Web Analytics RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: See What Ned Bunnell Has Explained (Re: US Lens Price Increase since April 1st)

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

See What Ned Bunnell Has Explained (Re: US Lens Price Increase since April 1st)

http://nedbunnell.posterous.com/lens-prices-and-our-channel-strategy-in-the-u

In short, it is told that "We are not increasing the prices of the lenses, but we only require our dealers to stick to the MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price)."

No matter how, the real-world effect is, we can now only purchase new Pentax lenses in US (either locally or via web) at *higher* prices than before! What "misinformation" and "rumors"? Where are they?? >:-(

In fact, back to March, I did still have my plan in buying some new DA lenses and a new flash gun from the B&H and now all my plans are cancelled. It is just because that now the new prices are too high to be justified for me to buy them from overseas anymore. The decision is really simple as there is no longer any cost benefit or saving after this US price increase. Every thing is actually REAL, but which according to Ned is NOT TRUE, BUT all are just "mis-information", "mis-informed comments" and "rumors" that he had to clarify and "dispel"! :-o

The hard fact is when the *street* prices of their lenses are increased in that amount (regardless of what Ned says), they lose customers and potential buyers like me, as we'd always better to spend our money elsewhere! Simple Eco 101!

And, for one of the forums which spread the "misinformation" whom Ned is accusing of, does he refer to the PentaxForums actually?? (N.B. PF is one of the first Internet media who wrote an article about the breaking news with a clear summary on the price changes.) I'm afraid that this time I am with Adam here, Adam and his guys only reported the truth and everything is indeed factual!

After all, I am really very disappointed about the response and attitude of Ned in this case. Frankly, Ned has been one of the few senior Pentax officials whom I have been respecting for a long time for his personal ability/talent/charm, honesty and open-mindedness as well as his zeal in photography and camera gear. But this time he is really letting me down and I think I am not alone! :-(


Related:-

Ned Bunnell Has Made an Interim Response to the Recent Lens Prices Increase

Breaking Bad News! Crazy Price Increases of Pentax Lenses with Immediate Effect!
Time (UTC +0800):
標籤： , , , , , , , , ,

Comments (29)

Loading... Logging you in...
Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout
  • Logged in as
+1 Vote up Vote down
Peter 's avatar

Peter · 673 weeks ago

In the UK/EU this is illegal: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resale_price_mainten...

Anyway I can't see how this will help stores stock more Pentax lenses and bodies. If people don't want to buy them because the price is too high, why would they bother? Someone said in a thread Pentax are on "death watch", sure this is only going to hurt their sales
+2 Vote up Vote down
Ying's avatar

Ying · 673 weeks ago

I agree with you RH, in the end of the day this is all just excuses - people say they Love to buy from Brick and Motar shops, but actually how many actually does that? The tread is online shopping, whether they like it or not.

Also, instead of making all retailers sell at a high price, why not just LOWER the price for everyone - including small shops.

Whatever Ned says, this is Utter stupidity. and will hurt them in the arse.

I have cancelled all my lens buying plan - in fact I have decided to go to Sigma for my next purchase.
6 replies · active 673 weeks ago
+2 Vote up Vote down
Jordy's avatar

Jordy · 673 weeks ago

It is illegal, but companies have the freedom to simply refuse dealing with parties they don't want to deal with. If B&H sells under the price they are allowed to do this, but after the fact Pentax will simply not supply them with new goods anymore.

That being said, the whole thing is just plain stupid. They will certainly loose customers. I believe it's needless protection of brick and motar shops, why protect things that people simply loose interest in and apparently isn't needed anymore. We are not increasing the price of bread in supermarkets to protect the local bakkery are we? Besides, there are plenty of brick and mortar stores, who also have an online shop and offer very low/competitive prices and they still manage to survive.

What they do now is simply screwing over the pentax-customer/user. The real effect is that people still won't buy at the brick and mortar shops and will now also buy less at the other places that used to offer the products for lower prices. Everybody loses here. Pentax, Users, Resellers.
+2 Vote up Vote down
Ying's avatar

Ying · 673 weeks ago

Hahaha! It's so pathetic - I posted on Ned's blog stating that if this doesn't work out it would be a very costly mistake.
He deleted my post.
2 replies · active 673 weeks ago
+1 Vote up Vote down
Ying's avatar

Ying · 673 weeks ago

I wonder if I will eventually go with Canon or Nikon...
I lean towards Nikon but I hate the user interface.
0 Vote up Vote down
Jeff's avatar

Jeff · 673 weeks ago

Is Pentax affected by flooding in Malaysia or tsunami last year in Fujikma? A Sony plant in Malaysia got flooded which affected their sensor, body and lens production. Prices for their gear went up 5 to 10% a few months later.
4 replies · active 673 weeks ago
0 Vote up Vote down
Jeff's avatar

Jeff · 673 weeks ago

A small B&M camera store near me, suburb of Chicago, says Nikon minimum order is $30K with them requiring some high end models as part of the order. He says he'd probably sell one every six months. Sony also has a high minimum order, though no specific models required.. He has Canon line, some Pentax point and shoots, and Tamron lenses. His main issue is spending half an hour showing a camera and customer not buying it. Then customer shows up a few weeks later with same or similar camera getting prints made from it. He'll stay open as long as he can but, isn't anywhere near what he did before 2006 when camera phones weren't around. (His reasoning).
Personally I don't buy any gear without handling it first and would hate to test online sellers 30 day return policies. Chicago has a few camera stores that have most gear and Wolf camera has a good selection also depending on location.
0 Vote up Vote down
Corros's avatar - Go to profile

Corros · 673 weeks ago

In the Netherlands, the prices of Canon lenses increased a lot in january 2011. This also because of new pricing system form Canon. The problem is when the products of a company gets to cheap, people think the quality is also lower. Consumers think: Canon/Nikon is expensive, so it is good, Pentax is cheap, so it's bad. Pentax wants consumers to think their product is of high quality, so the prices must be on the same level.

Look at Apple. Most people think they make the best stuff, otherwise, nobody would pay that much for their products.

more: http://uwmktg301.blogspot.com/2010/03/pricing.htm...
+1 Vote up Vote down
justmy2cents's avatar

justmy2cents · 673 weeks ago

So it seems they really want to go "the Leica way", contrary to what I assumed earlier. I see an epic fail in the making then - for the simple reason, most people who wanted a Leica probably already have one, while many who might want a Pentax will now choose otherwise. The current users will likely not go away (like me), but those already have most of what they need...
-1 Vote up Vote down
barbarosa's avatar

barbarosa · 673 weeks ago

I just tried on idealo.de prices of pentax 16-50 50-135 and comparable canon 17-55 and 70-200 f4 also nikon 17-55, guess what, pentax is still cheaper, so stop the crap, US prices just go to normal prices, I would like more if european prices went down but that is not a case so welcome to the our price league dear americans.
+4 Vote up Vote down
Rob's avatar - Go to profile

Rob · 673 weeks ago

I really have no issue with the lack of B&M stores. I do 90% of all my non-food shopping online with the majority of that Amazon. I LIKE buying online where I can read reviews from people who have bought and used the item. I dont like going to a camera store where I am treated like a leper because I am not asking to see something Canikon. I dont like going to a B&M store where thy have one K7 that they are trying to sell for $1600. And if I ask the guy at the B&M about Pentax gear, what are the odds that he will know anything about it? Close to zero. So why exactly would I want to give B&M stores my business?

Back before Apple was cool, Mac users suffered through this same crap. A lot of us fled online to places like MacMall and OWC just so we didnt have to put up with idiots telling us we should just give up buy a Windoze system. We supported retailers who supported us. What kind of message is Pentax sending when they are placing online retailers who have carried low margin low volume Pentax products for years in the position of charging the same price as someone who essentially had to be bribed into carrying Pentax?
0 Vote up Vote down
Ying's avatar

Ying · 673 weeks ago

My boyfriend is after a new camera, instead of a Pentax, I think we are going with Olympus OM-D EM5.
0 Vote up Vote down
Richard's avatar

Richard · 673 weeks ago

On another note, Nikon will release the D3200 entry level DSLR with 24 megapixels late April according to Ken Rockwell.
The megapixel race is on again. What will its competitors do in response?
1 reply · active 673 weeks ago
-1 Vote up Vote down
OGL's avatar

OGL · 673 weeks ago

American prices now are the same as all the world. We can buy cameras and lenses at the same price in Russia. No any change of price.
1 reply · active 673 weeks ago
0 Vote up Vote down
Rob's avatar

Rob · 673 weeks ago

Switch systems, But it is not simple eco101 but please do not cry about it or just go to Pentax Forums and do it. Pentax Foeums does about as much good for the pentax brand as the price increase. Pentax forums is made up of rank amatures and cheerleaders.....

Post a new comment

Comments by

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)