Originally Posted by navcom 
I went into my local Ritz today just poking around. I asked if they had any Pentax lenses. The lady behind the counter kind of looked at me for a minute and then looked around. They did have one...18-55mm. I asked if they had any primes and she said she didn't know what Pentax even made for primes. I asked if it were possible to order one and she repeated that she didn't know what Pentax made for primes and that she was sorry. She said they didn't get many requests for Pentax so they don't really stock anything. Obviously she wasn't even willing to consider ordering it. In this case, I was basically being told "go online and order it...we don't want your business."
Funny thing is the guy waiting behind me spoke up and said he was looking for a K-M. She said she wasn't familiar with that model and asked who made it. We both said Pentax at about the same time. She just kind of stared back incredulous and shrugged her shoulders. She said sorry.
I'm one to believe that many don't stock Pentax because in reality it is not as big a seller as C and N. But I'm beginning to think that much of it also might be a bit of ignorance. They are also caught up in the "C and N are the only cameras out there" mania.
Oh well, their loss.
I guess it goes to show that the Ritz experience is pretty variable. The store closest to my house (Jantzen Beach, just north of Portland, Oregon) had a pretty good selection the first week of December. They had both K20D and K200D bodies along with DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, DA 50-200, and DA 55-300 lenses. They were unable to take delivery of the K2000/K-M before Christmas, but indicated that they were expecting stock after the first of the year.
The clerk that helped me was a K10D owner and very enthusiastic about the Pentax line. I did not find that out until after he had steered me away from the D60 I was evaluating for a friend. (BTW...the K200D simply rocks in comparison...)
Steve
(Not a Ritz fan, but credit given where credit is due...)