What is the deal with Wolf Camera

[ggusta]

I have gone to wolf camera several times in the last few months, first checking out the panasonic fz10 and now this weekend checking out the fuji s 7000. Each time. EACH TIME it was a negative experience.

Do these people want to sell anything? When I ask to see a camera (mind you this was at a store I had never been in before, so it wasn't like "Oh here comes this jerk again.") they look at me like, oh god, another person wants to play with the toys and doesn't want to buy anything.

While I think most people are like me on an expense for a luxury like these, I don;t see how they hope to remain in business with their attitudes. I think the reason for such heavily trafficked forums like these is because each of us has certain expectations of our choice in cameras and we want to know everything baout what is out here before plunking down $300 to 1500 for a camera.

Never have i dealt with the same person twice, they have all been snotty (except one who I never saw again) and after i hold the camera for about 3 or 4 minutes it's like "Ok, duffus, that's enough time with the camera and don't even think of asking to hold another one"

...and it's always the same story, it doesn't have batteries and acting disgusted for having to dig up a set of batteries...no you don't need to have a memory card in it to use it..and don't even think of asking to load the images or movies onto their laptop which is sitting right there on the counter...

Last time i was there the two clerks were joking about how little they had sold that day, "I think I sold a half roll of film..." Do they ever stop to ask themselves why? How does this company make a cent? Or do they just sit and wait for Christmas?

Isn't anyone in management stressing to their staff that people don't just wander in like it's the gap and walk out with 3 cameras? It's sort of a big deal to us (me at least) and I fo one would like to spend more than 5 minutes with the camera before saying, "yup, this'll do." I don't even expect them to know much about the equipment they sell, I realize there is just too much and it changes way too fast.

I wouldn't buy a set of AA's from Wolf if the Penthouse calendar girls were waiting outside for me to take their pictures in the buff. If they respected people a little more, I wouldn't balk at their rather high prices. (A s7000 goes for 700 before a 100 dollar rebate. A joke.)

Gregg

 

[TysonicII]

There was a similar discussion here about Wolf camera:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1008&message=8011510

It's interesting to see just how many employees don't equate 'slow/no sales' with potentially bouncing paycheck.

-
Tyson Schettig

 

[aar]

I have gone to wolf

I think the name of the problem is not Wolf or Ritz, but slow death of Main Street retailing in many areas, not only electronics.

It started with common use of the credit cards and telephone about 20 years ago. The Internet only accelerated the phenomenon.

The Wolf Camera is still breathing and waiting for more capable management, but in meantime hundreds of non-chain businesses, which we all liked, are completely gone.

To get it worse, idiotic idea of APS forced small business to invest in new processing equipment, which never paid back.

With all sentiments and memories I am not missing the past and pretty optimistic regarding future.
(aar)

 

[Sonyad]

Stopped by Ritz the other day. Asked to look at polarizing filters. The young lass asked if I had a slr. I said it was for a digital camera. She said they don't make filters for digital cameras. I don't know diddley squat about filters, but her "factoid" let me know I would have to be in the driver's seat. I just smiled at her and asked to see some filters anyway, 58mm. I then pulled my new toy, the F717 out of my purse to try the filter on for size. Got it threaded looked over more filters. She then told me about the buy 2, get one free sale, and I bought a ND2 and a IR filter. Although the poor child was clueless, at least she was pleasant and referred the rest of my puzzling questions to an associate.

I just wonder what other wrong/bad information this child had doled out to other unknowing customers.

 

[Raymond Bradlau]

Its not just Wolf/Rits or even camera stores, its a problem at most retail stores today, service just doesnt seem to matter anymore, and to be honest I think most people are getting used to the self serve world, all that matters is price but whats odd to me is the only way I can see for a bricks and mortar store to stay in business is to offer great sevice (or just order online once you figure it all out yourself)

but minimum wage wont get you many great employees (or not for long anyway)

I have gone to wolf camera several times in the last few months,
first checking out the panasonic fz10 and now this weekend checking
out the fuji s 7000. Each time. EACH TIME it was a negative
experience.

Do these people want to sell anything? When I ask to see a camera
(mind you this was at a store I had never been in before, so it
wasn't like "Oh here comes this jerk again.") they look at me like,
oh god, another person wants to play with the toys and doesn't want
to buy anything.

While I think most people are like me on an expense for a luxury
like these, I don;t see how they hope to remain in business with
their attitudes. I think the reason for such heavily trafficked
forums like these is because each of us has certain expectations of
our choice in cameras and we want to know everything baout what is
out here before plunking down $300 to 1500 for a camera.

