Utterly horrible, unprofessional and totally digusted service at Lord's

[chngpe01]

I had a little spare time just now and made a few phone calls to the other popular shops on this forum enquiring about price/availability of the Nikon BR-3. The results:

Cathay Photo: No stock available, but the salesperson estimated that the price would be "about $60" upon order.

TK Photo: No stock available, but the helpful salesperson duly checked the pricelist and quoted $40.

MS Color: No stock available.

AP: No stock available.



Also did a quick search on CS and found this thread in which a user claimed to have purchased a BR-2A and BR-3 from TK at a combined price of $64. using stinkyfoot17's quote of $25 for the BR-2A, that would put the price of the BR-3 at $39.

Based on the above, my personal opinion is that the $40 charged by Lord's is very acceptable and definitely NOT UNREASONABLE. No doubt stinkyfoot17 did not feel he had a pleasant experience at the shop, but it's safe to say (in my opinion) that, for all the subjective hunches and bad feeling, he was not ripped off or cheated by Lord's.

As to whether Lord's deserves the label of "utterly horrible, unprofessional and totally disgusted", I'll leave to the individual CSers to decide for themselves!

I think timlim has done a good job of determining if stinkyfoot17's hucnch that he's been ripped off is true.

I just want to say that it is unfortunate for both stinkyfoot17 and Lords. I am not a long time customer of Lords but I find the service there to be excellent. Sometimes looks can be deceiving, and it is something that Kelvin is not blessed with ie. he has a boo chap look but actually a nice chap.

 

[samsiu]

... but if you zip by during the afternoons between 2 ~ 5, James would usually be real chirpy and can go on forever about cameras lenses etc...

Seems like this person can work and be pleasant between the said times. Outside of that, hmmmm. Sounds like Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde... Not dependable.

Again, according to the threadstarter, the problem lies not only with this person, but the boss as well who said secretly behind his back.

If they all work together, there should be 1 price and 1 price only. take it from the price list, or something. But with this kind of behaviour, very very questionable. To me, credibility is non-existent.

 

[TMC]

CP, AP, TCW, MS Color, all practice this, you going to discount all of them? That timing if you havent noticed is the off peak period, of course he can take his time to serve you.

Low Price, Good Service, Dependable. Pick any 2 and the 3rd option is likely not available.

 

[TMC]

Seems like this person can work and be pleasant between the said times. Outside of that, hmmmm. Sounds like Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde... Not dependable.

Again, according to the threadstarter, the problem lies not only with this person, but the boss as well who said secretly behind his back.

If they all work together, there should be 1 price and 1 price only. take it from the price list, or something. But with this kind of behaviour, very very questionable. To me, credibility is non-existent.

BTW have you patronized the store before? Coz if going by the threadstarter and ignoring everyone who shared their good experience there, you would be very narrow minded.

 

[Bean]

I have a simple logic... U give me good service, answer and help me with my concerns, it may cost just a little more, I still buy from u. Why can't they get it?

Unfortunately, not many customers have this simple logic, especially if there are many shops selling the same items nearly.

 

[samsiu]

BTW have you patronized the store before? Coz if going by the threadstarter and ignoring everyone who shared their good experience there, you would be very narrow minded.

Fortunately, I have not the chance to do it and never will. When it comes to buying camera stuff, I patronise all shops. Fussy as it may sound and troublesome, I go all over the place in search of a good deal. When it comes to mere dollars separating the pricing given by those shops I enquired, I go for good service, and maybe gut instinct.

I've patronise Alan Photo, CP, TK Photo, a few shops at Sim Lim. Haven't had the pleasure to go to Lucky Plaza to ask around. Don't think I will.

True that there are many others in this thread who stated that they had super excellent treatment from those people at Lords. I just do not want to be like the threadstarter. That's all. Once you know that a particular shop is crap, forget about it totally. Human nature and making mistakes is not a good reason for such behaviour. If you are in retail, you should know there are millions of difficult and bad customers out there. No retailer is perfect, but too bad if you handle a customer wrongly, and that customer made feedback on forums like this one.

 

[TMC]

Fortunately, I have not the chance to do it and never will. When it comes to buying camera stuff, I patronise all shops. Fussy as it may sound and troublesome, I go all over the place in search of a good deal. When it comes to mere dollars separating the pricing given by those shops I enquired, I go for good service, and maybe gut instinct.

I've patronise Alan Photo, CP, TK Photo, a few shops at Sim Lim. Haven't had the pleasure to go to Lucky Plaza to ask around. Don't think I will.

