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Author Topic: Jessops camera chain in administration  (Read 17321 times)

jeremypayne

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #20 on: January 10, 2013, 01:04:10 pm »

You really think Rob has changed more than the world?

The world has changed, of course it has.

The fallacy and delusion is the notion that the past was idyllic and the present is a fall from grace.

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jeremypayne

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #21 on: January 10, 2013, 02:45:02 pm »

... I still can't understand your contention that Rob has changed more than the world.

I think I mispoke on that.

The world has changed a lot, but not in a uni-directional "it used to be a good place and it isn't anymore" fashion.

What hasn't changed is human nature.




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stamper

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #22 on: January 11, 2013, 04:30:38 am »

In Glasgow  - Scotland - on Sauchiehall street Jessops had three stores at one time - and another two elsewhere in the city - within a five minute walk. That is is now two stores. Briefly there was a Jacob's store in between them. Comet's store - now deceased - was nearby. Apart from that one small independent about a mile away is all that is left that I know about. Sad times. :o

Chairman Bill

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #23 on: January 11, 2013, 05:35:50 am »

Jessops was offering 0% interest over 12 months on purchases above a certain amount. Which is pretty good. Except that you can currently get up to 17 months at 0% on a credit card, and pay less for your purchase on-line. Difficult to compete in today's economic climate.

stamper

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #24 on: January 11, 2013, 05:47:04 am »

Queues. I was in one in a Jessops store. The person at the front was wanting to buy a camera. The salesman started by telling him about how the camera worked and then went on to give him a discourse on photography in general. I got served by someone else and when I departed the salesman was still prattling on. Time wasters not wanting to buy but telling the sales persons how much more they knew about photography than them was a problem. I have spent thousands in the store as well as the internet. They are needed and will be missed. :(

Rob C

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #25 on: January 11, 2013, 08:25:07 am »

Queues. I was in one in a Jessops store. The person at the front was wanting to buy a camera. The salesman started by telling him about how the camera worked and then went on to give him a discourse on photography in general. I got served by someone else and when I departed the salesman was still prattling on. Time wasters not wanting to buy but telling the sales persons how much more they knew about photography than them was a problem. I have spent thousands in the store as well as the internet. They are needed and will be missed. :(


Yep, and others like them too.

Rob C

Rob C

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #26 on: January 11, 2013, 08:32:13 am »

Yeah, they've got a term for that.  It's called price fixing.  It's illegal.


That may well be the case today, but it didn't use to be.

Strange, though, for a system that was apparently so flawed, many more shops existed than today, many more people had jobs in them and all the pros or amateurs who wanted stuff had it. As I say, strange.

But bless you, it's my problem: I have this Golden Syndrome, don't you know? Even, more strange, I lived the time when Golden existed. But what would I know, it's only experience, after all, of both then and now.

Rob C

Jim Pascoe

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #27 on: January 11, 2013, 08:59:11 am »


That may well be the case today, but it didn't use to be.

Strange, though, for a system that was apparently so flawed, many more shops existed than today, many more people had jobs in them and all the pros or amateurs who wanted stuff had it. As I say, strange.

But bless you, it's my problem: I have this Golden Syndrome, don't you know? Even, more strange, I lived the time when Golden existed. But what would I know, it's only experience, after all, of both then and now.

Rob C

It's called progress Rob.  Competition is the important thing here - open up to competition and everything will be better.  The problem is that price becomes the key indicator and service goes out of the window in many cases.  I suppose it will work out in the end, but it's just different than it used to be.

Jim
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Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #28 on: January 11, 2013, 09:10:41 am »

...open up to competition and everything will be better...

Cheaper, yes. Better? Not necessarily.

stamper

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #29 on: January 11, 2013, 10:45:39 am »

Visited the two Jessops stores in Glasgow today. Busy. A women asked  a salesperson which stores are closing? None was the reply. The press are stirring things up! Visited Curry's who sell cameras and very little in store. The only independent left - the Merchant city, formerly Quiggs, - had second hand stock, which is it's prime business but little new stock. All other independents - as far as I know - gone.

