Originally Posted by flyer 
I stand behind Wheatfield 100%. I keep hearing people complaints about not being able to try a particular camera before ordering it on the net. B & M stores aren't showrooms for the internet. They have to make some profit to stay in business.
I understand where Wheatfield is coming from. However, I don't agree with you here. If I were still living in Fayetteville, AR, I would have bought the k200d and k20d, and the lenses I bought new from one of the local stores that stock Pentax and have competitive prices. As a matter of fact, one of the local stores (actually a small chain of 6 stores) in NW Arkansas sells via the internet. BH and Adorama are brick and mortar stores that stepped up and used the internet to strengthen their business instead of going the way of the dinosaurs.
I call you on saying that people are complaining about not being able to use local shops as a show room for the net. That is BS for the most part. There may be one or 2 posts out of hundreds that come across that way but that is it. I'm not going to pay msrp to BH nor a local B & M. I won't do it for a camera or anything else. I do use the local store to buy my film and do the in house processing that they do. However, if it is something they have to ship out like color 120/220, I send it to Dewaynes.
Lets go back to the local B & M here in Tallahassee. They wanted to charge me MSRP to order the K200D and I had to pay for it up front and pay a "restocking" fee if I didn't like it. Like I said before, loyalty is a 2 way street.