Lung7707 Posted March 19, 2012 Share #81 Posted March 19, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I got a story from the mid 80s. A friend of mine Paul went to a jewelry store at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and asked to see a necklace in the showcase The sales girl said "I don't think you can afford it" and refused to show it. Paul walked out fuming. After half an hour he went back to the store and demanded to see the necklace. The sales girl reluctantly showed it to him. Without blinking my friend said "I'll take it"... without even asking the price he whips out his Amex card "charge it". The price? $15,000. The sales girl could not imagine her luck.. the commission! My friend didn't even know if the charge would go through..the sales girl needed to call the bank to get approval... it was approved. He signs the charge slip... and before handing it back to the sales girl... looks at her and rips it up. "That'll teach you not to judge your customers!" ... and walks out. True story. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 19, 2012 Posted March 19, 2012 Hi Lung7707, Take a look here Arrogant dealer........ I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest Ornello Posted March 19, 2012 Share #82 Posted March 19, 2012 I got a story from the mid 80s. A friend of mine Paul went to a jewelry store at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and asked to see a necklace in the showcase The sales girl said "I don't think you can afford it" and refused to show it. Paul walked out fuming. After half an hour he went back to the store and demanded to see the necklace. The sales girl reluctantly showed it to him. Without blinking my friend said "I'll take it"... without even asking the price he whips out his Amex card "charge it". The price? $15,000. The sales girl could not imagine her luck.. the commission! My friend didn't even know if the charge would go through..the sales girl needed to call the bank to get approval... it was approved. He signs the charge slip... and before handing it back to the sales girl... looks at her and rips it up. "That'll teach you not to judge your customers!" ... and walks out. True story. Only after long experience can one easily tell if one is dealing with a true qualified customer or a waste of time. It's better to err on the side of courtesy if in doubt. But make no mistake about it, there are thieves and others who will waste your time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lung7707 Posted March 19, 2012 Share #83 Posted March 19, 2012 It's better to err on the side of courtesy if in doubt. I like this thought. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ornello Posted March 19, 2012 Share #84 Posted March 19, 2012 I like this thought. The truth is, though, that you have to be on your toes, lest you be the victim of thieves (in a jewelry store) or 'time-bandits' who will ask a million questions, get all the info they need, then buy mail-order to save $10. Nothing is more frustrating than that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted March 19, 2012 Share #85 Posted March 19, 2012 For several years I worked in ITS on a one-to-one basis with professors' projects. A friend in the business department told me that they estimate that one client who has a bad experience with a service (or sales) person tell seven more about the bad experience. I could not confirm his statement but it felt right. I found that each highly satisfied client might, just might share his good experience with two more - unless he coveted my time and didn't want to 'share' the good news lest I get too busy with the others' projects. (Oh, they have their ways of 'tipping' for service under the name of a gratuity. Anyone tip a Leica dealer?) Perhaps these unfortunate Leica salesmen should be told the same. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jarski Posted March 19, 2012 Share #86 Posted March 19, 2012 IMO Internet and eBay have largely put these kind of experiences, and sales guys, into history. in old days this was the norm. every Nikon or Canon SLR's store had on shelf, buyer had almost beg to see it in hand, before digging the wallet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted March 19, 2012 Share #87 Posted March 19, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) IMO Internet and eBay have largely put these kind of experiences, and sales guys, into history. in old days this was the norm. every Nikon or Canon SLR's store had on shelf, buyer had almost beg to see it in hand, before digging the wallet. Gosh, that was definitely not my experience. I buy (and bought) most of my hardware in Chicago. Back in the old days, Altman Camera was great about letting us handle things, and then after Ralph closed the shop and Helix became dominant, the quite formal (sometimes misunderstood as arrogant) Selwin Schwartz was as similarly accommodating (and took Altman's best salesmen). Century camera was good, too. They still are. *Trivia - Selwin was not only a shrewd businessman, but also a well published poet! The only time I saw an Altman salesman be somewhat rude is when a customer insisted on a list of the Leica M4s they had so he could pick 'a cool serial number'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jarski Posted March 20, 2012 Share #88 Posted March 20, 2012 Gosh, that was definitely not my experience. ... well I never had chance to visit any big city pro camera stores, only small to mid size town mom-and-pop camera stores. this was in -80's and -90's. cameras were novelty and only some secret society members were allowed to touch these magic devices. if those times had continued, I had never got interested of photography. by passing sales guys completely, with Internet, was only way to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPizzzle Posted March 21, 2012 Share #89 Posted March 21, 2012 Another annoying quality of certain dealers is that some become upset when you ask about the return policy. I've been asked on more then one occasion if i'm sure that I want the camera and that I don't have an intent to use it and return it. Sure you can look at pictures online, and I don't buy a camera with the intent to return it, but if it doesn't work for me then I certainly will.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted March 21, 2012 Share #90 Posted March 21, 2012 I have never bought any product with the view of returning it. Consequently, it wouldn't cross my mind to ask about a returns policy. If I were a dealer, I'd be a bit cheesed off if my customers said "I want to buy this expensive product, but will you take it back and give me my money back if I don't like it?". If you're unsure, rent one, don't buy one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted March 21, 2012 Share #91 Posted March 21, 2012 Just out of curiosity, I was under the impression that one could not return an opened Leica product (unless it was damaged)...Is that just something a local 'arrogant' dealer told me to avoid complication, or is it normal protocol for authorized dealers? