customer"no service" @Samy's-CM

[morongobill]

😡

Friday before New Years I went to Samy's in Costa Mesa about 3:30 pm.

This was my first trip to the store and I was amazed at the size and camera systems,new and used,digital and film, lots of customers and sales people.

Then I went back to the film dept....

3 young employees back there sitting on table tops gossiping away,2 girls and a guy, going on and on while I wait for service. I 'm not one for begging so I figured eventually something would break.

Then a middle-aged man wearing a blue shirt with a Yashica digital logo came over and did something with the cash register and he ignored me as well 🙁

I finally took the hint and left.

I have driven up to Samy's in Pasadena several times and always received good serice there so I called there and asked for the manager. I asked her for the dm's # and told her my story. She said I should call that store and I said I don't know maybe the dm is my best choice.

I am ashamed now for what I told her next, I lied and I admit it, I told her I was so mad after that experience that I went online when I got home and bought 300$ worth of film from Adorama!

She must have believed me as she made a sincere aplogy for that store's bad service. She did say the dm was out of town this week so I'll call him later on.

My advice is to go up to Samy's Camera in Pasadena as they still appear to care for the customers.

Sorry for the rant, I feel better now!

Bill in socal

 

[bmattock]

The thing to remember is that unless it becomes a pattern, any store can suffer bad service, but it is good let others know - that's how we find out if it is a pattern or not. I've never been to Samy's, but I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. Sadly, the managers would probably want to know that their employees were ignoring their customers - but they'll be 'shielded' from hearing that by the next level of management down the chain, who doesn't want to be left holding the bag. Bummer.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Flinor]

Go around the corner to Pro Photo Connection.

 

[jano]

I'll be checking out pro photo connection, samy's service has been poor everytime I've gone in.. but I think I know which two girls you're talking about.. were they cute? 🙂 It's the reason I go back every few sundays for help hahahaha 😛 🙄 One of them actually knows a lot about b&w photography.

 

[jlw]

I have to admit that I prefer stores where the salespeople don't bother me unless I ask for help. Sometimes I just want to stand there and ponder what type of film or whatever would be the best for the project I have in mind, and it's a distraction to have people unctuously inquiring, "May I help you?" as if they're trying to rush me out of there.

I'm not a shy person, so I don't have any problem with putting on a cheerful smile, adjusting my vocal apparatus to a cordial but piercing volume, and declaiming, "Hey, could somebody help me with some film, please?" If they continue to ignore me after that, then I'm ready to complain about poor service.

Each to his own taste, though, and I'm sure the store management prefers its employees to take a more active approach to salesmanship, so you probably did them a favor by bringing this to their attention.

 

[dostacos]

I went to the Pasadena store once and just about got pushed out the door because I did not have my MONEY out and ready to buy. They had NO intention of answering questions. It was a shame, I bought the Canon XL-2 video camera and both lenses at B & H instead.

I like the Costa Mesa one because I have always found the staff had time to ask what I was looking for.

I have not ventured back to the film mavens so I have not dealt with that problem, on the other hand all they have to do is "hand it over" so I probably would have hobbled up to the counter and said: "hey as long as you are standing there, wanna grab me some film?"

of course if I wanted to get pissy I would roll in with my wheelchair and show them what barrier free REALLY means 😀

 

[dostacos]

I have to admit that I prefer stores where the salespeople don't bother me unless I ask for help. Sometimes I just want to stand there and ponder what type of film or whatever would be the best for the project I have in mind, and it's a distraction to have people unctuously inquiring, "May I help you?" as if they're trying to rush me out of there.

I'm not a shy person, so I don't have any problem with putting on a cheerful smile, adjusting my vocal apparatus to a cordial but piercing volume, and declaiming, "Hey, could somebody help me with some film, please?" If they continue to ignore me after that, then I'm ready to complain about poor service.

Each to his own taste, though, and I'm sure the store management prefers its employees to take a more active approach to salesmanship, so you probably did them a favor by bringing this to their attention.

A loooong time ago when Cal's Camera still had used cameras [and lots of them] I walked up to the counter to look at some used SLRs [behind the counter on the wall] the sales jerk asked if he could help, I said no, I was just looking, he then stood directly between me and the cameras I was looking at. so I moved over a few feet and he moved in front me again, this went on for about 5 minutes, I finally asked him WHY he did not want me to look at the cameras? he got all flustered and stepped away 😉

 

[sf]

I have had better experience with the service in the mass-market cameras sections - like all the 35mm stuff and P&S. I get help there, but only when I look like I want to buy something. Makes sense, I guess.

 

[morongobill]

Thanks very much for all the replies and also the Pro Photo Connection referral!

I googled PPC and was impressed to say the least.

If I have any money left, I'm writing this in Las Vegas, I will head straight there when I return!

morongobill

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

B&H and Robert White ... they can do no wrong, and if they did, they correct it fast. good luck

 

[zpuskas]

I've always had good service at the Samy's in Santa Barbara. Their prices are even less than B&H for Ilford paper. They made some nice digital prints for me too.
Service is becoming an endangered species at many places. With everyone having a cell phone you see more and more "salespeople" talking on the phone and ignoring potential customers. Even the supermarket stocker was talking on the phone while he was stacking lettuce.