Remind me... (Ritz Camera)

[braduardo]

... in a couple months when I go to buy another lens to steer clear of Ritz Camera. Seriously, I think the people in Walmart's automotive section know more about cameras.

I was in the one in the Mall of America today and the guy at the counter was selling this woman a 17-40mm L f4 lens for her Rebel 35mm. Aside from the fact that the woman didn't really want to spend $800 (yup, $120 more than B&H) on a lens, he kept pushing it and telling her that she would also need another lens.

What really kinda ticked me off was that this guy was telling her that BOTH of the lenses were VITAL, even though she had said that she was just getting started and didn't even know much about using the camera. To make it better, rather than explaining how the lenses would benefit the 35mm camera she already had, all this guy seemed to be able to do was tell her how great the lenses would be when she switched to digital. He was telling her that the LENSES had a 1.6x magnification factor.


A while back I was trying to find a place to rent lenses in the Twin Cities, so I went into National Camera Exchange and they gave me the name of a place downtown, the address, and phone number. I go down the street to the Ritz Camera figuring maybe they did, but Nat Cam didn't want me to go there because they compete. After waiting for 10 minutes, the girl at the counter says "I've never heard of anywhere doing that, maybe Vegas?" Thinking that she couldn't really be daft enough to be talking about LAS VEGAS and maybe it's the name of a local shop I ask "where?". "Maybe they do it in Las Vegas, I dunno."

OK, I'm done ranting about Ritz. Man, they really do SUCK.

[Crashoran]

http://www.oli.tudelft.nl/vvier/ivo/pindakaas/ritz.jpg

:lol:

[cdifoto]

That's sad.

[motion_projekt]

i like to go in there and test their knowledge. I ask them questions that i know the anwsers to and then when they give a not so good anwser i say "oh but isnt this the correct anwser...?" Its quite entertaining to make fun of their intelligence level...but then again its not real nice to pick on people with below average intelligence.

[cdifoto]

i like to go in there and test their knowledge. I ask them questions that i know the anwsers to and then when they give a not so good anwser i say "oh but isnt this the correct anwser...?" Its quite entertaining to make fun of their intelligence level...but then again its not real nice to pick on people with below average intelligence.

I prefer to call it below average training rather than below average intelligence.

[Lani Kai]

I don't understand why they would try to sell the lady a 17-40L. There's more in it for the sales associate if they sold a Quantaray lens, it seems.
Ritz Camera appears to be geared mostly toward serving people that have no idea of what they're talking about. Anyone with sufficient research ability (ie reading reviews online or comparing prices using sites like pricegrabber.com, or even asking questions on forums like here) would immediately realize that Ritz does not have competitive prices, especially when compared to many online retailers excluding the big-box electronics stores. It's the people that ask "So, which is better, Canon or Nikon?" or "What's the best digital camera?" that go to places like Ritz and buy a camera. If only they would spend some time researching, they would save themselves quite a bit of money and become more educated on the subject. Those that don't are paying the price for their laziness and lack of motivation.

[braduardo]

I dunno... I was really bad when he said that he didn't have any similar 3rd party lenses in stock. Isn't that the crap they try to sell?

[nwyman]

I bought my XT from the smaller Ritz Camera in Annapolis, Md. It was an impulse buy, which I haven't regretted, but......
The salesman (who gave me several nice tips re: maintenance) told me I didn't need iS on a long zoom lens ( I told him I was most interested in wildlife subjects) and sold me the kit lens and the 75-300. Told me they would be fine learner lenses.

I later found out that this particular store doesn't EVER stock any of the more expensive glass. When I inquired a few months later about a possible purchase of the 400mm prime, I was told that they didn't even know where I could find one to examine - that MAYBE their flagship store near DC MIGHT have one.

I kept that 75-300 for about a week, then sold it to B&H used and bought the 70-300 IS
from B&H.

I won't even buy a filter at Ritz anymore.

[Lord_Malone]

They told me that Quantaray filters were made by Hoya, but better. http://forum.e46fanatics.com/images/smilies/iono.gif

[Woolburr]

In case you missed today's earlier Ritz rant. Ritz Commercial (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=192054)

[kram]

This is what happens when a shop gets majority of their sales from one time purchasers. That drives recruitment of pushy auto dealers rather than camera specialists ;)

B&H is where it is because it is dependent on repeat purchases......

[Lani Kai]

I'm sure there are a variety of sales associates at Ritz stores, some of which are very competent and knowledgeable. It's the company's strategy that I question--why do they hire some of the people that they do and why don't they provide proper training?
And then there's "Why do some people accept salespersons' words as fact?" I, for one, take everything that comes out of a salesperson's mouth (in regards to something they are selling) with a grain of salt. You might call me a pessimist, but realistically, they're there to make money.

[RikWriter]

I've sometimes found acceptable prices at Ritz. I've NEVER found acceptable knowledge from one of their employees.

