AlanG Posted March 23, 2012 Share #161 Posted March 23, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I guess the basic question is whether the arrogant attitude works for some dealers or not. Part of what they are selling is a bit of "exclusivity" and a classy image. It figures that some snobbery will come with that as part of the buying and ownership experience. The customers may want to understand this and play along to get along. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Hi AlanG, Take a look here Arrogant dealer........ I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bill Posted March 23, 2012 Share #162 Posted March 23, 2012 It figures that some snobbery will come with that as part of the buying and ownership experience. Rubbish. Have you never stepped into Gieves and Hawkes? Dunhill? How about Mappin and Webb... or... I could go on. "snobbery" of the sort you describe does NOT go with the territory. It is a nouveau-riche misplaced expectation on both sides. No salesman worth their salt will ever make a customer feel uncomfortable or out of place. Service - proper service - is an art form. Nothing is too much trouble and nobody is made to feel belittled. The service one gets in, say, a decent gentleman's outfitters is a world away from what you suggest. You should try it sometime. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ornello Posted March 23, 2012 Share #163 Posted March 23, 2012 Brilliant. Wow...3 people huh? Well I guess that's why you where only #2 salesman. Not something I'd brag about, just quietly. Well it comes as no surprise that you are a camera salesman anyway. It's attitudes and personalities (or lack thereof) like yours that make me mostly buy online these days. I absolutely cringe when some chump behind the counter in a cheap polyester shirt and a novelty piano tie tries to outdo me with their 'extensive knowledge and experience'. Have you seen the show "The Office" you sound like a character from that. At least you are entertaining I suppose. This was decades ago, when I was working my way through college. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted March 23, 2012 Share #164 Posted March 23, 2012 Rubbish. Have you never stepped into Gieves and Hawkes? Dunhill? How about Mappin and Webb... or... I could go on. "snobbery" of the sort you describe does NOT go with the territory. It is a nouveau-riche misplaced expectation on both sides. No salesman worth their salt will ever make a customer feel uncomfortable or out of place. Service - proper service - is an art form. Nothing is too much trouble and nobody is made to feel belittled. The service one gets in, say, a decent gentleman's outfitters is a world away from what you suggest. You should try it sometime. Regards, Bill How about Walmart and Target. ;-) I guess I was not clear. I am not advocating snobbery. I am just wondering if some dealers feel it works for them so they keep doing it. And if you patronize those dealers you'll have to play a role to get them to respect you. (As unfortunate as this may be.) Well I lived in London around 40 years ago but don't know what stores you are referring to. (I didn't have much money for shopping.) I can remember going to an exclusive fly fishing shop to buy my Brady Bag and I was treated very well. And I bought some camera gear at Pelling and Cross and they were nice too. Even though I was a long haired hippie freak college student, everyone seemed to treat me with respect and many called me "esquire" for some reason. (Maybe it was the Hasselblad I carried.) How quaint it was. In our student union, when you shot snooker, there were people to rack the balls for you. And in the darkroom, you'd pencil your name on your print and after fixing it and placing it in the wash, someone would wash it, dry it, and place it in your file. We had elevator operators and other people who served us in various ways too. I guess this was part of a government plan to keep people employed. Despite this class structure and my being an ESQUIRE and all, I resisted being arrogant. Back in the states, I was just another low life college student and got no respect. I generally drive a truck (or bicycle), wear jeans and look low key. I do see a difference in how I'm treated when I dress in a nice suit, drive a sports car to a restaurant and my girlfriend is dressed to the nines wearing a full length white mink coat and a lot of diamond jewelry. We're playing a little role. They often park the car right in front and we get a great table and good service for some reason. Go figure. I did work in a camera shop during vacations when I was in high school and college. I had a pretty good handle on how to sell expensive cameras and not be arrogant about it. We were only a block from the White House and we had a lot of "powerful" customers but they weren't arrogant either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted March 23, 2012 Share #165 Posted March 23, 2012 The point is, Alan, that "snobbery" and "exclusivity" do not go hand in hand. The retailers I named are all top-drawer exemplars of understated service that cannot be faulted. Only a fool buys from someone who makes them feel small - or a masochist. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted March 23, 2012 Share #166 Posted March 23, 2012 The point is, Alan, that "snobbery" and "exclusivity" do not go hand in hand. The retailers I named are all top-drawer exemplars of understated service that cannot be faulted. Only a fool buys from someone who makes them feel small - or a masochist. Regards, Bill Perhaps you mistake me for a gentleman. Just giving me your store lists and your comments directed to me sounds a wee bit snobbishistic to me. I have no taste or style. Don't try to change that. I don't think my Walmart has a "gentleman's outfitter" department anyway so I'm SOL. Bill, I am trying to get at why the dealers do this. Not why I should not patronize them. (I wouldn't.) Maybe there is a reason? In any case, there is always the affect of first impressions and some sales people may have a bug up their butt from prejudging someone in any store. And I bet that not everyone in the stores you mentioned is immune to it. As for Gieves and Hawkes not being snobbish... (This is a joke Bill - I've never been in the store.) "The Shoe Snob is now reachable and is offering a new service at Gieves & Hawkes at No.1 Savile Row in London, England." http://the-shoe-snob.