[anyscreenamewilldo]

phrases i've been told in recent searching for a lens - all true -



"sorry sir i don't know anything about that camera's set up . . . i just sell them . . . "



and -



"why yes sir of course you can take photos out the door of our shop with that camera/lens combo, feel free to check it out . . . oh no sir but we can't allow you to record the shots on your cf card to take away for checking . . . "



and from a service agent on results of a warranty check for unusable soft pix -



"well sir we've checked with the manufacturer and this lens fine, it is within specs" -



and on going out the door after hearing that -



"why yes sir, it is expensive trying to find a good lens isn't it . . . "





. . . a lighter look at life . . .

[Brightcolours]

[quote name='anyscreenamewilldo' timestamp='1285837857' post='3385']

phrases i've been told in recent searching for a lens - all true -



"sorry sir i don't know anything about that camera's set up . . . i just sell them . . . "



and -



"why yes sir of course you can take photos out the door of our shop with that camera/lens combo, feel free to check it out . . . oh no sir but we can't allow you to record the shots on your cf card to take away for checking . . . "



and from a service agent on results of a warranty check for unusable soft pix -



"well sir we've checked with the manufacturer and this lens fine, it is within specs" -



and on going out the door after hearing that -



"why yes sir, it is expensive trying to find a good lens isn't it . . . "

[/quote]

Here they do not "yes sir" all the time, which I am happy with... being polite does not mix well with that condescending tone/manner of sales people.



Camera shops where I come never have what I am asking for (and they are not exotic), have to look up the most basic things up in the computer, and give list prices for things they would have to order. So I tend to order online instead...



But it is not just camera stores that have hopelessly bad personnel.. Electronics stores have them beat!



Years ago I wanted to buy one of those hand held mini vacuum cleaners for my sister (hey... she wanted one...).

There were many models from Braun, Black&Decker, Philips and so on, I had no idea what to go on. So I was silly enough to ask a guy that worked there what were the differences. "Well... this one is red, that one is yellow, and this one is more a kind of grey..." <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />



Or, (also years ago) I went with a colleague to look at some cassette decks (weird word, decks...). We narrowed it down to an Aiwa and a Denon. Asks my colleague to a sales clerk that asked if he could help us: "What is the difference between those two?"

Sales clerk comes really close to the two cassette decks and starts to read: " well... this one has Dolby C. And this one too. This one has 2 heads. And this one too.." which went on for quite some time. Thanks sales clerk! You have been very helpful. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />



Next time we came there and the same guy came asking if he could help us I looked him over and replied "I seriously doubt it". My colleague dragged me out of the store while he died laughing. I did feel bad for the sales clerk for what I said, but is it nowadays too much to ask to be a bit knowledgeable about the field you work in and the products you sell?

[miro]

That is why online ordering becomes popular. At Saturday evening my neighborhood is overcrowded by small courier busses. People buy almost everything online. Internet gives you enormous info and reviews about products what are you searching for.

[anyscreenamewilldo]

[quote name='miro' timestamp='1285872511' post='3403']

That is why online ordering becomes popular. At Saturday evening my neighborhood is overcrowded by small courier busses. People buy almost everything online. Internet gives you enormous info and reviews about products what are you searching for.

[/quote]

- indeed, and i'm just about to try the 100-300 sigma bought from far away (a mount not available here), as well, that shop has a short term returns policy that works - i'm just sorry i couldn't order it via a click from here, but i couldn't see that shop's (b&h) ad here now



- and why not, more choice maybe will up everyone's game



- and funnily (for me) that camera shop doesn't realise just how close they came to more than one sale before they dropped the ball

[Guest]

I'm quite lucky in this regard - I have two camera shops that really know their stuff. The staff are helpful and friendly, and I can take out stuff to try it, try another, and another ... and the place that I buy Zeiss lenses even gave me a very generous reduction on my third purchase.



The big chain stores are a joke. Poor staff training, paranoid security, and only the mainstream equipment. I only go there if I need a memory card or simple stuff in a hurry.



I was once 'interrogated' by a senior supervisor (flanked by two large guards) at a German store (Saturn) because I was 'taking pictures' with a demo camera. It was one of about 20 cameras lined up for customers to try. "Well", I said, "this is your camera, and it has no card in it. Why do you put if out for people to try, if you don't want them to look through the viewfinder and press the shutter?"

After 'conferring' with her colleagues, she decided that I had not violated any security rules after all. I vowed never to buy anything there again.

But having said that, I guess any Germans on the site will know that I was a fool to even go into 'Saturn' as a serious photographer - you get more satisfaction on Mars. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />