Do you find camera sales people condescending?

[rvantuyl]

I have been a professional photographer for years and I am very knowledgeable about cameras. In spite of all my knowledge and the thousands of dollars I spend on cameras each years, I find the shopping experience at most cameras stores to be totally unpleasant and the sales people totally condescending. I have long suspected it is because I am a woman in a male dominated industry...

My sister is an avid scrapper and she recently purchased a Canon Digital Rebel. She told me that she found the sales experience totally unpleasant too. The man who sold her the camera made her feel stupid for asking questions about basic features, didn't listen to her needs and was dismissive of her when another male customer approached the counter.

She bought the camera but has been getting long distance camera lessons from me because she says there is no way she is going back there ask more questions.

I am curious if this is a wide-spread phenomena in the amateur market... that is, as a woman shopping for a new camera, or trying to learn more about the camera you do have, how do you find the overall experience of shopping and learning?

I want to tell the camera store people a thing or two about how to treat their women customers so I would love to hear what you all think!!

Thanks!!

Rosalind

[sueb_4]

Yes indeed. I totally agree. Unlike you I am a real amateur but am a willing learner in search of a camera upgrade. I have actually decided on the Canon EOS 20D & am now going to buy the camera off Ebay because of the condescending attitude of salespersons. I live in an area of Australia where there are only 2 shops which supply cameras & are obviously only keen to sell certain brands. Maybe there is more profit from some manufacturers. The sales people I have had serve me keep pointing me at low end instant cameras, no better than the Sony that I presently own. Maybe they think I am too old to learn the 20D. It is unfortunate as the shops are the losers.
I believe however, that if my husband, (who can't even find the on button on my Sony) were to go into the shop, he would get better service than me.
That's life :D

[jtaubman]

I haven't had too many problems, but I suspect it's because I tend to start by telling them what I want and asking a "techie" question early on.

Asking the sales man how to override the auto white balance normally works a treat. I tend to do similar things with computers, I actually quite enjoy watching the Sales men adjust their patter to match.

I suspect there is still a lot of bias, I have found that sales people tend to assume no knowledge, what ever the purchase, but should really be able to adjust, if you have shown a level of knowledge and they still don't sort themselves out then leave.

One warning on buying from e-bay, if you are spending a lot of money make sure you check and understand the warranties on Grey imports. I tend to buy most expensive items online (UK shops), although my 300D came from a good camera shop in Exeter, who were very helpful and didn't talk down to me for more than a few seconds.

[Starling]

I got lucky. I had a great salesman. Of course I already knew a lot about the camera I was holding and he recognized it immediately and answered the questions I didn't already know the answers to. Although both of us were there, he knew I was buying the camera and talked to me not to my husband except where he had asked a question himself.

Of course, we've never fallen in love with a camera store before, and we were already fans of the place. Both DH and I have taken classes there and both will take more when the Fall semester starts up. We have taken cameras we didn't buy there into the store with questions and have received kind treatment and good answers. And it has paid them to be so nice to us. We have spent a lot of money in that store because it has been a treat to go in there.

[Juds]

I've had the same condenscending treatment. I've had digital and point and shoot cameras, but just recently purchased a Minolta 35mm SLR. I have very limited experience regarding this kind of camera.

I went back to the store asking about the various lenses for the camera and what the function of each type of lens was and the response I got was that they didn't have time to teach me how to take pictures.

Needless to say, when I do figure out the function of all the lenses, I won't be going back there to buy them.

[Candiflip]

I guess I have always gotten lucky with sales people with cameras. Especially with the 20D. He was a very nice knowledgeable person. I always go back when i have a question and to buy things.

[DMurray407]

I've had it both ways. Last Christmas, I wanted to buy my son and his wife their first digital camera. I went to Best Buy and the salesman was absolutely horrid. In fact, as he was ringing the camera up he continued to go on and on so I told him to cancel the sale and left. I went to a local camera store where I was treated with more respect-and I saved about $20! I have purchaced two other cameras from the same camera store (one before and one since) and have always been happy with the sales people-though sometimes you do have to wait a bit (but the wait is definitely worth it!).

[Shanearama]

I work in a camera store part-time (mostly because I love to talk about cameras and get good employee discounts). I try to give women everybit a much attention as any man. Being married I know that the women get what they want anyways. I always approach it aas a question and answer session. Anyone who tries to sell you a particular camera because they like it, isn't listening to YOU. My first question is always: Are you shopping for a camera or are you shopping for information? Any big ticket purchase should be accompanied by good research. I don't spend less time with someone who has info in mind versus someone with cash on the counter. Time well spent is a future sale for the most part.
I then always ask about price range, intended use, skill level and if they want to grow out of the camera and upgrade or grow into the camera. It only takes 5-10 minutes and you got a basis top make recomendations.

I routinely get people coming in wanting the highest megapixel possible - megapixels are all most people know about digital. But they are only ever interested in printing 4x6 prints of the "family trip". All these people need is a 4MP camera. Why spend another $300+ to get 7MP? I'm diverging.

The bottom line: if your salesman does ask you 1. Budget 2. Intended Use 3. Experience Level then you should find someone who will.

One last thing: try your hardest to support the people who love what you love: photography. All wal-mart loves is big fat profits. Spend the extra $30-40 at a good local camera shop. Oh and I'm big on instructional manuals...read the manual first then ask questions. Remember the salesman is still salesman and asking technical questions like "How do I change the white balance" before you've even read the manual isn't respecting his time. Besides with all the models out there, your manual and the company's website are your best resources anyways for technical questions.

[Starling]

I'm going to take exception to the WalMart comment. There have been times, and recently too, where I got better customer service at places like WalMart and K-Mart than I did in much more upscale places.

I did buy my camera at a local camera store. We bought it there, instead of at the mail order company where we had bought previous cameras BECAUSE of the excellent customer service. Don't get me wrong, that particular mail order company not only is as honest as the day is long, they also provide good customer service too, which is why the local store had to be exceptional for us to have bought a big ticket item there. I believe in store loyalty, and the mail order store had EARNED some loyalty over a 5 year period. But since both places were worthy of my business, I went with the one that could let me handle the camera before I bought it.