Useless shop staff

I'm always staggered at the apparant lack of knowlege staff in a certain high street photography store have of the products they sell or the products available from the manufacturers they deal with.

I'm not into naming and shaming the chain so lets call them Sejjops.

A few months ago I went in to see if they had a particular tripod head in stock. I wasn't surprised they didn't have it in stock but the guy had to spend about 15 mins looking through a book and then his computer before he knew what on earth I was on about and a further 10mins to find out which other store had one, when he could get it by and how much it cost.

A few weeks ago I was there again to see if they had a CANON 50MM F 1.8 MK II LENS in stock. When I asked him he had no idea what I was talking about and when I told him I thought it cost about £70 he said I must be mistaken. Once again he had to spend about 15 mins looking through a book and then his computer before he knew what on earth I was on about and a further 10mins to find out which other store had one, when he could get it by and how much it cost.

Perhaps it's just this one shop but this guy has been there years. I know this because he spent a long time with his book and computer when I bought my previous camera about 4 years ago.

We've got a couple of small independent camera shops and the owners are very clued up pro photographers. Providing they're not to busy they are more than happy to chat away and let you try stuff out.

Sejjops on the other hand never fail to amaze me with their lack of knowlege. I've not a problem buying from them if the price is right but It's always after doing my homework and visiting other shops.

I wouldn't expect somebody working at Tesco to be clued up on which are the best beans or bread but surely anybody (perhaps Saturday staff apart)working at a specialist shop should have some knowlege of their products. Simply reading their own catalogues or the odd magazine would make a difference.

Does my head in

Is it just me ?

Oh that made me laugh

No you aren't the only one Phil. Like yourself, I do buy from Jessops if the price is right, however I would never go to them for advice. I would say that the vast majority of their staff do not have much knowledge about photography. We have a local independant store who are fantastic and always willing to help, they also stock quite a wide range of gear (not Canon lenses though unfortunately and although they can order them in their prices are rather steep ).

No expeirience with Sejjops but pc world are a nightmare, half the staf dont know how to switch a pc on, the other half dont know what a pc is.

lol I stopped listening to shop staff a loooong time a ago - most of the time, they don't have a clue, esp in the big chains..

Nice to see they don't just wind me up

i gave up with Sejjops and now shop at Wildings. They always under cut others where they can (may SB600 was £50 less then everywhere else!) and they are very helpful

I have to say it must depend on the Sejjops that you go to The one in Lincoln has some great staff in, very knowledgable

I agree the one in Torquay is excellent

I've already posted on here before about the treatment I received at that particular chain.

I went in to buy my Sony, and the guy behind the counter spent 45 mins trying desperatley to sell me the Canon 40D.
Nothing against the Canon...it's a great camera...but I had done loads of homework on the subject, and I really wanted the Sony.

When he finally backed down and went through the back to get my Sony...I noticed the Canon 40D and 400D boxes, stacked floor to ceiling in the store room.
He was clearly on some sort of commision to sell as many of those Canons as he could,
which is very unfair to the consumer, who, like me, had my mind made up before I even went in.

I'll be very reluctant to go back to Sejjops for anything.

There was one young lad come to think of it that was clued up enough to remind me that the camera would only be able to shoot at it's max speed for any length of time without getting 'constipated' if it had a fast enough card in it.