Never have i dealt with the same person twice, they have all been
snotty (except one who I never saw again) and after i hold the
camera for about 3 or 4 minutes it's like "Ok, duffus, that's
enough time with the camera and don't even think of asking to hold
another one"

...and it's always the same story, it doesn't have batteries and
acting disgusted for having to dig up a set of batteries...no you
don't need to have a memory card in it to use it..and don't even
think of asking to load the images or movies onto their laptop
which is sitting right there on the counter...

Last time i was there the two clerks were joking about how little
they had sold that day, "I think I sold a half roll of film..." Do
they ever stop to ask themselves why? How does this company make a
cent? Or do they just sit and wait for Christmas?

Isn't anyone in management stressing to their staff that people
don't just wander in like it's the gap and walk out with 3 cameras?
It's sort of a big deal to us (me at least) and I fo one would like
to spend more than 5 minutes with the camera before saying, "yup,
this'll do." I don't even expect them to know much about the
equipment they sell, I realize there is just too much and it
changes way too fast.

I wouldn't buy a set of AA's from Wolf if the Penthouse calendar
girls were waiting outside for me to take their pictures in the
buff. If they respected people a little more, I wouldn't balk at
their rather high prices. (A s7000 goes for 700 before a 100 dollar
rebate. A joke.)

Gregg

--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645

 

[kyaku]

Store front retailers are in a bind right now.

Mail-order retailers that just take orders can undersell retailers that must pay store rent and employees so customers can just look at products in person.

A true retail store and its customer friendly employees provide an advertising forum for products. The retail store front needs to get paid for its selling contribution just like a magazine or website.

I would not open a store unless I could get manufactures to pay for floor space and customer browsing prior to mail order and Internet purchases.

Manufactures must understand that lack of sales promotion reimbursement means delayed sales at ever falling prices.

Grocery stores already charge for shelf space.

 

[Doug MacMillan]

I think the name of the problem is not Wolf or Ritz, but slow death
of Main Street retailing in many areas, not only electronics.

I agree with you, but Wolf/Ritz seem intent on accelerating their own death. They're the poster children for everything that's wrong with the traditional photo store. Their customer relations have been bad for 20 years. I've begrudgingly dealt with them when there was no alternative.

Doug

 

[howard39]

I will never buy from Wolf.

When I was looking for a job, I sent a resume' to Mr. Wolf. I never heard from him!! When I attempted to contact him in person, he never responded to my calls. He didn't even have the curtesy to have his assistant return my calls.

Don't blame the salespeople. They are only doing what they've been taught - or not doing because they've not been trained. It's management's fault, period.

Terrible company!!

Howard

I have gone to wolf camera several times in the last few months,
first checking out the panasonic fz10 and now this weekend checking
out the fuji s 7000. Each time. EACH TIME it was a negative
experience.

Do these people want to sell anything? When I ask to see a camera
(mind you this was at a store I had never been in before, so it
wasn't like "Oh here comes this jerk again.") they look at me like,
oh god, another person wants to play with the toys and doesn't want
to buy anything.

While I think most people are like me on an expense for a luxury
like these, I don;t see how they hope to remain in business with
their attitudes. I think the reason for such heavily trafficked
forums like these is because each of us has certain expectations of
our choice in cameras and we want to know everything baout what is
out here before plunking down $300 to 1500 for a camera.

Never have i dealt with the same person twice, they have all been
snotty (except one who I never saw again) and after i hold the
camera for about 3 or 4 minutes it's like "Ok, duffus, that's
enough time with the camera and don't even think of asking to hold
another one"

...and it's always the same story, it doesn't have batteries and
acting disgusted for having to dig up a set of batteries...no you
don't need to have a memory card in it to use it..and don't even
think of asking to load the images or movies onto their laptop
which is sitting right there on the counter...

Last time i was there the two clerks were joking about how little
they had sold that day, "I think I sold a half roll of film..." Do
they ever stop to ask themselves why? How does this company make a
cent? Or do they just sit and wait for Christmas?

Isn't anyone in management stressing to their staff that people
don't just wander in like it's the gap and walk out with 3 cameras?
It's sort of a big deal to us (me at least) and I fo one would like
to spend more than 5 minutes with the camera before saying, "yup,
this'll do." I don't even expect them to know much about the
equipment they sell, I realize there is just too much and it
changes way too fast.

