Tim, I think most of us on the list have similar experiences. It's a shame how retail service has fallen off in so many instances, yet there are still retailers that thrive and grow and maintaining many, many happy customers over the years.
There's a camera store across town from where I live, and quite a distance from me compared to the "local" camera shop. They seem to be thriving. The reason, from my perspective, is that they store has an enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. The staff is genuinely friendly and helpful. The store is generally well stocked with a wide variety of film, paper, tripods, cases, and so on. And what's most interesting, it's just a little, dark hole in the wall compared to other stores, and it's poorly laid out. But people come from a wide area, encompass a broad socio-conomic mix. It can be done ... Here in my area there are a number of retail shops that are pure winners. One thing that all have in common is that the owners are on the premises all or most of the working day. They are able to answer questions and explain products and services if the sales staff can't. But more important, they set a tone and an example. As long as the owner is dedicated to service, those stores will thrive. Many have been serving the community for decades, not just years. Shel > [Original Message] > From: Tim Øsleby > I could not agree more John. Support your community, and all that. That's > all good shit. > > But unfortunately that's all it is, shit. In my little community I have a > local photo store. Right there, 100 meters away from my house. But no Pentax > gear. When I go there, the boss is never in, and those who are present most > of the time know nooothing, about nooothing. > > I've asked them for a hood for a 70-210, what they came up with was a > general Hama rubber hood. About 20$, for something that was useless for me. > I bought it, in the name of good community spirit. > > I've also asked them for something to clean the sensor with. After three > months the boss told me that the Canon 400D would have built in sensor > cleaner. So all I had to do was to buy a new more current body. He knows > that I am a Pentax user, he also knows I have more K-mount lenses than he > has Canon lenses in his store. I was amazed, he told me to change system to > get my sensor cleaned. And I was also a little amused by this answer, > knowing that the K10D also will have a sensor cleaning system. After a > friendly community spirited debate, we agreed that the sensor cleaner on the > 400D will not clean the sensor in my DS ;-) > > One example of the knowledge of the regular staff: They believe that a 40$ > tripod does the same job as a proper tripod. They don't know about mirror > slap. > > I am afraid this is pretty typical. I believe that it is the same in almost > whatever community you live. Knowledge and dedication is long gone. Gone > with the aperture simulator ;-) > > Sorry about the sarcastic tone in my reply. I am a bit emotional about this, > and that because I think it is important. I really wish the situation was > different. I wish my local photo store was a resource of knowledge, a place > I did not have to wait for 3 months for useless replies. > > This said. Give me an alternative, within two hours travel. Assuming the > prizes are acceptable (less than 25% above internet prizes), I'd sure use > them.
-- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
