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 Originally Posted by Mark Antony  still go there for my fixer and E-6 process so I'll miss them for that. With their order online and pick up in store system?
Tom
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Well Tom every time I've stopped by they have had plenty of fixer, I drop off any E-6 (since reflections move from Norwich) and pick up when I get round to them normally about 2-3 weeks.
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Originally Posted by Steve Smith 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 was amazed at their cannot be bothered attitude Steve
It also becomes a self fulfilling prophecy - they don't sell it so they don't stock it and they don't stock it because they don't sell it :rolleyes:
The shop at Banbury was more analogue friendly but why would I choose to get in the car and drive 20 miles just to go to another Jessops.
I am lucky, NOVA are in Warwick, which is only 8 miles so I generally go to them – the difference is amazing – friendly, well stocked, happy to see you and glad of your custom.
Martin
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In recent years several hundred photographic retailers have ceased trading, many of them better run and with more knowledgable staff than Jessops, two of whom I have worked for in the past, I can't see why they should be immune from market forces, as the previus poster said they seem to subscribe to the "Yes we have no bananas" school of marketing.
Last edited by benjiboy; 06-06-2009 at 08:32 AM.
Ben
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Originally Posted by Mark Antony there is a little film but their staff are pretty ignorant of analogue materials (which I think is to be expected). The degree of this ignorance was brought home to me on Saturday. I took in a roll of XP2 and had to explain 3 times to the staff, with growing emphasis, that it was to be developed in COLOUR chemicals, aka C-41. If I hadn't been so persistent they would have sent it off to the b&w lab. I couldn't believe just how difficult it was to get the message through, I thought I had explained myself very clearly at the outset. Even the manager, who had been at Camera Exchange (regional photo chain) before it got bought out, didn't really know what he was looking at. I don't expect them to mono maniacs, but for goodness sakes XP2 has been around for long enough now!
Experiences like this prove that they are not a photographic retailer, merely a variation on the Dixons/Currys/Argos/et al theme of box-shifters with poorly trained, disinterested staff.
So why should anyone - film, digital or otherwise - travel to and spend money (invariably quite a bit more than online) there?
Someone else cited Laura Ashley. I worked there through the dark days in the 90s. Once or twice the company was apparently hours from foreclosure by the bank. What saved them, apart from cost-cutting, restructuring and all that malarky (e.g. reducing the number of shops & offices abroad, as they incur a disproportionate overhead). Thankfully, making expensive furniture which was popular meant we could survive when the clothing remained unprofitable. More out-of-town Home Furnishings stores and fewer expensive town centre garment shops meant we capitalised on the "posh up your home" market. Crucially, the company exploited its brand identity, which was thankfully still strong. Jessops probably don't have that option.
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I went into Jessops Oxford St, supposed to be one of their high profile shops, last Saturday.... oh my...... It looks more like a car show room, bright lighting display cases against the walls. How many of you remember downstairs... all the darkroom used to be down there as well as studio stuff. Well don’t bother now, printing from digital is now down there as well as some sort of training room (empty). As for dark room, one display rack a couple of feet across. The average darkroom would have a better stock, very disappointing. Would I go in again? Doubtful, Calumet have better film and darkroom choice now.
David
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Originally Posted by David_A I went into Jessops Oxford St, supposed to be one of their high profile shops, last Saturday.... oh my...... It looks more like a car show room, bright lighting display cases against the walls. How many of you remember downstairs... all the darkroom used to be down there as well as studio stuff. Well don’t bother now, printing from digital is now down there as well as some sort of training room (empty). As for dark room, one display rack a couple of feet across. The average darkroom would have a better stock, very disappointing. Would I go in again? Doubtful, Calumet have better film and darkroom choice now.
David Sad...I used to buy my Agfa MCC downstairs.
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The slightly sad thing for me is that many of the camera shops I used to frequent were bought out by Jessops. Frequently they then 'rationlised' - closing down one or more shops in a town. If they go down the plug hole many towns and cities, which once supported three or four or more camera shops will be left with none. Not that Jessops are of much use to me now, mind.
A few weeks ago I was working in Northern Ireland. I visited a small town North West of Belfast - can't remember which one. Ballymena, possibly? I had a 35mm camera with me and some time to kill but few frames left. I found a Jessops - and they had not a single B/W film. OK, it was only a small town, but nearby I noticed a Boots chemist. They had HP5+, XP2, Some kodak B/W chromagenic films and a fair range of colour films. It was all nice and fresh too with 'use by' dates well into the future. When I went to pay for two roll of HP5+ the young girl on the counter said 'You do realise that isn't a C-41 film, we can't process it here on site'. I did realise, of course, but nice to know she knew that 
So... there obviously was a demand for film, it was selling, it's just that Boots was providing the service.
Moral: Look for a Boots next time you run out of film....
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That's true for many towns in the UK and unfortunately highlights the inherent problems Jessops are facing, they've forgotten to cater properly for film users.
Ian
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I've also noticed Boot's commitment. Often a good range available - not the cheapest, but then it is a convenience.
Matt
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