Having to bite my tongue ...

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Lawrence

Senior Member
A couple of months ago I started working in a brick and mortar camera shop.

I am really enjoying being around cameras and talking to people about them all day but I have to be very careful about what I say.

We don't stock Yongnuo gear and I really rate their speedlights. I find it very hard to sell someone an expensive model when I know that the equivalent can be had for half the price.

This also applies to a lot of other gear - some of which even with the staff discount I am way better off sourcing eleswhere.

I love the job and the people so I shall continue to bite my tongue and move what stock we promote.
 
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petina12

Senior Member
From a few months on this siteI I am sure you have lot's of knowledge to pass on to customers. I knew I would never be a salesman hence a civil service career. Hope you cope with the conflict. Peter

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner
 
Needa

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
To many people price is not their first concern. Many want to touch it , know it will do the job and take it home, now. As log as your are not lying to them or selling them something that won't do the job, keep on selling.
 
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Lawrence

Senior Member
480sparky said:
I could NEVER sell gear retail. They'd fire me for never pushing filters 'to protect your lens'.
Click to expand...

LOL - it comes up on the Computer screen as a prompt when selling a camera "Suggest a lens protector filter"

They sell like mad.

Its not easy. The other day I spoke a guy out of buying a bag (before I realised what I was doing) because he already had a perfectly good one.
 
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Lawrence

Senior Member
Its very interesting working in a shop.

A lady came in just yesterday looking for a 85mm f2.8 prime to use for her wedding jobs. She carries two bodies and sounded the real deal.

I showed her her the nikon 85mm f2.8d and after fiddling with it for a while said "So is this a wide angle?"

God help her wedding clients.
 
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RON_RIP

Senior Member
Of course there is nothing to stop you chating up good gear to your bosses whenever you can. After all it is in their best interest to have the best gear at the best prices to please their customers. Often a shop will push gear simply because it has a higher mark-up. The camera shop here is bad about that and I seldom go in there anymore because of it. It sounds like the perfect job for a camera buff. Best of luck to you.
 
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Lawrence

Senior Member
RON said:
Of course there is nothing to stop you chating up good gear to your bosses whenever you can. After all it is in their best interest to have the best gear at the best prices to please their customers. Often a shop will push gear simply because it has a higher mark-up. The camera shop here is bad about that and I seldom go in there anymore because of it.
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Its a good point Ron but I am up against a lot of history and therefore experience and the boss man is very well versed in almost all gear.
Its a family business that has been going since 1928.
And of course it is impossible to stock every brand so he tends to streamline things - and with the cost of carrying goods who can blame him.

I do think Nikon sales have increased since I got there. :)
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
Lmao! :) This is so funny my friend! How on earth did you manage to keep the shocked or amused look off your face when she said that? Lol Wide angle! Lol :D

Lawrence said:
Its very interesting working in a shop.

A lady came in just yesterday looking for a 85mm f2.8 prime to use for her wedding jobs. She carries two bodies and sounded the real deal.

I showed her her the nikon 85mm f2.8d and after fiddling with it for a while said "So is this a wide angle?"

God help her wedding clients.
Click to expand...
 
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mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Its a very fine line you walk,so long as you are selling top notch gear to people over priced or not you are doing no wrong,if you where selling crap that would be different.
Its not just the gear they are paying more for its the facility to view it before purchase and to pay for the time you spend explaining things and giving them the benefit of your knowledge.
 
Roy1961

Roy1961

Senior Member
Contributor
Lawrence said:
Its very interesting working in a shop.

A lady came in just yesterday looking for a 85mm f2.8 prime to use for her wedding jobs. She carries two bodies and sounded the real deal.

I showed her her the nikon 85mm f2.8d and after fiddling with it for a while said "So is this a wide angle?"

God help her wedding clients.
Click to expand...

doesnt she know a telephoto zoom when she see's one!!
 
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Lawrence

Senior Member
mikew said:
Its a very fine line you walk,so long as you are selling top notch gear to people over priced or not you are doing no wrong,if you where selling crap that would be different.
Its not just the gear they are paying more for its the facility to view it before purchase and to pay for the time you spend explaining things and giving them the benefit of your knowledge.
Click to expand...

It is all top notch gear and we do treat them like royalty so that does make one feel more comfortable with it.

For many just asking what they consider silly questions and getting a proper answer is worth a few bucks extra.
There is definitely a reason that the business has lasted this long.
 
Whiskeyman

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
Lawrence, I've been talked both into (high-pressure) and out of (low-pressure) gear by a retail salesperson in the past, and it is the place where I didn't get the hard sell that I shop at today. I never went back to the high-pressure store again; apparently many others felt the same way about them as they went out of business many years ago.

I love to visit any B&M photography store to browse, and, if they have the time, to chat with the sales reps. I purchased my first camera, a Nikon FM, at Orlando, Florida's Colonial Photo & Hobby in 1978 or 1979, and I still look for the salesman that sold me that camera when I go back. Thankfully, it is still owned by the same family, and while they sell other things besides photo gear and accessories, it is obvious that the photo side makes the store what it is. It is the great sales staff that makes the photo side what it is. You're that part where you are!
 
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Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
I owned a couple of camera store / 1 hour photo labs for a few years. Cameras made no money at all for us. The margins are very low and the inventory costs are high. Accessories are where the money is made and in our case it was all about photo finishing.

I happen to like Brand name gear even though it does costs more than the sometimes as good as 3rd party. I think a lot of people are that way. Especially for main gear. I have a Nikon Speed light as my main flash. I am considering a second flash now and will probably get a 3rd party knowing I have my Nikon as my main light makes me feel better about shooting. A lot of people do need a UV filter to protect their lenses. It is cheap insurance. MAny people never put their lens caps back on and bump their lenses around. A UV will be cheaper than a new lens. Just make sure they get a good quality filter. Cheap filters will degrade the photo.

Now go out and Sell, Sell, Sell
 
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