So today I went to a local brick & mortar camera shop to look at some digital cameras. Actually, I went there twice, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
The first time, I asked to look at the point-and-shoots and tried to get the store employee who was ostensibly helping me to tell me about them. He was an odd mix of completely attentive (he didn't help anyone else or stray from my side) yet completely useless. He provided no information that I did not ask for specifically. He shrugged a lot. I left knowing only that his attitude was that all of these cameras were basically the same and that I could seemingly buy one at random and be no more or less pleased than had I drawn any other camera from the hat.
On the way home I became increasingly irritated. I found myself reimagining my conversation with him, in which I began to ask questions like, "Is there anyone in the store with an opinion I could talk to?"
Once home, I found myself chatting with a friend who's very much into photography. He brought up a couple distinctions around the cameras, most notably the difference between optical stabilization and software-based. I asked if he would return to the store with me, and so I went back, this time armed with my own photogeek.
We waited until a different employee could help us. He was a little more helpful than the previous one, but that was possibly due only to the presence and influence of my friend. He certainly acted as bored as the first guy. Looking around I saw that in fact all of the employees seemed utterly bored with their charges, errrr... customers. In no way did our babysitter go out of his way to offer any helpful advice or guidance. It was still rather like pulling teeth.
The only good news is this: I now can proceed to buy a camera online, at less expense, rather than at this store with zero guilt. I see no reason to support a local store if it can't support me. Just because you can't compete on price doesn't mean you can't compete on something. Um, customer service comes to mind.
In case you're wondering, I'm thinking about getting the Canon PowerShot SD870IS. The only question for me is, how soon might Canon be coming out with brand new cameras? How close is this one to being yesterday's news?
The first time, I asked to look at the point-and-shoots and tried to get the store employee who was ostensibly helping me to tell me about them. He was an odd mix of completely attentive (he didn't help anyone else or stray from my side) yet completely useless. He provided no information that I did not ask for specifically. He shrugged a lot. I left knowing only that his attitude was that all of these cameras were basically the same and that I could seemingly buy one at random and be no more or less pleased than had I drawn any other camera from the hat.
On the way home I became increasingly irritated. I found myself reimagining my conversation with him, in which I began to ask questions like, "Is there anyone in the store with an opinion I could talk to?"
Once home, I found myself chatting with a friend who's very much into photography. He brought up a couple distinctions around the cameras, most notably the difference between optical stabilization and software-based. I asked if he would return to the store with me, and so I went back, this time armed with my own photogeek.
We waited until a different employee could help us. He was a little more helpful than the previous one, but that was possibly due only to the presence and influence of my friend. He certainly acted as bored as the first guy. Looking around I saw that in fact all of the employees seemed utterly bored with their charges, errrr... customers. In no way did our babysitter go out of his way to offer any helpful advice or guidance. It was still rather like pulling teeth.
The only good news is this: I now can proceed to buy a camera online, at less expense, rather than at this store with zero guilt. I see no reason to support a local store if it can't support me. Just because you can't compete on price doesn't mean you can't compete on something. Um, customer service comes to mind.
In case you're wondering, I'm thinking about getting the Canon PowerShot SD870IS. The only question for me is, how soon might Canon be coming out with brand new cameras? How close is this one to being yesterday's news?
- Mood:
irritated
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