[RockvilleBob]

For the past two weeks Ace Photo in VA, just outside Washington DC advertised on WTOP radio that today, April 20, was Pentax day. Pentax would have a rep there showing equipment and there would be some give away's.

I was told that the Pentax Rep would be there from 10AM to 5PM. Well... every other photography rep in the world was there BUT PENTAX WAS A NO SHOW. There was a small area in a bottom shelf with a couple of Pentax lenses. You couldn't get near the area because the Olympus Rep was demonstrating their gear. As near as I could tell there was nothing of significance in the one square foot Pentax display.

On the way out I did ask if the Pentax rep was here. I was told that they haven't seen a Pentax rep in two years. Perhaps I asked the wrong person.

So I wasted an hour and a half driving the 50 miles to the store and home.

Where was the evidence of the Pentax push to help brick and mortar stores carry Pentax? There must have been 10 reps from Nikon there fighting the 10 Canon reps for counter space. There was even a rep selling camera straps and another at a card table selling Xrite ColorCheckers.

The 30% bump in lens prices to support brick and mortar stores is nonsense. The increase was to have us, the Pentax base pay 30% more.

I have had my K-5 about two years and am happy. However I will not spend another dime on Pentax gear until Pentax shows something significant as a result of the Ricoh acquisition, something that shows they are committed to the DSLR marketplace. I do not consider the K-5II's and 560 significant - these were well received enhancements and a lens ready to go for a long time. I was one potential 560 prospect turned off initially by the price and then the review didn't get my enthusiasm back.

If Pentax has a rep in the metro Washington DC area he or she should be fired. The only store to advertise Pentax, the only store I know of that has a Pentax display (albeit about 5% the size of the NIKON display) and a store that announces Pentax TO THE EXCLUSION OF NIKON, CANON, ETC. and Pentax doesn't even show up. Perhaps the Pentax rep felt intimidated by the 10 or so reps their from NIKON and another 10 or so from CANON.

I'm happy with what I have BUT NOT A DIME MORE.

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Last edited by Ash; 04-20-2013 at 02:14 PM.

[vonBaloney]

I suggest you send your story to Pentax USA, especially since you drove 50 miles for an advertised event. Of course, with the Boston situation and American Airlines being down the other day, there could be a legit excuse...

[kcmadr]

First find out exactly what happened. If it's simply a "couldn't be bothered" attitude then rain lava and brimstone upon their thatched rooves. We, as users, are embarrassed for the company when things like this occur.

We, as a user base, bust a gut trying our hardest to like the products, the brand, and promote it as a whole because of our sense of community, but there's only so much we can do and that willingness is eroded by the company itself demonstrating the wrong attitude. Now I'm not saying the company has the wrong attitude since we haven't determined that yet, but this is just a reminder that it's an ongoing effort and I feel that we, as users and a community, are definitely contributing our fair share. Keep up the good work users! Let's keep giving corporate a reason to go in to the office every day and be happy to.

Regarding the 560mm... as you are doubtless aware, this is specialised equipment. If you are thinking about getting one, wouldn't it make more sense to try one out first and see if it is indeed a match for your requirements instead of mail-ordering one on the off chance it's good? What I'm saying is that it's all well and good to read reviews, but unless you yourself conducted the review there's not much relevance to you and your shooting needs. Best of luck with finding a solution to your long lens requirements - I've heard and seen that the Sigma 500mm f4.5 is a stellar performer and has a lower price point. They're different animals and only you can decide.

[woodywesty]

I'm pretty new to the Forum but have owned Pentax since 1971 so I "want" to continue the relationship. For me the nearest dealer that has a K-5ll for me to look at is in Chicago which is six hours away. In Minneapolis which is an hour and a half away they have a huge camera store (National Camera, which has been around for over 80 years) and they no longer carry Pentax.

What I have read over the last couple months on this Forum makes it sound like there is not a lot of response from Pentax USA to this Forum and virtually nothing from Pentax in Japan. Maybe the members of this Forum could chip in and put an advertisment in the Tokoyo news paper asking when there was going to be more Pentax product in the USA?? I know... probably a bad idea......

Bob

[EricBrown]

I'm pretty new to the Forum but have owned Pentax since 1971 so I "want" to continue the relationship. For me the nearest dealer that has a K-5ll for me to look at is in Chicago which is six hours away. In Minneapolis which is an hour and a half away they have a huge camera store (National Camera, which has been around for over 80 years) and they no longer carry Pentax.

