Was it my local store or Nikon's fault?
Sep 30, 2017 12:44:14 #
Rich1939 wrote:
Sorry Cat, I have to strongly disagree. If they worked for me that is part of their job description. Helping the customer understand the product and their options is a large part of what makes for a happy customer. Your statement is valid if we're talking about a large box store but not for a "Mom and Pop" operation.
Yes, and I am sure there are a lot of people who feel it is someone else's obligation to feed, house and give them medical care. However I think it is every person's obligation to take care of themselves, seek out information that they need to make good choices, and be responsible for their own mistakes. We are free adults in a free society. I for one would feel affronted to have someone try to instruct me on what I should buy, unless I asked a specific question. Did the OP ASK if the lens in question was the optimal one of it's kind? I think not. In which case the store clerk had no business proffering advice.
Sep 30, 2017 12:46:55 #
Sep 30, 2017 12:47:47 #
Sep 30, 2017 12:47:54 #
rehess wrote:
I don't know about other brands, but Pentax is fam... (show quote)
Its easy to keep secrets when you don't have any.
Sep 30, 2017 12:48:15 #
Rich1939 wrote:
After thinking about this a bit, the salesperson has to be the bad guy here. It is their responsibility to build long term relationships with customers. I feel as if the salesman here was not selling but just acting as a sales clerk, which is someone who writes you up for whatever you ask for without any effort to insure you will be happy with your purchase and come back to the store again. Or was 'too busy' and grabbed the quick sale.
Rich, have you worked in retail? How can a salesperson ever ensure that you will be and remain happy with your purchase. There is also such a thing as buyers remorse and salespeople with bias and agendas as well as the same for stores. There are also customers who will come in and take the salesperson's time and ask many questions and walk out without buying anything or perhaps worse go buy somewhere else for a better price. There is not the same loyalty between customers, employees and business owners that there was 30 years ago.
I buy some small camera gear locally but largely do my own research and buy from B&H, Adorama or eBay. Mostly part of the issue is that the local camera store doesn't carry the items I am looking to buy and has no interest in trying to order them for me. So, they get some sales and they lose a lot of sales...but that is just the marketplace today as I see it.
Best,
Todd Ferguson
Sep 30, 2017 12:49:10 #
Ed Chu
Loc: Las Vegas NV
amen to sentence #4; used to own a camera store; first week i opened a salesman walk in, representing camera line x, and tell me "I think this would be perfect for you;" really? I didn't even know what line would be good for me
Sep 30, 2017 12:59:31 #
CatMarley wrote:
What is it with all you crybabies who think it is someone else's obligation to make sure you are buying the best you can? The information is out there. You have access to it. It is nobody's task to force feed it to you. You are not brainless babies with too much money - or are you?
Sep 30, 2017 12:59:31 #
Not thoroughly researching equipment before buying can be a costly error for the consumer. Nikon had nothing to do with it. A retail store is only as good as the people it hires or the policies they operate by. The consumer can only know as much as the effort they put into learning about what they are buying in the first place....
Sep 30, 2017 13:00:00 #
Rich 1939 "Any one in business wants to clear out the old inventory as much as possible before introducing a new product."
Not everyone in business is without scruples and common decency. You should get an honest answer to a straight question. Odd to condone LIES as just business practice.
I've been in business and when I designed an upgrade I included that upgrade on current orders. I simply accepted that the customer would be disappointed to find a few weeks after delivery I was now selling something I had to be aware of but did not offer him.
Not everyone in business is without scruples and common decency. You should get an honest answer to a straight question. Odd to condone LIES as just business practice.
I've been in business and when I designed an upgrade I included that upgrade on current orders. I simply accepted that the customer would be disappointed to find a few weeks after delivery I was now selling something I had to be aware of but did not offer him.
Sep 30, 2017 13:00:19 #
jerryc41 wrote:
It can be confusing. There is a version with VR, ... (show quote)
You've got that one right. I agree with all that you have said.
