Retail Week report Jessops going into administration.

MrTaikitso wrote:

Not sad. Here's my take, based on over 20 years of experience:

1. Consistently rude and arrogant staff in the two or three specific branches I have visited.

2. A bias towards Canon for most of that time. Note clothing - often endowed with Canon logo. Not bashing Canon, just making a point. As a general observation, Canon are superb at marketing, with their timeless National Geographic ads (probably the first ads I ever noticed as a child!), counter top soft mats etc etc, so perhaps they pay Jessops for all the branding?

3. Pricing that is typical British high street, and even during sales, no really good deals, except perhaps the Sony NEX F3 dual lens kit, but the NEX 16mm prime is not that good anyway. (A low end compact camera and 'free' case for £59.95 inc an unbranded SD card is not what I mean by a deal.)

4. On the rare occasions I have purchased an item, (I find the Jessops experience too negative to put up with), and then returned it due to a fault, they have put me through the grinder and made me do all the work, making me feel guilty. Am a fair consumer only making a complaint when I know I'm in the right BTW.

5. NO competition in the photography only space - except for the dignified and most excellent T4 cameras, who alas only have a few stores. (Of which the Newbury branch also sells fine Scotch Whisky on the other wall!)

I NEVER buy anything other than cables, storage media and content online, and so hope that T4 and/or a re-born Jessops can retain a physical nationwide location where we can get a hands on - and buy.

BTW, I have bought most of my gear from John Lewis, where the buying experience is excellent, even if it's not a dedicated photography store. Currys, who also offer an improved level of after sales service seem to be getting better too - probably to stave off the threat of online vendors like Amazon.