Which shop offers a better price and good customer service?

[Tachyon]

So far most of my camera items are bought from TCW (Canon 40D, 100-400mm L, 28-105mm L, etc) and never had any bad experiences with them. I called up beforehand, they said they have stocks, I leave my name, and the item was waiting for me when I arrived. I was not one of their regular customers and each time I visit the shop, they don't remember me. Even then, they were prompt, polite, and did not hassle or try to sell me anything else. Of course, they did not wait on me hand and foot to serve me, but they allow me to touch the items, and even test them when I expressed an interest to buy. During my testing they would just stand aside quietly without trying to hard-sell the items.

Customer service is a two-way street. If there is a bad customer service experience, it could be the fault of the seller, or the buyer. Having "the customer is always right" attitude is never conducive to a happy shopping experience.

 

[CS TAN]

I too had a bad experience with John 3:16. I will never visit the shop ever again.

You have a very long post so I will cut some of the contents off and rearranging some in order to answer some areas.

I'm new at buying camera equipment and went to John 3:16 after hearing good reviews from friends. I went there yesterday looking to buy a skylight filter for my nikon kit lens. I was told it was sold out but they would have stock today. Being inexperienced, I only asked the price and availability, and not the brand.

So I went down again today (8/4) and the guy who attended to me yesterday ('A') recognised me and asked me nice to wait, and that started my hour plus wait in the shop for nothing.

Why will you want to go back for a skylight filter when you can get it from other shops in Funan? I am sure AP have them. Even South China will have them as well. Go around the corner and you have TCW and other as well as Cathay Photo. You said it yourself here:

Also in the shop was a man who wanted to buy a d90 for work purposes, he has been waiting for the shop to find him one for a few weeks, and he needed the camera for work the next day but the shop still cannot get one for him. 'A' was busy making one phonecall after another to try to find an available d90. A few times, when this man wanted to leave, 'A' would ask him to wait as he make another phone call to try to find stock of the camera.
Before I was in John 3:16, I was in a shop a few floors below which had the d90 in stock and it was priced slightly cheaper. I did not tell that man as I did not think it was nice to do it in someone else's shop. But I hindsight I wish I did.
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If I had been served more promptly or if I had been wise enough to leave earlier, I would have found suitable skylight filter for my lens.

So, you are aware of there are other shops in Funan and nearby so why don't you just go and get an accessory as simple as the skylight filter?

The filter cost $30 and was of a brand I did not recognise. I was only familiar with Tokina and Hoya and I asked how it compared to this brand, I was not given any proper straight answer. When I asked if there were any other better filters, 'A' recommended a B+W filter at $95. I told him it was out of my budget, but he took the $30 and asked me to compare it with the B+W one, at that point 4 other customers joined in to say the B+W was definitely better, they could see so much difference and urged me to buy the B+W. The major difference I could see with the naked eye was the $30 filter had very visible reflection, but the B+W didn't.

I had to repeat myself many times that $95 is out of my budget and I had to tell them that no matter how they try to make me buy, I will not buy it because I cannot afford it. 'A' retorted to say poor people do not use Nikon. I felt I was subjected to hard sell tactics.
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When I said I would probably wait the Tokina filter, 'B' had the cheek to suggest that I buy the $30 FIRST. I told him straight, that I would rather wait and use $35 to buy a Tokina.
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Apart from that the sales people were trying to sell me random items on the counter top. One suggested I get the d700, when I said I have a d90, he said I should upgrade. When I said I just got it, he still suggested I upgrade. I told to tell him straight that I won't even pay for a $95 filter, no way I would buy a new camera. I was tiring to have to repeat myself like that to fend off their selling tactics.

Usually when I don't want to buy something the salesman try to push, I will not say anything, just smile at him/her and that will end it right there. There is no need to try to defend yourself like that.

With only 3 or 4 staff, John 3:16 cannot handle the large number of customers patronising them. They are friendly in the sense that they try to greet and capture even one who walk in to their shop, but in fact all they are doing is making their customers wait ridiculous lengths of time to be served and assisted. They cannot and do not give dedicated assistance to customers, instead, you're fighting with others and forever waiting in, not in line, but in a crowded mess, to be served. Business seems so good that things are forever out of stock and you always have to come back another day to get what you want.

This shop is only for those who has the patience to wait for what the want to buy, those who have time to spare and likes to spend that spare time standing around in the shop, mingling and chatting with the staff and other customers.

I do not have that kind of time to spare, I would rather walk into a shop get what I want, and spend my time taking photos.

Different shops for different folks. If you are not comfortable with waiting, I think John 3:16 might not be the shop that you should patronize.

 

[SVG84R]

I had a good shopping experience with Cathay Photo recently. Through a referral, I met one of their senior staff Steven Ng. As a newbie, I naturally asked lots of questions and Steven was very helpful in answering to my needs. Subsequently another staff Duncan Lim (also very helpful) took over and concluded the sale.