[Tsmith]

I stopped in a Ritz store at the Lakeside Mall in Metairie, Louisiana last month just to waste some time. While in there the store a guy was inquiring about the Canon 5D and 30D to the store manager _ to my amazement the guy supposedly in charge said he had never heard of either camera and that the 20D was Canons latest flagship professional camera > which they had in stock for $1399.99 without a lens < :rolleyes:

[GNMink]

I bought a camera bag at Ritz yesterday ;) LOL

[Member52428]

I don't understand why they would try to sell the lady a 17-40L. There's more in it for the sales associate if they sold a Quantaray lens, it seems.
Ritz Camera appears to be geared mostly toward serving people that have no idea of what they're talking about. Anyone with sufficient research ability (ie reading reviews online or comparing prices using sites like pricegrabber.com, or even asking questions on forums like here) would immediately realize that Ritz does not have competitive prices, especially when compared to many online retailers excluding the big-box electronics stores. It's the people that ask "So, which is better, Canon or Nikon?" or "What's the best digital camera?" that go to places like Ritz and buy a camera. If only they would spend some time researching, they would save themselves quite a bit of money and become more educated on the subject. Those that don't are paying the price for their laziness and lack of motivation.

Not everyone is looking for the absolute rock bottom price. Maybe they like the buying experience, or feel they need the one on one help deciding on bodies or lenses. The sad part is that they get neither at Ritz. Finding a locally owned independent camera shop, they could probably get a price somewhere in between Ritz and internet pricing, AND get tons of real world experience advice for FREE.
I was in my favorite on Saturday. at one counter were a couple guys that shoot sports in town. They were discussing whether or not to wait to see if Canon is going to release the rumoured 200mm f 1.8L this fall. At another counter, a woman had the "my p&s I bought here last week is full... now what do I do?" The counter person pulled out a laptop and patiently stepped her through getting her pics off, and what to do with them. BOTH customers were getting the same attention, even though one had spent $300, and the other was talking about spending $4000.

[RikWriter]

Finding a locally owned independent camera shop, they could probably get a price somewhere in between Ritz and internet pricing, AND get tons of real world experience advice for FREE.
I was in my favorite on Saturday. at one counter were a couple guys that shoot sports in town. They were discussing whether or not to wait to see if Canon is going to release the rumoured 200mm f 1.8L this fall. At another counter, a woman had the "my p&s I bought here last week is full... now what do I do?" The counter person pulled out a laptop and patiently stepped her through getting her pics off, and what to do with them. BOTH customers were getting the same attention, even though one had spent $300, and the other was talking about spending $4000.


I envy you your shop. Our local camera shops carry no L lenses beyond (sometimes) the 17-40 and 70-200 f4 and no bodies more expensive than the 30D. And they aren't that knowledgable about current products either.

[steved110]

I envy you your shop. Our local camera shops carry no L lenses beyond (sometimes) the 17-40 and 70-200 f4 and no bodies more expensive than the 30D. And they aren't that knowledgable about current products either.

So do I - that sort of attention is worth paying for IMO - unfortunately a lot of people will go there for advice and get their hands on some gear to test it, then go home and order on the internet. then they'll post about how sad there are no good independent stores left.....

As for the lady described in the original post - if she hasn't got the wit to research a purchase first, in this day and age where so much knowledge is practically free, and then lets herself get talked into spending 2-3 times more on gear she doesn't want - well, that's the current food chain in this day and age. Lamb to the slaughter - mmm, tasty :rolleyes:

[braduardo]

Not everyone is looking for the absolute rock bottom price. Maybe they like the buying experience, or feel they need the one on one help deciding on bodies or lenses. The sad part is that they get neither at Ritz.

I don't think she was looking for the absolute lowest price, but the guy at the counter was telling her that the lens was vital and managed to convince her that she wouldn't be able to get good pictures without it.

I do kinda agree with the "lambs to the slaughter" theory. Does it bother anyone else as much as it bugs me that Best Buy has display model 5D cameras that sit there with no lens mounted and no cap over the mirror and sensor? I think that tells a lot about how much the staff there knows about camera. Here's a $3000 (give or take) camera that is just being destroyed by people playing with it and sticking their fingers inside so that it can be used as a display. :evil:

[Member52428]

... but the guy at the counter was telling her that the lens was vital and managed to convince her that she wouldn't be able to get good pictures without it.


Damn! I finally bought one two months ago, if I would have known this, I would have bought one 20 years ago! :p

[braduardo]

Damn! I finally bought one two months ago, if I would have known this, I would have bought one 20 years ago! :p

Don't get me wrong, that lens is on my current wish-list. It just frustrates me when beginners are told that L (and other really expensive) lenses are the only way they will be able to get good pictures. I wouldn't want someone (like me) to get scared away from photography because it's too expensive. Better to get them hooked with decent equipment, then reel them in for the big stuff...

