RANT: Garland Camera and Repair

[nikondude24]

I used to love these guys, they would always take care of me until today. I've had a 70-300VR on layaway for about a month now that I've been making weekly payments on. I called this morning to notify them that I would be paying off the the balance of the lens and would be picking it up today. I went in today and was told the lens was sold this afternoon. I asked why would they sell the lens if they knew that I was picking it up today, and was told another person I had cash in hand. I'm so pissed off right now....

[digitalpixels]

Wow, that's rude. I would want all the money I had already paid previously refunded.

Is this on Northwest Highway?

[AndrewCCM]

Time to move to a new vendor. Some on this forum value stock/price over customer service at local shops. I am of the other mindset...Customer Service is the ONLY way you will EARN my business.

[L Stegall]

So, what are they doing about the $ you had paid them on layaway?

[panda81]

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

Time to move to a new vendor. Some on this forum value stock/price over customer service at local shops. I am of the other mindset...Customer Service is the ONLY way you will EARN my business.

Seriously, why else would you pay extra for the same items in the local b&m stores compared to online if the local b&m offers horrible customer service...

[nikondude24]

Yep, this is the shop on Northwest Hwy. Like I mentioned before, this place has always been to me, even my father used to shop there like twenty years ago! I never mind paying a little extra for customer service, but I will never shop there again.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Originally Posted by nikondude24

Yep, this is the shop on Northwest Hwy. Like I mentioned before, this place has always been to me, even my father used to shop there like twenty years ago! I never mind paying a little extra for customer service, but I will never shop there again.

Did you at least get your money back? I hope so. That would just be unethical not to return your money.

- Wil

[Abel]

yup... id speak to the main manager, demand a refund and go elsewhere...

not cool.

[dbphotos]

Yeah, if they take your money on the lay away they have pretty much sold you the lens unless you don't hold up your end of the deal, so they definitely blew it. I would talk to the owner/manager and let them know why you're upset and that you will be going elsewhere in the future unless they make it right. There are plenty of options to choose from, both b&m and Online.

Check out Arlington Camera, I've never had an issue with them.

[Truckman]

I offer layaways at my store and if I pulled a stunt like that my business would suffer and deservedly so...Ben

[Big T]

Thanks for the warning, I won't shop there.

[alamoshutterbug]

That's a bummer and I hope it works out well for you. It amazes me that in the internet age people are so willing to risk bad customer service. Don't know if it's just laziness or what have you, but if I was a retail shop owner/manager and I knew that customers could voice their grievances online to thousands of potential customers, I would be minding my P's and Q's. Once this situation is taken care of, that is, money or lens in hand, I'd inform them of this threads presence.

[photonewb]

wow...talk about crappy

[centtex1]

whoa! even wally world won't sell your stuff out of layaway!

[studiocygnet]

I used to manage a bicycle shop, and we did many a layaway. A layaway is a contract that is signed by the customer, and it sounds like the shop did not uphold it's end of the contract. Unless you were late on payments, there may be some legal repercussions involved in them selling your lens.