If this happened.........

[venchka]

Originally Posted by zebulus

Is tri-X still being made?

The guy at the Houston Camera Exchange told me it was no longer being made and they were going to cease stocking it.

He also told me that Kodak is going to end making all b&w developers and I would eventually need to switch completely to digital.

Is he smoking the cheeba or is this an unfortunate reality?

I was not there. I have no idea if this exchange took place. However, if it did happen, as a TPF sponsor HCE should be more responsible. The TPF membership is not 100% digital.

[zebulus]

It did take place, yesterday, at the front counter.

The gentleman actually told me that Kodak would eventually cease making developer because it doesnt sell.

He also told me that Tri-X is no longer in production and they would no longer stock it.

[Camera Exchange]

Hi Zebulus,

I'm very disturbed to hear of the less then acceptable experience you had at HCE. We try very hard to make sure our people provide the best service possible for our customers.

It would be most appreciate if you would contact me directly at the store store so we can further discuss this issue. By obtaining additional information, HCE can hopefully minimize the potential of others experiencing the same problem.

Our apology for the problem..... I look forward to talking to you.

[de leon photography]

The only good guy in HCE is Reagan the rest are Jerks ,last time they sold me the wrong battery for my nikon I had to do two trips from Baytown ,Only Reagan could help me

[ndsimm]

Originally Posted by de leon photography

The only good guy in HCE is Reagan the rest are Jerks ,last time they sold me the wrong battery for my nikon I had to do two trips from Baytown ,Only Reagan could help me

did you let Larry or any manager know about this? I've been going there for years and while no place is perfect, they have always done their best to assist me.
they can't fix a problem if they are not aware of the problem.....

[Joe_Lorenzini]

Originally Posted by de leon photography

The only good guy in HCE is Reagan the rest are Jerks ,last time they sold me the wrong battery for my nikon I had to do two trips from Baytown ,Only Reagan could help me

Seriously? You went in to a photography shop without knowing which battery you needed? How many types does Nikon make for a DSLR. Three? Who does this without spending 10 minutes on the web looking up type and price?

I'd be more mad at myself...

[zebulus]

Originally Posted by Joe_Lorenzini

Seriously? You went in to a photography shop without knowing which battery you needed? How many types does Nikon make for a DSLR. Three? Who does this without spending 10 minutes on the web looking up type and price?

I'd be more mad at myself...

No I had this happen to me once. I went in and told them that I needed a battery for my Sony A300, and I asked if they had any off-brand batteries. They said yes and handed me one. Well, it was labled for the A300, but when I got home found out it was actually the one for the A100.

[Joe_Lorenzini]

Originally Posted by zebulus

No I had this happen to me once. I went in and told them that I needed a battery for my Sony A300, and I asked if they had any off-brand batteries. They said yes and handed me one. Well, it was labled for the A300, but when I got home found out it was actually the one for the A100.

I've also had this happen to me (not at this store) but:

#1: It's not your fault.
#2: It's not the stores fault.
#3: It IS the 3rd party manufacturers fault.

So I'm not sure how it relates to this person's experience.

I'm curious if he thinks the employee's of the store sold him the wrong thing on purpose? Does he think they had a good laugh after he left the store? All those things would make it as he describes them. Otherwise, he seems to be more mad at himself and is trying to take it out on the store...

I understand why he's mad. I would be too but to call them out like he did is a bit unprofessional.

[zebulus]

Hey, This is America, and the customer is ALWAYS right.

[Pixie]

After reading all the posts on this topic, it seems that some people have developed a bad impression of some really good folks. We have been patronizing HCE for years, and have never failed to receive top-notch information, equipment, supplies, and advise. As a matter of course we do our homework to the point of having narrowed our choices, and then rely on the folks at HCE to help us finalize our decisions (sometimes convince us that our homework is wrong, too!). Additionally, we NEVER buy off-brand anything...that's just asking for extra trouble, and you have no one to go to if you have compatibility problems. We, also, rarely buy just for price...you may save a penny by ordering on the Internet, but you will have problems getting your questions answered, or getting advise from experienced users in a webstore. We have never been steered wrong by any of the HCE staff, and each one is equally qualified and capable. As with any company, complaints should be addressed to the management, who can then make improvements to their services and product offerings...