[Member52428]

I envy you your shop. Our local camera shops carry no L lenses beyond (sometimes) the 17-40 and 70-200 f4 and no bodies more expensive than the 30D. And they aren't that knowledgable about current products either.

I think its pretty easy for me to be cynical about online shopping with the kind of service I get there. It really is a shame everyone doesn't have access like it. They stock pretty much every lens Canon makes. On a couple projects I really needed a 300 f2.8, and once I wanted a 600 f4, they rent both for less than the cost of shipping from an online dealer. I figure I just store them in their closet instead of mine. ;)

[braduardo]

I think its pretty easy for me to be cynical about online shopping with the kind of service I get there. It really is a shame everyone doesn't have access like it. They stock pretty much every lens Canon makes. On a couple projects I really needed a 300 f2.8, and once I wanted a 600 f4, they rent both for less than the cost of shipping from an online dealer. I figure I just store them in their closet instead of mine. ;)

I'm going to have to do some serious shopping around for a good camera shop. My 'local' shop is still a chain, and while they have a lot of good stock, I sometimes find it lacking in expertise/service. It's the kinda place that will spend 15 minutes helping you if you want to buy a new camera, but will make you stand in line when all you want to do is check out with one item while they make the sale. They only rent the used lenses they have in stock, and that's not very many.

I'd love to find a good local shop in the Twin Cities and do my shopping there. I'd like to buy my stuff from someone with a passion for photography, not just a passion for sales.

[Steve Parr]

i like to go in there and test their knowledge. I ask them questions that i know the anwsers to and then when they give a not so good anwser i say "oh but isnt this the correct anwser...?" Its quite entertaining to make fun of their intelligence level...but then again its not real nice to pick on people with below average intelligence.

Well, perhaps if it were possible to know everything about every product in the store, you'd be on to something.

It's easy to make fun of someone when you get to focus on one or two items to "test their knowledge". I'm pretty sure that they could ask you some questions about some things they sell that you'd be hard pressed to answer.

It seems like you treat making fun of someone's intelligence as a hobby. Well, coin collecting is a hobby.

It may be time to re-evaluate.

The people at my local Ritz are every bit as knowledgable as the people at my local "pro" shop. I rarely shop there because of the prices, but if I ask their opinion, I know it's going to be informed. And, if they don't know the answer, they tell me they don't know, but that they'll definitely find out.

Making fun of someone's intelligence says more about the person doing the "testing" than it does about the person being "tested"...

[Lotto]

Hey, I met a very honest employee last time I was there.

"Sorry Sir, I can not help you with camera gears. I work printing at the corner over there."

And she's the only employee in the store.

[braduardo]

Hey, I met a very honest employee last time I was there.

"Sorry Sir, I can not help you with camera gears. I work printing at the corner over there."

And she's the only employee in the store.

Nice! :lol:

[Mark_Cohran]

One of my local shops is going out of business. They didn't move from film to digital quickly enough and are paying the price due to not keeping up with the competition. This is a sad thing, because they had the best customer service around.

The other shop I patronize is much more up-to-date with their equipment and stock, and offer pretty competitive prices with B&H when you factor in the cost of shipping. Unfortunately, although their sales staff is knowledgable, they're not very attentive and I'm often having to wait significantly before getting service.

Wolf, Ritz, Best Buy, etc. are just jokes when it comes to service, knowledge and advice. I won't disparage the sales staff intelligence, but I will take issue with their knowledge and/or training. I went into a local Ritz the other day to just pick up a 2 gig SD card (it was the closest shop to my house) and the sale clerk wanted to know what camera it was for, and when I told him it was for a 1DMkIIN, he tried to tell me that the camera only took CF cards. <SIGH>

Mark

[RikWriter]

Hey, I met a very honest employee last time I was there.

"Sorry Sir, I can not help you with camera gears. I work printing at the corner over there."

And she's the only employee in the store.


Heh, and your story is one of the BETTER ones. There was a Ritz Camera guy in a local store that said that his store didn't sell Sigma lenses and he didn't recommend them because they "were all junk." There was another Ritz Camera employee who, when I asked if they'd ever be stocking the 5D (I was curious as to what they'd be pricing them at), said "It hasn't been released yet." This when I had one in my car and had owned it for almost two months. I said "You mean, Ritz hasn't gotten em yet, right?" He said "No, Canon isn't shipping them yet." I told him I had one already and he acted like I was lying to him.

[Mark_Cohran]

Well, perhaps if it were possible to know everything about every product in the store, you'd be on to something.

The sales staff at my local camera store are familiar with virtually every product in the store. They have to be or they won't work there for long. Too many professional photographers shop there (and I'm talking some guys with big egos). On the other hand, the staff also specialize. There are two or three Canon people, a similar number of Nikon people, a couple of clerks that specialize in lighting, and a couple more that best know the Medium Format stuff.