Rob C

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #30 on: January 11, 2013, 11:06:44 am »

Visited the two Jessops stores in Glasgow today. Busy. A women asked  a salesperson which stores are closing? None was the reply. The press are stirring things up! Visited Curry's who sell cameras and very little in store. The only independent left - the Merchant city, formerly Quiggs, - had second hand stock, which is it's prime business but little new stock. All other independents - as far as I know - gone.


Geez, that's depressing.

Franks at the Saltmarket was where I bought my Rollei TLR; I bought my first Exakta in Williamsons at Charing Cross (Leica specialist in the day) and and my second at a small Exakta specialist down London Road, somewhere, but I think they vanished too along with the cameras. My local favourite was David Deayton in Paisley, who was a Leica, Nikon and 'Blad dealer. Knew everything and helped me enormously. Gone.

You see how good lowest prices are? Maybe one day people will buy their Ferraris in boxes too. Online.

;-)

Rob C

stamper

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #31 on: January 11, 2013, 11:30:16 am »

Williamsons closed about 10 years ago. I am guessing that Frank's is the same shop as Merchant city across the road from the Tron theatre?

Rhossydd

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #32 on: January 11, 2013, 02:21:49 pm »

A women asked  a salesperson which stores are closing? None was the reply. The press are stirring things up!
According to the BBC News less than half an hour ago all Jessops stores have shut tonight for good.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20992125

Not a good start to the new year for a lot of people who worked there then :(
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Rob C

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #33 on: January 11, 2013, 02:32:49 pm »

Williamsons closed about 10 years ago. I am guessing that Frank's is the same shop as Merchant city across the road from the Tron theatre?


Franks. If you're facing towards the river from the north side, Franks used to be more or less on a corner on your left. There was another camera dealer kind of diagonally across the road from Franks. Somewhere between Argyle Street and towards the Stockwell Bridge. I have an absolute blank about the Tron Theatre. I do remember the late Goldbergs in Candleriggs: did a lot of 'fashion' for them too.

I haven't been in that area for years - since Merchant City was created. Well, we did go there one night with my bro'n'lo and his wife to some restaurant for dinner. I think there was a Versace boutique nearby where his wife used to shop now and again. But it was dark, cold and right outside the restaurant a bunch of guys was sitting on the pavement holding bottles... everything gets ruined in the end, however the City Fathers try to tart it up.

Rob C

 

Rob C

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #34 on: January 11, 2013, 02:35:47 pm »

The specialist 'bricks and mortar retailers' I deal with seem to be doing very well. Take the Procentre for instance, the UK's largest rental outlet and Hasselblad, Profoto and Broncolor specialists. Great service and advice and they'll usually match or beat the online 'box shifters'.

Having said that I buy a ton of everyday popular product online at rock-bottom prices; why wouldn't I? I also buy studio ceramics and ethnic collectables online for a fraction of the price that the galleries charge; again why wouldn't I?

Horses for courses.


Hi Keith,

I looked at the Pro Centre's site some couple of weeks ago, when 500C fever was heavy upon me. Their prices are sky-high, but I guess they carry a great guarantee! They certainly lowered my temperature.

;-)

Rob C

Rob C

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #35 on: January 11, 2013, 05:47:22 pm »

Rob, I take it you're talking about used prices?

Used 500 series camera prices from reputable dealers tend to be much higher than those of private sales, but don't forget the prices are always negotiable. If I were thinking of buying used I'd pay the premium, get the guarantee but do a deal. One alternative would be to buy from a trusted seller here on LuLa. But the fact is I'd buy new, still a bargain when compared to medium format digital cameras!

Just out of interest, how did you anticipate using it?



Yes, used; is there still new 500 Series stuff being made? I thought the factory had been folded up and put away in a drawer. But then, I'd imagined the advent of the F4 meant the death of the F3, and it was only by accident I discovered that I could dump the F4 and buy a brand new F3; they'd just stopped advertising it at the time!