I wouldn't buy a set of AA's from Wolf if the Penthouse calendar
girls were waiting outside for me to take their pictures in the
buff. If they respected people a little more, I wouldn't balk at
their rather high prices. (A s7000 goes for 700 before a 100 dollar
rebate. A joke.)

Gregg

 

[Greg Henry]

There are two problems that relate to what you've said.

First, the consumers are not bothering to take the time to alert management or ownership of stores when they deal with rude employees. Get the names of the people who frankly do not need to be employed there, and let management (or the owner) know about them. Don't be a jerk about it - just informative. Sometimes they don't know what's going on right under them, so only by letting them know can they at least try to fix it.

Second, the wage thing hits it on the head. Looking to the owners - wouldn't you rather have two very good employees who are older than college aged kids, whom you pay $15 an hour, as opposed to four post-teens with attitudes for $7 an hour? MORE help, does not mean BETTER help. Advertise for experience, and good attitudes, and PAY for it - then kick the kid's butts out the door when they've been replaced.

Greg
--------------

but minimum wage wont get you many great employees (or not for long
anyway)

I have gone to wolf camera several times in the last few months,
first checking out the panasonic fz10 and now this weekend checking
out the fuji s 7000. Each time. EACH TIME it was a negative
experience.

Do these people want to sell anything? When I ask to see a camera
(mind you this was at a store I had never been in before, so it
wasn't like "Oh here comes this jerk again.") they look at me like,
oh god, another person wants to play with the toys and doesn't want
to buy anything.

While I think most people are like me on an expense for a luxury
like these, I don;t see how they hope to remain in business with
their attitudes. I think the reason for such heavily trafficked
forums like these is because each of us has certain expectations of
our choice in cameras and we want to know everything baout what is
out here before plunking down $300 to 1500 for a camera.

Never have i dealt with the same person twice, they have all been
snotty (except one who I never saw again) and after i hold the
camera for about 3 or 4 minutes it's like "Ok, duffus, that's
enough time with the camera and don't even think of asking to hold
another one"

...and it's always the same story, it doesn't have batteries and
acting disgusted for having to dig up a set of batteries...no you
don't need to have a memory card in it to use it..and don't even
think of asking to load the images or movies onto their laptop
which is sitting right there on the counter...

Last time i was there the two clerks were joking about how little
they had sold that day, "I think I sold a half roll of film..." Do
they ever stop to ask themselves why? How does this company make a
cent? Or do they just sit and wait for Christmas?

Isn't anyone in management stressing to their staff that people
don't just wander in like it's the gap and walk out with 3 cameras?
It's sort of a big deal to us (me at least) and I fo one would like
to spend more than 5 minutes with the camera before saying, "yup,
this'll do." I don't even expect them to know much about the
equipment they sell, I realize there is just too much and it
changes way too fast.

I wouldn't buy a set of AA's from Wolf if the Penthouse calendar
girls were waiting outside for me to take their pictures in the
buff. If they respected people a little more, I wouldn't balk at
their rather high prices. (A s7000 goes for 700 before a 100 dollar
rebate. A joke.)

Gregg

--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645

 

[Raymond Bradlau]

I agree 100%, but we must be missing something, The May Co. (Hex, Kaufmans and many more.....),Federated Dep Stores (Macey's and more....) Curcuit Ciy, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and I could list 20 more

anyway they are all going to more and more parttime work staff vs. full (to save a buck)

Now Home Depot seems to know how to get it done, 98% of the time I get great answers and sevice from there staff, and dont even know what I need half the time! Its the little things like when I ask where something is they dont just point they walk you to the correct isle, I have never had one tell me "I dont know" they just grab someone who does

First, the consumers are not bothering to take the time to alert
management or ownership of stores when they deal with rude
employees. Get the names of the people who frankly do not need to
be employed there, and let management (or the owner) know about
them. Don't be a jerk about it - just informative. Sometimes they
don't know what's going on right under them, so only by letting
them know can they at least try to fix it.

Second, the wage thing hits it on the head. Looking to the owners

• wouldn't you rather have two very good employees who are older

than college aged kids, whom you pay $15 an hour, as opposed to
four post-teens with attitudes for $7 an hour? MORE help, does not
mean BETTER help. Advertise for experience, and good attitudes,
and PAY for it - then kick the kid's butts out the door when
they've been replaced.

Greg
--------------

but minimum wage wont get you many great employees (or not for long
anyway)

I have gone to wolf camera several times in the last few months,
first checking out the panasonic fz10 and now this weekend checking
out the fuji s 7000. Each time. EACH TIME it was a negative
experience.

