Jacobs goes into Administration

[Mark Grant]

Sad news on the BBC:

BBC News - Jobs under threat as camera retailer Cecil Jacobs goes in administration

One of my favourite camera shops that I have bought from for many years.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Tis a shame ... I guess the hope is that the admin find a buyer else it could be another shop of the high street!

 

[Pete Askew]

Sad news.

 

[Andy Boardman]

Jacobs

I am not upset at all, as a dealer who has been plauged by them for the past few years as they sold gear way below cost, great if buying I know, but this is what happens when you sell at a loss for so long.Serves them right in the end, running a business on the high street is costly & you need to make a profit to survive.In the end if this continues prices will rise anyway as no competion to bother you, sell at what you want !!
So in the end the buyer WILL loose out.
One less for me to worry about anyway, roll on Jessops who should be next LOL.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Aren't jessops subed by canon? from memory that was what saved them last time ...?

Having worked in the trade I do feel your pain (and know the joy)
My policy is always the same, adapt or die ... unfortunately a lot of shops seem to think adapting means dropping your prices to match those of the web.. when the adapting should really be offering services not available on the web

 

[Chris Dodkin]

It's been on the cards for at least ten years.

Jacobs HQ was in Leicester, and was the first big camera store I visited - It used to be a mecca for cameras, studio gear, darkroom etc, with great staff and lots of stock.

But they missed the Internet revolution, and instead were pushing for more brick & mortar stores.

They never recovered - the main store in Leicester shrank, there were only a few good people left (Umesh is still there I believe and knows his stuff).

Sad, but inevitable.

Jessops were worse IMHO - another Leicester based store that pushed the same 'more physical stores' model, right when the smart money was pushing the Net!

 

[Andy Boardman]

unfortunately a lot of shops seem to think adapting means dropping your prices to match those of the web.. when the adapting should really be offering services not available on the web[/QUOTE]

Aggree totally Hamish, for all web buyers here if you want to try it before you buy it how is that done over the internet ?? Don't even answer as we all know you go in to a store try it out, ask the questions then off to Amazon et al to purchase ! If you then have a problem what then ?? If it is small stuff not a major issue, if it is bodies & lenses it could be a problem, some of the internet companies around are not in even in the UK even though the domains say it is, you then may have problems with import duty, VAT & expenses to find before you get your goods then there may not be a UK warranty as Sigma for instance check serial numbers first for any Gtee work if it has not been provided by them they will not cover it, unless you have all the international paper work including Customs documents.
So be warned !

 

[Hamish Gill]

You sound like my old boss!
How is business? going ok I hope?

 

[Mark Grant]

Our local store in Hull closed and gets a mention in the local paper today.

Apparently the administrators where chucking stock in a skip !

Staff shocked as Hull's Jacobs camera store closes | This is Hull and East Riding

I have bought a couple of bodies and my first L lens from there a few years ago, all at normal prices, not Amazon prices and the staff where always very helpful.