Jessops doomed
 

The city has announced that 81 stores and 550 jobs will go in the UK within the next 6 weeks.

Nailed by Warehouse express et al one assumes ?

Nailed by any shop which offers good service, and sensible prices.

It seems to me that in the last decade the specialist shop has started to exert influence. I'm thinking about WE, Digital Depot, Digital Direct, Purdeys and so on. These are all one up from the old small photographic shop that was so common before Jessops swallowed them up.

In the new year I had calculated that each store on average was losing £2k per week. I am surprised that it has taken so long for this sort of action to stem the hemoraging of cash.

OK, I've slated Jessops in the past, but on reading this news I thought how sad it is. I really hope I dont read an article in the future where they say they couldn't attract the right store staff, bla, bla. Actually, to contradict myself, it seems to be they couldn't attract the right staff, "at senior management level"! This is exactly what happens if you refuse to listen to your customers & furthermore confuse & rip off your customers.
Al.

roll on super sale prices!!

May I politely remind those here, that many using this site, and others who are active here might be employees of the group.
It's a bitter enough pill to swallow already, but for those wanting to forget 'work' and indulge in a pastime shared with others here, it's very difficult to find that others not employed by the group are not sensitive to those folks who might just be being made redundant in the near future.

For those interested in the latest hard factual news on the subject, rather than personal opinion and jibes, please visit here;

http://www.jessops.com/corporate/

thanks

yes sorry, i do apologise.

I think it's sad news,although they aren't the cheapest where else am I going to go and be able to order stuff to try out?The bunch of folks that work in my local Jessops are a great crowd and as friendly and knowledgeable as you could wish for...I will be sorry if they go....:(
Sharon

Well Jessops deserve to go! All you ever got with them was the chance to look at the product, handle, try it, and even have a bit of practice with your own memory card and study the results on-screen at home (as I did with 20D). Much better is buying on-line, where you buy it unseen and untried and if it's not suitable, send it back and get a credit note which hope you can exchange it for something that you want (as happened with me and lens).

I totally disagree.
Surely that’s the point of a shop, to give you the opportunity to handle, look at and try the products. It is much better for the customer if they can handle the product before they buy, that way you get the chance to decide if the product is the right one, and you can also compare different models. Buying blind you don’t know what your going to get and if the item is not suitable you’ve got all the hassle of returning it, plus additional postage costs.

With respect to Joe, I have had many bad experiences with Jessops, and I am not surprised they are having trouble.

However ... if you read the Jessops statement I think you will see that they are at base a sound business. I think they simply expanded too fast, taking over shops that might not have been viable due to online competition.

John, I agree with you entirely, it was just my warped sense of humour trying to make the point. I think that people do try out in shops and then buy cheaper on line, and then complain how expensive the shop was in comparison.

Mike, with respect to all who are fortunate enough to go to a job tommorrow morning, this is not the correct timing for your warped sense of humour?!

There are some good people I have been fortunate enough to meet and work with, and some of who rely on their wage they earn to put food on the table for their families (to put it quite simply).....it's more than just a hobby to them!

In the same way , for example, I would not pass comment of my own experience of a car manufacturer, no matter how bad...if I knew so many people in this country are potentially about to loose their jobs. I would almost certainly consider it more a reflection on myself rather than my comment.
Yes, there will always be the occassional insensitive idiot, but we can all make our own judgements I suppose.


All I was politely asking for was for the good people on here to put a lid on insensitive comments, as we saw in other previuos Jessops related threads .........

Please think about others less fortunate than yourselves.
If we can just manage it just for a while atleast

;)

Well said Joe. The problem lies with the management and not the lower ranks.

Alan

Joe I am sure that fellow members will join me in hoping for the best for you. I have been there and worn the teeshirt

It is a sad day for loyal staff and customers of Jessops. My comment was based on that the writing was on the wall six months ago despite Jessops smoke screen. I feel Leif's comment about over expansion is valid. How many companies have we seen fall into that trap?

I suppose the 64 dollar question asks is there any future for the high street camera shop ? I would like to think there is as I would prefer to get good advice, a fair price and good service from a local trader. But that's another story. The market place is constantly changing and you have to be lean, fit and flexible to keep pace.

At the end of the day it's about keeping the customer happy by providing their requirements, the customer paying for the goods and services plus making sure your covering your overheads. It's amazing how many companies lose sight of these simple things.

Restructuring provides a quick fix but unless the real problems are resolved it surprising how quickly your back to square one.

Coming up with Pipe dreams and throwing money at the problem often just prolongs the agonies.

Joe, and anyone else interested, I was trying (unsuccessfully, it would seem) to use irony to make the point that Jessops supply a service which the cheaper on-line stores do not.
As somebody who has faced redundancy twice in the last ten years, I certainly would not be making light of your situation.

