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Froggy · 11-17-2011, 07:25 AM

I recently overheard a conversation in my local photo dealer the gist of which was as follows:
' Ricoh bought Pentax in order to get its hands on the profitable spectacle lens side of Pentax's business. The camera side has been given just a year to turn around and make a profit. This uncertainty is the reason why many retailers have stopped stocking Pentax gear.'
Has anyone else heard anything similar? Should Pentax users be concened?

detritus · 11-17-2011, 07:53 AM

Originally posted by Froggy

I recently overheard a conversation in my local photo dealer the gist of which was as follows:
' Ricoh bought Pentax in order to get its hands on the profitable spectacle lens side of Pentax's business. The camera side has been given just a year to turn around and make a profit. This uncertainty is the reason why many retailers have stopped stocking Pentax gear.'
Has anyone else heard anything similar? Should Pentax users be concened?

does pentax even MAKE spectacle lenses???

i think they're confusing hoya with pentax...

Nass · 11-17-2011, 07:53 AM

Like I said to the same thread posted at pentaxuser, seems like salesman rubbish.

Kunzite · 11-17-2011, 07:53 AM

He's lying, most likely because he want to push another brand. Why should we be concerned?

eddie1960 · 11-17-2011, 07:54 AM

I'm pretty certain the Spectacle side of the business belongs to Hoya. It's always great to hear twits like this. All Ricoh's press releases were about the camera side of the business and how they wanted to grow it lol
When I hear mis-information like this I want to reach over and smack the offending party upside the head. It was i'm sure a sales tactic because they didn't carry Pentax

BTW detritus Pentax Did have a Spectacle division before Hoya

**jatrax** · 11-17-2011, 09:20 AM

Complete BS. Many smaller retailers stopped carrying Pentax when Hoya raised the minimum stocking levels some years ago. A lot of the older camera stores still resent that as they felt they built the Pentax brand and then got the rug pulled out from under them by Hoya. But that has nothing to do with Ricoh. Your sales person is uninformed or just trying to steer you to a brand he does carry rather than admit he does not have what you want.

One of the most important projects Ricoh needs to undertake is rebuilding the dealer network that was destroyed under Hoya's management. It will be interesting to see how they do.

Rupert · 11-17-2011, 09:34 AM

Unfortunately, I have come to view camera salesmen like politicians...if their mouth is moving, they are lying.
Regards!

eddie1960 · 11-17-2011, 09:35 AM

Originally posted by Rupert

Unfortunately, I have come to view camera salesmen like politicians...if their mouth is moving, they are lying.
Regards!

Just Camera Salesmen

Sperdynamite · 11-17-2011, 09:41 AM

They are the 3rd largest seller of DSLRs in Japan, they are profitable. Not everybody has to sell cameras at the Nikon and Canon levels to be successful.

gazonk · 11-17-2011, 09:44 AM

Originally posted by eddie1960

I'm pretty certain the Spectacle side of the business belongs to Hoya.

No, it belongs to Seiko, so it could never have been part of the Ricoh-Hoya deal.

Adam · 11-17-2011, 10:11 AM

Yup I'm pretty sure Ricoh only owns the imaging division (aka cameras). If you look at the acquisition price, the $800 million difference has to be accounted for somewhere...

Oog · 11-17-2011, 03:10 PM

Froggy has a point though - here in Canada you can't buy a Pentax at Best Buy or Future Shop. You have to go to a photo shop, or London Drugs (imagine that - buying a Pentax at a drug store!). Pentax is trying to do more advertising in North America but there's more work to be done. It makes it harder already when people have the mindset that "I'm a professional because I have a $549 Canikon kit."

jimH · 11-17-2011, 04:12 PM

Originally posted by Adam

Yup I'm pretty sure Ricoh only owns the imaging division (aka cameras). If you look at the acquisition price, the $800 million difference has to be accounted for somewhere...

I believe that also includes the Pentax sports optics (aka binoculars, scopes etc.) see this web site:
Digital Binoculars - Sport Optics by PENTAX

detritus · 11-17-2011, 06:41 PM

Originally posted by eddie1960

BTW detritus Pentax Did have a Spectacle division before Hoya

and that would be ancient history

saying that pentax still makes spectacles is like saying that sony is still making transistor radios and nokia is still making paper.

anyway, i've heard enough BS from shop salesmen to know when to switch off and leave them to their fantasy.

sjwaldron · 11-17-2011, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by gazonk

No, it belongs to Seiko, so it could never have been part of the Ricoh-Hoya deal.

Exactly. Seiko acquired that division in 2004.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/82355-seiko-pentax-ins...tml#post834349

Talk about salesman BS with the glasses angle.

