So much for supporting Mom and Pop Business

[peternap]

This is more a rant/accolades than anything else....but...

About a year ago I bought a Hoodloupe 3.0 for my 7D. Yeah...I cheaped out and always regret it when I do that.

I liked (past tense) to support my local camera shop and got it from Massey's Camera whom I've spent untold thousands of dollars with.

I tried the silly thing with the stupid rubber bands and threw it in the "Why did I buy that" box. Since Massey's didn't carry anything else I ordered a real LCDV and was pretty happy with it.

Months went by and I got anther 7D so I decided to get the Hoodcrane so I could actually use the Hoodloupe. Got it from Massey's. That worked fairly well but I didn't like the eye cup so I bought the 3.0 eyecup for it.

I opened the package and the cup was torn. Took it back to Massey's the next time I was there (About a 60 mile trip) and instead of replacing it, he said he'd talk to the Rep. That didn't sit well at all.

OK...a month went by and I got PO'ed, not because of $39.00 but the principal. He said his brother talked to the Rep and his brother left the business because times were tight. He didn't know what the Rep said but would check and Call me back.

No call so while I was ordering some things from B&H, I decided to call Hoodman and tell them where to put their stuff.

I told the girl the story and she said "We had a problem with those cups and the dealer should have replaced it on the spot.

2 Days later I had a replacement without sending in the old one (Which Massey's had).

I guess the morale is that the Mom and Pop (Brother and Brother) stores are a thing of the past. Walmart has better customer service than I got from a company I'd patronized for years..

At least Hoodman stood behind their merchandise.

[rick91351]

A couple years ago I had a spring bar on a wrist watch fail.  I took it into my semi friendly local jeweler.  He bitched and moaned the whole time,  charged me not much maybe a couple bucks.  However I got an ear full about these piddly little jobs taking his time.  Anyway that spring bar lasted maybe a week.  I never go in to Walmart unless it is the last resort.  Went in there for something else walked by the jewelry counter and asked "Do you carry spring bars?"
"Yes sir we do, do you need one?
"Yes I do." I handed her my watch, two minutes she hands it back with the band fixed.
"How much do I owe you?"
"Absolutely nothing."
I just wonder how Sam Walton made it doing stuff like that.  I loosened up a little, I will go in there now a little more - now and then.     

[StinkerBell]

Part of the problem imo with small business is that many are behind on there vendor payments. They will not follow through when something is return because they do not want to call and get something replaced when they may owe that vendor/company money. I have been watching this for sometime now. I am also seeing prices being jacked high for the small business owner and they are having issue absorbing these new prices.
However this is no excuse for poor customer service, that is the key and some have lost sight and customers do to it.