Conns Cameras - bad experience

theboat

I bought my DSLR (a 30D) in Conns and the service I received was really good. I already had a good idea about what I was looking for, but I found the guy who served me really helpful and friendly. I was buying second-hand, so I half expected them to be a little less attentive, but this wasn't the case at all. He even threw in a UV filter for free!
That said, Gunns will always get my number 1 vote. Incredibly nice people, really knowledgeable and very reasonable prices.

sNarah

{mod note}

For discussion of the Irish nation and how we behave ourselves and issues with our customs, I happily direct you towards the humanities forum.

For discussing experiences in Conns and/or other local photography stores, this thread is the place to be.

DougL

swingking wrote: »

I'm gonna compare my experience to another camera shop I visited. This shop has people who are very knowledgeable about the products, friendly and always leave you with a warm feeling when you leave. Not only that but they offer good prices and super after sales support.

The shop I'm referring to is Gunns on Wexford Street.

Why can't all shops be like that? It costs nothing to provide good customer service and comes with many benefits.

It's how all shops should be

Right there with you. The customer service in Gunns is some of the best I've ever experienced, even when they were very busy before Christmas.

I've stood around in Conns for ages practically begging them to sell me something.

a148pro

I think in fairness to Conn's this thread title should be changed. Maybe to something like 'Conn's Camera's - how do you rate them'

Most poster's experience of them is good yet, much like the tabloid headline, you won't get that from seeing the thread but not reading it

mrboswell

a148pro wrote: »

I think in fairness to Conn's this thread title should be changed. Maybe to something like 'Conn's Camera's - how do you rate them'

Most poster's experience of them is good yet, much like the tabloid headline, you won't get that from seeing the thread but not reading it

I think the title is fair.

No one seemed to feel it necessary to start a thread titled "Conns camera's - good experience".

I think it is fair to say that if we checked back through the whole thread there would be a lot more posters who had a bad experience compared with those who had a good experience.

From that point of view the thread title is justified.

Paparazzo

My experience with conns is that you're treated like Poo unless you're spending at least 300 euro. Gunns or the internet are the only options imho.

Arciphel

In fairness to Conns it is one of the only camera shops in Dublin with a decent selection of second hand lenses, with Berminghams a close second. But they are very expensive - if you have a weak heart, don't ever look at the price of Ilford printing papers in there!

Kbeg3

I've bought a bit of stuff from Conns, they are helpful but their prices are expensive. The last lens I bought I got from Conns, I would have bought in either Gunns or Berminghams who were quite a bit cheaper but neither had it in stock and because of the snow didn't know when it would be.

Paparazzo

Arciphel wrote: »

In fairness to Conns it is one of the only camera shops in Dublin with a decent selection of second hand lenses, with Berminghams a close second. But they are very expensive - if you have a weak heart, don't ever look at the price of Ilford printing papers in there!

Most of their second hand prices are more expensive than new online prices!
I remember a few years back and they were offering a free 1gb SD card worth €60 with every purchase over a certain amount. The sd card price online was €1!

Trev M

I don't know if Conns train the sales staff in dealing with the publiv but recently I went in to enquire about a mic , the assistant was pretty rude and generally un interested in answering pretty simple questions I walked to birminghams who actually seem to know how to be polite and offer service

pixbyjohn

Paparazzo wrote: »

Most of their second hand prices are more expensive than new online prices!
I remember a few years back and they were offering a free 1gb SD card worth €60 with every purchase over. The sd card price online was €1!

And delivery from online dealer was probably astronomical

Hecklar

I hate that place, very ignorant and unhelpful in general. But theres an older bearded guy in there who's always screaming and shouting at the staff in full view of the public. Very unprofessional, huge prices, dont know what they are selling etc etc. Why would anyone buy there?

Calina

I've bought a couple of lenses there in the past although my camera shop of choice in Dublin would generally be Gunns. I cannot fault the assistance I have had in every case. I have also bought filters in there and found them unfailingly helpful. Filters, compared to some of the lenses I have bought are hardly high return items.

Paparazzo

pixbyjohn wrote: »

And delivery from online dealer was probably astronomical

No, couple of euro. Conns were just massively inflating the price so unsuspecting customers would think they were getting a good deal.

smelltheglove

So first time I bought from Conns was great, placed an order with Mike iirc and had a friend pick it up, grand. Next time went in to get some fuses for my lights and at the time was pleasently surprised to see they were only €2, that was until I realised I could get a 10 pacl of long lasting ones for €2 and Conns charged €2 for 1 of the normal fuses.

Anyway 3rd time, I couldnt find my spare fuses so I called Conns to make sure they had them in stock before driving all the way into town. The fella flatly denied they ever stocked them and tried to claim that I was mistaken on where I had bought them from.... funny thing is even my husband was with me and knew that yes it was Conns we went into, it really irritated me. We went on to call about 5 other potential suppliers before finding that Maplin sold the 10pk long lasting for the same price.

