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06/17/2006 01:13:13 PM · #1 |
I went into a camera store today to check out the Dslrs.
The guy who works there was very chatty to all the other customers (all male) about equiptment and all that.
So I was looking at the lenses and mentioned that I'm looking into an 8 Mega Pixel Dslr and will probably be going for Canon. And he just kind of "mmm hmm."ed me and blew me off.
I guarantee you if I had of been a man, the Digital Rebel XT on the shelf would've been in his hand aimed at me in no time.
What, because I'm a girl I can't possibly know anything about equipment? Or was it cause I didn't have a man with me to pay for it.
Do I have to slap a grand down on the counter before I can get some service??
Any other girls have stuff like this happen to them? |
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06/17/2006 01:22:52 PM · #2 |
I can't speak for the girls, but as a side note...
I returned to a car dealership the day after being "blown off" by a salesman there with the new car that I bought elsewhere just to show him that I was a serious buyer.
I also let the manager know about their lost sale. |
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06/17/2006 01:28:47 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by yakatme:
I can't speak for the girls, but as a side note...
I returned to a car dealership the day after being "blown off" by a salesman there with the new car that I bought elsewhere just to show him that I was a serious buyer.
I also let the manager know about their lost sale. |
Haha. I love it when people get revenge like that. |
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06/17/2006 01:42:38 PM · #4 |
I've never had any problem, but then again I haven't had a LOT of experence in camera shops. The one time I was doing serious looking at Kerrisdale Cameras the manager himself spent quite some time with me, going through his specs binder, checking the system to see what was available in used dlsr's, anything I wanted. He was extremely helpful without pressuring me and didn't seem to expect, as I sometimes find, that I "owed him" a purchase in exchange for the time he spent.
Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but I ended up buying at Futureshop. Again the employee (male) was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, willing to spend as much time with me as I wanted. When we went back several months later for my daughter to buy her cam, we happened to get the same person and he remembered me and which camera I'd bought. Oops... I just remembered that he'd asked me to bring in some prints and show him what I'd been up to with the cam, and I haven't.
Of course, experience and knowledge may make a difference. Maybe you exude both and this intimidates them? Maybe they feel you probably know more than they do and they don't want to get into a discussion that exposes that, especially with a woman. I knew enough to know what to ask, but was still looking for lots of information and advice which, we all know, men love - a woman who needs their help.
Whatever the reason, maybe when you do buy (from someone else) you should let the clerk know that his lack of interest and attention to the customer lost him a sale and the potential for more ;)
eta; lol, I see that while I was ruminating yak beat me to the last idea :D
Message edited by author 2006-06-17 13:43:55. |
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06/17/2006 01:43:11 PM · #5 |
I am very new at serious photography (I just bought a Pentax istD SLR about four months ago) so I have not had any experiences like that with photography equipment. However, I can SO see it happening, and won't be surprised when I go lens shopping next month.
Just last week I bought a new laptop, and the sales guys all brushed me off OR talked down to me. I would ask them about the specs on a computer and it would sound like they were talking to a pre-schooler... "Haaaard Driiiive... do you know what a haaard driiive is?"
Anyway, yeah.. I'll let you know how my lens shopping experience goes.. I am looking into getting a better zoom lens, and possibly a macro if my budget allows. ^_^ |
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06/17/2006 01:50:59 PM · #6 |
Maybe the guy behind the counter thought you were cute and was too nervous to talk to you?
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06/17/2006 02:06:24 PM · #7 |
no offence to anyone who works in camera stores BUT :
I've never had a good experiance shopping for equip. at our local stores
which is one of the reasons i buy online ...
I find the sales dudes would rather talk to themselves .. or sell the P&S to ma&pa kettle with all the (High $ crap )extras ..
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06/17/2006 02:08:25 PM · #8 |
| Well, I'm a girl and I've never been treated poorly in a camera store. Quite the opposite, actually. They always seem very attentive and let me play with tons of stuff from behind the counter every time I go into my favorite store. It may be because i go in knowing what I'm talking about and what I'm touching, or maybe just because I wait patiently for my turn and then take full advantage of their attention when I get it.. I dunno. I'd say go back in, be assertive and tell them what you want. If they blow you off again, ask for a manager and explain to him what incompetent fools he has in his employ! :P |
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06/17/2006 02:08:43 PM · #9 |
It's sad to say how often this kind of stuff happens. I was a mechanic in a former life and I always tried to treat everybody the same. So it bugs me when I have to get on the phone any time my wife takes in her vehicle. They always seem to try to to the same stuff like not pay any attention to her or try to sell her something that is not needed.