True that there are many others in this thread who stated that they had super excellent treatment from those people at Lords. I just do not want to be like the threadstarter. That's all. Once you know that a particular shop is crap, forget about it totally. Human nature and making mistakes is not a good reason for such behaviour. If you are in retail, you should know there are millions of difficult and bad customers out there. No retailer is perfect, but too bad if you handle a customer wrongly, and that customer made feedback on forums like this one.

Did you write off AP and CP as well? Since there are a number of negative feedback about them as well.

 

[student]

Fortunately, I have not the chance to do it and never will. When it comes to buying camera stuff, I patronise all shops. Fussy as it may sound and troublesome, I go all over the place in search of a good deal. When it comes to mere dollars separating the pricing given by those shops I enquired, I go for good service, and maybe gut instinct.

I've patronise Alan Photo, CP, TK Photo, a few shops at Sim Lim. Haven't had the pleasure to go to Lucky Plaza to ask around. Don't think I will.

True that there are many others in this thread who stated that they had super excellent treatment from those people at Lords. I just do not want to be like the threadstarter. That's all. Once you know that a particular shop is crap, forget about it totally. Human nature and making mistakes is not a good reason for such behaviour. If you are in retail, you should know there are millions of difficult and bad customers out there. No retailer is perfect, but too bad if you handle a customer wrongly, and that customer made feedback on forums like this one.

I think if you feel that a shop is "crap", it would be reasonble for you to write the shop off, as far as you are concerned.

In this particular instance, specifically Lords, do you think that the "crap" is applicable to Lords?

Based on one negative experience from the threadstarter? And ignoring the many excellent experiences that were voiced? Well, if you were to be consisent with yourself, and if you were logical in your thinking, then you should also write off CP, Alan, and also Clubsnap! Are there no negative experiences from CP and Alan? Are they no negative experiences from CS? I cannot talk about TK, John 3:16. But I has spoken to MS, and they quoted a very inflated price for the equipment I was interested in.

If your thinking is really logical and rational, then you should at least write off CP and Alan and CS as "crap".

 

[judeseah]

actually I thought the original poster was a little bit too sensitive. I read the initial post and I found nothing wrong with lord's behaviour.

What SHOCKED me was the other post about Lords taking back lenes AFTER it has been used for TWO SHOOTS.

wonder what happened to THAT lens??? :dunno:

re-sold it as first hand? :thumbsd:
use it as demo?
sell at a special price? :thumbsup:

jude

 

[zaxh81]

That post make me think twice about getting mew lenses from them.

 

[itsybitsyspidy]

isnt the practice of purchase of equipment and returning them after you are unsatisfied with it, common overseas? I've read dpreview forums and its common for consumers to return a lens or a camera body if they are unsatisfied with it. Of course they pay for the equipment upfront, and if they want to return the equipment, the shop will check that it's in brand new condition before they allow the exchange.

Sometimes its the mindsets which must change, not practices. Singaporeans have been brought up not to "lugi" in everything they do.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[samsiu]

Did you write off AP and CP as well? Since there are a number of negative feedback about them as well.

Yes. Both of them. Avoid them like a plague. Anyways, I had bad experience with AP myself personally!

 

[Corey]

It's true some overseas stores allow customer purchase the equipment and return it if not satisfied. But personal experiences tell me that the practice is applied to all customers, not only the selected few. Does the practices at Lords is a general rule applied to all customers? if it's true, to me, it's absolutely fine and faire. In that case, it should be no secret between the shop and customers on this. By reading, not convinced it's one of the shop's general rule of business conduct. However, it's still no wrong or right on the shop's practice. It may intentionally do that to award its long-term customers for loyalty and consolidate repeat business. Problem arises when new customer just find out the fact and realise his new purchase might have already been used by some other users. Should he feel some sense of unfair? personally think so. My suggestion, if it's really upset,possibly new customers could have some options: 1)Take it easy this time, hope to foster a sound relationship with shop and enjoy the privileges someone enjoyed now. But be minded that it's not always lead to that. 2)Ask for the same treatment. If get, then try out the equipment untill satisfied and final purchase. If can not get, just walk away. 3)If having deep trust on your judgement and skill, get what you want at the selling point, regardless some finger prints on the equipment if do exist. 4)Don't go that shop if you really can not convince you to believe, no matter how many good recommendations are there, any way, you don't kow them very well, right? They may just speak out their experiences at the shop, but I doubt they're trying to convince that you can expect the exactly same treatment they got.

my 2 cents on the "return lens" practice, not really on the thread starter's case.

 

[user111]

complain here so? who cares? lol

 

[stinkyfoot17]

complain here so? who cares? lol

I neber ask you to read wat ... kaypoh for wat !

 

[stinkyfoot17]

I had a little spare time just now and made a few phone calls to the other popular shops on this forum enquiring about price/availability of the Nikon BR-3. The results:

Cathay Photo: No stock available, but the salesperson estimated that the price would be "about $60" upon order.