Do these people want to sell anything? When I ask to see a camera
(mind you this was at a store I had never been in before, so it
wasn't like "Oh here comes this jerk again.") they look at me like,
oh god, another person wants to play with the toys and doesn't want
to buy anything.

While I think most people are like me on an expense for a luxury
like these, I don;t see how they hope to remain in business with
their attitudes. I think the reason for such heavily trafficked
forums like these is because each of us has certain expectations of
our choice in cameras and we want to know everything baout what is
out here before plunking down $300 to 1500 for a camera.

Never have i dealt with the same person twice, they have all been
snotty (except one who I never saw again) and after i hold the
camera for about 3 or 4 minutes it's like "Ok, duffus, that's
enough time with the camera and don't even think of asking to hold
another one"

...and it's always the same story, it doesn't have batteries and
acting disgusted for having to dig up a set of batteries...no you
don't need to have a memory card in it to use it..and don't even
think of asking to load the images or movies onto their laptop
which is sitting right there on the counter...

Last time i was there the two clerks were joking about how little
they had sold that day, "I think I sold a half roll of film..." Do
they ever stop to ask themselves why? How does this company make a
cent? Or do they just sit and wait for Christmas?

Isn't anyone in management stressing to their staff that people
don't just wander in like it's the gap and walk out with 3 cameras?
It's sort of a big deal to us (me at least) and I fo one would like
to spend more than 5 minutes with the camera before saying, "yup,
this'll do." I don't even expect them to know much about the
equipment they sell, I realize there is just too much and it
changes way too fast.

I wouldn't buy a set of AA's from Wolf if the Penthouse calendar
girls were waiting outside for me to take their pictures in the
buff. If they respected people a little more, I wouldn't balk at
their rather high prices. (A s7000 goes for 700 before a 100 dollar
rebate. A joke.)

Gregg

--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645

--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645

 

[scottamy404]

I agree 100%, but we must be missing something, The May Co. (Hex,
Kaufmans and many more.....),Federated Dep Stores (Macey's and
more....) Curcuit Ciy, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and I could list 20
more

anyway they are all going to more and more parttime work staff vs.
full (to save a buck)

Now Home Depot seems to know how to get it done, 98% of the time I
get great answers and sevice from there staff, and dont even know
what I need half the time! Its the little things like when I ask
where something is they dont just point they walk you to the
correct isle, I have never had one tell me "I dont know" they just
grab someone who does

The staff at Home Depot is usually very knowledgeable but I always have a very hard time finding an associate to help me. Once I can get a hold of one they usually have the answer.

 

[scottamy404]

Yeah, I went to Wolf Camera and tried out several different digital cameras and then went to B&H online and ordered my Canon s50 for almost 60 dollars cheaper than at wolf. Bought the camera and a 256mb card for what the camera would have cost at wolf.

Store front retailers are in a bind right now.

Mail-order retailers that just take orders can undersell retailers
that must pay store rent and employees so customers can just look
at products in person.

A true retail store and its customer friendly employees provide an
advertising forum for products. The retail store front needs to get
paid for its selling contribution just like a magazine or website.

I would not open a store unless I could get manufactures to pay for
floor space and customer browsing prior to mail order and Internet
purchases.

Manufactures must understand that lack of sales promotion
reimbursement means delayed sales at ever falling prices.

Grocery stores already charge for shelf space.

--
Canon s50

 

[scottamy404]

Terrible company!!

...and they seem to be the only ones around here in Atlanta. I went to the "local" nonchain store yesterday and found it closed down and out of business.

 

[JoeyB]

I have gone to wolf camera several times in the last few months,

I went to a Ritz camera shop here in northern CA on Sunday wanting to look at one of their sale items.

Clerk was polite, fairly enthusiastic, knew what he was talking about concerning the sale camera ( a Minolta S-414).

I looked at the camera, asked a few questions, looked at a few more cameras- chose the Minolta, got the usual sales pitch for the service policy but the experience was ok. Can't complain.

Maybe I caught the clerk on a good day....

JoeB

 

[Raymond Bradlau]

(I am sure to get flamed for this) I consider that stealing

Yeah, I went to Wolf Camera and tried out several different digital
cameras and then went to B&H online and ordered my Canon s50 for
almost 60 dollars cheaper than at wolf. Bought the camera and a
256mb card for what the camera would have cost at wolf.

http://www.pbase.com/ray645

 

[Rob214601]

I think it's horrible to hear about the treament you recieved at your local wolf.

Being an employee of the company I can tell you that is NOT the standard of the company (however frequent in your area) and should not be tolerated in anyway.