If you go in with questions that the person you speaking to can't answer, they'll redirect you to one of the specialist. And, to top it all off, the staff there are all photographers as well, so if you describe what you're trying to achieve (with a particular photo of set-up) they understand and can help.

I haven't seen that level of expertise at any of the "chain" stores. It seems the people there are hired for their sales ability and not for their photographic knowledge.

Mark

[Steve Parr]

The sales staff at my local camera store are familiar with virtually every product in the store.

But do they know the smallest details of every piece of gear that's in stock?

I'll bet a buck that they don't, yet that's what the "intelligence tester" seems to be looking for. Anyone who would do something like that, for sport, is someone who has some sick need to feel better about themselves at the expense of others.

Now, with all that said, let's cue up the "I just ask them basic questions" response from the "intelligence testers" here...

:rolleyes:

[kennys350d]

i buy my stuff on amazon.

[JMHPhotography]

I went into Ritz once to inquire about the 50mm F/1.4. When the sales boy... (Yes boy) told me that prime lenses were no longer sought after even by pro's, and zooms were so much better, Then he showed me a quantaray 29-80mm I believe. I asked about Canon lenses and he showed me the 28-90 F/4-5.6.. and said because the lens mount was plastic, and the Q-ray lens mount was metal... the Q-Ray was better. I politely thanked him for his time and left.

[RikWriter]

i buy my stuff on amazon.

I buy a lot of my lenses used. Some camera bodies as well. When I want to buy new, I either order from B&H/Adorama/Sigma4less or I go to Colonial Photo and Hobby in Orlando, where they actually know what they're talking about. It's over an hour drive, but it's worth it.
I did buy my first 20D at a Ritz, because they had a very good price on it.

[RikWriter]

I went into Ritz once to inquire about the 50mm F/1.4. When the sales boy... (Yes boy) told me that prime lenses were no longer sought after even by pro's, and zooms were so much better, Then he showed me a quantaray 29-80mm I believe. I asked about Canon lenses and he showed me the 28-90 F/4-5.6.. and said because the lens mount was plastic, and the Q-ray lens mount was metal... the Q-Ray was better. I politely thanked him for his time and left.

Oh, you're just bashing them! That's what I heard anyway... :D

[Steve Parr]

Oh, you're just bashing them! That's what I heard anyway... :D

He's not bashing them at all. In fact, he took the adult, mature approach by just walking away. Sadly, that seems to be the approach of a minority here...

[RikWriter]

That's true. Some folks do have a problem walking away.

[Steve Parr]

That's true. Some folks do have a problem walking away.

And more have a problem with needing to feel superior to others...

[dave carriger]

There are 2 stores local to me that have very good stock on L glass. One of them is a wolf camera and the other is a smaller local store.

To my surprise, there is a very knowledgeable clerk at the wolf store who is also a photographer himself. When I want to try gear in my hand, I will go there to scope it out. However, the pricing there is outrageous so I no longer buy anything from them.( except maybe bags, cf cards,etc.) example of pricing for them is 70-200 2.8 IS ....... $1999.99 + tax = very nearly $2200.00 OUCH !!

The other local store has much of the same stock of nice glass with equally terrible pricing.

They must sell equipment at these prices to some folks though, as this is the only wolf store I have seen with 5d, 1dmkIIn, and 1dsmkII on the shelf along with many long L primes.

The only time I went into a ritz store was in Dallas many years ago, and I remember they had prices that made me run quickly out the door too!

[Knightshade]

so....honestly. how is Ritz any different from any other retail store? Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, etc.

You employ...at some places, whomever you can find that appear to be clean cut individuals and give them basic training...and when I say basic...I mean.."basic." Of course, there are going to be those individuals in certain stores that know more than others or are above the curve, but that's true of any electronics retail store.

a friend of mine who received his Rebel XT as a Christmas gift from Ritz...and then proceeded to buy the Canon 75-300 f/4-5.6 there said that moving forward, he wouldn't buy from anywhere else other than Ritz.

I then proceeded to tell him that he was pigeonholing himself and that he was an idiot.

[StealthLude]

Ritz... they make me smile, and not in a good way.

The MAIN reason i dont shop there is the price... the lack of technical info they know about is just the icing on top of that cake...

And boy do i love cake.

[StealthLude]

so....honestly. how is Ritz any different from any other retail store? Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, etc.

You employ...at some places, whomever you can find that appear to be clean cut individuals and give them basic training...and when I say basic...I mean.."basic." Of course, there are going to be those individuals in certain stores that know more than others or are above the curve, but that's true of any electronics retail store.

a friend of mine who received his Rebel XT as a Christmas gift from Ritz...and then proceeded to buy the Canon 75-300 f/4-5.6 there said that moving forward, he wouldn't buy from anywhere else other than Ritz.

I then proceeded to tell him that he was pigeonholing himself and that he was an idiot.