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-new-service-at-gieves-hawkes-on.html I once told my mother that I was dating a very beautiful elegant and exotic lady. She said, "What does she see in you?" So I know my place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ornello Posted March 23, 2012 Share #167 Posted March 23, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Bill, I am trying to get at why the dealers do this. Not why you should not patronize them. Maybe there is a reason? I can say only that some people don't get along with others. Always has been, always will be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted March 23, 2012 Share #168 Posted March 23, 2012 Troll ALLERT!!! I had a second troll alert go off here at Bat Cave Central. Please, please, DON'T FEED THE TROLL. Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted March 23, 2012 Share #169 Posted March 23, 2012 Troll ALLERT!!! I had a second troll alert go off here at Bat Cave Central. Please, please, DON'T FEED THE TROLL. Thank you. I hadn't noticed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted March 23, 2012 Share #170 Posted March 23, 2012 Troll ALLERT!!! I had a second troll alert go off here at Bat Cave Central. Please, please, DON'T FEED THE TROLL. Thank you. Thank you. I thought his postings were entirely in line with the threads title. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted March 23, 2012 Share #171 Posted March 23, 2012 Ever feel overwhelmed by choices at the bread counter? Ever leave because you could not make up your mind? I certainly have! Not once in my life. But many times I've left because they didn't have the kind of bread I wanted. Sometimes I feel there are too many choices in the detergent aisle - but I'd walk out pretty soon if some smart-alec salesman only let me look at two boxes at a time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted March 23, 2012 Share #172 Posted March 23, 2012 Makes you wonder how the feeble-minded ever get on in restaurants. Better not hand them a menu, just bring out pictures of two dishes and let them think they are choosing between them... Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 23, 2012 Share #173 Posted March 23, 2012 Sometimes I feel there are too many choices in the detergent aisle - but I'd walk out pretty soon if some smart-alec salesman only let me look at two boxes at a time. I usually go for the supermarket's own brand. Unless there's a named brand on special offer. Baked beans however _have_ to be Heinz. I've tried the supermarket's brands and they tend to be far too sweet - and it's apparent that sauce is cheaper than beans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 23, 2012 Share #174 Posted March 23, 2012 Makes you wonder how the feeble-minded ever get on in restaurants. Better not hand them a menu, just bring out pictures of two dishes and let them think they are choosing between them... Whenever a waiter recommends something my first thought is that it hasn't been selling well and they need to get rid of it ASAP. Same thing with most salesman, I assume that what they are plugging is the thing they'll get most commission on. It's a game, and we know that they know that we know - and they know that we know that they know that we know. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 23, 2012 Share #175 Posted March 23, 2012 For anyone who wants to get an insight about what happens in a city centre restaurant behind the flappy doors that the waiters come out of I can recommend this book... Kitchen Confidential: Amazon.co.uk: Anthony Bourdain: Books The author is a bit of an arse, but it's worth reading for its insights (hint, don't eat mussels on a Monday). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
azzo Posted March 23, 2012 Share #176 Posted March 23, 2012 Ever feel overwhelmed by choices at the bread counter? Ever leave because you could not make up your mind? I certainly have! You're kidding us, right? ... I mean, who on earth would leave empty handed from a bread counter simply because there's lots of choices. ... Good one. You made my day Ornello. ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted March 23, 2012 Share #177 Posted March 23, 2012 For some, it would be a matter of Loaf and Death... Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larsv Posted March 23, 2012 Share #178 Posted March 23, 2012 Let alone choosing between three clients and a ringing phone, that would drive me nuts. Good reason to find a different job. But than I need to make a choice again. Better acknowledge I'm nuts and stay home, sick. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ornello Posted March 23, 2012 Share #179 Posted March 23, 2012 I said and meant two at a time... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 23, 2012 Share #180 Posted March 23, 2012 I said and meant two at a time... You politely explain to the second one that you are dealing with another customer and would they mind waiting until you're free, or if a colleague is free you ask the customer if they'd be happy to talk to them instead. What you don't try and do is deal with both customers at the same time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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