I've just transferred to a similar store in danger of being shut down. From what I can see, the assosiates are driving the customers away. People that are unqualified and poor mannered have no place behind my counter.

"Customers are the life blood of our company"

I tell my crew that every single day. That's why i'm the top salesmen in the state. I treat every customer with the utmost respect. Whether your spending $1 or $1000, or "just looking." I'll always be of help to you.

Please tell me the area where you live and the store you went to.

I'll be happy to forward your complaint to chuck wolf himself. (sorry, can't give out his email)

And if your in the maryland area, i'm at the store in Olney. I can promise you that you'll be taken care of at my store.

--
Natural light or bust.

 

[Rob214601]

There are two problems that relate to what you've said.

First, the consumers are not bothering to take the time to alert
management or ownership of stores when they deal with rude
employees. Get the names of the people who frankly do not need to
be employed there, and let management (or the owner) know about
them. Don't be a jerk about it - just informative. Sometimes they
don't know what's going on right under them, so only by letting
them know can they at least try to fix it.

Absolutely. We can't fix a problem if we don't know about it. Most managers know that for every complaint they hear about there are at least 4 they did'nt. So the good ones will take action, and quickly.

Second, the wage thing hits it on the head. Looking to the owners

• wouldn't you rather have two very good employees who are older

than college aged kids, whom you pay $15 an hour, as opposed to
four post-teens with attitudes for $7 an hour? MORE help, does not
mean BETTER help. Advertise for experience, and good attitudes,
and PAY for it - then kick the kid's butts out the door when
they've been replaced.

Your forgetting commision. Those $7 snot nosed teens make $15 to $20 an hour during christmas. But i do agree, quality over quanity.

--
Natural light or bust.

 

[tyoung]

(I am sure to get flamed for this) I consider that stealing
scottamy404 wrote:

No need to worry about being flamed. Essentially you are correct in that it is stealing, at least in a sense. Still it happens all the time. That's just how the market is. I won't necessarilly miss some of the chain stores if and when they finally succomb but I do miss the old and faithful privately run street corner camera shops, which have all but dissapeared. It's a brutal cut throat business and the small shops are under attack from both the consumers that shop and then buy elsewhere and the vendors that offer paper thin margins in order to stay competitive themselves.

Ultimately it's up to the stores to find a way. Stores like B&H and others like them began as and still are bricks and mortar stores first. Before the web they used mail order operations to increase their volume and when the web came along they took full advantage of it for the same reasons and they remained careful not to let their service slip as their volumes grew. These are the stores that will survive the Best Buys and Circus City's as well as the fly by night web fronts.

--
Tom Young
http://www.pbase.com/tyoung/
[email protected]

 

[Rob214601]

(I am sure to get flamed for this) I consider that stealing
scottamy404 wrote:

Flame on, not against you

Yeah, I went to Wolf Camera and tried out several different digital
cameras and then went to B&H online and ordered my Canon s50 for
almost 60 dollars cheaper than at wolf. Bought the camera and a
256mb card for what the camera would have cost at wolf.

It's people like you that cause salesmen to go bad.

I once worked with a guy for over an hour on a digital camera. When I asked him if he wanted to go ahead and buy it he told me he was going to buy it at best buy.

"I've got a $400 gift card there"
"Well, why did'nt you ask them for advice about your camera purchase"
"Oh, they did'nt want to help me"

That has to be the most absolute ruddeist thing you can do to a salesman. I liken it to the perfect food server that you don't leave a tip too.

The idea of a salesmen (especially at ritz) is to help you figure out what camera is right for you. For there efforts the least you can do is purchase a camera from them. I've seen assosiates (good ones) quite because the company won't give them more money. And they don't do it becuase they go on the "numbers." not how many people you've helped pick out a camera.

While you were taking up that persons time, a "real" customer that could have purchased a camera from the store probably got tired of waiting in line and left.

Now i'm not saying that buying online is wrong. Or getting advice from a store is wrong. But going to a store with the sole intention of buying your camera online is rude, and disrespectfull. I hope you drop your camera and it dies and you have to take it to ritz for repair because mack does'nt cover what you did to it.

--
Natural light or bust.

 

[scottamy404]

You consider that stealing? I agree to disagree. It's called the free market.

Yeah, I went to Wolf Camera and tried out several different digital
cameras and then went to B&H online and ordered my Canon s50 for
almost 60 dollars cheaper than at wolf. Bought the camera and a
256mb card for what the camera would have cost at wolf.

http://www.pbase.com/ray645

--
Canon s50