Jessops feeling the pinch...

[slicendice]

Looks like Jessops are really feeling the pinch with all the internet competition going on - they're closing 81 stores and shedding 550 jobs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6225070.stm

[Ephemeral]

It's difficult for them when we have ppl like Kerso who can supply at much cheaper than Jessops. TBH. If jessops could match Kerso's prices, in general, then I'd sooner purchase from a store...but that would never happen in a million years.

[PaulDB]

Thats rough for them but they are considerably more expensive than online stores. This isnt surprising since they obviously have higher costs. I have heard that they don't hold much stock now either in terms of lenses and have to order a lot of items on request.

I did buy a lens from them recently, a 17-40L i was being impatient and paid quite a bit more for the priviledge.

[Bill Roberts]

I do sympathise with the employees, but as a business they've been out of touch with the competition for quite a while. I have often seen lenses in Jessops at £100 or even £200 more than I could buy from elsewhere in the UK. It's hardly surprising that they wouldn't sell many. If it were a small camera shop then you could accept that they wouldn't get the same prices from their suppliers as the big chains do. But in this case that hardly applies. I'm sometimes prepared to pay a little more to get something straight away, or if the level of service and advice deserved it. But in this as well, Jessops has been sadly lacking in recent years.

[Jon, The Elder]

It is that way over here also. We have a small chain of local stores that sell at one price, but you can buy cheaper on their website. I check out the gear at one of their stores then go buy from their site. Small stuff I trade over the counter.

[Bursar]

It is that way over here also. We have a small chain of local stores that sell at one price, but you can buy cheaper on their website. I check out the gear at one of their stores then go buy from their site. Small stuff I trade over the counter.

Sadly though, Jessops website isn't all that competitive in most cases :(

[davem720]

I'm not surprised - heard the news and decided to pop into my store to check out some prices. Sandisk Extreme III 2gb was listed at £64.99. Considering you can get it from Play for £17.99, it's crazy. Similarly, 70-200 f/2.8 IS for £1350; it's just too expensive to get stuff from there.

[Ephemeral]

It just seems like Jessops hasn't grasped onto the fact that there is a new generation of Photographers who only know digital that have come to photography in an Internet age. This new generation seem to be more savey about buying on-line, reading lens reviews, and generally know what they want before they purchase something. And from what we regularly see on this forum alone, they are prepared to spend ££/$$ to get items to feed their new hobby.

*shrugs*

I suppose at the end of the day it's a survival of the fittest. If in a few years time the brand goes tits up then it's their own doing, because we are sure as L buying lots of stuff.

[c71clark]

Despite my love of the internet, I really would rather NOT buy most photo equipment from an online store. When I want it, I want it NOW! :-) I don't mind paying a little more (maybe 10-20%) for the item at a store. I like that there is a place I can go to and stare into someone's eyes if something goes wrong. I do not own a single piece of photo-related equipment that was bought online. So I really hope these stores take a step back and re-work their business plan so they can stay in business.

[Col_M]

You would think a big store like Jessops could employ the stack 'em high sell 'em cheap business model being the largest camera outlet in the country with the largest buying power. With cheap prices and the ability to offer a face to face service they could attract almost all consumers in the market.
Like everyone else has said they seem to be stuck in the mindset of 5+ years ago when they were the successful leader in the high street and there was no real online competition, meaning they could in effect charge what they want to maximise their margin on every item sold.
I think it's sensible to sell some of their shops, in Plymouth there are/were two stores within three minutes walking distance of each other, which from what i've heard is similar to other cities. Cutting off the dead wood, reducing overheads and concentrating their efforts can only be a good thing.

[brian_lewis67]

Not surprised by this news at all given their extortionate pricing on pretty much everything they sell.

Lowepro Nova 4 AW bag

Jessops - £59.99
7dayshop - £36.99