah, so low you got there to buy lor.

Me : I offer you $35.

Dumbo : Cannot lah! Prices all went up oredi.

Me : You ask your boss lah, I want to buy at $35, you go ask your boss.

At AP SLS, they will always come back with an improved price that is now close or equal to the better prices. Why? Because you have shown your sincerity to buy and that you have demonstrated that you know the prices. They never argue with you if you demonstrate to them you want to buy from them, they are more likely to accomodate to you because they know now that you have the money to spend, and it is better to spend at their shop than someone else's shop. Just don't piss the boss off.

Dumbo : Okay lah, today boss good mood, $35, I only make $1 from you.

 

[Stress]

I can understand how you feel. Experience the same thing. Saw me in Shirt and tie= "Big carrot" quoted me out of this world price. Just a bunch of "bengs and Sengs" running the shop. OP staf is much more refine than them. I'll never give them my business at all.
Ask the price for Nikon10.5mm FE and quoted me $1380. Probably the Nikon Lens cap is Gold plated.......:bsmilie:

 

[littlepea]

Its not about how expensive the product is.

the very fact that they quoted me such exorbitant prices..is self-explanatory.

why? becoz i'm a female? and female species are ignorant? :dunno:

i can imagine those really new to photography..still in their enthusiastic mood of buy buy buy.. go there kena chop chop chop..

 

[FilterFunk]

maybe they see pretty lady in working attire == carrot head? :think:

even then, i didnt really have a v.gd impression of AP in the 1st place..

 

[Parchiao]

You people sound pretty hopeless at bargaining, that's why there are places like CP for you, but then again, CP prices are also not that consistent, always different by a dollar or two. :bsmilie:

 

[Static]

Its not about how expensive the product is.

the very fact that they quoted me such exorbitant prices..is self-explanatory.

why? becoz i'm a female? and female species are ignorant? :dunno:

i can imagine those really new to photography..still in their enthusiastic mood of buy buy buy.. go there kena chop chop chop..

Maybe AP thinks females has more spending powers than men. :think:

 

[zaxh81]

yes dude so?:dunno:
ts expected $16 with canon branding for compatible lens adapter... abt filter price...even ms colour will slaughter u with their pricing of their filters if u not a regular

As below,TS asking for $16 compatible,did not state canon brand.
Even regulars get slaughter at MScolor nowadays.

When i told him OP selling at $16 for the compatible, he say cannot be so cheap one. he tot i bluffing him. either that, he's acting blurr.

 

[iboey]

EOW :dunno: TS was quoted 35 for a third party lens adapter by AP and 16 by OP. Understood? Even reputable shops dun sell LEASED price of CANON products which this case the ORIGINAL lens adapter is LEASED SGD$39. Y would a third party lens adapter more ex than an RETAIL original one? Y AP quote 35 for a third party? Coz AP is out to CHOP carrot. Y would diff AP quote diff prices? Coz AP has no business ethics. period :thumbsd:

 

[asterixsg]

I think this post is all about bad service and worse attitude of the sales staff. Its not about going there for the first time, looking inexperienced or whatever.

littlepea,
sorry to hear about this incident and i can imagine how frustrating it would've been for you.

having said that, i've bought almost all my stuff from Cathay Marina. Yeah, I might've paid slightly higher prices, but I've gone there several times, checked this, checked that, chatted with the guys there and walked off without making any purchase. No questions asked.

I've heard great reviews about MSColor, John 3:16 and TK Photo etc. I have been to Alan Photo at Sim Lim a couple of times and I've had a not so great experience too. But that could be just me, because I can't stand any of the shops (leave alone AP) in Sim Lim. The attitude of 'most' of the salesmen there makes me quite uncomfortable.

 

[redzzz]

i have been buying stuff and recommending AP to friens who wants to buy camera. in a way, i have been supporting them but sad to say, i have to agree with thread starter....

i recommended a frien to buy a camera there, they pulled a last unit trick and actually sold my frien a display unit...

another time i went down myself and the AP staff that i usually talk to weren't there so tried to talk to another guy.... absolute snob! i had intentions to buy a sigma 70-200 f2.8 lens but as i was asking a bit more questions, he tried to 'push' me away by saying no stock and kept eyeing 2 angmohs (fat sheeps?) behind me.... as i was abt to leave the shop, i met one of the staff that i usually work with and asked him abt the lens and stock, to my surprise, he said he was SURE there was stock of it in the shop.... ended up buying the lens at TCW...

 

[eow]

i see:embrass: