Map Camera — Local services in Tokyo

I went there last year in January to buy a camera. I bundled a Sony body A7RV, a Sony lens 24-70 GMII, a Sony tough CF Express A card and a second Sony battery. Pretty decent buy. The price was lower than other retailers, I benefited from a tax free purchase, a complementary discount as well as a free SD card. The whole shebang.

Big surprise when I tried the camera back at the hotel, I couldn't change the language in the menu system. So I went back all the way to Shinjuku the next day and asked for help, thinking it was maybe a faulty unit. There I received the information that it was actually a Japanese market only unit displaying no other languages than Japanese. Global market cameras with foreign languages are more expensive and can be found at the next door Yodobashi Camera.

The lady worker then pulled up a note from behind her desk showing that exact information written in big letters. "We have shown you this paper when you bought the camera" she said, so we can't accept any further comments from you. I retorted that if they had shown me this note, I wouldn't have bought the camera in the first place.

I had to argue for more than 30 minutes before she agreed to take back only the camera in exchange for a voucher to use in the shop. I wasn't satisfied with that outcome and had to argue even longer to see a manager. Obviously there are surveillance cameras in the shop so it's easy to check whether or not they'd shown me that notice.

She then left for about 10 minutes and came with the solution that they would buy the lot back as an exceptional commercial gesture. So I asked for time to think about it and went out for a bit.

In the end I decided to keep the gears. They recognized and apologized for their "purposeful mistake" while offering me a full refund. Since the end price was so affordable it was a win for me. Furthermore cameras nowadays are sufficiently customizable so that one doesn't need to spend hours looking through the menu (in Japanese).

The result of this bad experience, and the manner they have employed to try to put the blame on me is really disappointing from a Japanese service perspective. I've been visiting the country regularly for more than 20 years, lived there in the past and plan to live there in the future. I don't mean to whine but that's just not correct.

Anyway, I am happy with my Sony camera and have bought several new lenses since.. though at other shops.

Just be aware of their...

Really not sure what all the YouTube hype is about….visited Tokyo last week and had Map Camera on my list of must see’s on my camera tour of Tokyo. The building and space is tiny so viewing cameras in the showcases are really hard when there are two or more people in the aisle but the biggest disappointment was the complete lack of service. I was on several of the floors as I have Sony, Canon and Ricoh gear but wanting to see as much as possible as was not asked once if I needed any help. When I did enquire about second hand gear I am on the hunt for I was told they don’t have items in stock when the website says they do and there was no interest in offering me any suggestions. It was basically sorry can’t help and they moved on. It was so disappointing to come to a Camera store that so many have said such good thing an about and to feel like I should not be there. To me the only positive is that they have all they major brands and have products on display you can hold and shoot. Oh and the other very surprising observation was their prices were more than what I would pay in Australia especially if there is a sale on at places like Digi Direct. So save your time and...

I struggled for almost three weeks to write this review but my last visit to this shop, especially the leica department, left me really annoyed and deeply disappointed. I had a problem with a lens that I bought almost exactly a year ago when I travelled to Tokyo. The aperture could no longer be closed and a screw had come loose. When I asked for repairs or simply for help, I was met with disparaging laughter from two employees and sayings like: "We can't help you with this garbage."

Is this really the way you talk to a customer when he asks you for help?

Please don't get me wrong. I don't want to badmouth the shop for no reason. I myself come from a country where I attach great importance to customer support and contact at eye level. I’m often in Japan and know and appreciate the excellent customer service here. The laws in this shop are probably different. You can see that from the negative reviews.

I cannot recommend you to buy a used lens in this shop, especially in the leica department. No matter how good the offer is. Keep browsing. There are many other camera shops in Tokyo and all over Japan. Map Camera, you left me deeply...