I'm sure that part of the problem stems from having multiple shops in one location, I know of a few towns that have 2 or 3 Jessops stores, there is no way that this can be a viable way of doing business. I assume and hope that the stores that are being closed are in these locations and will allow Jessops to re-build from a better position. (I do feel for all the staff who are laid off, I have been there myself so know how it feels).

I also feel that Jessops have been somewhat arrogant in assuming customers will pay their prices when the same products are available elsewhere a good deal cheaper. I know that Jessops will often price match, but who really wants the hassle of printing off the webpage and then going into the local shop try it. Once you've found the website that is selling it cheaper why not just buy from them? I don't understand the policy of dual pricing (different price in store and on their website), few thinks will annoy a customer more than buying a new camera only to see the same company selling it cheaper online. If they want to trade as 'clicks and mortar' then dual pricing must stop.

I think many customers would rather buy from a shop than the internet but are not willing to pay a high premium to do so. My independent local camera shop sells at competitvie price (sometimes cheaper than WHE), offers great service and a fantastic range of stock (they even hold the big primes in stock). With the buying power that Jessops must have I find it hard to beleive that they cannot be competitive...

I should imagine part of the reason for running multiple stores in a town is the fact they are tied into the lease for many years. Depends if it's cheaper to leave it empty or run a shop.

i personally have always found jessops in portsmouth second to none for service and knowledge, its just a shame they are so expensive. they used to price match but the net has kicked the backside out of that, its wicked to say but i hope they do a massive sale.

I am lucky as ' posties ' local dealer is the same as mine. I have bought through Jessops at their Kings Lynn branch with very knowledgeable staff. Probably just as in any really large organisations some stores will be better than others in that respect.

Moving up to Norfolk from the outer London area was a bit of an eye opener for me. Camera stores are thin on the ground and without Jessops and Norfolk Cameras I would be totally reliant on the internet.

If I return to my upgrade from the D100. I visited Norfolk Cameras as it is 10 miles nearer than Jessops and asked to see a D200 which at the time no one had stocks of. When they had a delivery they informed me as I am sure Jessops would have done. I duly viewed it but decided that it was not for me. On this visit I took up about 1/2 an hour of the sales guys time. Having seen Foxy's D2X I asked if they had that for a side by side comparison. They did not have one but ordered one. I duly viewed and yet again at least another 1/2 hour of the sales mans time. In the end I bought the D2X from them.

Here is the rub. I could have despite all their time and effort spent on my enquiry bought through the net and saved possibly £50 - £100 with a bit of research. If enough of their customers did that then they would close down. Now if in the current position Jessops were now to close the Kings Lynn and Norwich branches we would only have one camera shop in Norfolk ( LCE ) that I have also bought from. With no shops I would for all future purchased I would be totally dependant on internet reviews. In the case of the D100 upgrade I would have bought the D200 based solely on those reviews and just put up with the lack of eye relief and full compatability with my SB80-DX flash.

I may sound like the odd one out but with great service I am a supporter of my local camera shops and in this case that includes our nearest Jessops, occasional internet purchases apart.

Don

Thinking about it I also bought our scopes and bins and a few other bits through our nearest dealer ' Cley Spy '. Sales guys time taken was lots as it was a selection through viewing process. I guess this poses an interesting question.

How would we cope in an internet only shopping only world ?

Try before you buy ................... side by side comparisons ..................... mmmmmmmm

Don

Very valid points Don. I've bought stuff from Jessops, LCE, Camera World (shop), Cley Spy even, as well as internet and good old fashioned mail order before the electronic shopping age. As a Pentax user, I find it nigh on impossible to find shops that hold stock. If it's in stock, and I've had a play with it, I think it only fair to buy from the shop. If a manager has the nerve to stock Pentax, I'm going to show them they aren't wasting their time, it's just a shame that it's so rare.

Duncan

I once had trouble buying a glass door for our oven (which I smashed while cleaning) I eventually found one online and unsure it was right I sent a disclaimer with the order. When the new door arrived it was wrong but an incorrect part number to the one I had ordered which was correct.

The company concerned would not take it back without insisting on a 50% restocking charge even though it was their fault they had shipped a wrong part.

I took the case up with trading standards who explained to me that anything you buy mail order which covers Internet purchases as are shipped by mail! All mail order items are of course purchased without seeing them so we the consumer have a right to return without charge. We are liable for return carriage but its our right to return without charge.

So you could buy from Jessops Internet site, tryout the goods and return just like the high street! but cover yourself with a disclaimer as part of sale terms.

If you dare! :)

My experience with Jessop.
Three years ago I went into the Lincoln branch with the intention of buying two DSLRs, one of them being for my son.
They allowed me to handle both the Canon and Nikon models, but refused to let me fire off a few shots from both so that I could compare the results. Needless to say I didn't buy from them and have never been back.

