Jessops

[chrise17]

Jessops are to close 17 (loss making stores) as of 11th Feb.
Wonder if they will call in the administrators if they find further troubles?
Cheaper gear?

[Paul Iddon]

Unlikely...

[Bill Roberts]

Not looking good. Was it around June 2007 that they were shutting 81 stores? Now another lot.

I've found Jessops to be a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to service and prices, but I genuinely hope that they manage to survive.

[jms_uk]

They've increased Canon prices a lot recently - that's not gonna help them.

[rg-tom]

They've increased Canon prices a lot recently - that's not gonna help them.


no they didn't, the pound went to crap. Look around, everyone is equally and in some cases more expensive :p

[jms_uk]

no they didn't, the pound went to crap. Look around, everyone is equally and in some cases more expensive :p
I agree, but that doesn't mean that they haven't increased their prices.

If a lens used to cost £1299 two weeks ago and now is £1719 - for me that means that prices are increased :p

[TeeJay]

Prices have gone up everywhere, are you saying that they (Jessops) have increased their prices more than others?

Its Canon who has upped their prices considerably lately - and are rumoured to have another increase on the way in March.

TJ

[jms_uk]

No, just saying that increasing their prices [because Canon did the same to them] is not going to help them with the [financial] situation that they are currently in.

[jock3]

Jessops only surviving branch is now this cities only photographic shop, 10 years ago there were 4 dedicated photogrpahic retailers with 7 branches in the city.
If Jessops were to go it would be a 50/60 mile round trips to the nearest alternatives, lets hope they hang in there.

[Hermes]

I hope they survive but if they don't, it's not really a big loss. To me the value of a camera shop is being able to go in, try out something you might want to buy and maybe get some good advice from someone who works there and has a wealth of knowledge and experience.

I'd be happy to pay a little extra for that security and convenience but Jessops never have anything I might need in stock and the shop assistants generally don't have a clue so there's little to compel me to pay their prices for a glorified mail-order service.

[manipula]

Jessops only surviving branch is now this cities only photographic shop, 10 years ago there were 4 dedicated photogrpahic retailers with 7 branches in the city.
If Jessops were to go it would be a 50/60 mile round trips to the nearest alternatives, lets hope they hang in there.

Which city are you in? I used to work in the big Sauchiehall St one in Glasgow, and from what I can gather, many have vanished there.

I hope they survive but if they don't, it's not really a big loss. To me the value of a camera shop is being able to go in, try out something you might want to buy and maybe get some good advice from someone who works there and has a wealth of knowledge and experience.

I'd be happy to pay a little extra for that security and convenience but Jessops never have anything I might need in stock and the shop assistants generally don't have a clue so there's little to compel me to pay their prices for a glorified mail-order service.

Once again, it pains me to see that attitude. It's obviously got merit, as you hear it so often, but I had guys fly in each month from Europe to see me and a few colleagues. I even had a guy bring in a hamper almost a year after emigrating to NZ saying thanks for the help I gave him, as the film he'd made with the gear I recommended to him won a major award. Not all of them are clueless cocks.

But basically Jessops is like it is, because it's run by ****ing idiots. And because the UK public expect to pay bottom dollar/internet prices, and be able to go in a store which costs money to run. I don't think that business plan works unless you're a privateer, or you prop your losses up with high profit items like TV's.

[Hermes]

Which city are you in? I used to work in the big Sauchiehall St one in Glasgow, and from what I can gather, many have vanished there.



Once again, it pains me to see that attitude. It's obviously got merit, as you hear it so often, but I had guys fly in each month from Europe to see me and a few colleagues. I even had a guy bring in a hamper almost a year after emigrating to NZ saying thanks for the help I gave him, as the film he'd made with the gear I recommended to him won a major award. Not all of them are clueless cocks.

But basically Jessops is like it is, because it's run by ****ing idiots. And because the UK public expect to pay bottom dollar/internet prices, and be able to go in a store which costs money to run. I don't think that business plan works unless you're a privateer, or you prop your losses up with high profit items like TV's.

Like I said, the problem is that they expect to charge high-street prices for a mail-order service. They try to cut costs by not keeping any stock and thereby completely destroy the only incentive for photographers to buy from them - the ability to test something out (perhaps trying several copies) before buying, or being able to rush in and get something last-minute for an important assignment.

I've lived 5 minutes away from the High-Holborn branch and a North-London branch of Jessops and I've never bought anything from either of them. I can't count the number of times I've made the journey to Calumet or to the Flash Centre to buy from them. The latter might have fewer branches but at least the ones they do have are well stocked and properly run.

[KenAdams]

Prices have gone up everywhere, are you saying that they (Jessops) have increased their prices more than others?

Its Canon who has upped their prices considerably lately - and are rumoured to have another increase on the way in March.

TJ

I bought a Canon Ixus 870IS last month from Currys, for £220. Jessops' price at the same time was £270 (and no, Currys weren't claiming any sale/special offer).

[TeeJay]

....They try to cut costs by not keeping any stock and thereby completely destroy the only incentive for photographers to buy from them - the ability to test something out (perhaps trying several copies) before buying....

Yes, and all too often thats exactly what they were used for - a testing station - before running back home and ordering off the internet.

You can't have it both ways. If you expect some "hands on", then expect to pay some sort of premium.

TJ

[Hermes]

Yes, and all too often thats exactly what they were used for - a testing station - before running back home and ordering off the internet.

You can't have it both ways. If you expect some "hands on", then expect to pay some sort of premium.

TJ

Umm... that was exactly my point, they never have anything in stock. You don't get any "hands on" - ordering a lens from them entails the same risk and wait-times as ordering off the net so what exactly would one be paying the premium for?