It does happen to us guys too though. I was recently in a photo store and could not get any attention. I eventually walked out and made my purchase somewhere else. It's funny though, at the same store, there is a female rep that will talk to me much quicker than any of the guys. Maybe I don't look like much of a photog. Or maybe, I just don't look like I have any money. ???
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06/17/2006 02:23:28 PM · #10 |
| I have DEFINATELY had this happen to me!! I took my camera to a store because I was having some issues with it and wanted to know if they could fix it. The guy behind the counter barely gave me the time of day. When I tried to explain what was going on, he told me to read the owners manual. Needless to say, I left. Went to another and they just blew me off completely. Finally went to a third one with my grown son and they latched onto him quick, ......my camera is now fixed. |
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06/17/2006 02:23:46 PM · #11 |
Oh boy! Try to be 4'll" and looking like you're 13 years old with an even younger sounding voice. Add GIRL on top of that and I'm the most unintimidating person on the planet!
:)
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06/17/2006 02:32:12 PM · #12 |
I have had very good experiences dealing with my local camera store (Samy's Camera). They are not only knowledgeable but extremely attentive. I had to rent some lighting equipment and the guy in the lighting dept. gave me a 45 minute tutorial on which lights to use and how to use them with my specific camera.
However, I had my photographs hanging at a local swanky salon and a snooty woman asked me if I worked for the photographer. I said "what?" and she said, "do you work for him?". LOL. I told her the photos were mine. She looked appalled... go figure. |
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06/17/2006 02:54:21 PM · #13 |
If something like this happens, as was stated earlier, find the manager and tell him that you found so and so to not be as considerate as he should be to a potential customer. Tell him you're very sorry, but you will be taking your business elsewhere unless the next time you come in you are treated properly. Say something like along those lines. Be extra polite and nice, too!
If the manager won't help you, ask for whoever is next up in the management chain, and if they won't give it to you, ask for the owner's name and number.
I know it's extreme, but unless people start (in a civil way) complaining about bad customer service (bad be it for whatever reason) nothing will happen.
In that same vein, if you get exceptional customer service, same thing, find the manager and make sure that someone gets the recognition they deserve. Good customer service is a dying art, and it needs to be revived!
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06/17/2006 02:55:44 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by inspir8tion:
I told her the photos were mine. She looked appalled... go figure. |
I might've punched her if I was you. Or went right off at her. |
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06/17/2006 03:07:48 PM · #15 |
| I had that problem with my local shop, only because I was 17. Needless to say, I bought the Digital Rebel XT and Lens for about 400 dollars less online. They weren't willing to make any compromises. |
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06/17/2006 03:12:41 PM · #16 |
I've never had a good experience as a woman buying electronics... and I'm pretty knowledgable. I always reasearch online first and then, if I'm too impatient to wait for something to be shipped to me, I'll go to a local store. I always have to seek someone out, even when places aren't busy, and then they hardly listen to me, even when I get the debit card out! It's frustrating to me. And in then end, I always end up knowing more than the "knowledgable" sales person. I don't typically tell them that, but I get secret satisfaction out of it. :)
It's funny, 'cause you know when men walk into a lingerie store, they're being treated like royalty. What's up with that? :) |
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06/17/2006 03:15:43 PM · #17 |
I don't think I've had it happen, but of course I'm not a girl.. every time I've gone into a camera store to talk to them I've had a specific question to ask... "Do you have the Tamron 28-75, and how much.. what camera bags do you have for under $100.. what tripods for under $150.. do you have the Canon 70-200 4.0 I could try out with an XT body"
It's kind of easy for a salesman to be lazy if you just say you're thinking about buying a camera, but if you ask them a specific question they'd have to be rude to ignore it. Maybe ask their opinion about whether you should go for the 30D or the Rebel XT, and when they hand you one to try out, keep asking them stuff so they know you're interested in it. |
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06/17/2006 03:20:29 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by annasense:
I've never had a good experience as a woman buying electronics... and I'm pretty knowledgable. I always reasearch online first and then, if I'm too impatient to wait for something to be shipped to me, I'll go to a local store. I always have to seek someone out, even when places aren't busy, and then they hardly listen to me, even when I get the debit card out! It's frustrating to me. And in then end, I always end up knowing more than the "knowledgable" sales person. I don't typically tell them that, but I get secret satisfaction out of it. :)
It's funny, 'cause you know when men walk into a lingerie store, they're being treated like royalty. What's up with that? :) |
Because they have no clue what they're doing, and probably too much money to spend, and want to get out fast enough that they'll take whatever $200 nightie that you shove in their hands.