The difference is all they sell is camera stuff, and they cant even do that right. Best Buy and other stores like that sell a much larger selection of product.. Getting specalized training is all of them is hard. All ritz does is sell cameras, and again... as stated above, they cant even do that right.

[Steve Parr]

The difference is all they sell is camera stuff, and they cant even do that right. Best Buy and other stores like that sell a much larger selection of product.. Getting specalized training is all of them is hard. All ritz does is sell cameras, and again... as stated above, they cant even do that right.

Do you think you could absorb "specialized training" on every product in a camera store?

Every one?

Give me an hour on the internet, and I'd be prepared to walk into any camera store, guitar store, auto parts store or home improvement store and stump anybody they put in front of me.

Boy, bet that'd make me feel good about myself, too...

[JMHPhotography]

Oh, you're just bashing them! That's what I heard anyway... :D

What do you mean, "that's what you heard"? I'm not a basher... I shared a real experience. I said nothing derogatory about Ritz or it's employee's I called the sales person a boy... but that's because he was just a boy. He couldn't have been over 18 years old. If it wasn't during a school year at a time when kids were in school, I would swear he could even have been younger. Anyway, I didn't flame anyone... I wanted the 50mm lens.. went in, and asked about it, and was told zooms were better and yadayada. I then asked about Canon Zooms because I'd heard bad things about Q-Ray... and all he showed me was a plastic mount lens and didn't even offer the fact that Canon had better lenses to offer than that. He just used that one plastic crappy lens as an example of all Canon lenses. I knew better, and rather than argue or belittle the kid.. I left.

[JMHPhotography]

so....honestly. how is Ritz any different from any other retail store? Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, etc.

Well, Ritz is supposed to specialize in Photography gear. I can accept that going into Best Buy or the others you are probably going to get someone who was just in major appliances last week and so on. At a store that specializes in one type of product, I don't think it's wrong to expect that they would have a little more knowledge about what they are trying to sell to you.

I will only buy from Adorama, or B&H now. I prefer B&H because of how they handle shipping, but I have personally talked on the phone with guys from both places, and both places I was able to feel comfortable that the sales people knew what they were trying to sell me.

[Steve Parr]

What do you mean, "that's what you heard"? I'm not a basher... I shared a real experience. I said nothing derogatory about Ritz

Sadly, it's pretty evident that there are those who believe that it's impossible to talk about Ritz without bashing them.

It's a chain store, and has all of the problems that chain stores have to deal with. It's neither good or bad; it just is what it is...

[kram]

I doubt a guy with no camera knowledge would get similar advice in B&H as they would in Ritz......

To the argument that they are there to make money, even B&H is in this business to make money - there is just a right way to make money and many others :)

[mdm]

My brother bought all his gear at Ritz which I thought b&h would have saved him big bucks. Then they talked him into insurance that would replace the gear should a accident happen and the gear could not be repaired. 2 weeks ago we were on a trip to Costa Rica for surfing and in the hotel we were unloading memory cards into the laptop. We finished and he grabbed the memory cards and his bag. The bag was unzipped. The 70-200 L 2.8 was the first to hit the tile floor followed by his xt with the kit lens. The filter was busted on the 70-200 and no damage that I saw to the other. When we got back he took his camera in and they said 2-3 weeks for any repair and if they can't fix they will replace it. So he came out pretty good I think for being talked into that insurance.

[Mark_Cohran]

Do you think you could absorb "specialized training" on every product in a camera store?

Every one?

Give me an hour on the internet, and I'd be prepared to walk into any camera store, guitar store, auto parts store or home improvement store and stump anybody they put in front of me.

Boy, bet that'd make me feel good about myself, too...

I don't think anyone is suggesting that this is the situation, but rather that if Ritz, Wolf, or any other camera store for that matter is going to be in the business of selling photographic equipment that their sales staff should have a reasonable familiarity with photographic equipment and accessories. It's not about feeling superior, but rather about getting good service. I don't need the sales clerk to tell me what the synch trigger voltage is on 550EX flash because I can look it up myself, but I don't want them trying to sell me an EZ flash to go with a 30D or telling me that no one uses prime lenses anymore either.

You seem to be taking this thread a bit too personally. I don't believe anyone is suggesting that we should "stump the clerk" or go into a camera shop to show off our knowledge, but if we don't demand better service from these shops, we'll never see improvement.

Mark

[wiselion]

Ritz is a great store for any type of photo gear testing purposes. This is how it is done. Purchase the product and see how well it works.Then return it before the 30 day money back garuntee. Then go to B&H or another normally priced store and purchase the item :D . Thanks Ritz for all your free help. ;) ;) ;) . I luv the place:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: .

[Steve Parr]

It's not about feeling superior, but rather about getting good service...

...You seem to be taking this thread a bit too personally. I don't believe anyone is suggesting that we should "stump the clerk" or go into a camera shop to show off our knowledge.

