What the op said is true. Pentax sent all dealers packing that didn't do "enough" business. Problem is they based this on last years sales without telling any one this change was happening. Very few small town photo shops are capable of doing over $90,000 in Pentax per year. Guess if you started a store today you would have to do a $90K+ order to go direct.
There are 4 dist. 1 carries both dslr bodies, a few lenses, two flashes, some accessories. 2nd one carries more (roughly about half what Pentax makes). 3rd one haven't talked to yet. 4th told me they carry everything Pentax makes. We shall see.
Problem with having dist. order what they don't have is timing. Remember the problems Pentax has with supply themselves? Have waited months to get lenses. Now add even more time for dis. to get it. Sorry, customers don't wait for all this to happen. CNOS has the stuff and ship it.
Pentax has apparently terminated much of the work force. Doubt they have more than 5 reps to service approx 20 brick & mortar and who knows how many mail order accounts.
They have pissed off many small dealers with this move. Can't imagine them making it better any time soon. The big box places are mostly order takers. They won't influence many to buy a Pentax. They could care less. Its all product to them.
My guess is Pentax sales will be way down vs other brands (imagine Oly will even beat them this time in dslrs). Pentax wanted to be a niche player. This policy sure could make it so! Such a shame. I hope they aren't setting the camera division up for failure so they can dispose of it.
thanks
barondla
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