Camera salesman: Lessons from an 8th Avenue camera salesman

Опубликовано: August 16, 2023 в 5:26 pm

Автор: alexxlab

Категории: Miscellaneous

Lessons from an 8th Avenue camera salesman

Marsha Kelly

Lessons from an 8th Avenue Camera Salesman?

Staring at photographs on social media of friends recent trip to the self-pronounced ‘capital of the world’, New York, pricked my envy and conscience. I’ve been meaning to share a sales lesson from my time in that same awesome city from a couple months ago, so here goes!

My wife, Marsha, is a keen amateur photographer. With a bit more confidence she should probably be making a living from it. While we were in NY she decided she needed a ‘point and click’ for casual shots to supplement the more serious Single Reflex Lens (SLR) cameras she has for scenery and cityscapes.

On the way up to Central Park we walked into an 8th Avenue camera shop to be greeted by the Manager, Frankie (that just had to be his name!). He showed Marsha a compact camera as she asked for. Then the sales lesson began!

Frankie noticed that I was holding her other camera bag:

“What have you got in there, let me take a look”

“Wow, you like taking pictures, in fact you love taking pictures. You don’t just want the compact, you need this lens.”

He took out a lens and popped it onto my wife’s SLR.

“Look at this. You can leave this on your camera and get great pictures of all the iconic buildings in New York. You can also get great photos up close. Look, I can get your daughter and husband on this shot, you can’t do that with the normal lens.”

For the next minute or two Frankie just enthused about ‘great pictures’, which is what the Lens gives you. There was not one mention of the technical spec and no question about budget. You know, the type of questions you got asked at recently demised UK camera stores.

So, Marsha walked out with a Lens that cost three times as much as the compact camera that she also bought. She tried to take a few pictures but couldn’t get on with the Lens so she put it back in its box, where I think it has stayed.

I will leave you to draw your own conclusions about the learning you can take from this. From my perspective, as someone who is interested in creating value for B2b customers these are my key take-outs:

Talking to the customer about benefits is still compelling, and what newer, insight-led sales methods are built on. It was all about ‘great pictures’.

Frankie used physical cues to sell to my wife’s ‘persona’ as an enthusiastic amateur photographer. He had no need to use any of the product marketing literature that contained all the tech spec.

If this was a B2b relationship Frankie may never have sold another thing to Marsha. The value of the product only becomes real when it’s used. Before then it’s just a promise of value, a value proposition.

So, what is your organisation doing about taking learning from the sales front-line to develop future sales? What about developing personas to help sales develop meaningful conversations?

I talk to a lot of experienced B2b sales people who echo the Content Marketing Institute findings that 60-70% of content is not used because it’s irrelevant. Some think there’s a need for a ‘translation’ service to help convert marketing speak into customer language. Developing tools to sell to Personas may help this, so why do over 80% of companies, of the 44% that develop personsas, not apply them consistently?

The final lesson is key. Where does the B2b sales role end? It has to be when there is evidence that the customer has experienced some value from the product. The next value proposition will count for nothing if the last one failed to deliver, or if in-flight service is poor. So how does the sales, marketing, service interface deal with this? For another time…

For me all I needed to get from this was it was all about ‘great pictures’. What about you?

About the author

Simon Kelly is a“pracademic”, who is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Sales at Sheffield Business School. He is also President Shake Marketing Group and Cohesion Marketing Services.

Marsha Kelly is an enthusiastic amateur photographer. That’s her shot of the Chrysler Building.

Salesman calls man N-word instead of “neighbor”

In a video currently circulating online, a salesman really stuck his foot in his mouth when he accidentally called a man a “n**ger” instead of a “neighbor.” The cringeworthy encounter was caught on a Vivint doorbell security camera.

The clip begins with a salesman walking up the steps to a home in a residential area. He rings the doorbell and waits on the porch for a response. The man who emerged from the home isn’t fully seen on camera, but from the salesman’s following actions, one could assume the resident is Black.

