Bad experience with Used Camera Shop

[arjasman]

Hi, just to expressed my disappointment with one of the "leading" used camera shop at Peninsula shopping Centre.

It was just a normal shrewd business ethic. I left my Leica lens on consignment more than 1 years ago and when everytime I called to checked on the status of sale, I was told that it was very very difficult to sell the lens and so I thought it was true and kept it at their place.

Than, later one fine day I came to the shop to check if the lens was still available. Instead of telling me that, the lens was "sold" they try to psycho me for a trade in with their "high price digicam. I was a bit hasitant and left the shop with a promise to get back to them for the trade in.

The following day I decided to take back my lens...... and you know what happened... Lots of crab stories... and finally they admitted that they have sold the lens one year ago and told me that, nobody was aware of the sale.... I was rather furious and very angry towards the attitude of the shop espacially the lady in-charge as the owner was out of the Singapore..(am not sure if it was true)..

Anyway, my advice to potential consignor, please be very carefull when dealing or placing consignment items at any shop, irrespective if they are reputable or not as when money matters come to be an issue...would be much better to deal with a devil....

The above is just part of the storey as I would like to elaborate further....

Cheers..

[user12343]

sad to hear that. but is there any form of official written documentation that the lens is being passed to them on consignment? without such written contract, they can play punk and snook u.

[wildstallion]

Originally Posted by arjasman Hi, just to expressed my disappointment with one of the "leading" used camera shop at Peninsula shopping Centre. It was just a normal shrewd business ethic. I left my Leica lens on consignment more than 1 years ago and when everytime I called to checked on the status of sale, I was told that it was very very difficult to sell the lens and so I thought it was true and kept it at their place. Than, later one fine day I came to the shop to check if the lens was still available. Instead of telling me that, the lens was "sold" they try to psycho me for a trade in with their "high price digicam. I was a bit hasitant and left the shop with a promise to get back to them for the trade in. The following day I decided to take back my lens...... and you know what happened... Lots of crab stories... and finally they admitted that they have sold the lens one year ago and told me that, nobody was aware of the sale.... I was rather furious and very angry towards the attitude of the shop espacially the lady in-charge as the owner was out of the Singapore..(am not sure if it was true).. Anyway, my advice to potential consignor, please be very carefull when dealing or placing consignment items at any shop, irrespective if they are reputable or not as when money matters come to be an issue...would be much better to deal with a devil.... The above is just part of the storey as I would like to elaborate further.... Cheers..

Maybe you could elaborate futher, im sure if there is more to it then people would want to hear. Also, i think the shops name should be disclosed, it would act as an incentive for these shops to clean up their acts, people protect them too much.

[arjasman]

Originally Posted by user12343 sad to hear that. but is there any form of official written documentation that the lens is being passed to them on consignment? without such written contract, they can play punk and snook u.

Yes, there was official documentation and the even took down my HP numbers and also my IC number.

I had already the feeling something went wrong when the lady wanted to offer a trade in for their product which was initially what I wanted to do when I put the lens on consignment but it was refused on the spot.

The worst situation was, the lady claimed that she was not aware that the lens was sold, despite she is responsible for the accounting...

The shop may have made some money but not to forget that, I will advise all my phtographers' friend to avoid and to shy away from the shop anymore. In fact One of my friend who wanted to purchase D200 had to cancel the orer and bought from other shop instead.

At the end of the day, this shop will loose more customers as words going to be spread from one to another...

The only thing which I have regretted very much was the fact that, the same lens was bought from the owner's father sometime 15 (if I can remember well) years ago at their shop in Peninsula Plaza. I think you guys know which shop I am refering to and I will not name the shop as this will cause unpleasant situation....

[azul123]

Originally Posted by user12343 they can play punk and snook u.

Sorry to OT, nice to see this term "snook", it's been a long time since I hear such a word, you must be a snooker player... I love this billiards game, it's to me a mobile chess game really.

Back to topic.

