Alex - Somewhat different to my experience of Currys/PC World/Dixons (and I'm not alone - Just take a read on the PC forums). The staff in the stores I've visited have the knowledge to stack the shelves and open the boxes, thats about it. The camera range is not exactly extensive and if you want something as rare (
) as an 85mm prime lens, you can forget it.
I'm not saying Jessops is perfect by anymeans, but at least most have a good knowledge of the stuff they sell and in our local are very keen to help.
I think Jessops main problem is the number of shops they took over in the nineties. That was pure greed, just wanting to get shot of the competition. I can't remember where I saw it (somewhere in Scotland I think), but they had 2 stores on the same street that had previously been independant camera shops.