I'm sorry, perhaps I misunderstood this post, by Motion-Projekt, from page 1:

i like to go in there and test their knowledge. I ask them questions that i know the anwsers to and then when they give a not so good anwser i say "oh but isnt this the correct anwser...?" Its quite entertaining to make fun of their intelligence level

Now, maybe it's me, but showing off ones' knowledge is exactly what's suggested here.

I don't take it personally, per se, but I've been in specialized retail in the past, and I more than understand "difficult" customers. Those people who come in just to waste someones' time and prove how much they know (as in the quoted section above) are an enormous waste of time, not to mention perfectly good oxygen...

[RikWriter]

What do you mean, "that's what you heard"?

Psstt...I was joking. Hence the smiley face.

[Haley]

Went to Ritz, asked about the Sigma 10-20 and they had no clue what I was talking about.

But they did offer to look it up and call another store with a little persuasion.

[Mark_Cohran]

I'm sorry, perhaps I misunderstood this post, by Motion-Projekt, from page 1:

i like to go in there and test their knowledge. I ask them questions that i know the anwsers to and then when they give a not so good anwser i say "oh but isnt this the correct anwser...?" Its quite entertaining to make fun of their intelligence level

Now, maybe it's me, but showing off ones' knowledge is exactly what's suggested here.

I don't take it personally, per se, but I've been in specialized retail in the past, and I more than understand "difficult" customers. Those people who come in just to waste someones' time and prove how much they know (as in the quoted section above) are an enormous waste of time, not to mention perfectly good oxygen...


I do agree with you there. That's just a waste of everyone's time. I have been known to correct a sales person though, or at least try to engage them in a conversation to better assess the depth of their understand. I will also grab a customer and give them my opinion so they have something to think about if I think a sales person is leading them too far astray or giving them bad information.

Mark

[Chrisedge]

I loved it when so called "experts" would come in an "challenge" me when I worked retail. I would walk away from people that were there to waste my time like that. Guess what? I'm there to sell products, not be tested by people that don't like the company I work for or think I didn't know what I was selling. (I worked at C.C.)

[danedel]

I loved it when so called "experts" would come in an "challenge" me when I worked retail. I would walk away from people that were there to waste my time like that. Guess what? I'm there to sell products, not be tested by people that don't like the company I work for or think I didn't know what I was selling. (I worked at C.C.)

CC? that woundent be Camera Corner? ;)

[Steve Parr]

I loved it when so called "experts" would come in an "challenge" me when I worked retail. I would walk away from people that were there to waste my time like that. Guess what? I'm there to sell products, not be tested by people that don't like the company I work for or think I didn't know what I was selling. (I worked at C.C.)

I used to ruin those people. Those who came in to run their game rarely returned...

[KatmanDu]

I don't shop at Ritz/Wolf for lenses any longer (stop looking at the Quantaray in my sig!) merely because B&H beats their prices and none of the ones near me (2 at Mall of Georgia, several around Atlanta, Wolf Ultra in Athens) have much of a selection. I don't expect the employees to have a whole lot of knowledge about the products; I figure they're like Best Buy or Office Depot or other large chain. I have been pleasantly surprised by the employees at the Gainesville store, though! Knowledgable and very friendly. I much prefer to do my shopping online or at Photo Barn near Atlanta; the guys there are very knowledgeable, very friendly, very helpful... plus they let me test-drive a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS knowing full well I couldn't afford it at the moment! :) B&H still beats their prices on a lot of items, but I'll patronize them to help them stay in business- their customer service is that important to me.

[braduardo]

Isn't one of the advantages of a chain store supposed to be that they are able to have lower prices than other stores? Isn't that why stores like Walmart and Target get such a bad rap, because they can underprice their competition? I would think that looking at the prices and service at Ritz would be enough to make a person hunt down a small business to support.

I sure opened up a can of works with this thread, didn't I? Hehe!

[wiselion]

Isn't one of the advantages of a chain store supposed to be that they are able to have lower prices than other stores? Isn't that why stores like Walmart and Target get such a bad rap, because they can underprice their competition? I would think that looking at the prices and service at Ritz would be enough to make a person hunt down a small business to support.

I sure opened up a can of works with this thread, didn't I? Hehe!


If Ritz's prices like the prices I pay at onecall, I would have bought all my stuff there. If you don't like it, you can return it within 30 days. The 300L IS I just bought today was $3897.00 at onecall. It is $4800 or $4900 at Ritz. In there favor though, they have free shipping:D

[braduardo]

If Ritz's prices like the prices I pay at onecall, I would have bought all my stuff there. If you don't like it, you can return it within 30 days. The 300L IS I just bought today was $3897.00 at onecall. It is $4800 or $4900 at Ritz. In there favor though, they have free shipping:D

:lol: Nothing is free... As you see, they just tack on an extra grand or so...

[Chrisedge]

CC? that woundent be Camera Corner? ;)

Circuit City.

