Jessops

[TonyGribben]

With the impending closure of the Jessops Photographic stores we are left with very little option but to buy camera equipment on line.It seems to me that a lot of these retail outlets are based in Hong Kong does anybody know how safe it is to deal wit these people.
Thanks
Tony

[Mick-Talbot]

Jessops is expensive and the bloke I spoke to when buying a camera for the daughter was a total idiot. (and I informed him of this)

I buggered off to Currys, I didn't expect the salesmen at Currys to know much but I expected more from the staff at Jessops.

[Ann]

The staff from Jessops in Leicester were always very experienced and spent a long time with customers patiently showing them the pros and cons of various cameras. This was never the case with Currys/PCWorld, the staff look bored and don't have much product knowledge.

[jno]

as Gromit says, it was smartphones that did for them: they made a policy decision not to handle them because they didn't know anything about the phone business. That wasn't a stupid decision by any means, but hindsight shows it was the wrong one.

AP there was a Jacobs over the road from Jessops in New Oxford St; it also vanished last year

[Mass_Hysteria]

This was Jessops only equal

http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2185397/uk-retail-chain-jacobs-closes-stores

Sadly "died" last year

[Gromit]

Tony, you must have been here...?

http://www.realcamera.co.uk/

I go to Hyde Camera Centre, not too far away

[Ann]

Cecil Jacobs in Leicester was also a good shop and had been there in the same store for years - remember it when I was a child.

[TonyGribben]

Gromit, the real camera shop my other half nearly cited them in divorce papers said I spent more time with them then I did at home, sriously great place with realy good staff.Never been to the place in Hyde but will go and have a look.

[shoota]

If you are a Nikon addict (and if not, why not?) there is always Grays of Westminster.

[Gromit]

Tony
The Hyde camera shop is not really for advanced photographers and is more aimed at the man in the street. Ken is very helpful but I am guessing his range might not be as extensive as you require. Suggest a phonecall vefore you make a special journey.

[TonyGribben]

Thanks Gromit, dont realy consider myself to be an "advanced photographer" but since I retired from work 18 months ago I have got more into it.

[Clanad]

You asked how safe it is to deal with Hong Kong sellers... We experience the same thinghere in the U.S. with smaller camera stores closing. Only "Big Box" stores still carry U.S. made items and though they do offer reasonably attractive prices, the same things can be bought online for a great deal less.

Example, I just purchased a wireless shutter release for my Canon T31 Rebel from a dealer in Hong King. Here in the U.S. the same item cost around $70 while I spent only $15 from a company in Hong Kong and they paid the shipping. Took about 8 days to get it. I also bought a replacement triipod for my old aluminum model... this was a top of the line carbon fiber on with the new pistol grip ball head. Here it would have been nearly $300... Honk Kong (which I purchased) was $95... again shipping paid. So fr I couldn't complain... except distress about the state of our local U.S. based suppliers... fewer and fewer items of any kind are U.S. (or European) made...

[vulcan]

Agree with shoota, the only place to buy Nikon is Grays of Westminster, this is where the experts live.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

There were 2 Jessops in Leicester, possibly 3 when I left in 2007.
I loved it as a shop but even when I had the cash to blow it didn't go there because it was prohibitively expensive. I shopped at other independents, none of it online and saved myself a fortune.
I remember being disappointed because I'm proud of my Leicester roots and support them wherever I can. Walkers crisps for instance are miles better than Seabrooks. Fact!

[Baldric]

Warehouse Express for online, one of the most straightforward companies I've ever dealt with (Norwich)

[Answerprancer]

Despite what I said, I find it sad to see the inevitable demise of shops that sell exciting things that require thinking and imagination. Ok Jessops was ostensibly a successful chain that may have threatened the existence of smaller businesses but what's the alternative ? The Moronphone, Apple's finest. Now because no one can be bothered to think anymore because most are thick, unimaginative, soulless cretins, our high streets are now infested with nothing but moron shops . Rant over !

[Answerprancer]

A pic I took took earlier today (ironically through a lens bought at this branch).
Title: "Long Live The iPhone".
http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y348/Photator/LongLiveTheiphone_zps52bf8834.jpg