8mm Forum: Jessops Re-open

This is topic Jessops Re-open in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on March 28, 2013, 05:28 AM:

Six Jessops stores re-open today, with thirty more to open in April.

The stores are opening under new ownership and two of those opening today are in London's Oxford Street, and in Birmingham.

The new owner pledges to keep prices the same as on-line to encourage new shoppers who know they will get a first class service at reasonable prices in the new stores.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on March 28, 2013, 03:21 PM:

I hope they do well. Bought my Tamron 35mm zoom from them, a long time ago. I also got my Canon 1014XLS from them.

Just been looking at one of their old adverts in Movie Maker plan of the Hinkley store, which was proberly the only one at that time. That's where I bought them from.

Sometimes I feel businesses get too big and so far away from their roots they loose direction.

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on March 28, 2013, 03:41 PM:

The sad thing is that these shops went bust because the public
use mobile phones for their snap shottery and are giving normal
cameras the "big E".I do wish them well in their current venture,
it would be nice to have "proper" shops for folks taking pictures.

Posted by John Davis (Member # 1184) on March 28, 2013, 07:38 PM:

About 10 years ago I gave a talk on a night at Dunfermline Camcorder club. I was talking about new technology and I suggested that camcorders would get smaller but screens would get bigger until all you would hold was the screen itself.
When I go out to video an event these days I'm one of a very small select band who actually use an actual video camera; everyone else uses their bloody phones, which invariably produce shaking over exposed 'jelly' - but they're happy so who's right?
Getting back to the subject I wish Jessops good fortune

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on March 30, 2013, 01:55 PM:

Hi, Tried to post a reply yesterday but the website crashed and could not send it. I also hope Jessops are able to continue. They are one of the few dealers who employ staff who know what they are talking about. It is a pity that the way electronics has developed regarding mobile phones etc that do everything else as well as their original purpose. It will soon be impossible for the amateur movie maker to purchase a dedicated camcorder at an affordable price. Ken Finch. [Frown]

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on March 31, 2013, 12:04 AM:

Myself I think this is crazy. Jessops failed for several reasons and those reasons havent gone away. Can they really sell at the same price as on line? As has been pointed out many people now use their mobile phones. The one thing in its favor is that the new owner, Peter Jones, main business is mobile phones so he might include a big range in the stores. I think he said the plan is to limit the number of stores to around 30 in prime locations (rather than 200 previous) and its good that a number of ex staff have got their jobs back, but its easy to get over sentimental about it as the business was failing and had been for years. The staff were very friendly and helpful but people were getting advice and trying out the camera for real then going back home to buy it online cheaper.

I wish Jessops every sucess but it will only work again with major changes and if the prices are more competitive. The market has changed and mabye there isnt a need anymore for dedicated camera shops. The smaller independent camera shops closed down years ago.

Graham S

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on March 31, 2013, 02:47 AM:

Good luck to them - it's nice to hear of shops opening instead of closing. I sometimes welcome the advice of knowledgeable staff in various shops, so I'm trying to get out of the habit of focussing on online vendors. I also don't like dull, unattractive High Streets full of empty shops, with no scope for browsing. In these 'use or lose it' days, I hope I'm not the only one.

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on March 31, 2013, 03:56 PM:

Hi, Its me again. Sorry Graham but not All independent camera shops have closed down. Look at the ads. in the collectors magazines. Admittedly some also specialise in other "hobby" goods as well. However I do agree that it is the on line buying that has contributed to the loss of the high street shops but other factors like the current recession have also to be included. Buying on line is not always cheaper and there are a lot of rip off merchants out there. I have evidence of this as I have been for many years a volunteer adviser at the Citizens Advice Bureau. As an example, some of the internet based dealers advertise goods that they do not actually have and obtain them from wholesalers after they have received your cash. It would be foolish of companies like Jessops not to :co have on line sales as well as shops in this day and age. Ken Finch. [Cool]

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on March 31, 2013, 08:46 PM:

Hi Ken, You're right not all have closed down but many have including 2 near me I used to go into to buy Kodachrome super 8. And you are also right about rip off dealers on the internet as I know someone who ordered a new canon SLR camera only to find out it was a used one with photocopied manuals. But she sent it back and got her money back. I would however say that the big main sites like Amazon etc are mainly safe, in fact I use Amazon all the time for DVD's, one of the reasons HMV went bust!

Its a shame that the high street is changing but theres nothing you can do to stop it and this recession doesent look like ending anytime soon. Still im spoilt for choice for Kebab shops and barbers.

Graham S

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on March 31, 2013, 09:35 PM:

A good example is HMV I visited the store in Huddersfield, this is one that is closing. I bought 2 dvd's they were selling off, even with the sell off discount they were more expensive than on-line. I will now never use them again on the high street. I can buy dvd's on-line cheaper, so in my eyes they have blown it even if they keep some shops open.

Buying a camera/lens is different I want to try before I buy. So a shop is the place to go. If the prices are not much more that's where I will buy.

Jessops along time ago I bought a Tamron 35mm zoom lens from them. Back then about 1985 there was no internet, but some shops were selling the same lens cheaper, but at the time they were called grey imports. The importer in the UK would not honour the guarantee. To give Jessops their due they were honest that they could not match the price, it worked out roughly £10 dearer, and I did buy from Jessops.

At the time I think the name was 'Jessops Of Leicester' and they did nt have any other branches.

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on April 01, 2013, 02:07 PM:

Graham, You din@ mention Coffee shops and charity shops!!! Ken Finch. [Big Grin]

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on June 27, 2013, 11:38 AM:

I used to buy all my darkroom chemicals from there, now we've all gone digital.

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