I bought the 20D from Jessops because of the good service I received. Shops provide a service and I expect to pay for it. Likewise, when my wife wanted a new scope we spent 90 minutes at Focalpoint (hi, Paul) trying different scopes and tripods. The one we bought was a bit more expensive than WHE (sorry, Paul) but well worth the extra. Also, like Yelvertoft, I think that it is only fair that if buy the product, you buy it from the place that gave you their time.

Credit where credit is due, I had a nice chat with a young woman in the Northwich branch about a lens I am planning to buy later this year. Sorry I don't know her name but she was very helpful and even pointed me to their discount vouchers in the photography mags. This would mean they will match Wharehouse Express for price, Yes without the P & P. Full marks to a charming young lady.

Alan

Well I've had many problems with Jessops (Guildford, Basingstoke, Slough and Reading) and prefer not to deal with them. Some of the problems were quite serious such as reserving a camera, driving 30 miles to collect it, and finding it had been sold. Or being given a £200 estimate for a camera and lens repair, paying, and then receiving the unrepaired camera and a cleaned lens. That was 10 years ago, and I was recently quoted £130 for a lens clean by a respected company.

When it comes to birding optics, I would always go to a specialist dealer. There is a huge difference between Jessops, and a specialist optics seller. The latter is usually run by the owner and one or two assistants, and they know the items they sell, and can give advice, and let you try. Usually they know the going prices, so are competitive. Even when they are more expensive, it is worth paying a bit more for the service. I bought my scope from the RSPB at Sandy, who were very helpful.

I think the problem with Jessops is that they are a high street brand with high street overheads, shareholders to please, and a huge number of shops. So each shop has a limited number of high end sales it can make. That means they need to make money on small items, which might explain the silly memory card prices. And since each shop is small, with a large range of point and shoot cameras plus higher end items, the staff cannot be expected to be knowledgeable.

Maybe what they need is a chain of specialist photographic shops, with less shops, but more floor space and more range, and some specialist staff. I guess that is the niche occupied by specialist dealers such as Purdeys and Digital Depot, though it is very competitive as I can think of 2 that went bust.

Items are usually reserved for up to seven days. In some cases this can be less...were you told this? and, did you ring to confirm your item before setting out?
Was the camera then sent back for a free repair?. It is normal that any missed repair is done for free, and all repairs normally carry atleast a 3 month warranty...depending on the item, the manufacturer or repair agent doing the work.
Repair prices have come down in general...which is perhaps one of the reasons why many small independant repairers don't exist anymore

What else do they sell? How long did they spend with you?....if their prices are that so competitive, will THEY be there in years to come?
Many of the branches are as large as the Halfords next door!....just how many Jessops branches have you been to Leif? just the inner city town branches I guess??
These branches already exist
So, larger branches with greater range and more specialist staff is a bad idea then?? you contradict yourself

Does anyone have anything new to say, or are we copying and pasting comments from the last Jessop related thread?:rolleyes:

Boring:p

Joe, I rang to ask if they had an F80 in stock. They said yes, so I asked them to reserve it, and stated that I would drive over. As soon as I had put the phone down, they sold it to someone who had looked at it earlier. I drove 30 miles to find it sold.

I left the camera and lens with them, and was later quoted £200. So I authorised the repair. When I collected it they had only repaired the lens. What the assistant did not tell me was that the repair was for the lens alone. Now how do I prove that?

Jessops are not a small independent repairer. They farm out to Nikon, or at least they did then.

I have spent many hours in specialist birding optics sellers. I find them very very helpful. The RSPB set up Swarovski and Leica scopes on decent tripods outside the office and left me alone to compare. They are not the cheapest but I was happy to pay a bit more. But some are the cheapest. They can do this because they sell a lot, due to good service and a reputation. Kay Optical is one example.

Slough, Luton, Basingstoke, Southampton, Reading (x2), Guildford are all small. I have been to 3 in Leicester namely the original store, the super store and a small store near Fenwicks. And of course one in London is big, and some others are small.

I do not understand you. I am saying that from a customer perspective larger stores is a good idea. But I am also saying that it is a very competitive world. Actually I suspect that the Jessops price promise drove many shops out of business. It meant they could not compete on price.

I'm sorry you find my post boring.

I'll give you another example. I went to buy a replacement part for a tripod head bought at Jessops in London. Assistant: "Where did you buy this". Me: "Jessops". Assistant: "No you didn't, we do not stock them." I found that rude.

Actually I am sure there are many helpful Jessops staff, but in my experience there is something very wrong with the shop (though I have not been for 3 or 4 years so it might have changed).

Hmmmm...once again. So, presumably you had a reciept for your purchase or another proof of purchase?
OK, now lets be honest here. That example isn't exactly new here either is it Leif?:rolleyes:

I shall attach a link here...just so you don't have to retype your moans and groans all over again:D :p

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...ead.php?t=1799

No doubt there's a couple other threads where you've regurgitated your complaints, but I shall leave those alone, as I shall do with this one now too :)

So according to you I am a liar.

You're a rude beggar.