When it comes to money, we will get all kinds of character, once was shopping for a 28mm AIS lens and a particular shop in Peninsula keep trying to push me a 28mm E lens and saying this is the one I am looking for.

You know whenever they can pull a fast one over you, they will.

../azul123

[Splutter]

So in the end did you get your money or the "high end" digicam?

[arjasman]

YES I did get back a portion of it..... Actually if the shop was reasonable I had the intention of buying the high end camera... They have made money from my lens but they "LOST" the opportunity of making more money if I would have bought the camera.... It was a WIN and LOSS Situation instead of WIN WIN Situation.

[ckc]

Originally Posted by arjasman YES I did get back a portion of it..... Actually if the shop was reasonable I had the intention of buying the high end camera... They have made money from my lens but they "LOST" the opportunity of making more money if I would have bought the camera.... It was a WIN and LOSS Situation instead of WIN WIN Situation.

why a portion of the sales? tot suppose u should get back all the money that u agree to sales? or they give u a run around again?

is the shop beside cathay 1 or upstair 1?

[streetlite]

Actually, you have a case against them, since you have a written contract.
You can even claim damages, which can help you get your new high end camera!

[STEV]

why not put down the name of the shop here? lets them suffer more losses by words of mouth.

[reflecx]

Originally Posted by ckc Is the shop beside cathay 1 or upstair 1?

Cathay is NOT in Peninsula Shopping Centre, it's in Peninsula Plaza.

[nightwolf75]

Originally Posted by STEV why not put down the name of the shop here? lets them suffer more losses by words of mouth.

think TS already pretty explict with the shop's description and location without naming it....

besides, he's not the first (nor last) to be snook by them... those who know the shop's name can do a search in CS for other horror stories. most recent case was a thread in apr 06, iirc...

[shchow]

hi, arjasman,

sorry to hear the terrible incident! thanks for sharing such bad encounters with us...

btw.... do you still remember me? FL-36? .... empty promises?

wish you all the best.

[STEV]

[quote=nightwolf75]think TS already pretty explict with the shop's description and location without naming it....



ya... agree with u.

[arjasman]

Originally Posted by ckc why a portion of the sales? tot suppose u should get back all the money that u agree to sales? or they give u a run around again? is the shop beside cathay 1 or upstair 1?

The other portion was a long story..... with excuses off course.

[arjasman]

[quote=STEV]

Originally Posted by nightwolf75 think TS already pretty explict with the shop's description and location without naming it.... ya... agree with u.

Hi Sam and Stev,

Even without naming the shop concern, I think most people know the particuar shop and let it be known by its own so called "reputation". This can happen with other used camera shops also and hope my experience will be cited for future reference to all consignors.

[szekiat]

i guess we all have our bad days. The shop in question seems to have taken a fall in ratings since its expansion in staff. I dunno, kinda like the feel of the old days, and i certainly never had these issues with them. Payment was always prompt and they sometimes even forgo their commission if the sale was slightly lower than expected. Then again, i haven't been back in ages.....

[hanz170]

Well business is tough in SIN, expenses here are very hight. I try to be really careful when dealing with second hand shops here... same for HKG too. If only there is a return policy like US it will make things easier for consumer, in US exchange ot return with no questions asked.

Unless we have some thing like this, consumer has the raw end of the deal, even buying new lens read some thread someone even had to bring along a notebook to see if the lens is up to the mark, I think this is the most sensible thing anyone can do here because once you leave the shop don't think can return liao, if can... must be really hard to convince the shop to except a return.

[bowwow]

suspect i know which shop is in question.

had enough bad experience there and is on my boycott list.

nice to u in the beginning and slow they think they can fleece u.

[astroboy]

If u think this is a factual case and u have all the documentations, there should not be any fear in naming (or shaming) the shop. State all the facts. U won't get into trouble. U see letters of complaint to Forum all the time.

Unless, of course, u are not sure yourself and there could be some other reasons. I am curious to know if it's who I think it is.