Sim Lim salesman sells $600 camera lens for $1200

[orly_andico]

@stuart - you're a funny guy. I actually don't bother to talk to them. I just ask if they have what I want. If they do, how much. At that point, I either buy, or leave. (they sometimes offer a lower price as I'm about to leave)

do you know how much the IR conversion costs? I assume this means replacing the IR blocking filter with clear glass? I sometimes see old Canons go for dirt-cheap and was wondering if I should get one for astro. Much cheaper than getting a K-x..

@swat_pup - I've never been over-priced by Cathay. They always gave me a price that was within my "range of reasonable-ness."

[timatworksg]

Cathay Photo does have high prices...and yes if you ask for a discount they would normally give,..or entice you for future sales with the usual 'oh! there's a discount..' which makes u feel all nice...lol! But have to agree with croy that the service and support is good even if you paid more somewhere else.
I bought many camera stuff from them when I was freelancing as a commercial photog and being in and out so often I got to know them and they get to know me...then again...I knew someone who works there too..hehe! So huge discounts and freebies (cheapo tripods for giveaways!)
Another place I used to grab my Sigma lenses from was Camera workshop...but geez...all this was 4yrs ago!...wow! that long already??

Even locals get haggled especially if you sound as if your not sure about a product, or allow a sales person to convince you that 'You must get this for this to work' or 'it doesn't work here and there due to this and that'....even got that at Harvey Norman once!! Yepz!! Blasted him back over HD video conversion on a laptop which he said wasn't possible...but he didn't meet my Alienware custom did he...haha!
Anyway...everyone tries to make a quick buck!! Sim lim is the number one place and I'm surprised no one bothers...the thing I do there is spend 3-5hrs checking almost every shop and comparing prices! I recall I purchased a Media player where one shop was selling it at $450 and another, same brand, packing, guarantee for $850!!! Meet sweet china girl at side cabinet stall and buy everything for $350!! Also, it helps if you know someone from Sim Lim where they can do the underground for you...which is how I bought my wired router once..where everyone insisted wireless is 'IN' and no more wired!
Remember the lady who bought the PSP for $2000!! Came out in Newpaper and was fooled and convinced due to her lack of understandiing of the item. Not her fault entirely but as salespeople, they should educate with honest sales...which with IT...hard to come by! Even a Courts salesman tried to convince me to buy a wider LCD TV when I wanted the repo one!! Sheesh!
LAst thing about Sim Lim (I hate to always mention this place...but sadly...) do check all prices and calculate manually before confirming purchases! Then check receipts to ensure what you manually calculated and agreed upon is correct.
I had a local trainee with his Credit card overcharged by $100...he didn't check the receipt but was told later that it was for ensuring his laptop had an international warranty and for some other crap!!
You can't get the money back once you paid...you can lodge a complain to Consumer Assoc, but since there is no control on RRP they can only observe and warn...but your money is Gone! So far only control on prices I see are Apple products!!
Hence...sometimes it pays to pay more at somewhere reputable (eg: Cathay) and know that though you paid more...you get support with NO Hassle...which for electronic goods...is so darn important!

As they say...pay peanuts and you get monkeys!

my 2c....just watch your backs! Not so much now as economy has bounced back...but happens from time to time!

[orly_andico]

As they say...pay peanuts and you get monkeys!

and that's the truth. I've long despaired of ever getting good customer service (I guess I'm used to it, coming from the Philippines). but it's the same everywhere - retail sales has got to be one of the most thankless jobs out there. Plus, electronics is a pretty low-margin business.

so combine shitty working conditions, plus low margins, and you get the Sim Lim Experience. They probably make more margin on one of those scams, than in 20 legitimate sales, since the margins are razor-thin. Nobody would be doing the scamming, if it wasn't worth doing.

[cloud_cover]

Personally I shop at Worldwide Camera, on the outside of P. Plaza. I know the boss and he's a decent guy. Also gives me the lowest possible rates, only occasionally matched by Alan Photo.
A word about Cathay: If you're shopping for a higher end product and you quote (truthfully or at least, within reason) a cheaper price offered by another camera shop, Cathay will try to match the price. I bought my 70-200mm VR2 from them (Worldwide didn't have stock in time for my trip, or I would have bought from there instead)
I also "window shopped" at the various SLS shops (before returning to my fav shop, since unfortunately he doesn't stock binos), the price for a Nikon Action Ex 10x50 varied from $278 for Alan (inc GST) to $378, not inc GST at various SLS shops (shall not name names)
So buyer beware.
I do find it sad that the wife got ripped off so badly, the salesman was clearly dishonest when recommending a Tamron lens over an original Nikon lens (never mind the markup) on the basis that the Tamron lens had better quality - implied since he said "the best", referring to the Tamron.

[orly_andico]

i think the tamron was an 18-50/2.8 (since it cost $600). i understand the D90 comes with an 18-105 VR but it's not a 2.8, so arguably.. this particular tamron is "better" than this particular Nikon.. if you care for aperture.

i'm all for upselling, and in this case if the tammy was sold at $600 then it would be a legitimate upsell.

[Gary]

"Does ur wife look like a carrot?" Is this some local colour I'm missing? :-D Also what's an "Ah Beng"?

1. Carrot. It comes from the Singlish expression "Chop Carrot" which means someone (the carrot) who can be easily taken advantage of by another person (the chopper, which usually refers to a salesperson). Just like how easy it is for a person to chop a carrot with a knife.


2. Ah Beng.

Source : http://www.singlishdictionary.com . This is a very good Singlish dictionary whenever you encounter a term you don't understand and suspects it to be Singlish.


ah, Ah /ah, %u251/ prefix [Hk. 阿 á a prefix to a man’s name (Medhurst); Mand. %u101 prefix used with nicknames, surnames, etc. (Chi.–Eng. Dict.)] A prefix used with nicknames, surnames, etc., of Chinese origin.

Comb.:

ah beng, Ah Beng /beng, bEN/ n. & a. [a common Chinese male name, poss. Hk. 明 beng clear, bright; to illustrate, to illumine; to display, to distinguish (Medhurst); Mand. míng bright, brilliant, light; clear, distinct; open, overt, explicit; sharp-eyed, clear-sighted; aboveboard, honest; sight; understand, know (Chi.–Eng. Dict.)] Also ellipt. beng, Beng. derog. A n. A man perceived to be loutish and uncouth, and who follows fashion trends but is often viewed as lacking taste; the male counterpart of an Ah Huay or Ah Lian.

[kingkong]

do your wife a favour. put things you want on a wish list in amazon or something and send the wish list to her....

[cloud_cover]

Well, if it was an f2.8 then that's truly an upsell, in which case the only issue is the price, since the salesman was not clearly deceptive if upgrading from a normal zoom to a fast zoom.
While I'm not sure I'll go for the Tammy even at f2.8, but that's a personal opinion - IMHO most Tammy's can't match similarly specced Nikons in AF speed, precision and general sharpness, although they are close enough to give serious cost/performance considerations.