Photo Shop Rant (not the software)

[titrisol]

It is brilliant!
APUG stores, with knowledgable staff and good stuff.

I wish I could help you and start this.

I really wish for an evolution in the marketplace.

Something like the Ritz chain in the USA or Jessops in the UK, a large number of local stores, but with most of business actually done through a central warehouse-like store.

Think of it - you go to your local store - they either have the item in stock, or they have a direct order system through their central website store.

You either inspect the sample item at the store, or review the comprehensive catalogue information, with the help of both the local store staff, and the specialty staff at the central warehouse/main store, and then place your order through the local store. If the local store doesn't stock it, the central warehose/main store ships it to the local store, which is where you pick it up and pay for it (maybe at time of order).

The local store could provide the services that work best from a storefront (reprints, one hour photo, etc.) and keep in stock those items that are ordered regularly.

Specialty items could be brought in for inspection.

Floor space (and commercial rents) could be minimized.

Relationships could be established between customers and staff even if the special contact person isn't actually at the local store.

It would be necessary to put significant resources into constructing and maintaining comprehensive and informative "catalogue" resources, but they would serve as sales aids as well.

Is this just wishful thinking?

Matt

 

[Matt5791]

I am very luck in that my office is a 15 minute drive from Nova Darkroom in Warwick!

I keep telling them to get on this site and become a sponsor too!


I really worry that there will be any small photo stores at all soon - most of these places used to make a lot of bread and butter money from processing on their mini-labs - now they are competing in the digital market with major on-line sellers and big electrical outlets.

The Digital camera market is very very competitive and I would imagine margins are pretty small.

Whenever I have been into a local shop near me, or Jessops for that matter, there are always a host of people checking out digital gear and utilising the shop's advice and opportunity to look at the gear in the flesh - only to go off and buy it on line! you see it all the time - they just walk out.

Matt

 

[benjiboy]

In Melbourne we are lucky in that we are home to probably the biggest genuine photographic store in Australia, Vanbars.

You can go berserk in there purchasing almost anything electronic or analogue. Probably the largest array of film and paper B&W or colour in stock and available to walk out with.

I recently discovered their North Melbourne store, it's heaven!

You can walk around a warehouse type of environment checking out new and used enlargers, pick up B&W paper in all sorts of sizes from the pallets stacked in the paper section, or smaller sizes on the shelves

Choose from a glorious selection of alternative processes, both film and paper.

Neg holders and folders abound with enough on display to literally fill a room with.

Pretty much the full selection of Marshalls hand colouring kits and doo-dads.

Trays, thermometers, mixers, reels, tanks, dishes to gigantic sizes and lots more.

Then there is the second hand section, where I recently added another bulk film loader to my collection.

Anyone visiting Melbourne should just go for a walk in this Alladdin's cave, for their photographic fix!

It's the best store I have ever seen in many, many years.

Mick.

What do you mean Mick," Visiting Melbourne ", after what you tell us I'm emigrating ! and I can assure you I won't be another winging pomme .

 

[haris]

...since this store is one of the few where I can combine film, powder chemicals and wet chemicals into one order. I will always prefer a small supplier over a big one if I have a choice, here I have no choice at all.

Can someone explain to me something.

My las order to my Ilford supplier was films( 120 FP4+), liquid chemistry(Hypam fixer and Multigrade developer), paper (MGRCIV) and powder chemistry (ID 11).
There was no problems to send all that together, I got it via post, gone through custom, etc... There was no problems why there are chemicals, power, liquid, nothing. I regullary received my order without any question. And I got is from Czech republic, and I belive there was also transport by air, not only ground...

So, I really don't understand seller who make fuss about sending this and that (powder and liquid can't go together, what a nonsense)... If they securely make packadging, it is OK...

I think those sellers who make all that fuss are just lazy and don't care about theire customers.

 

[Andy K]

Can someone explain to me something.

My las order to my Ilford supplier was films( 120 FP4+), liquid chemistry(Hypam fixer and Multigrade developer), paper (MGRCIV) and powder chemistry (ID 11).
There was no problems to send all that together, I got it via post, gone through custom, etc... There was no problems why there are chemicals, power, liquid, nothing. I regullary received my order without any question. And I got is from Czech republic, and I belive there was also transport by air, not only ground...

So, I really don't understand seller who make fuss about sending this and that (powder and liquid can't go together, what a nonsense)... If they securely make packadging, it is OK...

I think those sellers who make all that fuss are just lazy and don't care about theire customers.

Hi Haris. I was told by Silverprint that the courier companies won't take the liquid chems if the quantity is more than one litre. I think it is something to do with insurance..