nikt wrote:
Oh, you mean provide service and make money.
Yep, what we need is more 16 year old kids who get confused between the battery release and the shutter button.
Are you kidding? At JB HiFi there are at least some staff that know what they're on about (e.g. this guy called Raphael, and some other dude with a gaping hole in his ear for a earring). The same can't be said for the other stores...(with a few notable exceptions)
JB HiFi is also good for promoting competition.
Agree with you and Whayne on the BH point though the AUD is screwing us bad at the moment
miccullen wrote:
If you're clueless, go to Michaels. If you know what you're doing, go to JB.
Trekka273 wrote:
Michael's is a complete waste of space. Good place to go if you want to be treated like cr@p. If you go in there and don't look like oyu have a heap of dollars they treat you with disdain. Went there last week to see what they could do on a 40D body. Two people behind the SLR counter serving customers (fair enough, they are with someone so can't help me), but the numerous other staff who just walked past me, went on doing nothing, etc was unbelieveable. The fact I was dressed in old work gear wouldn't have anything to do with them instead helping those in the store who looked a bit better off would it Oh well, their loss, I walked in next door and handed the cash over for the 40D body instead. Not the first time that Michaels have missed out my money, but they won't ever get the chance again. They have missed a lot of money from me over the years...I have a lot of gear, and will no doubt be getting a lot more over the coming years, and they won't see any of that either....Show more →
+1
I walked in one day to buy a 35L because JB HiFi didn't stock it. Was ignored probably because I look like a povvo Uni student, then when I went up to someone, they kept on telling me there was no such thing as a 35 f/1.4 and that it was the 50 f/1.4
So I just went and got it from Teds. Teds got me a good price too (1810 - still not as good as the 1400 grey market prices a few months ago but the best I could get in this economic climate)
To Michael's credit, there's a few decent guys around, there's a guy in the Video section in particular who helped me out quite a bit, even though I'm a photographer
Not bad prices at all, very reasonable actually. Well done to those of you who have yours already!
In regards to camera shops and their Customer Service, I've had bad experiences everywhere at least once. If I want something nowadays, I don't play nice anymore. I read reviews thoroughly before I make a decision. Once I know exactly what I want, I go to that strip in Melb with all of the camera stores and I ask each what they can do for me. If I get forked about, I just leave. Life's too short to be treated like shite, especially by people who probably know less than I do and aren't jumping through hoops to make me, the customer, happy.I don't have a favourite shop, I've bought my gear from everywhere.
To Michael's credit, I have dealt with some nice dudes there. I do think that some of them are a bit pretentious though. As for Ted's, I basically refuse to set foot in any of their stores now. I dealt with their city-based store when Raphael worked there, he was great, but now...just no.
I walked in one day to buy a 35L because JB HiFi didn't stock it. Was ignored probably because I look like a povvo Uni student, then when I went up to someone, they kept on telling me there was no such thing as a 35 f/1.4 and that it was the 50 f/1.4
So I just went and got it from Teds. Teds got me a good price too (1810 - still not as good as the 1400 grey market prices a few months ago but the best I could get in this economic climate)
To Michael's credit, there's a few decent guys around, there's a guy in the Video section in particular who helped me out quite a bit, even though I'm a photographer...Show more →
Dawei Ye wrote:
Amy, you might know already but Raphael's next door at JB HiFi now.
Ted's has a pretty cool guy called Joel who does some good prices. The rest try to rip me off though.
+1 for bad customer service from Michael. Went there around 2 years ago to ask about the 5D, they tried to ignore me and pick some gentleman in suit came after me to serve, and dont wanna let me try the 5D. What's wrong for being an Asian student here? I went to Camera Action to buy it instead.
+1 for Joel from Ted, went there for windows shopping and came back with a lot of discounted stuffs
In Camera Action, George and Ashley are helpful too.
I'm a total mercenary when it comes to this caper. I actually don't care where I buy it from any more. When I first bought my 10D I got it from Kayell in Collingwood because they gave me a better deal than the camera Mafia at the top end of Elizabeth St. When I bought my 40D I gave them first right of refusal and they priced themselves out of the market early because they weren't prepared to deal. I ended up getting it from Camera Exchange. Michael's and Ted's didn't even want to talk to me, even though I was paying cash!
You guys are already on the first name basis with the staff at those stores... All from Melbourne? I went to Melbourne earlier this year, I don't remember seeing any street with a bunch of camera stores, what street are they in? I've never even heard of a camera store called Michael, I heard of Ted's though.
