| | | -
 Originally Posted by Tom Kershaw  Last time I was in Jessops the sales assistant told me film was going away... (as I purchased a pro-pack of T-Max 400)! The last time I was in Jessops in Aberdeen looking for 5x4 film, I was told by a rather unkempt yoof that film was "dying" and that i'd be quicker and cheaper getting it from the Interweb!
It's hardly surprising that they're struggling when their staff have that sort of attitude and approach to customers.
Jessops used to be one of the few places where you could genuinely talk about photography to knowledgeable people and purchase good quality used kit that was usually beyond the reach of young aspiring film wasters.
Mike
-
Fond memories of Jessops of past. Nowadays if the teenager behind the counter doesn't try to sell me a DSLR kit when I want some rapid fixer I think I've had a fairly 'good' Jessops experience.
My local hides the film behind the counter and packs the floor with 'digital' camera bags and batteries.
-
The problem with Jessops is that it is run by accountants not people with vision. They cynically borrowed huge amounts of money to buy up other local traders in order to bolster the company profile ready for floating on the stock market.... did they manage the float - not sure - who cares? Now the management, instead of becoming overnight millionaires have run the whole show into the ground. Too many businesses are now run this way: quick buck and sell out. All sounds familiar huh? I feel vaguely sorry for the staff who obviously have no motivation from the management. I don't feel sorry for the senior management who are a great example of how NOT to run a business.
-
 
Originally Posted by tim_walls What is Warehouse Express's strategy exactly? "Lie about stock, sit on funds for as long as possible while ignoring the phone, and hope the customer eventually gives up?"
As role-models go, I struggle to imagine a worse one. I think you mis understand me. I don't know how Warehouse Express execute their strategy. The point I was making was that they operate with a different concept and with a different primary route to market - an online focus coupled with limited retail sq-footage which acts as a sort of "Mecca" - as opposed to Jessops who continue to try and justify 211 shops. Maybe Warehouse do have lousy customer service, but that's another issue.
Originally Posted by Tom Kershaw Matt,
If Jessops have 211 stores and Warehouse Express have one showroom, following Warehouse Express's model would involve a dramatic contraction of Jessops current position as a prominent high street retailer. Although I've only visited Warehouse Express once for a camera bag, the service was good, not 'oh no, a customer'... I think they might be forced to close most of those stores (they already closed 21 in February) - many companies have done this before - one example would be Laura Ashley who closed all of their stores outside of the UK in around 2003, and they had quite a few,(except a couple of flagships in places like New York) and a lot within the UK. What we see with Jessops might be pretty dramatic. The bank is involved and there is a massive debt - if the shops are not making money then they will go.
Just re-reading the link from the OP, Id overlooked how bad it really is:
Jessops warned investors that its shares could soon be worthless as the camera retailer looked to secure its survival through a debt restructuring plan.
The company, which has 211 stores in the UK and Ireland, said that it was in talks with HSBC to restructure a £60m ($96m) debt facility, as sales continued to decline.
This is really serious and probably terminal. The first paragraph is code for "administration". Its very sad.
Matt
Last edited by Matt5791; 05-30-2009 at 03:14 AM.
-
I hate to see anyone lose their job - even if it's as a result of bad luck, general economic downturn and/or bad management strategy (or all three).
When I started taking photography seriously, Jessops was one of the best and only places to get hold of decent kit where I lived (Stockport, Cheshire) at a reasonable price. When I started work (1979) in Manchester, I swapped allegiances to 'Tecno' who were as competitive as Jessops but staffed by true experts and photo enthusiasts. Then Jessops bought them.
Jessops' demise, in my experience, is traceable back to the early 1980's when they started to treat photographic equipment as if it were a commodity like baked beans. Pile it high, sell it cheap, don't bother too much about customer service and keep the costs down by employing inexperienced Saturday staff.
There was the odd 'oasis' in the desert of mediocrity they created. The shops I visited in Leicester and London were well run and well stocked. However, with the advent of digital photography - and the explosion of interest and demand that created - Jessops dumbed-down yet further. I actually blame part of the demise in film sales to the likes of Jessops as they did seemingly stuff-all to support it. Mind you, I suppose it would have been a hell of a tide to swim against.
Here we are in 2009 and Jessops looks like going the way of Woolworths but with the added complication that if they do disappear, there'll be even fewer outlets for what's left of the anlogue film, chemicals and paper industry......
Paul Jenkin (a late developer...)
-
Sponsored Ad. (Subscribers to APUG have the option to remove this ad.)
-
Originally Posted by Paul Jenkin
Here we are in 2009 and Jessops looks like going the way of Woolworths but with the added complication that if they do disappear, there'll be even fewer outlets for what's left of the anlogue film, chemicals and paper industry......
Might be the general gloom and MP's expenses that's affecting me but my first thought on reading this bit of the quote was to add: "and getting us closer to the economics of the distress purchase situation where demand is small but inelastic and the sky's the limit in terms of prices. "
pentaxuser
-
OK, local branch is going downhill. Went in to pick up a box of 5x4 and found they are laying off the experienced and knowledgable staff and keeping the oiks on (all be it at reduced rates).
If this is the attitude of the remaining Jessops staff:
i only know about digital, its an old fashioned camera....it takes film....p**s off, a couple of years at night school and a Degree shows you that i know probably a lot more about photography than they do
(full thread here)
I guess I'll be stocking up on "stuff" while I still get discount and then return to pick over the remains at the liquidation sales.
-
Analogue service seems to vary by shop - if the Manager is interested them they will stock it.
I have stopped darkening the door of my local Jessops as the last 3 times I have asked for stuff (Film, Chemicals & Photo Trays) I have been advised to buy it off the Internet - as they don't do that sort of stuff !
Any shop you turns away Customers who go in with the intention of buying and turns them away is doomed.
Shops only survive by selling product that Customers want to buy.
Shops don't survive when they try to dictate to Customers what they want to sell - the Customers just take their money else where.
The sad thing for me is we used to have two quite nice independent photographic shops, but Jessops moved in, drove them out of business and then dropped their standard of service
I am amazed with the credit crunch Jessops have lasted this long.
Martin
-
Originally Posted by Martin Aislabie I have stopped darkening the door of my local Jessops as the last 3 times I have asked for stuff (Film, Chemicals & Photo Trays) I have been advised to buy it off the Internet - as they don't do that sort of stuff ! The problem with this advice for them as a store is that if you do buy on-line, it is unlikely to be with Jessops.
In my case I go with Silverprint.
Steve.
-
I liked shopping in Jessops when they did their A3 paper price list that had practically everything they stocked in the smallest type possible- sold a few loupes I bet :-)
Over the last couple of years all they seem interested in is selling digi cams, OK there is a little film but their staff are pretty ignorant of analogue materials (which I think is to be expected). I still go there for my fixer and E-6 process so I'll miss them for that.
| |
Adv Reply