_sparkie_

so you are complaining because the salesperson offered to let you try out some lens on your camera after you enquired about buying a lens? is it just me or is this not what you want, as a consumer, when you are intending to buy something? i guess you could buy from amazon but i dont know if they will offer you a lens to try on your camera before you buy it.

Borderfox

I am 50/50 on them at the moment, they dont know enough about the gear they sell but I have bought some lenses/filters/lights/stands and was happy enough being able to buy them in a bricks and mortar shop.

Arciphel

Paparazzo wrote: »

Most of their second hand prices are more expensive than new online prices!
I remember a few years back and they were offering a free 1gb SD card worth €60 with every purchase over a certain amount. The sd card price online was €1!

Ah - no, I wouldn't have bought it then. I know what the prices were, and I got a good deal - a second hand Sigma 24mm f1.8 lens (Nikon mount) for €150. The same lens second-hand right now in Berminghams is €339, average price on eBay new is about €420.

I'm not their greatest fan, far from it - as I said before something they are absurdly expensive on some things - but if you are going to say something bad about them (or anyone) at least make sure it's true.

Sorry - forgot to add - !

condra

What about Halls on Talbot street?

They seem to have a great selection of stock, new and used. Reasonable prices too (from their website). I haven't been in there yet.

Arciphel

condra wrote: »

What about Halls on Talbot street?

They seem to have a great selection of stock, new and used. Reasonable prices too (from their website). I haven't been in there yet.

Never been in there, never gets a mention on here, must check out their website now that you mention it.

magicbastarder

i've mentioned it before, but i have never been impressed with halls - specifically over my request that they give me a price on the 4/3 mount sigma 30mm f1.4; the chap there claimed it doesn't exist and got annoyed with me when i told him it does.

LeoB

condra wrote: »

What about Halls on Talbot street?

They seem to have a great selection of stock, new and used. Reasonable prices too (from their website). I haven't been in there yet.

I think Halls is a superb shop. The staff are friendly and very helpful. No bull***t. They are reasonably priced in comparison to othe rDublin shops. It would always be my first port of call.

paulusdu

Halls are good, i have only had positive experiences in there. The guys seem friendly enough and seem to know their stuff (compared to me anyway), although, Magicbasteard looks like he may not agree.

nowayout1

I bought my camera in conns before christmas (500D) and had a great experience with them, went into buy a tripod didn't have the one i wanted in stock but i bought a better one for cheaper. but i went in the 3rd time to ask to get my camera dusted and the guy i asked said I'd have to send it to canon to get done with, when i said i've got a lifetime guarantee for it to be dusted, he insisted they didn't do it and it'd have to be sent to canon and the other sales people just looked on it disbelieve, wont be dealing with him again he's the old guy shortish and a beard, but the young fella in there is great easy to talk to VERY knowledgeable too

smelltheglove

Is Halls the one on the corner with steps going up to it, getting flashbacks here, used to dream of going in there when I was a kid, my uncle owned the printing shop behind it, another uncle had the tatto parlour above yet I have never darkened its door.

pixbyjohn

smelltheglove wrote: »

Is Halls the one on the corner with steps going up to it, getting flashbacks here, used to dream of going in there when I was a kid, my uncle owned the printing shop behind it, another uncle had the tatto parlour above yet I have never darkened its door.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=talbot+street,+dublin&aq=&sll=37.867361,-122.255387&sspn=0.563744,0.878906&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Talbot+St,+Dublin+1,+County+Dublin,+Ireland&ll=53.350359,-6.256778&spn=0,0.013733&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.350379,-6.256629&panoid=YFjU6SCfa_Z6IXMLmF-89g&cbp=12,198.79,,0,1.69

smelltheglove

Hmmm, wonder if its the same store, the corner shop is now an internet cafe and funny enough the new tattoo parlour is not far from Halls so I think I will visit them next time I hewd in.

Thanks John. Kinda depressing looking at the old building now:(

magicbastarder

different store i think, i remember the one you were talking about. it's been gone for about a decade now.

smelltheglove

magicbastarder wrote: »

different store i think, i remember the one you were talking about. it's been gone for about a decade now.

Ah shows how often I go into town doesnt it. I went by it at least twice a month but always felt like the place was so out of reach, cant believe it is an internet cafe now, it always looked so well and grand outside. Haha, even worse, the doorway to my uncles print shop has a head shop sign on it.... how things change!

Hecklar

smelltheglove wrote: »

Hmmm, wonder if its the same store, the corner shop is now an internet cafe and funny enough the new tattoo parlour is not far from Halls so I think I will visit them next time I hewd in.

Thanks John. Kinda depressing looking at the old building now:(

I remember that shop your talking about, They were really nice in there too, I was only a kid way back when they were doing business but id often be in there . The old film developer there on the side of that building is gone too. that place used to be very busy in the aul film days.