What I have read over the last couple months on this Forum makes it sound like there is not a lot of response from Pentax USA to this Forum and virtually nothing from Pentax in Japan. Maybe the members of this Forum could chip in and put an advertisment in the Tokoyo news paper asking when there was going to be more Pentax product in the USA?? I know... probably a bad idea......

Bob

I was there today and I agree I was disappointed that a Pentax Rep was not there. But, ACE Photo carries a full line of Pentax gear. I picked up the FA 31mm for a great price. I know the owner is a big fan of Pentax. I wish they did devote more space for display, but I'm sure Canon and Nikon insist on more the most space due to volume. One good thing, the Ace sales rep was very knowledgeable about Pentax. I do hope to see more marketing efforts, I could care less about the X-5 in Target.

[RockvilleBob]

I suggest you send your story to Pentax USA, especially since you drove 50 miles for an advertised event. Of course, with the Boston situation and American Airlines being down the other day, there could be a legit excuse...

Good Idea - I just sent them a copy requesting that it be given to their VP Sales and Marketing

[EricBrown]

Good Idea - I just sent them a copy requesting that it be given to their VP Sales and Marketing

I just posted on their Facebook page. See if that yields any response. I will share if it does.

[monochrome]

I am mystified. If the store mentioned Pentax in the radio ads at all, much less exclusively, there had to be some Co-Op money involved. No Rep, no display and no inventory available just doesn't match up with spending Co-Op advertising money.

[EDIT] See below from the OP. The Pentax Rep had a flight canceled out of Boston. The in-store salesman was just plain wrong about no Pentax rep in the store in two years.

If this really happened because a Rep failed to follow through this goes straight to John Carlson's accountability, and then to James Malcolm. That would be a truly alarming turn of events. Ace Photo is and has been a good Pentax Dealer for many years.

.From years of reading here I know you are a serious photographer and have been a Pentax supporter. You should/will do what you think is right, but I would do the following.

1. Speak to the owner or manager of your Ace Photo about your experience. Explain your frustration. Ask what happened. Gather as much truth as you possibly can.
2. Write a letter. WRITE it. Take the time to make measured, critical and informative points. Draw a conclusion. Make suggestions.
3. PM me for a direct email address at Pentax Ricoh Americas, copy and paste the letter into an email, then send the letter by First Class Mail.

[EricBrown]

No Rep, no display and no inventory

Ace Photo has plenty of inventory. Just Pentax was a no show. All their product was on sale, but no Rep to promote it.

[RockvilleBob]

I will be going out to Ace Photo again tomorrow. I put my business card in a bowl next to the guy selling the sling straps - they were giving one away in a drawing. It was very crowded there today and I will talk to them tomorrow to get a better insight. I went there to talk to a person from Pentax, I know he or she was not there.

The good news - I won a pretty impressive strap with a shoulder harness - something I can use.

[monochrome]

Ace Photo has plenty of inventory. Just Pentax was a no show. All their product was on sale, but no Rep to promote it.

I have never in 35 years as a 100% commission income salesman failed to appear at a presentation or show. Ever.

[EricBrown]

I have never in 35 years as a 100% commission income salesman failed to appear at a presentation or show. Ever.

I agree, I'm in business development and I never missed a trade show we signed up for. Maybe Ace took it upon themselves or invited Pentax but they never committed. I will go by again next week and see if I can learn anything. It was very busy there today. They also advertised Sony, but there was no Sony Rep either.

[monochrome]

I agree, I'm in business development and I never missed a trade show we signed up for. Maybe Ace took it upon themselves or invited Pentax but they never committed. I will go by again next week and see if I can learn anything. It was very busy there today. They also advertised Sony, but there was no Sony Rep either.

Well at least you got a K-01 and FA31 !! Did you hear the ads Bob refers to? Where they said a Pentax Rep would be there with Giveaways?

[EricBrown]

Well at least you got a K-01 and FA31 !! Did you hear the ads Bob refers to? Where they said a Pentax Rep would be there with Giveaways?

I'm happy about the my purchases! The K-01 kit was $334 and their sale price for the FA 31mm was the same price as B&H. I did hear the ad, I was the one who posted the thread on the Capital Area group. They were advertising the K-30 and the customer appreciation day. They said come meet the Pentax rep. I did not hear about give aways since I was in rush hour traffic!

[Blue]

I suggest you send your story to Pentax USA, especially since you drove 50 miles for an advertised event. Of course, with the Boston situation and American Airlines being down the other day, there could be a legit excuse...

The phones were working. So was email.