RIP Jessops.

A friend of mine recently was promoted to manager of the local store. I spend way too much money in there.

NOOOOOOOOOOO

I hate internet shopping as it is causing far too many brick and mortar reatil businesses to go to the wall. If we lose all these retail outlets what will happen to town centres etc etc.

David

Almost bought a camera in my local store a few years back,but the salesman was a total waste of space. About all he could tell me about the camera was the price,so i moved on.

Jessops have been on the brink for a while now i think.

The way people shop is changing and fast. Unless shops change and move with the times they will and deserve to go bust. Whilst i am the sort of person who is loyal to the small man who will give me good service when i need it,i have ZERO loyalty to the likes of Boots/Marks & Sparks B & Q etc etc. I shop where i can get the best deal.

Mista H

I won't miss them, never been impressed by them and less so in the digital age. They have been headquartered in my local city and I blame them as one of the main reasons some smaller local stores that gave better service folded.

I like internet shopping as it is a very efficient use of my time when I must shop for commoditised goods like cameras and lenses. I can do better research and be better informed quickly and easily. I'm not at the mercy of a half-trained salesperson who would rather be somewhere else.

Town centres will respond to the demand. They might be different, but they will reflect what people are willing to pay for. They might become places where more eclectic things like art and fashion are displayed and sold. They might tend towards providing services that can't be bought over the internet like restaurants, coffee shops and bars. It wouldn't be the end of the world if we all spent less time "shopping", and more time doing actual stuff.

I feel sorry for the staff...

Most unhelpful and useless staff I have ever had the displeasure to deal with. The problem with chain shops is that profit comes before service!

Do I feel sorry for the staff? NOPE!

KR

Tony

Have you never been to Currys, PC World, Dixons or Tesco then?

Jessops used to be good back in the day but their problem over the past 10 years or so is that their staff just sweet fcuk all. A camera - even a compact one - is an investment for most of us, and customers need the confidence that impartial and knowledgeable staff provide.

As with so many businesses, Jessops had a sales culture, rather than a proper retail one. Short term sales as opposed to building long term relationships with their customers. When I bought my current camera (second hand) I went to RG Lewis, a long-established independent in London. I got two hours of the sales guy's time. That's why I would always shop at a place like that rather than somewhere like Jessops where they just want to take your dosh and boot you out the door as quickly as possible.

RG in Holborn is a fantastic little shop and there's no other place to buy a Leica in London(even maybe Uk). I got my M6(used) from them  a few yeas back and as you said  service is just outstanding!

KR

Tony

That would be Len then Kevin?  Great chap.  G

It was indeed Graeme. Think I might pop in there for a chat next week if I have time.

If staff are not properly trained and led is that their fault?

Derry,

You can train people about the tools of the trade but you cannot train people to be polite, professional, or plain rude. Should we blame HR instead? You cannot teach manners to a donkey!

KR

Tony

Well training is one thing but working in partnership with retail for the last 25 years or so, many people I've known in retail don't want to know more about their business or put extra effort into increasing their own knowledge about their industry, firm or products. It's always someone else's fault....

I've tried to buy from Jessops but their staff in my local branch have consistently shown no knowledge or understanding of their products and for straight retail purchases, other options are cheaper.

And that's their problem (same with so many other business), they fell between two stools, not specialist enough to justify higher charges, not cheap enough to compete on pure retail terms.

Tony

Oh well. 2000 ill-mannered donkeys heading for the dole - you must be pleased.

Worcester Jessops were always very helpful to me. 

I know that there are always some difficult characters, but I have been lucky enough never to meet one in Jessops in Worcester.

It is always sad to see good people loosing their jobs.

I have seen this from being one of them in the past where an employer had little clue about the business in hand ...

ATB from George

Bought my D2 from RG back when they first came out.....even as a stranger down from Scotland he let me take it out up the street for a 'try out'....G

Derry,

Don't be silly. I pay my taxes and the last thing I need is to feed another 2000 leaches. Read Kevin's reply above:there are plently of places where their "skills" could be used to realise their full potential.

KR

Tony

leach¹ /lēch/

transitive verb

1. (also letch) to allow (a liquid) to percolate through something
2. To subject (something) to percolation so as to separate the soluble constituent(s)
3. To drain away by percolation

The last seems almost feasible..... G

Osprey,

Which particular branch of Jessops did you work for?

Just been onto the.... Company check..... website to check them out,looks like a web of about 30 different companies. Google it.

I have always said that if a firm goes tits up 9 times out of 10 its down to BAD MANAGEMENT.

In tough times when things aint going well sitting on your backside doing nothing in the hope that a fairy godmother will get you out of the sh1t is not an option. Just look at Naim  for example,a sold company well run by Paul S and his girls.

Mista H