Demise of Foto Riesel in Sydney

[MarkP]

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So Foto Riesel has just gone into receivership. A shame as I always found staff and service excellent.

 

It is interesting that in a city of this size they just could not survive against the large camera/electronics retailers, even when providing more expert advice and support - people vote with their wallet. There also may well have been unrelated internal administrative/financial/efficiency issues of which we would be unaware.

 

Anyhow, I had some lenses for sale on consignment. I have just spoken with the receivers who have collected and safely stored all consignment equipment which will be returned shortly.

 

Unfortunately Foto Riesel had just sold my M9 and I am waiting payment of $3500 . I think this may be a long wait.

The receiver tells me it is too early to know what will happen regarding this so I'm really pissed off to put it mildly:mad:

 

I wonder what will happen for people who had deposits on equipment, Leica or otherwise, or even getting developed and printed film and other work back from them.

Edited December 24, 2014 by MarkP

[NZDavid]

What a shame. I had a browse in this store earlier this year when I visited Sydney and also found them very helpful. It seems there are few stores that specialise in Leica in this part of the world. Good luck with your sale!

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[erl]

None of that is good news Mark.

I hope your camera money comes through.

Earlier this year I bought some good gear from them. I got excellent service over the phone and prompt delivery. All the good guys seem to be going under.

Is the internet doing it, I wonder?

[MarkP]

None of that is good news Mark.

I hope your camera money comes through.

Earlier this year I bought some good gear from them. I got excellent service over the phone and prompt delivery. All the good guys seem to be going under.

Is the internet doing it, I wonder?

 

Thanks David & Erl.

 

I'm sure competition from internet purchasing also hasn't helped. Although I have bought a fair bit of Leica equipment (and other stuff) from them I was certainly not adverse to internet purchasing from elsewhere if t the items were readily available and there were large savings to be made. However, I would never go into such a shop for expert advice and then buy cheaper elsewhere as that service (and backup) is part of what one pays for.

 

The ubiquitous availability of pro gear from Canon & Nikon through discount electronics 'supermarkets', and perhaps the changing demographic of camera purchasing & use (including everyone with a camera phone), has probably taken its toll on many small photographic stores with limited resources.

Edited December 24, 2014 by MarkP

[Firefly]

Thats bad news Mark, hopefully they did not owe any Bank much money as they always seem to get their cut first leaving everyone else with crumbs.

It seems to be the way of the world, my local town has gone from six shops to one in the last ten years or so, a negative aspect of the internet possibly. best regards Rob

[Jennifer]

None of that is good news Mark.

I hope your camera money comes through.

Earlier this year I bought some good gear from them. I got excellent service over the phone and prompt delivery. All the good guys seem to be going under.

Is the internet doing it, I wonder?

 

I did all my Christmas shopping on line this year plus I had it all gift wrapped by the vendor. (I know, I know I'm a lazy cow, but when it comes to Christmas I empathise strongly with Ebenezer Scrooge ). However, I fear for smaller retailers, especially those with a high street presence, they needs must suffer and loosing them will further erode the sort of personal and professional service which was commonplace whilst I was growing up.

 

However, when it comes to buying a new, high end luxury good whether it be a Chanel handbag or a Leica camera where value for money isn't an issue, imo, part of the thrill comes from the whole in store purchasing experience.

[pgk]

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It is interesting that in a city of this size they just could not survive against the large camera/electronics retailers, even when providing more expert advice and support - people vote with their wallet.

I have a suspicion that the internet is now so used for information that 'expert advice' is no longer considered as essential as it was - even this forum illustrates this with some pretty basic questions being asked about already bought expensive items. As for support, well again there seems to be more of an attitude about returning stuff for refunds these days, again driven by web sales practices I would think.

 

I support my local dealer but they do have their limits on stock and availability and of course prices - they cannot compete against some web prices, and there are many who will take the chance on not being charged import duties to secure a bargain.

 

I do hope that you get your payment for the M9 sale though. What frustrating timing.

[MarkP]

However, when it comes to buying a new, high end luxury good whether it be a Chanel handbag or a Leica camera where value for money isn't an issue, imo, part of the thrill comes from the whole in store purchasing experience.

 

 

Agreed. Although there is also that thrill (read anxiety) waiting for that internet purchase to arrive and hoping it is indeed in the condition that I expect .

[MarkP]

I have a suspicion that the internet is now so used for information that 'expert advice' is no longer considered as essential as it was - even this forum illustrates this with some pretty basic questions being asked about already bought expensive items. As for support, well again there seems to be more of an attitude about returning stuff for refunds these days, again driven by web sales practices I would think.

 

I support my local dealer but they do have their limits on stock and availability and of course prices - they cannot compete against some web prices, and there are many who will take the chance on not being charged import duties to secure a bargain.

 

I do hope that you get your payment for the M9 sale though. What frustrating timing.

 

Yes, I agree with everything you've written here.

 

Thanks.

[gyoung]

Is that the showroom which was upstairs on the first floor? I remember visiting a leica dealer when I was in Sydney about 8 to 9 years ago.

Although I wasn't buying anything they were happy to chat briefly and let me drool over the showcases of old gear. Not many proper old fashioned dealers left.

 

Gerry

[wda]

Mark, I am sorry to read your Christmas story. Life just isn't fair at times. I hope all works out for you.

[MarkP]

Is that the showroom which was upstairs on the first floor? I remember visiting a leica dealer when I was in Sydney about 8 to 9 years ago.

Although I wasn't buying anything they were happy to chat briefly and let me drool over the showcases of old gear. Not many proper old fashioned dealers left.