As the resident answers the door, what happens next is shocking. “Hey, sorry to bother you,” the salesman begins. “I’m Fernando with Pink Energy,” he says while shaking the man’s hand. Fernando continues, “We’re a few doors down. We do solar [panels] around here [and] we’re just coming around talking to n**gers.”

Yeah, I’ve never gotten Nigger and neighbor mixed up with one another. Literally at all! That word has been rolling off his tongue since he was in pampers, do you hear me?! And it was caught on a ring doorbell? Yeah, Mr. White man you’re fired https://t.co/CBtqEwKTNx

— Tannaaa🌻 (@TannnTann_) September 27, 2022

Almost immediately, Fernando realizes the slip-up. The utterly uncomfortable situation continues with the salesman apologizing right away. “Sorry, dude,” he says as he extends his hand to the resident. “Neighbors. I apologize, man,” Fernando says with a smile. It’s unclear what the resident says, but the salesman continues to try and right his wrong. “It wasn’t even like that,” Fernando says as the man exits the conversation and closes his door.

Fernando then walked away, visibly agitated by the interaction. The clip of the salesman and his slur was soon shared on social media. “Yeah, I’ve never gotten ‘n**ger’ and ‘neighbor’ mixed up with one another. Literally at all! That word has been rolling off his tongue since he was in pampers, do you hear me?! And it was caught on a Ring doorbell? Yeah, Mr. White man you’re fired,” one person said with footage of the video.

Another person tweeted, “Somebody ringing your doorbell then calling you a ‘n**ger’ is crazy, actually.” The incident reportedly happened in Texas. At this time, there’s no word on whether or not the salesman has been disciplined by his employer or if the resident took legal action.

Somebody ringing your doorbell then calling you a nigger is crazy actually https://t.co/cNOMgldvLq

— TILL INFINITY (@princepillz8) September 27, 2022

ringing on somebody doorbell and calling them a nigger and not getting hands put on you is wild https://t.co/bkUBofNe3W

— corleone 🌹 (@plentyflavor) September 27, 2022

Like just in the house chillin & somebody ring ur doorbell & call u a nigger…. .???!!!!!??!!?? He not seein them gates https://t.co/R4SFDGB3mk

— Sasha Fierce is an Alien Superstar (@theprincessoftx) September 26, 2022

He rang someone’s doorbell just to call them a nigger to their face…………. https://t.co/9UoY5ZFfWs

— BDE 🫡 Menace II Clitoris 🐉 (@_eyepapihamm) September 26, 2022

How to choose and check a used camera before buying | Articles | Photo, video, optics

Buying a used camera can save you a decent amount of money, but there are some nuances. It is necessary to carefully check the equipment and make sure that it is fully operational. Experienced photographers advise beginners to be extremely careful when buying a camera from their hands. Not all sellers are conscientious, and often they are just trying to get rid of problematic photographic equipment. To buy a used SLR camera and not regret it in a few days, you need to know what to look for when checking it.

Even the oldest photographic equipment can be found on bulletin boards. Source: rtings.com

Why the camera is for sale

The first thing a buyer who intends to buy a used camera should find out is the reason for the sale. The seller can indicate it in the ad, but it is better to clarify. You need to ask about the complete set and the availability of a warranty card. Sometimes there are copies with all the documents and the warranty period has not expired – this is a significant advantage.

If there is a charger in the kit, all cords and adapters are also a good plus. But the presence of a user manual or disks with software is not so important, since all this can be downloaded for free on the official website of the manufacturer.

When a person sells a camera after buying a new one, this is normal. If he cannot voice a normal reason or starts to play up, there is probably some problem in the camera, and they are just trying to get rid of the camera.

Inspection of the camera

Equipment must be carefully examined for damage: abrasions and traces of falling on the body, scratches on the lens glass, damaged screws (indicates that they were unscrewed). How to check a used camera for such flaws, even a beginner will figure it out. By the appearance of the camera, you can often understand how the user treated it and how long it served him at all.