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPizzzle Posted March 21, 2012 Share #92 Posted March 21, 2012 I have never bought any product with the view of returning it. Consequently, it wouldn't cross my mind to ask about a returns policy. If I were a dealer, I'd be a bit cheesed off if my customers said "I want to buy this expensive product, but will you take it back and give me my money back if I don't like it?". If you're unsure, rent one, don't buy one. I see your point Andy, and renting prior to purchase is a great decision, but a return policy is a common aspect of almost any retailer. I do however understand the dealers perspective of not wanting to essentially lend cameras out. I do my fair share of research before purchasing an expensive product, but if I am not happy with it, then I will take advantage of a return policy. Most of the non-large dealers don't offer a return on opened products anyway. Asking about it provides a buyer security and informs a buyer. A dealer should not become frustrated with a customer asking about a policy... koko-It may differ from dealer to dealer-In regards to BH photo-I don't believe that their 30 day return policy excludes leica (it's not stated on the website at least)-but does have rules on returns such as the camera needing to have less then 200 exposures Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted March 21, 2012 Share #93 Posted March 21, 2012 You're in the US, right? It's different in the Free World. Here we have rights, consumer protection, including specific rights relating to items sold via mail order. There is none of this "has the box been opened" nonsense, because we do not allow items that have been sold once to be sold again "as new". These rights are enhrined in law so there is no need to ask. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted March 21, 2012 Share #94 Posted March 21, 2012 I would never accept a good as new if it had been sold before to someone else. Any dealer that sells a product, accepts it back and returns the full value to the customer, then has to sell the good as used, losing all their profit. Why would any dealer work this way? They'd be out of business in 6 months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ornello Posted March 21, 2012 Share #95 Posted March 21, 2012 I would never accept a good as new if it had been sold before to someone else. Any dealer that sells a product, accepts it back and returns the full value to the customer, then has to sell the good as used, losing all their profit. Why would any dealer work this way? They'd be out of business in 6 months. Some dealers deduct a percentage, a 'restocking fee' (usually 10%), with good reason. I know some pros who have bought equipment to do a job then returned it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 21, 2012 Share #96 Posted March 21, 2012 John Lewis in the UK have a no quibble 28 days return policy. I think they sell their returned stock as 'ex demo' in their sales. It's one of the reasons I bought my latest computer from them, and I did indeed return the first one (although that was already an ex demo model and faulty). But Bill is right that consumer law entitles you to a proper 'new' product, not one that's been used by someone else for a few weeks and reboxed. That's a secondhand item whichever way you look at it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ornello Posted March 21, 2012 Share #97 Posted March 21, 2012 John Lewis in the UK have a no quibble 28 days return policy. I think they sell their returned stock as 'ex demo' in their sales. It's one of the reasons I bought my latest computer from them, and I did indeed return the first one (although that was already an ex demo model and faulty). But Bill is right that consumer law entitles you to a proper 'new' product, not one that's been used by someone else for a few weeks and reboxed. That's a secondhand item whichever way you look at it. The 'restocking charge' allows the dealer to sell the item as 'demo' and still make a profit. So, if you buy a lens and keep it for a month, then return it, you get 90% of the price back. The dealer can sell the item again for 95% of new price and still make out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted March 22, 2012 Share #98 Posted March 22, 2012 One thing I have noticed is that customers are rarely rational. From time to time, I have helped my wife by assisting with the sales of paragliding harnesses. The customer always says they have a limited budget, and they don't want to spend too much money. A good harness costs about $1,000. I'd line up a selection of secondhand and new harnesses, and get the customer to try them on etc. The trick was always not to baffle them with too much choice. Get the size, eliminate unsatisfactory items, and get them down to a choice of 2 or so. 9 times out of 10, they would ask what the black one in the corner is. Mine, I'd say. But you probably wouldn't be interested in it, as it is a specialist harness, costing $2,000. They would try it, and frequently, they'd buy it - even though it was completely outside their purchasing criteria. I suspect Leica is the same - people try the Canikons, reduce their choices to a 5DIII or D800, and just look a bit resigned and marginally disinterested. Then they spot the Leica stand, and think - this is a bit different, what's this all about. If they have a background in film (like me), they are then very interested. Arrogance has no place in any of that. The thing is to listen to the buyer, be knowledgeable, responsive and enthusiastic, and don't baffle them with choice. Manipulation doesn't really work in the long term, though I do agree with putting the right camera in the person's hands so they get a feel for it. Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ornello Posted March 22, 2012 Share #99 Posted March 22, 2012 One thing I have noticed is that customers are rarely rational.................Arrogance has no place in any of that. The thing is to listen to the buyer, be knowledgeable, responsive and enthusiastic, and don't baffle them with choice. Manipulation doesn't really work in the long term, though I do agree with putting the right camera in the person's hands so they get a feel for it. Cheers John I believe it is a longstanding principle in sales to give customers two choices and no more. Otherwise they cannot decide. I think it is biological. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 22, 2012 Share #100 Posted March 22, 2012 I believe it is a longstanding principle in sales to give customers two choices and no more. Otherwise they cannot decide. I think it is biological. That's a new one to me! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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