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Jacob's sliding into the abyss?

davem
Posted 03/06/2012 - 15:28 Link
Well after all our discussions of jacob's showing off pentax they have gone in to administration

One of the excuses given in the paper was the quality of photos avilable with a mobile phone

Dave
steven9761
Posted 03/06/2012 - 17:03 Link
Never having bought any products from them, I couldn't comment on whether or not the standard (or lack thereof) of customer caare and product knowledge is a factor. Years ago, most retailer, irrespective of what they were selling, had a level of staff training and product knowledge that was "second to none" by today's standards. Nowadays, you either get the uninterested school-leaver or the kid with a university degree in techno-babble working to a "stack 'em high, knock 'em out" regime.

All-in-all, our educational standards have been allowed to fall so low, and things like this (directly or indirectly) are the result. Recently, our company advertised for a courier-driver. Now, it's not exactly a prerequisite to hold some sort of educational standard, such as an O level, but it would help immensely if they even knew how to use a spell-checker when compiling their CV's on a pc!
Edited by steven9761: 03/06/2012 - 17:06
Mike-P
Posted 03/06/2012 - 18:36 Link
steven9761 wrote:
Never having bought any products from them, I couldn't comment on whether or not the standard (or lack thereof) of customer caare and product knowledge is a factor.

Now, it's not exactly a prerequisite to hold some sort of educational standard, such as an O level, but it would help immensely if they even knew how to use a spell-checker when compiling their CV's on a pc!

I know I shouldn't, it would be just too easy, the voices are saying .. let it slide, it would be so petty,


Oh well ...
steven9761
Posted 03/06/2012 - 18:40 Link
LOL!!.. That's what happens when you have bananas for fingers, trying to type on a netbook, I suppose!!

In my defence, Your Honour - I wasn't writing my cv... honest!!
Edited by steven9761: 03/06/2012 - 18:43
Mike-P
Posted 03/06/2012 - 18:43 Link
I do know what you mean though ... everybody under 25 seems to spell as if they were texting on a mobile phone.
Pentaxophile
Posted 03/06/2012 - 18:49 Link
Sad to see a high street camera retailer go to the wall.

I wonder when the clearance sales will start though?
[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]
Edited by Pentaxophile: 03/06/2012 - 18:51
cabstar
Posted 03/06/2012 - 18:51 Link
Wow some shocking generalising going on on this thread.
PPG Wedding photography Flickr
Concert photography

Currently on a Pentax hiatus until an FF Pentax is released
Mike-P
Posted 03/06/2012 - 18:56 Link
Pentaxophile wrote:

I wonder when the clearance sales will start though?

Do they still stock Pentax gear?

I thought they dropped the brand a while back.
steven9761
Posted 03/06/2012 - 19:00 Link
cabstar wrote:
Wow some shocking generalising going on on this thread.

Be honest - when was the last time you received good customer service, the type that would make you recommend a particular retailer to a friend, or family member?
Mike-P
Posted 03/06/2012 - 19:06 Link
steven9761 wrote:
[quote:3496ace15f="cabstar"]
Be honest - when was the last time you received good customer service, the type that would make you recommend a particular retailer to a friend, or family member?

I don't think it was so much the customer service remark as the one about school leavers, under 25's and their education.
davem
Posted 03/06/2012 - 19:08 Link
Mike-P wrote:
Pentaxophile wrote:

I wonder when the clearance sales will start though?

Do they still stock Pentax gear?

I thought they dropped the brand a while back.

see link

They have just started stocking all the current Pentax K lenses in Leeds
Mike-P
Posted 03/06/2012 - 19:09 Link
Well in that case I hope Pentax didn't give them credit.
japers45
Posted 03/06/2012 - 19:41 Link
steven9761 wrote:
Never having bought any products from them, I couldn't comment on whether or not the standard (or lack thereof) of customer caare and product knowledge is a factor. Years ago, most retailer, irrespective of what they were selling, had a level of staff training and product knowledge that was "second to none" by today's standards. Nowadays, you either get the uninterested school-leaver or the kid with a university degree in techno-babble working to a "stack 'em high, knock 'em out" regime.

All-in-all, our educational standards have been allowed to fall so low, and things like this (directly or indirectly) are the result. Recently, our company advertised for a courier-driver. Now, it's not exactly a prerequisite to hold some sort of educational standard, such as an O level, but it would help immensely if they even knew how to use a spell-checker when compiling their CV's on a pc!

What are you going on about?- your post is utterly irrelevant to the original post. What on earth has your search for a courier driver got to do with Jacob's going into administration? You seem to be attempting to blame the demise of Jacobs on the young. Baffling.
DaveHolmes
Posted 03/06/2012 - 19:48 Link
I got my Tamron 17-50 from the store in Leeds - They had to order it in for me to try - No obligation to buy - took 2 days to arrive and were happy for me to wander about the shop for a quarter-hour trying it out... And they price matched!
Excellent customer service!

Jessops in Bfd would not even order it in (although they since have a much better manager)...
........................................................................
Digital:
Pentax K5- Vivitar 19mm 3.8; FA35mm f2; D-Xenon 100mm macro f2.8; DA50-200mm WR...
Flash:
Yongnuo YN-560; Vivitar 285HV; Cactus V4 triggers...
Film:
Pentax-MX & M50mm f1.4; Spottie & 55mm f1.8; MG & M40mm 2.8...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveholmesphotos/
greynolds999
Posted 03/06/2012 - 19:50 Link
I will stand as a firm supporter of Jacobs.

Whenever I have been in (and I have spent a lot of money with them since they opened in Edinburgh) their service has always been excellent. They have never tried to push me into a purchase or towards a particular brand and have always behaved the way a proper retailer should.

I was recently looking for a camera bag and tried about half of those in the store. And they told me that if I wanted I could bring in my gear to see how it worked out that I could!

They understand photography and never expect you to buy there and then.

I will be saddened if they don't pull through. I only hope that when they do it is not at the expense of their independence.
Edited by greynolds999: 03/06/2012 - 19:51

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