The whole point of testing is surely to make sure the lens works properly before you buy it - I don't see how testing one copy and ordering another off the internet achieves this.

[Skid]

That's why I tend to favour the smaller outlets - much more personal service.. The (main) jessops in Cardiff is a reasonable size, but their tech dept is really under-staffed. Everytime I've been in there, I've had to wait 30mins + to get seen to, most of the time I've walked out and ordered off the internet.

They'll probably end up going the same route as currys, etc - charging vendors to effectivly display their stock for people to look at and try as they'll be loosing out on sales, etc. Rod for their own back and all that.

[manipula]

The way I always understood it when I worked for them was that places such as Currys carrying the cost of a high street chain, would sell stuff at a loss quite happily to try and send Jessops down. The loss was carried by other parties in their retail group and to a certain extent by the other non-camera products such as TV's and washing machines.

Places such as AJ Purdys and Bristol Cameras bought their stock from Jessops directly when I worked there, and at a pretty sharp price. And then basically they offered the prices they did because they didn't carry the cost of such a big organisation. And it was relatively common knowledge that Warehouse Express was pitched as a way for the owners to build a viable business, and sell stuff to cover their costs and no more, them making their cash from the eventual sale of the company.

Jessops is shafted because it's run by cocks, and because it can't sell stuff at internet prices and carry the cost of a big high street presence without the losses being propped up by others means. Unfortunately in many areas this is compunded by clueless staff and limited stock, which I have to say was never, ever the case with the stores I worked at in Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and Scotland. I've struggled to find people as knowledgeable about their job as those guys and generally haven't got a bad word to say about the guys I worked with. The company however, is stuck between a rock and a hard place, and isn't helped by the powers that be.

Unfortunate really. A strong photographic presence is a cool thing to have in a country's retail community. :?

[racketman]

just looked up their current share price, 1.58p, I hadn't realised they has slumped that much.
In the past I have spent quite a bit with my local branch including a 1DMKIII. Personally I am prepared to pay about 10% over internet prices to have the assurance of being able to test in the shop and to return a product without hassle. I don't need knowledgeable staff as I research before I shop. Too often Jessops are more like 20% higher.

[jock3]

Sorry for the belated reply. Jessops now only branch is now the only surviving photographic shop in Dundee.
Internet ordering is ok, the problem comes when there is no one at home during working hours to receive it when it wont go through a letter box, which it often wont. The problem due to work is getting hold of the order during working hours.

[grimey121uk]

I agree, but that doesn't mean that they haven't increased their prices.

If a lens used to cost £1299 two weeks ago and now is £1719 - for me that means that prices are increased :p


yeah i noticed that on the 70-200 f2.8 IS, the other week
I have bought all my gear from jessops so far (exept memory card), most of it last year when jessops were one of the cheapist in the UK (including web and mail order) but now they are the most expensive

[Mattwood]

I have bought all my gear from jessops so far (exept memory card), most of it last year when jessops were one of the cheapist in the UK (including web and mail order) but now they are the most expensive

Jessops were one of the cheapest? for years web order has been cheaper in the UK. only use from Jessops lately was to look at the actual products before deciding where to but online (always for a minimum of 10-20% cheaper with a good search) I would probably buy from Jessops or other retail stores if they were minimally more expensive than online suppliers.

Its a shame Jessops are struggling at the moment, but the overheads of a retail stores push their prices higher and they just can not match web based suppliers.

[grimey121uk]

Jessops were one of the cheapest? for years web order has been cheaper in the UK. only use from Jessops lately was to look at the actual products before deciding where to but online (always for a minimum of 10-20% cheaper with a good search) I would probably buy from Jessops or other retail stores if they were minimally more expensive than online suppliers.

Its a shame Jessops are struggling at the moment, but the overheads of a retail stores push their prices higher and they just can not match web based suppliers.


my gear last year
Canon 17-40L £489
Sigma 70-200 f2.8 £389
Sigma 10-20 £289
40d body £619

about 2 months after i paid £1050 for my 100-400 they had it for £899

when i purchased these, they were cheaper than most online dealers (warehouse express, park cameras etc)

[neilwood32]

Jessops were one of the cheapest? for years web order has been cheaper in the UK. only use from Jessops lately was to look at the actual products before deciding where to but online (always for a minimum of 10-20% cheaper with a good search) I would probably buy from Jessops or other retail stores if they were minimally more expensive than online suppliers.

Its a shame Jessops are struggling at the moment, but the overheads of a retail stores push their prices higher and they just can not match web based suppliers.

I have found them to be pretty good for prices although you do sometimes have to prompt them to price match or discount. Bought quite a few things off them and they have always been cheaper than warehouse express (after price match)

[Emington]

I usually compair them to other high street stores as I know they can't compete with the internet but even then they are usually quite a bit more expensive.

I've always found that they never price match. Even when they advertised that they did in there shop windows. I got another, cheaper store to print the item details and price so they could match. But still a big no from the manager. I'll stick with Jacobs.

[I Simonius]

Jessops are to close 17 (loss making stores) as of 11th Feb.
Wonder if they will call in the administrators if they find further troubles?
Cheaper gear?

I doubt they'll die - just shift their emphasis (used to be beat everyone on price - not sure thaey can anymore though they are price matching aagin after a while of not doingso;)

[Skonk]

I buy quite a lot of gear for my employer from Jessopsbusiness but the jessops stores tend to be way over priced and dont stock enough high-end kit.

Also if you look at their website (to go the mail-order route) a lot of items are not held in stock and have an up-to 28 day wait time on em.

It's just easier, quicker and cheaper to go via other online retailers.

[manipula]

And yet 18 months ago, a remarkably high amount of the preferred UK retailers actually bought their stock from Jessopsbusiness in the first place... :?