MSE News: Jessops close to administration, so use gift cards now

Jezzamk

Re the comment about whthewr we need a specialist camera shop when you can use supermarkets etc. I think we do need them as they stock a much better selection.

I have just bought a Fuji X-E1 and the only stockists seem to be camera shops or online camera dealers.

Shops like Jessops also stock camera batteries, tripods, camera bags, filters, film (for the few people that still use it).

If I can get a similar price I would prefer to buy in store.

I bought a battery in Jessops on Saturday and went back today for a small tripod. The staff we helpful and advised me, prior to taking payment, that I wouldn't be able to return it if it was faulty.

The salesman I spoke to didn't know they were about to go under, the first he knew was when he heard it on the BBC news!

I feel sorry for all the staff. I asked if they'd had a lot of people expecting big discounts and he said yes, people were waiting when they opened this morning and the phones were ringing as soon as they arrived. (I didn't ask or expect a discount today, there price was only about £1 more than Amazon).

Re the comments about honouring gift vouchers and returning goods. Jessops, the company that sold them has ceased to exist. Administrators have been brought in to recover as much money for creditors as possible. The Jessops store you can visit now is effectively a different company (albeit using the same name and premises). Not a good situaion if you have vouchers. However, please remember that it is not ther fault of the staff in the store who now face a very uncertain future.

I really hope that Jessops can be sold as a going concern.

I suspect this will be the first of many shops this year who can't compete against companies like Amazon who do not pay UK tax!

zenseeker

I have no sympathy for people stuck with useless gift cards.

When will people learn that giftcards are a waste of time? You know what's better than a £50 Jessops giftcard? A £50 note. Not only can you use it anywhere it will also never become worthless when a shop goes bust.

callum9999

vekma wrote: »

i dont think the staff and security guards would be that bothered as they potential will be without a job soon

also they will probably be after what they can get to make up for sub standard redundancy that that will no doubt pay

I'm surprised people who usually claim to be "on the side of the poor staff" are so quick to paint them as dirty thieves...

callum9999

matchplayer wrote: »

Thats exactly what i was thinking too! Will even leave name and adress so they can contact police. If it's good enogh for them to steal £50 from my wife it's good enough for me!

I doubt it, no-one is that moronic - surely?

They stole nothing from your wife. She still has £50 to spend in Jessops, Jessops just no longer exists.

maureen59

zenseeker wrote: »

I have no sympathy for people stuck with useless gift cards.

When will people learn that giftcards are a waste of time? You know what's better than a £50 Jessops giftcard? A £50 note. Not only can you use it anywhere it will also never become worthless when a shop goes bust.

Hope Santa doesn't bring you a gift card this year then!

mrg9999

Caddyman wrote: »

Agreed. A modicum of common sense in this current economic climate should dictate that it might be somewhat foolhardy to buy gift vouchers. Most consumers are never aware of a Company's financial position until something like this happens and again often the first thing to go or is no longer accepted, is the humble gift voucher.

I'm surprised that with the closure of several well known High Street names over the last few years, that gift vouchers haven't just died a natural death and consumers just stop buying them. Alternatively, the Government could help consumers by outlawing the practice of gift voucher sales, but that is also pretty unlikely.

If the gift voucher was bought with a credit or debit card and over £100, then you should be able to claim a charge back.

Gary_KD

star69 wrote: »

Hi am pretty sure they are sent to a third party company, so you may end up having to pay them, am sure your films will be safe and in the worse case you have to go elsewhere to get them transferred.

Thanks. Yes, I went into a branch today and they confirmed that another company, CeWe (big German firm, do Boots films as well amongst others) transfer the film. I was told that even if Jessops branches were to close before CeWe posts them, CeWe will retain the films and I would have to contact them to arrange delivery.

Hope this helps others too.

Caddyman

I don't believe for one moment that there is a great proportion of people who make a point of going out and buying over a hundred quid's worth of vouchers for anyone to spend at a particular store. Clearly some people do, but I suspect the vast majority of voucher sales are for much smaller amounts, £10, £20 etc. Quite how many of those people who purchase high value voucher amounts are savvy enough to pay on a credit card is another matter. I'm not entirely sure, but I don't believe it is as easy a process claiming for non receipt of goods of over £100 bought on a debit card as it is a credit card?

I personally haven't bought gift vouchers for well over ten years anyway and it is not something I would ever consider doing anymore. Christmas 2011, a relative did by me a £15 voucher for a High Street store that sells car parts and bikes, which I just kept in my wallet. When Comet collapsed, I went straight to my local car parts store and used that voucher (some ten months after it was given to me) because quite frankly, we just don't have any idea who is going to be next!

slenderkitten

People should try London Camera Exchange in future their knowledge is far superior to any of these companies. They have several stores around the country. I often get my supplies from them.

AliBongo73

brightonsimon wrote: »

Oh great. I ordered two photobooks from Jessops online just two days ago at a total cost of £62.10. I wonder what my chances of receiving those are?

I think you should be OK :j I ordered some in December for Xmas presents - they are produced by CEWE who are based in Warks and work with a number of retailers, not just Jessops. Also the Jessops main site states that the Jessops Photo site which does just prints, calendars etc (ie not equipment) is still taking orders. You could always call CEWE to find out about your order, or log into Jessops site and find out the progress. Also your photobooks are not much use to anyone else.... no offence! We had 2 large photobooks which were finished and shipped in only 3 days or so, and that was in December. If you were getting them sent to a store may be worth seeing how you stand if they are shutting stores down quickly, as they can be posted instead although it costs a bit more.

By the way the photobooks I ordered were fabulous.... I think you should come out of this OK. It's a pity the same cannot be said for those who were working there..... I had fabulous service from the staff in my local branch recently.... sorry they are more casualties of this awful economic situation.:(