Utterly Disgusted by Alan Photo

[Fire Kirin]

AP is usually quite inconsistent with their service, u meet the right sales person u are lucky. u get those not serious ones, usually will quote u high price, or "smoke" you.
Service there so-so, depending on the salesperson.

I strongly prefer Cathay, the service there is much better. They are more upfront, prices are competitive, dun fluctuate too much and more controlled. They allow you to test their products, and let you compare before making your purchase. They are more service-oriented. If something screwed up, I have much more confidence in resolving at Cathay than anywhere else. Its safer

Friend, Cathay = cut throat price!!!:sweat:

Check the feedback listed.:sticktong

 

[Fire Kirin]

MS-Colour, better!!!:thumbsup:

Or even Lord's.:thumbsup:

 

[morningstar]

I buy from CP and TCW and sometimes Ruby, within Funan only J3:16 has good service but their price ain't the best. MS Color and TK is so-so sometimes like, sometimes dun like, I won't rate them very high also. Can forget about the rest of the shops within Funan (AP, Bally....) they all are jokers and rubbish. And for those of you who buy filters from those jokers, make sure you check the filter case to see the seals are not broken and then check the version of the filer you are getting. My ratings for cams shops according to my exp (best to worst)

Good - CP, TCW, Ruby
Average (still can buy) - MS Colour, OP & J3:16
Waste time - AP, Bally, SLS shops

 

[morningstar]

This is not the way to do business, WTF is this? Customer buy things still must see the boss mood? Is the shop ok or not? I think the boss better go and take some sales course on how to run a shop with good service.

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.

 

[morningstar]

Friend, Cathay = cut throat price!!!:sweat:

Check the feedback listed.:sticktong

Not true. I always get quotations (black and white) from various stores before I part my $$$. Bought a lens CP cos their price is lowest! Beating MS Color and TK. I also agree that prices among these retailers are quite inconsistent, it also depends on your customer relationship with the shop that you buy often. If a shop cannot value you patronage, also no point keep buying from them.

 

[XC Pictorial]

Last time in another well known shop also more ridiculous...

went in to check for a price of something from uncle A, walked out to consider then walk in again ask uncle B who is not attending customers and get a different price... maybe cause they based on commission or soemthing

How they work is there is a base price, the salesmen can sell at that price or anything above. Any extra amount they sell at above the base price will be split between the store and the salesperson agreed upon (i see 3:7 frequently)

For eg, camera model XXX base price $200

Salesman A sells it at $1000, the extra 1000-200=$800 is splitted between the salesman and the store. He gets $560.

Mind you guys out there that the above example is NOT based on a never seen before scenario.

 

[jasperng]

where is ruby? i never heard b4?

 

[ipin]

It doesn't matter where you buy from. Most importantly IMO, is that one does his/her homework to know the market prices, compare then part with the cash.

If the qoute isn't what you're comfortable with, just thank them and walk away.

Don't need to get too pissed off with them, one may never know when you'll need their help again.

My 2c worth.

 

[ipin]

where is ruby? i never heard b4?

Pennisula Hotel. Just outside The Camera Workshop (TCW).

 

[Knighthunter]

This AP in Funan reminds me about incident in April when I bring my overseas guests for dinner and some shopping after FAT. 2 of them interested to by Panasonic SD Camcorder SDR-S150GC-S, first we asked CP and quoted at SGD 950 before dinner. Unfortunately the CP is closed after finished our dinner so we walk to Funan and went to AP, I was shocked like hell when the lady seller told me that the same model SD camcorder for SGD 1,980. I asked her are you sure sherplied yeas and fixed price. What a sh*t, I told my guest and bit embarrsed to get out from the shop and we drove to Mustafa since they are going back using the earliest flight the next day. Mustafa sold this SD camcorder for $950 and since two of them buying they got additional original battery, that's I call good service. Lucky we checked with CP first if not we maybe a victim of this blood sucker shop.

 

[chngpe01]

AP? Never heard of them. :devil: must be some shady shop

 

[wishxtreme]

How about bring one of your big mama there with a d2x or 1dMKIII to test the lens and tell them you want to buy some filters. see what will they quote? They may quote you a cheaper prices if you show them that you have done some research and comparision and show them that you are a pro or a person knowledgable about cam..

haha

 

[night86mare]

Friend, Cathay = cut throat price!!!:sweat:

Check the feedback listed.:sticktong

Yes, slightly higher, but they do not anyhow quote song song unless you happen to look like you have blue eyes and blond hair. =)

And fluctuation is not so bad, one big plus point is that you'll always know that they have stocks.

And of course, the fact that you do not have blue eyes and blond hair, or do not dress properly might get you cold-shouldered for maybe 5 minutes because everyone's busy trying to curry favour with the blue-eyed, blond-haired dude. But then, after a few times you get used to it. :angel:

 

[Terence]

Don't know how many AP bashing threads have surfaced over the last few years. What do you expect from a shop run by Ah Bengs?

 

[weixiang_06]

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.

CANNOT BE LIDDAT LAH.. if like this, then AP is like the infamous Song BO brothers :sweatsm: :lovegrin: :thumbsd:

 

[weixiang_06]

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:

i upz u too. coz i had unpleasant experience when i was shopping for my consumer camera... MSColor gave me the best bang! period :lovegrin:

 

[weixiang_06]

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.

this thread is about AP being like the famous Song Bo brothers? :sweatsm:

 

[weixiang_06]

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...

wtf? AP reallie like the song bo brothers how could CS people still recommend people to buy from there? my best bet, MSColor in AMK.. i live in amk :sweatsm:

 

[weixiang_06]

Actually recently I have some bad experience at AP also, asked for Sigma 15mm at simlim branch first, they said 857 include GST, but only have stock at Funan branch, so I went down there and buy, but they said no more stock need to order, fine...then I asked how much, the guy said 880 include GST, I said it can't be, he said if I pay cash can cut to 875, no choice then I ordered it, after that I felt a bit regret and went down to another shop check price, the sale people told me include GST SGD810, I shocked and decided to buy from this shop.

can we make this thread a sticky.. so people can be aware of how AP is like... :angry:

 

[Michael]

Don't know how many AP bashing threads have surfaced over the last few years. What do you expect from a shop run by Ah Bengs?

on the other hand AP SLS allowed me to test any lens i bought so far... mind i tried 4 or 5 sets of 80-200 f2.8 before i settled for one... CP on the other hand would not even allow me to touch a Mamiya 645 i wanted to buy...
in the end its not the shop name but rather if they know you or not....