Before I returned to Japan for the second time this last November,  I shopped around for a new digital camera, since the last time I was there I broke my other one.  It was July 4th 2008, Canada Day, and I was in Kyoto with a few foreign teachers, including my Canadian buddy Andrew.  We drank a ton to celebrate the occasion,  and around midnight as I was taking a photo or perhaps trying to shut the camera off, I dropped it.  It hasn’t worked since.  Luckily I didn’t lose any pictures off of it, but the zoom lens is permanently stuck halfway out.

Early November 2010 I looked around at some different camera shops, and when I went into Black’s near Yonge/St. Clair I was happy with the customer service I was given.  A nice young lady answered my Qs, even though I didn’t buy anything that afternoon.  The point is I returned to that store based on my memory of the service and of course the cameras.  When I returned to the store a few days later I was helped out by a very knowledgeable salesguy.  He was able to answer my Qs easily.  When he introduced himself as “Ace” I almost laughed, thinking he was joking.  Maybe it was a college nickname I thought.  But in the end apparently that is his name and he was a great salesman, nothing like Jim Carrey at all!

Not only did he help me pick the right camera for my needs, but he even pointed out matching products that were on sale that I wanted, like a camera pouch and memory card, and in the end threw some things in for free.  I was also told that if I so chose I could come back to the store for a 1-hour tutorial on the camera’s functions, which I took him up on.  A couple days later Ace showed me the ropes of the new camera by demonstrating the features in the store.

I for one can say that I was even happier with my purchase afterward because not only did I believe I had a great camera, but I also believed I got a good deal too.  Having a friendly and attentive C/S or sales rep help you is a total bonus, as it reinforces your feeling that you the customer made the right choice not just with the product, but with the store itself.

I spent a couple weeks in Japan, and I took a ton of photos and videos with my new camera.  I drank almost every evening too, but I didn’t drop the camera this time.  Perhaps my dexterity is improving, or perhaps it’s because I didn’t make it down to Kyoto this time to see Andrew.  (LOL)

Upon my return, when I needed to get photos printed off, do you know where I went?  Of course – the same Black’s Photography store.  I didn’t see Ace working there that day, but I ran into him crossing the street another day and he remembered me and smiled and waved.  I liked being remembered.  Don’t you?  It makes you feel special, if only for a brief moment.

Thanks Ace, and thanks Black’s Photography!  I will be coming back to your store.