Why I won't set foot in Aden Camera again.

I just thought I'd share this with you. It's along rant and I apologize for that. Take it for what it's worth.

I've been keeping my eyes open for prices on the Sony Alpha body. Admittedly, I always found that as the pricess fell, (as they always will with this kind of technology) Aden was the first to lower their prices to where everyone else would be in the next week.

So the price of the body finally came down to roughly what I was hoping to pay (Aden had it at $869) and the timing was right for me so yesterday, I thought I'd go grab one.

Walked into Aden and asked about the body.

"How much did you see it for?" I was asked.
"umm.... Why don't you tell me what _your_ best price is?" I replied.
"$920" was his answer.
(now this is where it gets really good)
"But you're website says $869." I say
I get this look of utter surprise from the salesguy. "Really????"
I ask him if he doesn't know his own prices on the website.
"Well, it's a different company, he replies to me" (yeah, right!)
(Funny how their website was the first thing that came up on their web browser, though)
So I suggested that he should be able to beat the web price, then.
"Well, you can't expect us to beat our own price."

Without going into any more detail, I give him a "yeah, right!" attitude. He just told me it's a different company. I mean it's bad enough he's starts off trying to fleece me, but now he's outright lying to me and trying to backpeddle.

So he tells me. Ok. $869 -- take it or leave it. You won't find a better deal anywhere. (with an attitude like he's doing me a huge favour) I tell him after being lied to, I just don't feel right buying here.

Now, I may be crazy but I'm not stupid...

I know that downtown camera will match that price, but I thought I'd try a couple of places out first.

Walked into the Sony Store at the Eaton centre based on a post elsewhere here from a Sony Store employee saying that they would pricematch. I'm sure they might have if one of the salespeople would have been interested in taking time out from chatting with each other to actually pay attention to me. After 5 minutes, I walked out of there.

Then, on a complete whim, I walked into the Blacks in the Eaton Centre where a very nice person asked if she could help me. So, I asked if they sell the Sony Alpha body. She said yes and looked up the price on her computer. Their price was actually what everybody else was charging ($940) and when I told her what I saw on Aden's website, she took a look at their website and told me right then and there that they could match it. She warned me, though, that couldn't beat it because it was so close to cost.

Fair enough. At least I appreciate someone laying their cards out on the table right off. The clincher was that along with a whack of free prints they were throwing in, I was told about their 60 day price protection policy. I didn't know about this. After reading the details in the store and finding them quite fair, I suddently had a _good_ feeling about buying from them.

Although I've purchased smaller items from them, I never thought I'd buy an SLR from Blacks. But I did.

And for the record. I have no association with Blacks. I only wound up buying a camera there.

--Pete

I once walked into the one at Pacific Mall, oh man what a mistake. I would never bother with them. "Take it or leave it" ain't get my business!

Yeah I like Black's, they've got some good service, I've dealt with them many times before when I used to work at the STC.

Yeah no point of buying it from a place with bad service and where they would even lie about the price..

Originally Posted by 416azn

Yeah no point of buying it from a place with bad service and where they would even lie about the price..

This is presale service, imagine is something actually went wrong?

I have bought several cameras (G3,300A,20D) from the Blacks in Ajax. They always bend over and match Aden for me. I get my 60 day price protection as opposed to FS 30 days. The extended warranty for my 20D was only $100, which was cheaper than anybody else. Henry's saw the numbers and said they couldn't touch the Aden price. Biggest problem is Blacks doesn't have the accessories available and in stock like Henry's does. Blacks also only has 1 expert available, while at Henry's, most anybody can help.

samething with bestbuy... they claimed that how their pricematch policy is "interpreted" depends on the stores LOL what a load of BS

which one did you go to? http://www.adencamera.com/stores.asp

I'll tell you something - Black's is an EXCELLENT place to buy an SLR. We offer a lot of benefits, price matching, etc. For example, I sold a guy a black XT kit + 70-300 IS + 2gb CF + Manfrotto monopod + Slingshot 100 + Extended warranty + 100 print card for $2100 after tax. Those of you who are familiar with cameras will know it's a good deal.
Come see us at the flagship store (Atrium On Bay) and we'll always be good to you. We get a LOT of people - DAILY - coming abused from Aden to buy from us.

And yes, I have a LOT of association with Black's - proud to work there.

+1 for Blacks. Prints are excellent quality & value!!

Blacks get top marks from me for service. They make shopping enjoyable unlike the other guys that are always trying to scam you.

I guess only use Aden for Pricematching...

anyway, I go to a Chinese store knowing what to expect, I expect to pay low prices... but of course lying is stupid obviously. I just wouldn't expect to get good or even okay service... I expect that they don't care, but I expect good prices. I have this same attitude towards most Chinese restaurants as well.

use their advertising to PM at other stores... but if no one matches and Aden still has the best price and u need it local... I'd buy from them.

Originally Posted by evanx

which one did you go to? http://www.adencamera.com/stores.asp

348 Yonge.

But really, after that, does it matter?

--Pete

Originally Posted by HeldDown

I'll tell you something - Black's is an EXCELLENT place to buy an SLR. We offer a lot of benefits, price matching, etc. For example, I sold a guy a black XT kit + 70-300 IS + 2gb CF + Manfrotto monopod + Slingshot 100 + Extended warranty + 100 print card for $2100 after tax. Those of you who are familiar with cameras will know it's a good deal.
Come see us at the flagship store (Atrium On Bay) and we'll always be good to you. We get a LOT of people - DAILY - coming abused from Aden to buy from us.

And yes, I have a LOT of association with Black's - proud to work there.

Actually, I popped into the Atrium store but it was full of people happily being tended to by the staff. Probably the only reason I went to the Eaton Ctr store is I was already having a late lunch and I just thought I'd pop in not really expecting anything. I've dealt with various Blacks stores on a number of occasions for "small" stuff, but honestly never thought I'd buy an SLR there.

Mind you, after all this, Blacks goes to the op of the list in terms of shopping for photo stuff. Yes, they may not carry some of the more escoteric items but the fact is, I've learned that I need to at least give them a chance and not assume they don't have/can't sell something.

--Pete

Originally Posted by Pete Jones

"How much did you see it for?" I was asked.
"umm.... Why don't you tell me what _your_ best price is?" I replied.
"$920" was his answer.
(now this is where it gets really good)
"But you're website says $869." I say
I get this look of utter surprise from the salesguy. "Really????"
I ask him if he doesn't know his own prices on the website."Well, it's a different company, he replies to me" (yeah, right!)
(Funny how their website was the first thing that came up on their web browser, though)

Actually it IS possible that the price on a company's website is different from the price in the store, probably because someone didn't update the prices on both ends. So it IS possible that this salesguy didn't know the website price was $869.
I'll give you a very recent example. When Best Buy had their Preferred Customer Sale last Sunday (I think?) I went to their Eaton Centre store and looked at their list of items for sale. I wanted to buy a PDA but noticed they weren't included in the sale items. I asked a salesperson if PDA "XXX" was on sale, she checked in her computer and said no, it was still selling at regular price. I left the store, went home surfed the 'net and decided to go on Best Buy's website to see what else was on sale. I looked at the site and EVERY one of their PDA's including the one I wanted was on sale at 10% off even though the Best Buy's store computer did not have it on sale.
Now, in your case maybe he was bullsh*tting you but all I want to say is it is possible that an employer doesn't know that their website has the item at a different price.