How to use the 500? Probably with the 50mm and the via a 750 scanner... even that would be pushing my little boat out a helluva lot! What to shoot? I think I'd perhaps try to find myself some sort of landscape genre and/or 'found' as in my cellpix; I've pretty much realised that birds are out unless I move and find some commercial outlet and I don't know if it's on the cards to do that. Could be a wise thing tax-wise for the kids, moving,  but who knows how long it could take in this cliimate, and I'm alive now. Oh - I still love square!

Just watched the start of the new series on BBC HD on Italy... art and food; beautiful stuff for both senses - I could murder some Parma ham right now! Cream crackers, ham and a little glass of chilled white. Why do I do this to myself? It's in the nature of the beast is why.

Rob C
« Last Edit: January 11, 2013, 05:49:40 pm by Rob C »
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stamper

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #36 on: January 12, 2013, 04:24:35 am »

Visited the two Jessops stores in Glasgow today. Busy. A women asked  a salesperson which stores are closing? None was the reply. The press are stirring things up! Visited Curry's who sell cameras and very little in store. The only independent left - the Merchant city, formerly Quiggs, - had second hand stock, which is it's prime business but little new stock. All other independents - as far as I know - gone.
According to the BBC News less than half an hour ago all Jessops stores have shut tonight for good.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20992125

Not a good start to the new year for a lot of people who worked there then :(

It looks as if the salesperson was putting on a brave face or hadn't been informed or telling fibs. The conservation took place about 13.00 hrs. He was vehement in delivering his statement.  :(

Jim Pascoe

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #37 on: January 12, 2013, 08:03:47 am »

Cheaper, yes. Better? Not necessarily.

Sorry Slobodan - that was meant to be an ironic post! :)  Not put across very well though.  I do believe competition is a good thing in general, but it does often mean the unthinking mass market takes over and it is only when something that is good has gone that it gets noticed.  For instance I belong to a local camera club and often get asked advice on buying cameras.  I usually direct them to one of the two branches of the London Camera Exchange in Southampton.  Between them they cover most types of photography and have very good staff - and their prices are very keen.  Quite a number of people will go there, look at the cameras and then order online because they can save £20 or so.  Where is the sense in that, especially when shops are facing so much pressure and if they all go we will not be able to easily compare products.  To me, one of the most important aspects of a new camera or lens is how it feels and handles and that cannot be done online.

Jim
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Rob C

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Re: Jessops camera chain in administration
« Reply #38 on: January 12, 2013, 11:52:37 am »

Hi Rob, yes, the 503CW is still being sold and can be bought for less than 2,000 GBP.

Given our previous conversations my concerns would be that by comparison the V series is going to make your D700 feel like a comfortable carry-around. The price of film and availability of processing on your island could also be an issue. Then there's the ongoing question, are cameras the answer? But hey, they are lovely film cameras.

Italy Unpacked, great visuals and I particularly like the contributions from Giorgio Locatelli, but for me the pairing with Andrew Graham-Dixon seems a tad contrived. But certainly worth watching.  


Hi Keith,

I had forgotten about the film/E6 situation. It’s recently become worse, too, because my wholesaler closed down for those same reasons: not enough papers, films and chemicals sold anymore in volumes to make the branch viable. Regarding chemistry: yes, it would have to be Barcelona for processing colour (but for how long even there?)… b/w I’d again do here at home. But regardless, with the wholesaler off the island, where would I be able to buy film now, and at what price?

The more I dwell on it, the more reasons for lifting my tent and going back to Britain.

Yes, regarding ‘previous conversations’ you have touched the core issue here, and I know it only too well, however much I try to enthuse myself out of it with cheaper (read viable) genre alternatives.

At least I made a very pleasant pasta for lunch! Not home-rolled pasta, but Italian (brand) nonetheless with lots of local peppers and garlic. (At least, I think they are local, but nowadays you seem to be able to get everything all year round, and that can’t be right.) Maybe that garlic’s got something to do with the model famine. Sunny enough to eat it out on the terrace, but now, at a quarter to six, it’s freezing cold. No, not the pasta, that vanished hours ago.

Ciao –

Rob C
« Last Edit: January 12, 2013, 11:55:09 am by Rob C »
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