Subject | Re: Calumet files Chapter 7 |
From | Savageduck |
Date | 03/25/2014 16:11 (03/25/2014 08:11) |
Message-ID | <2014032508113233258-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMmecom> |
Client | |
Newsgroups | rec.photo.digital |
Follows | Tony Cooper |
Followups | Scott Schuckert (33m) |
Tony CooperOne of the reasons both B&H and Adorama are so successful as online stores, other than large and varied inventory, is they are solid retailers first. They have done the best to bring the experience of shopping in either of their stores to the online customer. Not every online outlet has a Henry Posner, or a Helen Oster. Both stores provide online training and tutorials along with videos of some of their in store seminars and presentation. Most importantly, other than giving you a camera to handle prior to purchase they have good information and advice available for the asking, it is right there if the customer needs it.
On Tue, 25 Mar 2014 09:56:49 -0400, Scott Schuckert <not@aol.com> wrote:Scott SchuckertTony Cooper
In article <250320140545034829%nospam@nospam.invalid>, nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid>wrote:nospamScott Schuckert
competitive doesn't mean below cost.
however, it does mean not charging as much as twice the price as available elsewhere, for the same item.
offer products and services to make customers want to buy from you, otherwise they aren't going to. it's really that simple.
either adapt to the changing landscape of online shopping or be gone. that's harsh but that's just how it is.
You really don't want to be swayed from your agenda, do you?
nospam goes into every discussion thinking that his position is the only right position.
He makes much of the fact that in some retail stores the sales help is either not informative enough or that they push accessories to increase the sale.
What he ignores is that in *all* purchases online, there is no sales help available. Any help the customer gets at a retail store is more than what any online seller offers. If nothing else, the buyer at a retail store gets to handle the camera before purchase.
It's always the buyer's responsibility to do their own homework. There's no reason the in-store buyer can't check the reviews and customer ratings of something before they make the purchase.
I may be a bit prejudiced in favor of the retail store because the two camera stores in Orlando are both staffed by knowledgeable and helpful staff. But, if I go to a big box store and deal with a sales person that doesn't know the difference between a interchangeable lens body and a fixed lens body, that's my fault.Our (closed a year now) local bricks & mortar store, Jim's Campus Camera, was staffed with some very knowledgeable staff and provided a few jobs to local college students (Cal Poly). They provided a center for photography seminars & tutorials, wet processing, some custom printing. However, as a store for a shopping experience they were very much a *Canon* store. So, the users of any other brand were limited to seeing a handful and small selection of lenses in a display case. I never saw more than four Nikon lenses there ever, and no third party lenses. Those were the choices they made to run their operation, but it made life tougher for them when a dedicated Nikon, Panasonic, Sony, Olympus, etc. shooter walked through their door. They also did a fair business in antique and used equipment. My only purchases there were some framing supplies, mattes, etc., a few filters, and one Lowes bag. There was no doubt that they provided good service when they could. They never talked down to, or ignored non-Canon users, and understood their operational limitations, but it handicapped them from day one.
-- Regards,Scott SchuckertTony Cooper
Now, here's a challenge for you: SHOW US a camera (not a lens cap or a battery) that sells for twice at much in a retail store as through a mail order house. Exact same, current model and brand, that is, say, $200 at Cardinal Camera in Lansdale Pa. and $100 at B&H in New York. Or any other comparable vendors.
He won't be able to. That's typical hyperbole from nospam.Scott Schuckert
In the meantime, stop making out like small resellers are doing anything "wrong" - other than trying to best serve their customers, and the customers want "cheap" over "full service."