Bermingham Cameras, Dublin
What a Customer service…
I have always thought that the Bermingham Cameras shop on Burgh Quay in Dublin is one of the best camera shops in Dublin. Many times, I heard about their professional knowledge and got some recommedation. Sounds good? Not any more. I have just changed my opinion on this shop and their staff after I paid a visit there this morning. Believe me, I won’t come back there any soon, if ever.
I went there to buy some lens filters for my older 35 mm SLR. That was probably to much for the guy behind the counter to cope with. They didn’t have the typ of filters I was looking for, so I asked him for other type, the screw-on filters. He handed me the circular polariser without a word. I didn’t ask him more, because he was clearly being bothered by me. And didn’t even try to hide it. How can I say? Well, the friend of mine who has been there with me, ask the shop assistant behind the counter what does the circular polariser do. The tone of the answear and the expression on his face was clear – something like piss off and leave me alone…
I was looking for some coloured filters and circular polariser 62mm in diametre, but I won’t buy anything from someone who act like this. In fact, he is there to help you and he’s acctually getting paid for that. I didn’t dare asking him once more…
I am interested to buy a digital SLR, and I want to be sure that I can use my older lenses with the new digital SLRs without any malfunction. God, I should know before I asked…. ”Not properly”, was all he said. Just like this. N advise or some sort of explanation. Just two words… I haven’t had any other questions, because I knew I won’t get any helpful advice from this guy. He was clearly bothered by me. Why not, I am only customer.
I left the shop with disgrace. Honestly, I wasn’t angry at all as one would expect, but I was really dissapointed. I have always had good opinion on this store and their service, but that has change this morning. I cannot understand, someone like this working in the store, helping customers. If somebody ask me where to buy camera, I won’t be recommend this store. Not even to my enemies.
Guess who will not come to this store again…
On the 30th of November 2007, I dropped off a 70-200VR lens for repair to Bermingham Cameras – an authorised Nikon reseller, located in Dublin.
The conversation that followed, can only be described as one of the worst cases of customer care I have encountered and even more infuriatingly, heavily impacted on my loyalty to Nikon – a brand to which I have been unwaveringly faithful to for the last 25 years.
The individual I dealt with took one look at my lens, which
on the surface was fine cosmetically – identified it as not having been purchased from Bermingham’s, and added dismissively; “I doubt Nikon UK will repair that!”
At first I thought he was joking but as it turned out he was anything but! Nevertheless, I requested the lens be taken in for repair and this was done with much reluctance.
Several unreturned phone calls later and requests for an update on the status of my lens revealed, “Nikon UK give greater priority to lens repairs on items purchased within Ireland and the UK” but he wasn’t prepared to go on record with his comments.
Incensed by this individual’s increasing negativity and appalling customer care, I requested that the lens be returned to me without further delay.
That was several weeks ago and I have still not received my lens, however, of greater concern was the enormity of the comments mentioned above which Nikon UK said were completely at odds with their own customer policy.
With increasing competition coming from online stores Bermingham’s clearly have a lot to learn about not alienating their bricks’n’mortar customers.