[JMHPhotography]

Psstt...I was joking. Hence the smiley face..

Ahh... ok. I thought maybe I was getting an undeserved reputation...lol. :lol:

[JMHPhotography]

I loved it when so called "experts" would come in an "challenge" me when I worked retail. I would walk away from people that were there to waste my time like that. Guess what? I'm there to sell products, not be tested by people that don't like the company I work for or think I didn't know what I was selling. (I worked at C.C.)

To be fair... it's equally annoying and frustrating from the customer's standpoint when you walk into a big box store like C.C. and the like and the sales associate has less information than is required to speak intelligibly about a specific product. I don't flaunt my knowledge like some do to be a pain in the ass or to have fun or get my kicks. But if I have specific questions that need to be answered... don't try to B.S. me to sell me a product. Case in point: I went into Best Buy to get a lightscribe DVD burner and found what I needed. While there I was looking at some obviously new model LCD monitors... and this guy comes up and asks if I can be helped. Usually I say, "I'm good" but this time I said, "Sure, do any of these monitors use an 8 bit per channel LCD panel?" He looked at me like I had grown a second head out of the side of my neck. Then he looked at the spec card. Now, why didn't I think of looking at the spec card? Oh, wait... I DID!!!! If you don't know... just say so. I'm perfectly ok with, "Well I don't know off the top of my head, but let's check." After looking at the spec card, he looked at me and said, "I believe that ALL our LCD's do" Clearly, he didn't know. I didn't ask him this question to try and stump him. I just thought since there were new models, maybe one or two of the newer models may have been 8 bit per channel LCD's, and rather than write down the model numbers and doing my own research, maybe this guy would know.

[RikWriter]

To be fair... it's equally annoying and frustrating from the customer's standpoint when you walk into a big box store like C.C. and the like and the sales associate has less information than is required to speak intelligibly about a specific product. I don't flaunt my knowledge like some do to be a pain in the ass or to have fun or get my kicks. But if I have specific questions that need to be answered... don't try to B.S. me to sell me a product. Case in point: I went into Best Buy to get a lightscribe DVD burner and found what I needed. While there I was looking at some obviously new model LCD monitors... and this guy comes up and asks if I can be helped. Usually I say, "I'm good" but this time I said, "Sure, do any of these monitors use an 8 bit per channel LCD panel?" He looked at me like I had grown a second head out of the side of my neck. Then he looked at the spec card. Now, why didn't I think of looking at the spec card? Oh, wait... I DID!!!! If you don't know... just say so. I'm perfectly ok with, "Well I don't know off the top of my head, but let's check." After looking at the spec card, he looked at me and said, "I believe that ALL our LCD's do" Clearly, he didn't know. I didn't ask him this question to try and stump him. I just thought since there were new models, maybe one or two of the newer models may have been 8 bit per channel LCD's, and rather than write down the model numbers and doing my own research, maybe this guy would know.

Like you, I don't mind if a salesperson just admits they don't know. It's the ones who don't know but are trying their best to "baffle you with bull" that bug me.

[JMHPhotography]

Like you, I don't mind if a salesperson just admits they don't know. It's the ones who don't know but are trying their best to "baffle you with bull" that bug me.

BINGO!!!

Incidentally, only one of the new LCD's at the time had an 8 bit per channel LCD. There were 4 new models. It was of course the most expensive... but I'll probably get one.

[jkderby]

Have some fun. Ask them if they have "paper stretcher" for prints. Interesting answers some time. :lol:

[Steve Parr]

Like you, I don't mind if a salesperson just admits they don't know. It's the ones who don't know but are trying their best to "baffle you with bull" that bug me.

But the consumer who goes into a store, with the intent to waste a saleman's time and "make fun of his intelligence" doesn't bother you??

:rolleyes:

[RikWriter]

But the consumer who goes into a store, with the intent to waste a saleman's time and "make fun of his intelligence" doesn't bother you??

:rolleyes:

Please show me where I said that. If you can't, please stop trying to put words in my mouth.

[Chrisedge]

..and this guy comes up and asks if I can be helped. Usually I say, "I'm good" but this time I said, "Sure, do any of these monitors use an 8 bit per channel LCD panel?"

And you expected an answer from anyone at a retail store on a question like this?

I doubt you could walk into almost ANY store and have anyone have that information available either in their head, or on a linecard.

That is what the internet is for.

[nwyman]

I went into a Ritz Camera yesterday, looking for sensor cleaning equipment.
They didn't have any such.
Why did I bother?

[braduardo]

I went into a Ritz Camera yesterday, looking for sensor cleaning equipment.
They didn't have any such.
Why did I bother?

Did they at least KNOW that you can clean your sensor?

[SuzyView]

Oh, I went to the RITZ Inkley's in Orem, UT and they had the blowers at least.

[Steve Parr]

Please show me where I said that. If you can't, please stop trying to put words in my mouth.