11-17-2011, 07:25 AM	#1
Froggy New Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 15	Ricoh buyout of Pentax I recently overheard a conversation in my local photo dealer the gist of which was as follows: ' Ricoh bought Pentax in order to get its hands on the profitable spectacle lens side of Pentax's business. The camera side has been given just a year to turn around and make a profit. This uncertainty is the reason why many retailers have stopped stocking Pentax gear.' Has anyone else heard anything similar? Should Pentax users be concened?

11-17-2011, 10:11 AM	#11
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,609	Yup I'm pretty sure Ricoh only owns the imaging division (aka cameras). If you look at the acquisition price, the $800 million difference has to be accounted for somewhere... Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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11-17-2011, 07:53 AM	#2
detritus Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 54	Originally posted by Froggy I recently overheard a conversation in my local photo dealer the gist of which was as follows: ' Ricoh bought Pentax in order to get its hands on the profitable spectacle lens side of Pentax's business. The camera side has been given just a year to turn around and make a profit. This uncertainty is the reason why many retailers have stopped stocking Pentax gear.' Has anyone else heard anything similar? Should Pentax users be concened? does pentax even MAKE spectacle lenses??? i think they're confusing hoya with pentax...

11-17-2011, 07:53 AM	#3
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	Like I said to the same thread posted at pentaxuser, seems like salesman rubbish.

11-17-2011, 07:53 AM	#4
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	He's lying, most likely because he want to push another brand. Why should we be concerned?

11-17-2011, 07:54 AM	#5
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	I'm pretty certain the Spectacle side of the business belongs to Hoya. It's always great to hear twits like this. All Ricoh's press releases were about the camera side of the business and how they wanted to grow it lol When I hear mis-information like this I want to reach over and smack the offending party upside the head. It was i'm sure a sales tactic because they didn't carry Pentax BTW detritus Pentax Did have a Spectacle division before Hoya

11-17-2011, 09:20 AM	#6
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,992	Complete BS. Many smaller retailers stopped carrying Pentax when Hoya raised the minimum stocking levels some years ago. A lot of the older camera stores still resent that as they felt they built the Pentax brand and then got the rug pulled out from under them by Hoya. But that has nothing to do with Ricoh. Your sales person is uninformed or just trying to steer you to a brand he does carry rather than admit he does not have what you want. One of the most important projects Ricoh needs to undertake is rebuilding the dealer network that was destroyed under Hoya's management. It will be interesting to see how they do.

11-17-2011, 09:34 AM	#7
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Unfortunately, I have come to view camera salesmen like politicians...if their mouth is moving, they are lying. Regards!

11-17-2011, 09:35 AM	#8
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	Originally posted by Rupert Unfortunately, I have come to view camera salesmen like politicians...if their mouth is moving, they are lying. Regards! Just Camera Salesmen

11-17-2011, 09:41 AM	#9
Sperdynamite Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Maine Posts: 271	They are the 3rd largest seller of DSLRs in Japan, they are profitable. Not everybody has to sell cameras at the Nikon and Canon levels to be successful.

11-17-2011, 09:44 AM	#10
gazonk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oslo area, Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,746	Originally posted by eddie1960 I'm pretty certain the Spectacle side of the business belongs to Hoya. No, it belongs to Seiko, so it could never have been part of the Ricoh-Hoya deal.

11-17-2011, 03:10 PM	#12
Oog Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 85	Froggy has a point though - here in Canada you can't buy a Pentax at Best Buy or Future Shop. You have to go to a photo shop, or London Drugs (imagine that - buying a Pentax at a drug store!). Pentax is trying to do more advertising in North America but there's more work to be done. It makes it harder already when people have the mindset that "I'm a professional because I have a $549 Canikon kit."

11-17-2011, 04:12 PM	#13
jimH Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Central Nebraska - USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,771	Originally posted by Adam Yup I'm pretty sure Ricoh only owns the imaging division (aka cameras). If you look at the acquisition price, the $800 million difference has to be accounted for somewhere... I believe that also includes the Pentax sports optics (aka binoculars, scopes etc.) see this web site: Digital Binoculars - Sport Optics by PENTAX

11-17-2011, 06:41 PM	#14
detritus Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 54	Originally posted by eddie1960 BTW detritus Pentax Did have a Spectacle division before Hoya and that would be ancient history saying that pentax still makes spectacles is like saying that sony is still making transistor radios and nokia is still making paper. anyway, i've heard enough BS from shop salesmen to know when to switch off and leave them to their fantasy.

11-17-2011, 07:05 PM	#15
sjwaldron Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,235	Originally posted by gazonk No, it belongs to Seiko, so it could never have been part of the Ricoh-Hoya deal. Exactly. Seiko acquired that division in 2004. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/82355-seiko-pentax-ins...tml#post834349 Talk about salesman BS with the glasses angle.

Ricoh buyout of Pentax

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