Any signs of disassembly or repair of the camera should be looked out for. Source: pikabu.ru

Chips, cracks or scratches should alert. It is necessary to clarify how they appeared. If the camera was often dropped, this is a bad sign – it is better to refuse the purchase. It is also necessary to check all screw connections. If they have traces of unscrewing, you need to find out why the camera was disassembled.

The camera should also be shaken and listened to make sure nothing rattles inside. There should be no extraneous sounds such as clanging, crackling or rustling. Also, nothing should be loose.

Checking the matrix for broken and hot pixels

Let’s move on to testing the matrix for the presence of broken and hot pixels. The quality of photos and the performance of the camera as a whole depend on it. Remember how to check the camera:

Switch the camera to shooting mode “M”.
Set ISO 100 and shutter speed 15 seconds.
Turn off all noise reduction functions.
Taking a few shots with a tripod (you can just put the camera on something).
We examine the made frames with the maximum approximation (it is more convenient to do it on a computer).

Multicolored glowing dots are hot pixels. If they are missing or there are several of them for the entire frame, this is normal. Dead pixels look different – just like black or white dots. If there are more than 10 hot and broken pixels, it is better to refrain from buying.

Dead and hot pixels are best seen on a black background. Source: profoto.lviv.ua

Camera mileage

Each camera has a resource set by the manufacturer. If the camera is properly looked after during its operation, it will work properly beyond this resource. When buying equipment, be sure to check the mileage. It is determined by the number of shutter releases.

The way to check the mileage of the camera depends on the brand. For example, the mileage of a Canon camera can be found using the Canon EOS Digital software. But there are also universal applications. You can use the Camera Shutter Count to check the number of times a Nikon or Pentax camera has fired a shutter. Also this program supports some Canon and Sony models. Another application that works with Canon, Sony, Nikon and Pentax cameras is EOSMSG.

The process of checking the mileage using all programs is approximately the same: you need to connect the camera to the computer via USB, run the software, select the camera model (if it was not detected automatically) and press the button to see the result.

Mileage check with Camera Shutter Count. Source: fstoppers.com

Having found out the mileage of the camera, you need to find out what resource the manufacturer has set for a particular model. This can be found on the official website in the characteristics of the camera. If it comes to an end or has already expired, it is not recommended to buy a camera. Of course, you can replace the shutter, but this is a rather expensive procedure, which is most often not justified when buying used equipment.

Controls

All camera controls and electronics should be checked. Buttons and switches must function properly. You need to try to switch modes, check all the mechanical levers, press the buttons. Everything should work smoothly and the first time.

Still need to take a few shots in each mode, evaluating the performance of metering, white balance, shutter speed, built-in flash, and so on.

Lens test

If the camera is sold with a lens, the optics must also be checked. It is not hard. It needs to be inspected for damage. There should be no cracks or even minor scratches on the lenses. All moving parts must work clearly and without backlash.

Also look for signs of mold under the lenses. Their presence indicates that the lens has become wet or stored in inappropriate conditions. It is impossible to get rid of mold under the lenses without disassembly.

A scratched lens is not recommended. All images will show imperfections. Source: phillipreeve.net

It is also important to check the autofocus of the lens. You need to take several shots in different modes and evaluate the result. If the pictures come out sharp and not blurry, autofocus is working properly.

Is it safe to buy a used camera

Buying a used camera on the secondary market involves certain risks. You can run into low-quality equipment that is already worn out, and the seller is trying to get rid of it and make money on it.

Another option is also possible – when a photographer buys a new camera, he puts up the old one for sale as unnecessary. Such equipment can be searched on bulletin boards, specialized groups in social networks and in commissions. In order not to be deceived, it is necessary to perform the simplest steps to check the camera, which were described above.

Camera Canon EOS 80D + 18-135 IS nano USM

0030
Cameras and Camcorders
📸 Cameras

: Canon Lens included:

Yes

Camera type:

Mirrorless

Series:

Canon EOS 80D

Lens type:

Zoom

90 098

Number of megapixels, MP:	24. 2 9 0100
Screen size, inch:	3
Touchscreen:	Yes
Swivel screen:	Yes
Sensor type:	CMOS

All characteristics

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