We used to have two in Worcester and I would spend a happy hour in them, chatting with the staff and looking at the gear. I even bought stuff. They've never managed to compete online and it's a safe bet that a lot of people have handled the goods in their stores and then bought online from www.cameragadgetsgizmos.com.
It will still be sad day if and when they go. More jobs lost and another High Street shop charity shop or card shop.
My local Jessops is in a rather unfortunate location - between JJB Sports/GameStation and opposite Clintons.
I can't even remember the last time I went into a Jessops.
Last edited by Arthur; 9th January 2013 at 11:06 PM.
I was in the Ipswich branch before Christmas and bought my daughter a lens filter that she wanted. Glad I didn't go for the gift token option as I don't think they are honouring them. Even more pleased that I didn't shell out for a days photography course for her! Still, a great shame. Won't be long before we have no specialist stores on our high streets!
Ours local one has only been open a few years, bought both my cameras from them as I wanted something there and then.
Hope they don't close as my next door neighbour is the store manager, shame to see him end up with our a job, he does a good job there.
They failed to keep up, much like other street retailers. Their prices were too high, and the quality of staff knowledge plummeted in recent years. Add in the fact that they re-did their shops and got rid of a lot of their stock so things have to be ordered in and people simply had no real reason to go to them.
Getting rid of the second hand stuff was the end for me to be honest.
Must admit they were pricey but I wanted to see it before I got it and have a play. Our local store wasn't bad as the manager was a photographer and a lot of his staff were student age who were doing photography and he had trained them up well. Found it better than some of our local photography stores that had been on the go for years but now closed.
Did me fine and they had best part of a grand out me in the last year or so.
We used to have two Jessops in Birmingham. One close years ago, but the other is always busy and most of the staff know what they are talking about. They have always given me sound advice, including once showing me the door when I was thinking about updating one of my cameras. (They said to stick with it, as it is far superior to any of the then current offerings.)
I think most average snappers are content to use a phone camera and put up with terrible quality. I'm not talking megapixels here, rather poor framing, poor optics and lots of blur. Holding a phone still is very difficult. Photos these days are treated as disposable, which I find sad. We have photos taken at the dawn of photography (1840s) but how many of today's photos will still be around in 170 years?
As most average snappers are happy with phone pictures, the sale of cameras will decrease. On the other hand, cameras these days are disposable. Even your high end DSLRs are disposable IMO, so there should be an increase in camera sales, which keeps camera shops going. I mostly use a Ricoh KR5 which I bought with my first ever pay cheque in 1979. I also regularly use a Pentax LX of 1980 vintage and an Exakta Varex VX of 1952 vintage. How many of today's DSLRs will still be around in 30-60 years time? Not many I suspect.
It will be sad if Jessops closes. Here in Brum we've already lost Sherwoods and Jacobs, and if Jessops goes, there will be no shops run by proper camera buffs.
And there is your problem. Last time I went into Jessops (about 5 years ago) they had nothing of interest and staff who had no idea what they were talking about.Originally Posted by laserblazer
I walked through our local shopping centre before christmas and was frankly suprised they were still there!
I'm sorry for the loss of jobs, but as a company I feel they have nothing to offer the market place.
It's worth mentioning that our local pro dealer Robert White Photographic, have recently bought a new industrial unit to cope with demand!
Not really that surprised, was more surprised at Play.com shutting down the same day. I used to do almost all my online shopping with them.
Me too. A shame really.
Our local Jessops is normally busy, but not somewhere I frequent.
Play, on the other hand, I used to use a lot (but started to find Amazon cheaper). However, a couple of Christmases ago Mme LeMarchand ordered me the complete "Due South" set (R1) and got a set of "Blondie" DVDs instead (the old US character, not Debbie Harry). They refused to correct the error until she had returned the incorrect ones at her expense (which she did without telling me, as it was a present). Have steered clear ever since, so stuff 'em.
I think the issue here is asking how the charity/card/cheap shops stay afloat!
In my town center as one shop closes a charity/card/cheap shop opens.
I am not suprised by this, sadly this is to be expected I thought given the nature of camera phones fulfilling most needs for the average person.
SLR cameras and more specialised stuff will always be around but not a retailer it seems with decent photography people now, but at the same time I cannot help but think that this seems to be a bit of a "declining market" for the "generic" camera in general.
Oh man, didn't know about that! That is gutting, I spent four figure sums with them back in the day (day of having disposable cash and no financial commitments, that is). Although to be fair, the reason I stopped buying from them was because the market place was such a PITA and got in the way of actual Play-sold items; if I wanted to buy from a marketplace seller, I'd just go to eBay.
re: Jessops - sad, but the only surprise is how long it took in this recession
I think you are right. I was a member of a DV Forum and up to a few years ago, it was very active. It has now closed down. The sites that are still around cater mainly for the pros. I've no idea how so many card shops can survive in one town but charity shops have very low overheads, their profit margins are as good as it gets and there is no longer any stigma about shopping there. I recently needed a dark suit for a funeral and I got a lovely Piere Cardin one from Cancer Relief, with two pairs of trousers, for £25. 100% wool and very comfortable.
Last edited by laserblazer; 10th January 2013 at 11:19 AM.
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