Your statement clearly implied that you have a problem with salesmen who don't know what they're doing. By omission, it also implied that you didn't have a problem with customers who like to waste a salesman's time.

In balance, I was asking if you also had a problem with customers who go into a store only to play games.

Seems I've struck a nerve...

[RikWriter]

Your statement clearly implied that you have a problem with salesmen who don't know what they're doing. By omission, it also implied that you didn't have a problem with customers who like to waste a salesman's time.


No, on the contrary, it implied no such thing. You assumed it with no evidence whatsoever because it fit your skewed preconceptions.


Seems I've struck a nerve...

No, just seems like you're shooting off your mouth with the ammo coming from somewhere lower.

[Steve Parr]

No, on the contrary, it implied no such thing. You assumed it with no evidence whatsoever because it fit your skewed preconceptions.

Preconceptions?

I can hardly take that seriously.

Read any one of a thousand Ritz-related threads here, and you'll find out what the overwhelming opinion of them is. It's no big stretch at all.

But let me ask you in a straight forward manner: What is your opinion of someone; an educated consumer, who goes into Ritz with the express purpose of wasting the salesman's time and "challenging" his intelligence?

No, just seems like you're shooting off your mouth with the ammo coming from somewhere lower.

I don't even know what the Hell that's supposed to mean, but it's a little freaky, bro.

Stop it...

[braduardo]

Jesus Christ... Are you guys starting up with all that *%$# again?

[RikWriter]

Preconceptions?

I can hardly take that seriously.


Then don't. It won't bother me one bit.



Stop it...

Physician, heal thyself.

[Steve Parr]

Physician, heal thyself.

It was an odd comment, and a little disturbing.

Can you (or, more accurately, will you) answer the question posed?

[Steve Parr]

Jesus Christ... Are you guys starting up with all that *%$# again?

Hey, it's a Friday. What the Hell?

[RikWriter]

It was an odd comment, and a little disturbing.

Can you (or, more accurately, will you) answer the question posed?

When you preface your question by stating you can't take anything I say seriously, why exactly should I bother to answer it?

[Steve Parr]

When you preface your question by stating you can't take anything I say seriously, why exactly should I bother to answer it?

I never said I can't take anything you say seriously. I said I can't take seriously the "preconception" that people here have poor opinions of Ritz. Nothing more, nothing less.

So, now that we've got that cleared up, what's your answer to the question?

[RikWriter]

I never said I can't take anything you say seriously. I said I can't take seriously the "preconception" that people here have poor opinions of Ritz. Nothing more, nothing less.


No, that's not what you said and your preconceptions have nothing to do with Ritz.

[Steve Parr]

No, that's not what you said and your preconceptions have nothing to do with Ritz.

Your silence speaks volumes; it really does...

[RikWriter]

Your silence speaks volumes; it really does...


What speaks volumes is your willingness to start the argument up again after so many days, and keep it going with no substantial contribution to the topic whatsoever.
You made incorrect assumptions about my feelings on the matter, and when called on it you're sidestepping like a politician on crystal meth. The fact is, I never said anything about it being okay for anyone to waste an employee's time. You made the incorrect presumptive assumption that I believed that, and when called on your presumption, you attacked, likely out of embarrassment.
To save yourself further embarrassment, your best bet would be to let it die.
Because this WILL be my last post in this thread and I WON'T be responding to you again, here or anywhere else.

[Steve Parr]

What speaks volumes is your willingness to start the argument up again after so many days, and keep it going with no substantial contribution to the topic whatsoever.

I missed the post you made some two weeks back. My apologies...

You made incorrect assumptions about my feelings on the matter, and when called on it you're sidestepping like a politician on crystal meth.

Well, I'm sure I don't know how a politician on crystal meth acts, but if I made an incorrect assumption, you had a golden opportunity to correct it.

You didn't.

The fact is, I never said anything about it being okay for anyone to waste an employee's time.

I've never made a statement that it's okay for someone to give me a never-ending supply of cash, but it's true. It certainly would be okay...

You made the incorrect presumptive assumption that I believed that, and when called on your presumption, you attacked, likely out of embarrassment.

A "presumptive assumption"?

Oh my. Welcome to the Department of Redundancy Department. Again, if I made an incorrect assumption, there's certainly no evidence of it, as you've made no attempt, whatsoever, to correct it...

To save yourself further embarrassment, your best bet would be to let it die. Because this WILL be my last post in this thread and I WON'T be responding to you again, here or anywhere else.

Spare me your concern, and don't do me any favors.

I was seeking clarification, that's all. Instead of providing that clarification, you flew off the handle. While you've never stated that you think treating a salesman in such a manner is okay, one must reach the conclusion that you do, in fact, believe that, simply because you've yet to say anything different.

It would've gone something like this: "No, Steve, I don't think it's okay for a customer to waste a salesman's time".

Wow... took me about six seconds to type that, and I stopped for coffee...