TK Photo: No stock available, but the helpful salesperson duly checked the pricelist and quoted $40.

MS Color: No stock available.

AP: No stock available.



Also did a quick search on CS and found this thread in which a user claimed to have purchased a BR-2A and BR-3 from TK at a combined price of $64. using stinkyfoot17's quote of $25 for the BR-2A, that would put the price of the BR-3 at $39.

Based on the above, my personal opinion is that the $40 charged by Lord's is very acceptable and definitely NOT UNREASONABLE. No doubt stinkyfoot17 did not feel he had a pleasant experience at the shop, but it's safe to say (in my opinion) that, for all the subjective hunches and bad feeling, he was not ripped off or cheated by Lord's.

As to whether Lord's deserves the label of "utterly horrible, unprofessional and totally disgusted", I'll leave to the individual CSers to decide for themselves!

Thanks, timlim, for yr effort.

 

[azul123]

isnt the practice of purchase of equipment and returning them after you are unsatisfied with it, common overseas? I've read dpreview forums and its common for consumers to return a lens or a camera body if they are unsatisfied with it. Of course they pay for the equipment upfront, and if they want to return the equipment, the shop will check that it's in brand new condition before they allow the exchange.

Sometimes its the mindsets which must change, not practices. Singaporeans have been brought up not to "lugi" in everything they do.

Just my 2 cents.

Yes it is true... but they resell it at Outlet Malls at marked down prices.

../azul123

 

[sharky]

...A good friend of mine who is also a regular got to bring a 17-55mmf2.8 on a trip to Thailand, and he was allowed to pay up if he liked it after the trip. James even lend him a 512mb cf card for the trip. But of course, there is a lot of trust between them.

I guess Lords may not be the friendliest for a first time buyer, but they make the best long term friends.

Not going to comment on bad service at any shop. There is always a black sheep.

But what interest me is Marc's friend got to "borrow" a non-inexpensive lens for a oversea trip and had the great option to pay only at a later time. Wow. I must really visit this shop and befriend with James.

My brother and I bought tons (ok, more likely to be kg) of equipment from the regular shop (ONE shop). Must have spent 6-digit collectively all these years :think: . I've never been treated like Mr. Wang's friend. Yes, I got allocated a D200/D2X faster than many others and not having to queue. I pay maybe 1 to 3% less than others, and get a low-value freebies once in a while. But not once the shop loan me a lens. Yes, I loaned an expensive carbon-fibre tripod from the shop. But it was a demo unit anyway from the sole agent.

I have to review my relationship with this regular shop. Can I use Lord's/James as reference?

 

[Dennis]

Haha I have the same experience thats why I say trust is another thing but allowing a 17-55 to be brought overseas to be used and only pay up if liked is another thing to me. I am thinking is it fair to others ?. I will probably avoid the shop if I know the "service" extend to such trust even if the shop is going to loan me the lens.

Not going to comment on bad service at any shop. There is always a black sheep.

But what interest me is Marc's friend got to "borrow" a non-inexpensive lens for a oversea trip and had the great option to pay only at a later time. Wow. I must really visit this shop and befriend with James.

My brother and I bought tons (ok, more likely to be kg) of equipment from the regular shop (ONE shop). Must have spent 6-digit collectively all these years :think: . I've never been treated like Mr. Wang's friend. Yes, I got allocated a D200/D2X faster than many others and not having to queue. I pay maybe 1 to 3% less than others, and get a low-value freebies once in a while. But not once the shop loan me a lens. Yes, I loaned an expensive carbon-fibre tripod from the shop. But it was a demo unit anyway from the sole agent.

I have to review my relationship with this regular shop. Can I use Lord's/James as reference?

 

[photo]

Let me put in a word of fairness... you may have had bad experience with a particular staff.. blacklist the staff.. fine.. but don't need to blacklist the shop..

James has been giving excellent service... even allowing me to walk off with the D2X after having problems with my credit card and pay a week later.. And this is not only because I've known him for a long time.. got good service from the first time I met him..

You may have bad service at CP, AP or Lords (Except John 3:16 - Everybody seems to be friendly there except that they can get quite busy) depending on who you approach.. Getting recommendations on who to talk to will be a good idea..

Wow... let me see, maybe if I tried scratching the magnetic strip on my credit card, would I be able to get a D2X and walk out and come back a week later? Hmmm I would love to try, I think I should be able to get a D2X and 17-55 but I'm just so afraid the 17-55 might be a set returned long ago from overseas and have had a few one-trip-stands with others..

Like you said.. you know him, and it's not a short time frame.