 

Gerry

 

Hi Gerry, I think they had an upstairs shop years ago when under different ownership (I think the original Riesel family) but I can't remember when they moved.

[MarkP]

Summary of what went wrong:

http://johnnyshoots.com.au/2014/12/20/fotoriesel-the-wrap-up/

 

And it may yet get sorted out . Here's hoping as it would be sad for such a good company to go out of business.

I'm not just writing that out of self interest although it would be very nice to get my money for the M9.

https://www.facebook.com/fotoriesel

Edited December 25, 2014 by MarkP

[platypus]

Hi Mark, I just saw this post. What a sad business! Foto Riesel has been there for ever and a day; one of the oldest and longest established photo businesses in Australia.

No doubt internet shopping is partly to blame, but that is a fact of life now, and for people like myself, located in "remote" areas it's a miraculous convenience. I must admit to having

very recently bought a Leica lens from Dan Tamarkin, with the benefit of that Leica US$250 discount. A very smooth and trouble free transaction and, to my amazement the lens came

through customs sans GST, so even with our dollar so low, it turned out to be an absolute bargain.

It is very bad luck about your M9 sale money...horrible timing for you. Good luck with the outcome of that!

[MarkP]

Hi Mark, I just saw this post. What a sad business! Foto Riesel has been there for ever and a day; one of the oldest and longest established photo businesses in Australia.

No doubt internet shopping is partly to blame, but that is a fact of life now, and for people like myself, located in "remote" areas it's a miraculous convenience. I must admit to having

very recently bought a Leica lens from Dan Tamarkin, with the benefit of that Leica US$250 discount. A very smooth and trouble free transaction and, to my amazement the lens came

through customs sans GST, so even with our dollar so low, it turned out to be an absolute bargain.

It is very bad luck about your M9 sale money...horrible timing for you. Good luck with the outcome of that!

 

Thanks Dee.

 

I have also had at least two expensive items pass through Australian customs sans GST despite their correct value listed on the paperwork!

[platypus]

Thanks Dee.

 

I have also had at least two expensive items pass through Australian customs sans GST despite their correct value listed on the paperwork!

 

Mark, that's interesting, indeed....the value on the paperwork for the parcel was listed correctly....so, this must also happen with other incoming stuff.

I wonder if the reason is deliberate, or negligence, or perhaps the time of year; silly season etc. I was mildly gobsmacked as we are constantly reminded of the parlous state of the budget.

(apologies to other readers for changing the subject of this thread)

Edited December 26, 2014 by platypus
apologies added

[MarkP]

Mark, that's interesting, indeed....the value on the paperwork for the parcel was listed correctly....so, this must also happen with other incoming stuff.

I wonder if the reason is deliberate, or negligence, or perhaps the time of year; silly season etc. I was mildly gobsmacked as we are constantly reminded of the atrocious state of the budget.

(apologies to other readers for changing the subject of this thread)

 

Mine were not at peak periods so I think probably just slack, or they don't bother when very busy and just send parcels through.

[pgk]

I wonder if the reason is deliberate, or negligence, or perhaps the time of year; silly season etc. I was mildly gobsmacked as we are constantly reminded of the parlous state of the budget.

In the UK I have been told (by someone in the industry) that only a % of imported items are checked (or were a few of years ago). Whether this has/will change is intriguing since our government is supposedly into tax avoidance/evasion but has failed to deal with this side of tax collection on imports - which is undoubtedly cost effective (the courier/shipping company has to collect the money so this is covered too!). As well as encouraging sales which damage UK retailers, failure enforce import duty and vat allows money to be spent outside the country needlessly where enforcement would stop this being viable. I feel sorry for retailers who are being squeezed out of business.

[hoppyman]

Oh that is a shame, Mark. I only yesterday saw that their website no longer worked when I was looking for a Leica item. Very best of luck to you in recovering your consignment payment.

 

As an aside this means that Sydney now has one less Leica dealer and currently no dealer for the S range at all. In fact no dealers for the S range north of Melbourne/Perth axis!

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[palaeoboy]

Thanks David & Erl.

 

I'm sure competition from internet purchasing also hasn't helped. Although I have bought a fair bit of Leica equipment (and other stuff) from them I was certainly not adverse to internet purchasing from elsewhere if t the items were readily available and there were large savings to be made. However, I would never go into such a shop for expert advice and then buy cheaper elsewhere as that service (and backup) is part of what one pays for.

 

The ubiquitous availability of pro gear from Canon & Nikon through discount electronics 'supermarkets', and perhaps the changing demographic of camera purchasing & use (including everyone with a camera phone), has probably taken its toll on many small photographic stores with limited resources.

 

Very sad news, they were legendary in the Sydney Photographic scene. All the big players Fletchers etc are all gone. Generalised sales outlets like Harvey Norman and Bing Lee have totally gutted the specialised photographic market in Sydney. But their service and product knowledge is pretty poor by any standard. I tested the guy at Harvey Norman once and asked him three different questions about a camera on several occasions and the answer was always 16 megapixels. (one of the questions was how many elements did the lens have!) Those same retailers complain about the impacts of internet shopping yet when you seek in depth information from them they tell you to look it up on the net. My reply is usually but Im not buying it off the net!

 

The decline of specialised photographic retail seemed to begin with the advent of digital. There was simply so much gear to be had from darkroom to Polaroids that all became irrelevant. I remember choosing a tripod once and they had like 50 different types there and a range or telescopes and binoculars. The product knowledge the staff had to have could have been the equivalent of a trade certificate now and they got paid no more then stocking shelves at the supermarket. Alot of answers may be found on the net but there really is a knowledge base lost forever in this area of expertise.