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06/17/2006 03:21:40 PM · #19 |
From my profile page:
"Update: Now, one year after getting my 10D, I couldn't be happier with my choice. I remember back when I was shopping for a camera. Everyone, including the camera store, tried very hard to convince me that I didn't want/need a DSLR. When I insisted that I wanted a DSLR, they then tried to sell me a film SLR. Their reason was that it was a less expensive investment for someone unfamiliar with SLR's. They said a DSLR would be too confusing for me...and how so many people were returning the Rebels. I'm so glad I didn't listen to all of the skeptics! This camera has been fantastic and has really helped improve my work. After telling the guy at the camera store that I eventually wanted to sell some images, he said it was a very difficult thing to do and sort of laughed at my thinking. Look who's laughing now! "
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06/17/2006 03:52:01 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by moniepenny:
Originally posted by inspir8tion:
I told her the photos were mine. She looked appalled... go figure. |
I might've punched her if I was you. Or went right off at her. |
I thought about it, but was still hoping to make a sale....but, alas, she did not buy from me. |
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06/17/2006 04:39:15 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by annasense:
... It's funny, 'cause you know when men walk into a lingerie store, they're being treated like royalty. What's up with that? :) |
Men shop in lingerie stores? You sure about that? LOL.
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06/17/2006 04:47:16 PM · #22 |
I would think that it has more to do with the fact that you are a teenager.
Lot of poeple just can't treat teenagers like they are human beings.
Originally posted by moniepenny:
I went into a camera store today to check out the Dslrs.
The guy who works there was very chatty to all the other customers (all male) about equiptment and all that.
So I was looking at the lenses and mentioned that I'm looking into an 8 Mega Pixel Dslr and will probably be going for Canon. And he just kind of "mmm hmm."ed me and blew me off.
I guarantee you if I had of been a man, the Digital Rebel XT on the shelf would've been in his hand aimed at me in no time.
What, because I'm a girl I can't possibly know anything about equipment? Or was it cause I didn't have a man with me to pay for it.
Do I have to slap a grand down on the counter before I can get some service??
Any other girls have stuff like this happen to them? |
Ed:spelling
Message edited by author 2006-06-17 16:47:44.
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06/17/2006 04:57:13 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by yakatme:
I can't speak for the girls, but as a side note...
I returned to a car dealership the day after being "blown off" by a salesman there with the new car that I bought elsewhere just to show him that I was a serious buyer.
I also let the manager know about their lost sale. |
I've done that. I took it a step further - i went to look at trucks, got ignored. Went and bought elsewhere, then went back with a large male friend, got service instantly. THEN i talked to the manager. :) |
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06/17/2006 04:57:57 PM · #24 |
I remember buying my first Nikon F3 when I was about 18. It was like pulling teeth to get a salesman to pay any attention to a scruffy looking teenager. Had they known I had a big roll of $100's in my pocket, I'm sure they would have been all over me. Finally, one of the more junior sales guys asked me what I was looking for. I'm sure he popped up a few notches on the sales charts after I bought the F3, motor drive, 2 new lenses, a flash and 2 bricks of slide film.
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06/17/2006 05:00:10 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by moniepenny:
I went into a camera store today to check out the Dslrs.
The guy who works there was very chatty to all the other customers (all male) about equiptment and all that.
So I was looking at the lenses and mentioned that I'm looking into an 8 Mega Pixel Dslr and will probably be going for Canon. And he just kind of "mmm hmm."ed me and blew me off.
I guarantee you if I had of been a man, the Digital Rebel XT on the shelf would've been in his hand aimed at me in no time.
What, because I'm a girl I can't possibly know anything about equipment? Or was it cause I didn't have a man with me to pay for it.
Do I have to slap a grand down on the counter before I can get some service??
Any other girls have stuff like this happen to them? |
how old was this idiot? when i sold cameras for 10 years, i never ignored a customer, even if i thought they 'had no money'. they might not buy right away, but they remember me when they do.
and about women, it never entered my mind to ignore them in sales. in fact, many of the women i dealt with bought more readily than the men and had done their homework.
this is from someone who was in the biz for a decade.
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