Pentax marketing, oh dear

Nass · 07-11-2013, 09:22 AM

Screenshot of an email I just got sent from Pentax marketing. Kind of a shame that it forgets to actually tell people which lens the $100 rebate applies to. Rookie error (I'm a marketer)

Tom S. · 07-11-2013, 11:35 AM

Moved to proper area.

Adam · 07-11-2013, 11:57 AM

They have the wrong lens photo, too.

Too bad they simply jacked up the prices only to offer people with "rebates"...

richardwong · 07-11-2013, 12:22 PM

This makes me think about Pentax as the car dealer of cameras. Hike the MSRP then give rebates to people to think that they're happy. Didn't that go out last decade?

seventysixersfan · 07-11-2013, 12:41 PM

Originally posted by Adam

They have the wrong lens photo, too.

If you click on the "buy now" link, it directs you to the DFA 100 Macro lens, which is still $850. You have to browse through the lenses to find out that the $100 rebate is actually on the DFA 100 WR lens, now $750 after instant rebate.

Docrwm · 07-11-2013, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by richardwong

This makes me think about Pentax as the car dealer of cameras. Hike the MSRP then give rebates to people to think that they're happy. Didn't that go out last decade?

Yes, and they used to be the Saturn of lens dealers. Sad, sad, pathetically sad change.

scratchpaddy · 07-11-2013, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by Nass

oh dear

That's the story of Pentax Marketing. We're lucky their cameras are so darn good. Cheap, too.

richardwong · 07-11-2013, 07:04 PM

Lucky they have such a devoted group of consumers who are happy using old equipment and are patient enough for innovation because otherwise I wouldn't think they'd be in business for long.

Originally posted by scratchpaddy

That's the story of Pentax Marketing. We're lucky their cameras are so darn good. Cheap, too.

**monochrome** · 07-11-2013, 07:22 PM

Is this from Pentax USA? While I know they have a proper Marketing person now, and a Public Relations person, I bet their webstore, website management and marketing implementation are still contracted out.

This is the kind of stuff Jim Malcolm has to overcome by hiring real, in-house people - but he can't do that until the cash flow rises - which won't happen if the outsourced implementation is so goofy. When financial analysts write that building the DigiCams business is a real threat to earnings (due to the large loss-making investment necessary at the front end) this is the stuff they are writing about.

What a circular mess.

sam-joseph · 07-11-2013, 08:26 PM

Originally posted by richardwong

Lucky they have such a devoted group of consumers who are happy using old equipment and are patient enough for innovation because otherwise I wouldn't think they'd be in business for long.

I agree totally.

Regards

Na Horuk · 07-12-2013, 09:57 AM

Mmh, its pretty bad here in Europe, too. I found an awesome Pentax brochure with nice sample photos.. but it has errors. For example, it says the 40mm XS has quickshift (it doesn't, the ltd does), and one photo of a lens is a really low quality jpeg (you can see jpeg artifacts on the photo). The brochure also doesn't list any FA lenses.
And then an online catalog is even worse - has a photo of silver 43mm, but its titled as a FA 50mm and priced at 400 euro.. So Pentax marketing everywhere, at least outside Japan, has a long way to go.

07-11-2013, 09:22 AM	#1
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	Pentax marketing, oh dear Screenshot of an email I just got sent from Pentax marketing. Kind of a shame that it forgets to actually tell people which lens the $100 rebate applies to. Rookie error (I'm a marketer)

07-11-2013, 11:57 AM	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	They have the wrong lens photo, too. Too bad they simply jacked up the prices only to offer people with "rebates"... 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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07-11-2013, 11:35 AM	#2
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Moved to proper area.

07-11-2013, 12:22 PM	#4
richardwong Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 671	This makes me think about Pentax as the car dealer of cameras. Hike the MSRP then give rebates to people to think that they're happy. Didn't that go out last decade?

07-11-2013, 12:41 PM	#5
seventysixersfan Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	Originally posted by Adam They have the wrong lens photo, too. If you click on the "buy now" link, it directs you to the DFA 100 Macro lens, which is still $850. You have to browse through the lenses to find out that the $100 rebate is actually on the DFA 100 WR lens, now $750 after instant rebate.

07-11-2013, 02:02 PM	#6
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by richardwong This makes me think about Pentax as the car dealer of cameras. Hike the MSRP then give rebates to people to think that they're happy. Didn't that go out last decade? Yes, and they used to be the Saturn of lens dealers. Sad, sad, pathetically sad change.

07-11-2013, 02:23 PM	#7
scratchpaddy Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3,361	Originally posted by Nass oh dear That's the story of Pentax Marketing. We're lucky their cameras are so darn good. Cheap, too.

07-11-2013, 07:04 PM	#8
richardwong Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 671	Lucky they have such a devoted group of consumers who are happy using old equipment and are patient enough for innovation because otherwise I wouldn't think they'd be in business for long. Originally posted by scratchpaddy That's the story of Pentax Marketing. We're lucky their cameras are so darn good. Cheap, too.

07-11-2013, 07:22 PM	#9
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Is this from Pentax USA? While I know they have a proper Marketing person now, and a Public Relations person, I bet their webstore, website management and marketing implementation are still contracted out. This is the kind of stuff Jim Malcolm has to overcome by hiring real, in-house people - but he can't do that until the cash flow rises - which won't happen if the outsourced implementation is so goofy. When financial analysts write that building the DigiCams business is a real threat to earnings (due to the large loss-making investment necessary at the front end) this is the stuff they are writing about. What a circular mess.

07-11-2013, 08:26 PM	#10
sam-joseph Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,086	Originally posted by richardwong Lucky they have such a devoted group of consumers who are happy using old equipment and are patient enough for innovation because otherwise I wouldn't think they'd be in business for long. I agree totally. Regards

07-12-2013, 09:57 AM	#11
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Mmh, its pretty bad here in Europe, too. I found an awesome Pentax brochure with nice sample photos.. but it has errors. For example, it says the 40mm XS has quickshift (it doesn't, the ltd does), and one photo of a lens is a really low quality jpeg (you can see jpeg artifacts on the photo). The brochure also doesn't list any FA lenses. And then an online catalog is even worse - has a photo of silver 43mm, but its titled as a FA 50mm and priced at 400 euro.. So Pentax marketing everywhere, at least outside Japan, has a long way to go.