seaninsurrey Posted May 20, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 20, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just wanted to share my experiences of "The Classic Camera" (Pied Bull Yard, London). Their customer service is appalling except when they are trying to sell you a new camera. None of the sales staff seem remotely interested and I always sense a lot of 'tension' in the shop. I was so pis*ed off I walked a few hundred yards over to RG Lewis (Southampton Row) who were charming, enthusiastic and extremely helpful. They received my business and will do so in future. Anyone else had similar experiences? Regards, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 20, 2007 Posted May 20, 2007 Hi seaninsurrey, Take a look here Poor customer service from The Classic Camera. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dkCambridgeshire Posted May 20, 2007 Share #2 Posted May 20, 2007 I've had good service from The Classic Camera on the few occasions I've been there ... and also over the phone when buying second hand equipment. Have also been to RG Lewis and found their service good ... but their s/hand prices can be very high. The one dealer I object to is that place "where the elite meet and greet" ... puts me off straight away .. especially as I went there once and saw the eilite meeting and greeting ... it was quite pathetic seeing a chap with money to burn attempting to buy a flashgun for a camera he had no idea how to use properly. Dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 20, 2007 Share #3 Posted May 20, 2007 Search the old Forum archive, gentlemen, and you will find a number of references to The Classic Camera and their cavalier attitude to customers. Their approach to customer service is poor, to say the least. Richard Caplan is just a bunch of stuffed shirts, but at least they know a customer when they see one. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted May 20, 2007 Share #4 Posted May 20, 2007 R.G. Lewis beat all the others easily... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted May 20, 2007 Share #5 Posted May 20, 2007 I havent' bought from Classic Camera but the few times I've been to the shop its been pretty poor, I've had to really try to get served, loitering is no good I've had to but in between the salesmens 'chat' to ask for assistance. I looked at a lens recently but having asked about it and then not buying it they clearly marked me down as a time waster, then next thing I asked about was met with a curt 'NO' and then he turned and talked to his colleague again! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted May 20, 2007 Share #6 Posted May 20, 2007 Wild horses wouldn't make me buy there... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug akhurst Posted May 21, 2007 Share #7 Posted May 21, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have to say that I have used The Classic Camera for a few years now and have found them to be helpful, knowledgeable and reliable. I am domiciled in Scotland and only visit the shop occasionally. I do therefore normally place orders by phone and they invariably respond by servicing the orders speedily by post. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael-IIIf Posted May 21, 2007 Share #8 Posted May 21, 2007 I love their shop and the way its design is in keeping with the Leica minimalist aesthetic. Their displays are excellent and the place is a temple to all things Leica. But... I agree with the all other complaints above. I've bought my D2, my M6 and my 35 'Cron from them. I've dropped thousands in their till but I still feel unwelcome there. Les in RG Lewis will be getting any future Leica custom from me. His shop may be shabby but a more friendly informative and helpful service you could not get. Furthermore when I bought my film scanner from him he also price-matched an online price I had found. Brilliant service for a small retailer with West End rents to pay. Go to RG Lewis. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
samwells Posted May 21, 2007 Share #9 Posted May 21, 2007 Different experiences, obviously! I've also used The Classic Camera for some years, and my experience has been as positive as Doug's...maybe it's the time of day. Or month. Or year. I was rather put off by the elite/meet/greet people when they told me an M2 with a loose strap lug wasn't worth repairing, and then went on to explain that an M7 was a 'town camera' and an MP was a 'country camera'...should've worn a hacking jacket with leather elbow patches, I guess :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted May 21, 2007 Share #10 Posted May 21, 2007 Well, that's exacatly it. They answered all your questions, have plenty of stock, will order anything you need and deliver it on time. The problem is that they are seriously lacking a human touch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted May 21, 2007 Share #11 Posted May 21, 2007 Different experiences, obviously! I've also used The Classic Camera for some years, and my experience has been as positive as Doug's...maybe it's the time of day. Or month. Or year. I was rather put off by the elite/meet/greet people when they told me an M2 with a loose strap lug wasn't worth repairing, and then went on to explain that an M7 was a 'town camera' and an MP was a 'country camera'...should've worn a hacking jacket with leather elbow patches, I guess :-) ... and carried a shooting stick!! Dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 21, 2007 Share #12 Posted May 21, 2007 ...then went on to explain that an M7 was a 'town camera' and an MP was a 'country camera'...should've worn a hacking jacket with leather elbow patches, I guess :-) My dear chap, of course no true gentleman would ever use an M7 in the country! It would be as unsporting as using a machine gun at a pheasant shoot, and would undoubtedly lead to one's being dropped from the List for the Season. Similarly I would no more use an M2 in the City than I would wear tweed suiting in town. Bad form. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elansprint72 Posted May 21, 2007 Share #13 Posted May 21, 2007 Please don't carry on like this or we shall almost certainly have one of those Colonial English Gentlemen on the forum lecturing us on our choice of hatter/shoe-maker/cravat supplier. fwiw, I have only dealt with these folks by telephone and they have been the epitome of helpfulness and good manners; but they were asking for my credit card number at the time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 21, 2007 Share #14 Posted May 21, 2007 :Pete, give me your credit card number and I'll be very nice too. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted May 21, 2007 Share #15 Posted May 21, 2007 I bought my 19 from them. I was made to feel like a second class citizen, not only for buying an R lens (and therefore not a real Leica user...), but also only spending six hundred quid. I was not impressed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted May 21, 2007 Share #16 Posted May 21, 2007 There was a chap worked there once who looked like Harpo Marx with hair to match ... he went upmarket after working at Jessops Classic ... have you noticed how quite few of the camera shop staff in that area seem to shift their jobs from store to store .. and if they are any good they eventually end up working in Calumet at Euston ... Dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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