Speaking of bad customer service experience, I got it too with a couple of Sydney stores, Digital Camera Warehouse (DCW) and Camera Warehouse (CW). At DCW, took them a while to give me a service eventhough there's only one other customer there, and when I did get the service, I get the feeling that they're just trying to get rid of me quickly rather than being efficient, no smile and curt reply to my questions. I've also emailed them regarding some gears and never got any reply.
In contrast, CamerasDirect.com.au has been a pleasure to deal with. I asked them for some item that they don't supply and they managed to get it for me. Emails are replied quickly too. Now, I heard they're grey item importers, I don't know if that's true or not but if you don't mind that or you just wanna get some accessories, give the store a try.
Dawei Ye wrote:
Amy, you might know already but Raphael's next door at JB HiFi now.
Ted's has a pretty cool guy called Joel who does some good prices. The rest try to rip me off though.
probably?
Hey Dawei, I actually noticed Raphael at JB last time I was in the area. It's too bad I didn't need anything at the time. How is the city's JB as far as photography equipment is concerned? I've never been.
You lot are fickle. Personally, I am FAR from clueless, yet appreciate good service. I shop at the one shop if possible. They know my needs, they know what I'm looking for.
Someone (here) gave me something to think about once. He said, if we went to a restaurant and the waitress was friendly, spent 5 minutes telling us how the meal was made, her recommendations, came back with a nice wine, and said if there was anything we needed to just call her over... we'd tip her $10.
You get a person in a camera store to spend 30 minutes of their time tell you about cameras and lenses, what they think, how to shoot, or use it or whatever, and then we go and get it cheaper somewhere else.
I like good service and am willing to pay. I wonder how many 'real' photographers here have to explain why they charge as much as they do. You provide a service and you are a better photographer than uncle Joe, so you say.
However, from what I see, most people on these forums on the net think they know better than everyone else and act like it.
Customers are perfectly entitled to make a choice as to whom they buy from. My original 10D was bought the way you suggested but when the company turned out to be uncompetitive - I mean not willing to match anyone else's price - I went elsewhere. They had a list on their computer of what I'd bought from them in the past.
The customer owes the vendor nothing except payment for goods received. If you're lucky and you get a good sales person there's no reason to go elsewhere and risk the quality of service you're getting.
Yeap, as good as the customer service is, if I can save a substantial amount of money elsewhere, I will take my business there. I'm not well off enough to be picky.
Hey just wondering if anyone has seen any good deals??
Anyone know if any of the major retailers will price match online stores? places like digi direct etc are selling the kits for around $5050. Id love to pick up a 5D2 around March/April this year... But since no where is offering more than a measly 500 days finance anymore, i think my best option might be to get a loan. Not sure a bank would make out a loan to an online store.
Also are these places doing decent prices gray imports?
yeah, that i think might be an issue for me, as im not sure a bank would ok a loan for an online store. Not too sure how that would work. And yeah, if they are gray imports, im guessing that could cause issues with the warranty with Canon Aust being silly and all.
Has anyone seen any 5D MK II battery grips in Australia of late? I've been waiting for one, on order, for months. I'm beginning to contemplate ordering from OS. Canon, this is ridiculous.
Nope. I'm in the same boat (Canberra-based so there's even less to touch). I'm even thinking of a phottix since the one I got for my 50D is quite good enough (but can't find a 5dII one even though others talk about it).
for $3,849.00. Price has gone up a tad since. Its a brilliant camera and highly recommended.
Bear in mind that if shooting RAW, Windows Explorer does not recognise RAW files from the 5DII (whereas it did for the 5D) and Adobe CS3 also does not recognise the files (where CS4 does..sigh). I have to convert to DNG files in order to send files to ACR. It has certainly added a fair bit to my workflow. I also bought Directory Opus in order for me to actually see thumbnails of my DNG files in Explorer..and so it goes on!!!
JB HiFi were selling em for $3699 when I got mine (canon aus stock), now I think the price has gone up, which sucks cause I really want another one. Unbelievable, you'd think their price would have dropped by now
+1
Oh well, their loss, I walked in next door and handed the cash over for the 40D body instead. Not the first time that Michaels have missed out my money, but they won't ever get the chance again. They have missed a lot of money from me over the years...I have a lot of gear, and will no doubt be getting a lot more over the coming years, and they won't see any of that either.
Well done to those of you who have yours already!