Thumbs up and thumbs down

[TPPhotog]

Having just got back from taking a learning disabilities client up to Centre Parcs in Nottingham I have to give them a huge thumbs up for being camera friendly. Photographs are allowed everywhere except in the changing rooms (which is fair enough) and they even sell disposable waterproof cameras at the swimming pool. With the wildlife wondering around the site it had photo opportunities for everyone. I wish other places would take the same adult attitude to photography 😀

The thumbs down goes to Jessops in Doncaster. I stopped off to stock up on film and even sighted the HP5+ and Tri-X I wanted to buy. However after being told by the sales assistant he would be with me in a moment, he then went on the serve locals in the queue behind me to film processing they were collecting. When I left without comment but putting the cash back in my pocket, the customers he was giving preference to were obviously embarrassed and apologized. I have of course sent a formal letter of complaint to the Jessops Head of personnel suggesting a training need 😡

 

[cp_ste.croix]

Poor customer service can really ruin one's day...however, it was nice that the other customers noticed, as arround here, I think it might pass without comment.

Good for you also for taking steps towards resolution...I am always so passive about those things.

 

[JoeFriday]

not me.. I vote with my feet.. I always feel that if I act like the indignant customer, I'll be perceived as the problem.. but, like Tony, I always point out to the higher-ups that they lost a customer

I'm not sure there's a right or wrong way to handle that situation, but I agree with Tony's method.. and apparently the other customers did, too

 

[dr.kollig]

I'm really surprised that Jessops did this! Having b/w film on display, gosh - it is the digital age. I guess the clerk was afraid you were belonging to a strange group like Rodinal additcs. Here in Germany we get the film from under the counter in a brown paper bag....
When I was in England/Scotland/Wales Jessops was last on my lists when I needed something as their service was rather poor. It seems like chains always try to save money on the staff.

Wolfram

 

[TPPhotog]

I tend to treat Jessops like any other supermarket and as long as you go in knowing what your after there's usually no problem.

I think the guy realised I wasn't impressed by my body language and although I usually vote with my feet when I'm not satisfied, being kept away from Tri-X which isn't always available locally was way over the line.

Beware anyone who tries to keep my away from my favourite materials LOL It's going to be interested to see how Jessops as a company respond to my letter, especially as their profits are plummeting due to the lack of consumables in digital photography and the challenge of camera 'phones 😉

 

[Arr Eff]

(i'm new here, hi). I notice my local Jessops have stopped carrying B & W processing materials, much to my dismay, although they still have film - in much reduced quantities. The space created has been replaced by overpriced digital clutter that you can buy in a lot of other places. They seem to be following the policy of their parent company Dixons in also not stocking, or reducing their stocks, of film cameras.
PL

 

[Skinny McGee]

Fire Bomb?

 

[schmoozit]

... and bring a whole new meaning to "burning film"; what there is of it anyway.

 

[Arr Eff]

B&W Film, paper and chemistry is probably going to be only sold online before too long. I mainly use colour anyway, but this came at a time when I was starting to rebuild my B & W processing stuff and set up a temporary darkroom. I was not pleased...
PL

 

[jrong]

I usually boycott Jessops anyway, preferring to either buy my film online or get it from independent shops that support traditional B+W. Even before they went all-out to please the digital masses, Jessops had really stroppy or clueless staff.

Jin

 

[Arr Eff]

I wouldn't want this to turn into a Jessops bashing thread - in one local branch they do have a knowledgable bloke who could answer any question, but I admit people like this are rare in the High Street generally nowadays. I frequent a small camera shop in the same town, a Leica dealer, where I've got some nice stuff in the past (90/4 Elmar etc.), and I think I'll be frequenting it even more in future...
PL

 

[iMacfan]

Just like the others here (I imagine), I'm very impressed how much self control you had in that situation.

Personally, whenever I have to deal with Jessops, Dixons, PC world or the like, I factor in enough time to persuade the assistant that what I want actually exists, before allowing him/her to sell it to me.

David

 

[TPPhotog]

The Fire Bomb idea sounds like my sort of subtlety LOL

Unfortunately Jessops have killed off most of the local high street and side street photo stores around here. There are three left but none of them sell everything anymore so it's one store for film, another for chemicals and another for paper 🙁

Jessops is the only place that sells Tri-X around here :bang: