[Closed] JESSOPS, calls in the Administrators

Wow - no high street camera shop chains.

There are three other cam shops in Cardiff, old style ones, I expect they are chuffed to bits.

As far as big chains go, Jessops weren't too bad. Two of the other cam shops here are run by old skool snobs and one is run by a bloke like you'd find on a market stall, aggressively undercutting everyone and everything.

So glad I didn't ask for gift vouchers for Xmas!! 😯

Don't write them off totally just yet - they may emerge with some core stores intact.

Can honestly say I have never been in one.

Will they have to have Big sale 1st? I was after my first DSLR.

Inevitable I suppose, seeing as cameras on phones have got so good now. Shame though, always had decent service in there & most of the staff seem to be enthusiasts so genuinely interested/helpful (unlike eg. currys/comet/etc)

Amazed they've lasted this long to be honest - was never sure what the logic of their store placement in Glasgow was.

"Can you tell me how to get to Jessops"
"which one"
"the one in Glasgow"
"which one"
"The one on Sauchiehall St"
"which one.... theres 3 on Sauchiehall St"

Real shame, I really like my local shop - bought most of my kit from there.

Daft response...the 1 closest to ann summers!!!

Shame, I bought my last 2 cameras in there and found them to be pretty helpful.

Jessops went from Perth 2 years ago. 2 independent shops still going strong.

Don't write them off totally just yet - they may emerge with some core stores intact.

This. I feel there is room of the high street for a well run photographic shop. I was trying to buy a lens this week and looked in the small chain in Kendal and Lancaster. Neither shop had it in stock and Jessops have closed in both locations (I suspect they would have had stock if they had a shop). I am likely to buy the lens in the near future from Jessops or another high street retailer assuming the price is relatively similar to the internet (I was prepared to pay a small premium). I am sure I'm not the only person with this type of shopping habit.

I suspect that the administration process will allow Jessops to exit a lot of stores where they are tied into onerous lease terms (the 3 shops on Sauchiehall St example above is a prime case) and continue as a more streamlined business (no doubt with amended rent terms on remaining leases where possible). One can only hope that the negative publicity caused by the administration process is not fatal.

Play.com in trouble too

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-20953357

Again. It was just a matter of time. Sadly. Jessops have been dying a slow death for years. I have deliberately not bought there for a couple of years now because I was waiting for this.

However, the fact they lasted so long suggests that a consolidation might mean they survive, lets hope so for the staff.

Hmmm. Bit mixed feelings about this. The staff in the Peterborough branch don't really seem to clued up, although are pretty helpful.

Bought my D80 & 18-135 from them, as well as my SB-700 flash & P300 camera. Mainly because they were just as cheap as online prices.

Last time I was in there though (not busy) I explained that I wanted to buy a particular case but wasn't sure if my camera would fit in it so could I try it out on the display camera? Couldn't just do it myself as the case was locked to the rack. I pretty much got told it was too much effort to do that, and she refused to try it. Seemed a bit rubbish.

not accepting gift tokens or returns on stock according to sky news.

I bought a D3100 and a D5100 from my local shop in the past couple of years because they where close to internet prices. Very hard sell on overpriced insurance and accessories both times.

Bought my 550D from jessops.com, then used their version of reserve and collect so got internet pricing and shop service. Not sure that's a viable model, running a chain of high street show rooms instead of shops. Have always seemed to employ knowledgeable enthusiasts though.

not accepting gift tokens or returns on stock according to sky news.

Isn't that standard practice at this juncture, whilst the assessors, er, assess?

Vaguely remember the same thing happening with Comet, but it was temporary until the administrata had been finished. I think.

Spoke to them about a repair last week and they were less than ****ing useless. They wanted £25 just to give a quote.

Bye bye.

They've been propped up by the manufacturers for years. Bad news though.

I feel for the staff.

I stopped using them when my ex wanted a camera and lens outfit they had on offer. They had 2 branches in Chester back then, with the body in one store and lens in the other, they wouldn't honour the offer and let her walk to the other store to collect the lens, the manager insisted that it needed to be posted 3-4days unless we paid for overnight between branches. Odd way to do business.

Manchester Deansgate branch always excellent - friendly & helpful staff, just as cheap as anywhere else.

I've got mates who work for them too.

Sad days.

terrible company in my experience of the one in penzance. we specced a basic dslr for my daughter late autumn that mother in law wanted to buy her, and had it put by so mother in law could go buy it later that day.

when she did, the staff obviously realized she did'nt know anything about cameras and took full advantage 'persuading' her that she also had to buy an incredible amount on extras (case, battries, chargers etc) at crazy inflated prices.

the staff obviously realized she did'nt know anything about cameras and took full advantage 'persuading' her that she also had to buy an incredible amount on extras (case, battries, chargers etc) at crazy inflated prices.