Prices vary from shop to shop. Cathay Photo is a shop I can trust and enjoy patronizing. It's the human touch that counts!

yeah..i deal with steven and duncan over at CP...certainly very helpful

 

[gazkw]

u should always check prices before committing even if it means travelling to every single shop. this goes for every individual purchase. i dunno how they quote, but it seems they adjust prices from time to time.

when i bought my 450D+17-55mm, i checked with MS colour and john - they were unable to beat CP's price.

i'm not sure why people say cathay photo is more expensive. quite a few times i have gone with friend's to AP, John, MS colour and CP still gives the best price. this is from dealing with duncan. i dunno about other sales people.

as always, if my preferred sales guy is not there, i don't buy.

 

[mayhemics]

Just got overcharged by Bally Photo in Funan: $57 for a "normal"/"thick" Hoya CPL & $62 for a Hoya Pro1D UV filter! Haiz...only found out after Samuel(I tink, the thin, always wear long sleeve one) at John 3:16 informed me of the respective prices of both types of filters...

Yup Bally is without doubt highly unethical... go for J 3:16 or MS for honesty.

 

[dctk78]

MS colours.
able to test before purchase.

 

[Jagger]

You mean can bring home to test before paying?

 

[Fujiwara]

I felt that MS telephony skills could be better and more welcoming when i call and ask for prices and stock availability. Maybe i was the unlucky one :bigeyes:

 

[DrSpock]

I felt that MS telephony skills could be better and more welcoming when i call and ask for prices and stock availability. Maybe i was the unlucky one :bigeyes:

I had the same experience when I called the other day, quite impatience:thumbsd:. I bought a 77mm Hoya HMC UV for $84 from them is that ex:think:?

 

[wakokokoyz]

the bald salesman at AP is a real a-hole.

 

[evilorgi]

u should always check prices before committing even if it means travelling to every single shop. this goes for every individual purchase. i dunno how they quote, but it seems they adjust prices from time to time.

when i bought my 450D+17-55mm, i checked with MS colour and john - they were unable to beat CP's price.

i'm not sure why people say cathay photo is more expensive. quite a few times i have gone with friend's to AP, John, MS colour and CP still gives the best price. this is from dealing with duncan. i dunno about other sales people.

as always, if my preferred sales guy is not there, i don't buy.

yup, i certainly agree with you... CP has the impression that their prices cost more however upon a few occasions when i buy my gear, CP gave me a better price over other reputable shops.

do your homework before you make any purchase is the most important so a to prevent you being 'chopped' like a carrot. AP-F has salesman so experienced in doing that... On one occasion, i was quoted 20bucks for a hoya uv 52mm filter. i asked what's so special about it and the sales person bull-shitted his way thru, saying multi coated, good brand blah blah... i felt like asking him, do i look stupid to you?

it's always better to build a rapport with a shop or a salesperson. once there is a relationship there, it's always easier to ask for a better pricing and naturally they will give you good customer service.

 

[cowmera]

J3:16, CP, & OP for me.:thumbsup:

had a bad experience with TCW thou.:thumbsd:

I had a bad experience with TCW too.
:thumbsd:

Unpleasant experience with this shop too!

Me too! :thumbsd: :thumbsd:

 

[evilorgi]

the bald salesman at AP is a real a-hole.

lolx,which AP? Funan or SLS?

 

[Eddie Current]

Its also Florence also right. She has good business ethics.

 

[Estherfu]

I work near Orchard and I have been recommended to Lords at Lucky Plaza by a senior photog.
I was conned by salesman at Sim Lim before ( vulnerable auntie ) so now I always phone around to ask for the price before purchasing the exact item I want ( the bigger items ). So far, may be I've been their regular customer, Lords has been offering the best price - usually inclusive of GST . The in-charge is James. General Service +/-, may be I usually don't really understand what they are trying to explain to me...(auntie a bit slow....), so they kind of get impatient...

esther

 

[kingfishers]

I give my vote to cathay. They are one who really serve u up the end of the product knowledge.:thumbsup:

 

[myredcar]

I was looking for a camera bag and happens to went into a shop names K-13 marketing in Peninsula Plaza.
They looks to have quite a good range of bags, like lowepro, tamrac, kata, vanguard,...
Any advise whether their price are reasonable ?
Thanks !

 

[ralliart12]

I give my vote to cathay. They are one who really serve u up the end of the product knowledge.:thumbsup:

Recently I went to Cathay Photo @ Marina Sq. I was browsing for straps and when one of the staff approached me, he immediately recommended me the BlackRapid R-strap without asking me what camera I am using, citing that particular strap as what everyone is using, etc.

I was quite disappointed that his recommendations did NOT come after factoring what camera model I was using and hence what may be suitable, and if he had known my camera model, perhaps he can better recommend me what straps other owners of the same camera model has purchased.

Besides, there are quite a few Optech strap hung up also, instantly recommending the $89 R-strap to me wasn't very nice...I'm sure some of the optech straps are as nice too.

Anyway I'm using the LX3 and I tink the width of the R-strap will not slot through the metal loops.

Btw, I'm pretty satisfied with staff/service @ the Peninsula branch, though.

 

[roslee7]

where is john 3:16 shop?

 

[ralliart12]

where is john 3:16 shop?

Funan Centre
I tink it's the foodcourt level