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by Pixie

As with any company, complaints should be addressed to the management, who can then make improvements to their services and product offerings...

Wrong, vote with your pocket book. If your happy shop there.

If your not shop somewhere else.

[zebulus]

I would love to shop somewhere else, like the camera coop, but its WAY out of my way. The Exchange is close by and they do have a good selection of film.

I went in there the other day and was told by Reagan (yes, im naming names) that Kodak dosent make ektar in 120.

http://www.adorama.com/KK100PE1205U....archinfo=ektar

Im kinda tired of them treating us analog users like crap.

[k onassis]

Originally Posted by Joe_Lorenzini

I've also had this happen to me (not at this store) but:

#1: It's not your fault.
#2: It's not the stores fault.
#3: It IS the 3rd party manufacturers fault.

So I'm not sure how it relates to this person's experience.

I'm curious if he thinks the employee's of the store sold him the wrong thing on purpose? Does he think they had a good laugh after he left the store? All those things would make it as he describes them. Otherwise, he seems to be more mad at himself and is trying to take it out on the store...

I understand why he's mad. I would be too but to call them out like he did is a bit unprofessional.

Hahahahaha, you're hilarious, man...

Ask anyone that works with me, I'm dingy as hell. I'm not stupid, but I'm defiantly not a multi tasker...and since I've made mistakes just like that one, I feel the need throw in a couple comments...

Do you have any idea how many cameras there have been for sale in just, lets say 20 years? And then the batteries, and the lens mounts and the digital change and the connections and the cables and the memory cards and the speedlites and on and on. And sometimes I'll get a call asking about that 'wonderful 50mm 1.4' and I'll go pull it and reserve it, just to find out the next day when the person comes in that they needed the AF-S or the Canon 50.

People do mess up and it gets frustrating but I just remember the times I've messed up royally and the customers were patient and understanding and how better the situation became. And I know the customer gets the worse end. They are the one who drove into town and have a delayed shoot or is out money or with the wrong gift.

I accidentally charged someone twice for their lenses. Two L series lenses. And had to clear it up with the bank and it took about 2 hours after the store was already closed. 8:30pm with me and the customer's bank on the phone going back and forth. I was almost in tears, but the customer (who was there the whole time) was really understanding and wasn't yelling at me or anything. Of course whenever they come into the store now, i get jokes on if I'm using the credit card machine right, but hey....it reminds me to just learn from it, and do what you can to make it better.

I love the guys at HCE....I call them up almost on a daily basis and they have always been nothing but helpful and awesome. I think they get a bad rap, cause when I go in there, I feel all alone and looking for help too until I realize that the store is FREAKING huge and to just go get one of them.
Which brings me to customers that think that they are being judged by staff. Really? REALLY???? Almost EVERYONE I talk to starts off with 'I'm not a professional or anything...' or 'I'm new to this so I'm sorry for any stupid questions...' and I just wanna give them all a hug. We aren't professionals, either, dude...obviously. If we were, we wouldn't be working in a camera store, you know?

Ooops, my apologies for this ramble, I shall go, now. Just remember kids:

We all are nerds, we all like equipment and toys, we ALL like showing it off and playing with stuff, and we all like to argue over which camera system is best....now lets all be friends and get along. .....so that we can all borrow each others stuff.... :)

k onassis added 1 Minutes and 55 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by zebulus

I would love to shop somewhere else, like the camera coop, but its WAY out of my way. The Exchange is close by and they do have a good selection of film.

I went in there the other day and was told by Reagan (yes, im naming names) that Kodak dosent make ektar in 120.

http://www.adorama.com/KK100PE1205U....archinfo=ektar

Im kinda tired of them treating us analog users like crap.

:(

[Daniel W.]

Thanks Kelly for that post, it reminds us we're all human.

My experience with HCE was lukewarm. I wasn't allowed to see the lenses anymore after the fellow at the counter found out I was a student...

[PhotoPunk]

I've been shopping there for 18 yrs and have never had any problems...