Sep 30, 2017 13:00:51 #
Notorious T.O.D. wrote:
Because to some people $50 is a big deal!!!
Sellers offer Products.
Buyers purchase Products.
And Universities sell Education and Degrees...
Best,
Todd Ferguson
Sellers offer Products.
Buyers purchase Products.
And Universities sell Education and Degrees...
Best,
Todd Ferguson
If $50 is that big a deal, then you have the wrong hobby. Or how about just take the dang lens back and get one with VR? If $50 is out of budget, then accept that you can't afford and learn to use a tripod or monopod (which is what OP did). But to whine about shady salesmen and being taken advantage of... boo-hoo! Everybody wants somebody to blame and seem not to have any mirrors in their house.
Sep 30, 2017 13:10:24 #
Notorious T.O.D. wrote:
Rich, have you worked in retail? How can a salesp... (show quote)
Yes. In fact I owned a camera store in the 80's. How do you insure that your customer is happy etc? You don't, if you're looking for 'customer insurance' you shouldn't be an independent businessman. You can't win 'em all but you sure as hell try to make their experience in your store a good one. Small businesses depend on repeat customers and you bend over back wards to create them.
Everyone who walks through your door may not be experienced and assuming that all customers should do their research before coming into your store is naive and comes under the heading of "opportunity lost".
When you decide you would like to try something new like photography where do you go? Yes today there is the convenience of the internet, I'm sure though that people haven't changed that much in 30 years, they tend to seek out information from a local vendor.
I offered basic (very basic) photography lessons to neophytes when they came in as way to help them understand what they were getting into. It's all about your approach and attitude.
Sep 30, 2017 13:13:27 #
rocket111 wrote:
They should have told him. Im surprised Nikon even makes a 70-300mm without VR. But they do. I think the store should have at least explained it had no VR. But after the fact cut your losses. I think as cheap as that lens is I would trade it in for the VR. I might even be tempted to go grey market. And you can deffently understand why Nikon would push this non VR lens. I don't think there are a lot of folks wanting a 70-300 without VR.
Why? Would you REALLY want the store clerk to say "Hey buddy, you DO know that that lens is the cheap version without VR, don't you? For 50 bucks more we can sell you a better one WITH VR!" I would NOT! That would sound slimy to me - a bait and switch tactic. What kind of babies are you all that you think somebody should be taking care of you? Is someone else responsible for seeing to it that you make the best possible choices? Is someone else always to blame if you fail to do your own research?
The store clerk could also have said "Hey buddy, you do know that camera is the cheap one and it has no autofocus motor in the body, so it will only work with the expensive autofocus motor lenses. Now if you buy a 7200 for $xxx, it can aotofocus with ALL the Nikon lenses!". Do you really think treating all customers, who are buying an entry level outfit, like boobs is good for business?
Sep 30, 2017 13:21:33 #
CatMarley wrote:
Yes, and I am sure there are a lot of people who f... (show quote)
I agree with most of your philosophy, but I am talking about the salesman's obligation to the store (his or the owners). A sales person should engage the customer in conversation so he can ,hopefully, understand the needs of the customer. Show him products that will fill those needs without over selling(you lose the customer long term that way)
I wasn't talking about "a lot of people who feel it is someone else's obligation to feed, house and give them medical care". If that's a hot button of yours, well it is also one of mine. But let's not go there.
If you just want to walk into a store say give that pay and leave fine, you are a rare customer type, most want to ask questions.
Sep 30, 2017 13:25:02 #
CatMarley wrote:
Why? Would you REALLY want the store clerk to say... (show quote)
So, here are your options: One does not have VR or for $50.00 more, you can get the same lens, but with VR which could make a difference... In other words, gear the pitch to meet what the customer is looking for. Both are available for you to buy... This called wise business practice. Always work to meet the customer's needs or wants. That is the best way to get them to come back and buy again from your store...
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