Hope they got taken back for a refund although I suspect the prices were just rrp

We are losing a shoe shop, outdoor shop, possibly Jessops 😯

Opening soon is Paddy Power just along the street from those shops ❗

I'm surprised the Bath shop has managed to keep going for so long. There are two excellent independent shops in the city, so that's probably what's done the damage, that and Curry's/PCWorld and the interwebz.

Found them excellent when I used them to get my first DLSR, the young girl was very helpful and knowledgeable as she was at Uni learning photography. Yeah they try to sell you extras like all these kind of stores do but I've found the words No thanks works very wel..

This is disappointing. I'd have thought Jessops would have been better placed to survive than other high street stores. A lot of their market focus seems to be £400 DSLR's. I'd have thought margins here were much higher than on £70 compact cameras. Most people will order from anywhere online to save £3 on a £70 camera, but when spending £400 I suspect most will happily pay £30 more than Amazon to buy from a shop. Collect straight away, no lost parcels and peace of mind if there are problems.

I like Jessops mainly for their heroic upselling... Went in to buy a gorillapod, I asked which one I should buy, they said do you have an SLR or a compact, I said a compact, so they tried to sell me a Canon 5D.

I don't know why anyone is surprised...those of you who have bought things from them are in the minority and are not clued up. Anyone who thinks their prices are close to internet prices don't know how to use a search engine properly. Get used to high street shops closing down...internet shopping is crippling them. Everytime I see a new shop open I feel sorry for the owners, they'd be better getting some tech skills and selling online instead. If you need advice on what you're buying, look it up or look at buyers reviews...who takes advice off sales people, especially in big chain stores?!? 🙄

I don't know why anyone is surprised...those of you who have bought things from them are in the minority and are not clued up

I covered that above. Many people will spend a little more on an expensive, fairly fragile item to gain peace of mind. Buy on Saturday, take it back same day if you're worried it's back focusing a little. Spend next day taking photos rather than waiting until Monday to get up early to go to post office before work.

Agree with rest of your post though. Soon the only shops will be selling coffee, drycleaners, key cutting and bookmakers.

d45yth - Member

I don't know why anyone is surprised...those of you who have bought things from them are in the minority and are not clued up. Anyone who thinks their prices are close to internet prices don't know how to use a search engine properly.

Bought my D80 from them the week it came out.
Got a discount - no internet retailers were doing one at the time.
They've price matched in the past as well.

And I wouldn't buy a camera or a lens without trying it out first.

Yes, I do my research on the net, but it's still helpful to talk to someone face to face.

I use a local independent now:
They price match too & have also offered to lend me gear whilst mine was in for repair.
Try that on the internet.

Who is George Michael going to crash into now?

Or was that Snappy Snaps?

Their prices for bodies and lenses were the same as internet prices - hence they made no money...

When buying my D7000 and D4, the only way I could beat Jessops' prices would have been to import from Hong Kong, they were as cheap as the best online shops.

Wasn't Jessops rescued from admin a few years back or was that another camera chain?

Play.com bye bye. People that avoid paying taxes. Yet UK based CD etc sellers have to compete with them. Wasnt fair.

Wasn't Jessops rescued from admin a few years back or was that another camera chain?

I've got a vague recollection that there were profits warnings etc, but I'm not sure if it got quite to the administration stage?

Feeling like a bit of a mug here. Rattling the door of Jessops 9am this morning to part with a walletfull for a DSLR body - thought I'd buy from a shop for peace of mind. 🙁

Feeling like a bit of a mug here. Rattling the door of Jessops 9am this morning to part with a walletfull for a DSLR body - thought I'd buy from a shop for peace of mind. 🙁

Informative thread- so they went under both because they were too expensive and couldn't compete with online, but also because they were too cheap as they were competing with online?

Well I know when I bought my camera the other month Jessops were far from the cheapest. Their lens prices are (sorry, were) ridiculous too!

Trekster - Member
We are losing a shoe shop, outdoor shop, possibly Jessops

Opening soon is Paddy Power just along the street from those shops

POSTED 3 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

And the rest!!!!!!!!!!! Seems to be more empty shops that full.

Maybe we dont need so many shops anymore? Going back did we always have such a mass/concentration of super-shop keepers in one place everywhere?

I remember when they were Jessops of Leicester with pages of adverts in Amateur Photographer. I can only assume that they borrowed vast amounts of money to expand as fast as they did and forgot that the reason they were so successful originally was because they offered the best prices, undercutting the high street stores they then became. I guess whoever has been running them for the last decade doesn't have as long a memory as me.