Originally posted by monochrome Don't forget the rounded blades on the XS. Its a question of Limited build versus rounder OOF highlights.
I was actually thinking of Target versus Walmart or
REI versus
The Alpine Shop versus
Campmor.com. I buy a
lot of camping and hiking equipment.
Walmart is an awful, pushy, dirty, risky experience. We have an in-store Police substation in our Walmart - really!!I I never go there for anything.
Target is clean, bright, friendly and the shelves are stocked with a limited, basic line of gear. Whenever I can I shop at Target.
REI is clean, bright, the staff is helpful, the prices are good and they have the full line of gear. Whenever I need to, like for boots, I shop at REI and pay 35% more than the minimum for the fitting service and the open discussion of brand strengths and weaknesses compared to my outdoor goals.
Campmor.com is like B&H - great value, absolutely everything you need, but online only (except Manhattan). Sometimes the price is too good not to buy from them (a tent is a tent).
The Alpine Shop is like an arrogant camera store. They always try to upsell me, tell me I don't know what I need, push a certain brand over the one I want and charge ridiculously high prices. I actually don't feel at all bad about going there to look at a $350 outfitter backpack, buying a pair of socks and ordering the backpack from Campmor. Because I've been an active hiker/camper since my teens I am well informed about the technical aspects of gear, the values, the relative merits of brands and I know why I want what I want. I have no earthly idea how Pentax could get traction in that kind of environment.
Hopefully Pentax wants to be in the analogs to Target and REI and try not to let Campmor dominate their strategy.
REI is an interesting example dear to my heart. I shop there a lot for my hiking gear as well as a lot of casual stuff. First of all a small "correction" REI is not 35% more expensive than minimum, it is "normally" 400% more expensive than minimum (or the minimum is 75% less expensive than REI regular price) 100% more expensive than regular low online price (or one can say the regular low online price is 50% less than REI regular price). (at least this is what I see). A more reasonably priced well regarded online retailer would be backcountry.com
Nevertheless I do all my shopping at REI. Yes the in-store experience and good selection is important, however that is not all.
- Of top importance is their 100% satisfaction guaranty. You can return anything for whatever reason whenever you want even years after purchase. With hiking equipment it is important. I'm often ready to pay more just for that (I do not exploit this policy, only returning things if they do not work as advertised). Does Pentax have this policy? ...
- Furthermore, REI has sales. Anytime there are discounted products on special shelves (up to 50% off) which brings it close to online prices. Let's take Pentax K-5 launching price $1600, 50% discount would be equivalent to $800. You wish!
- Once a year Pentax used to have a huge sale, when you could buy items at 75% discount or so - this was the major reason back then that made me shop at REI first place. This point is not that important now, however it was important to hook me up on REI initially.
- REI gives yearly cash back to members (up to 15% on purchases) and a very nice credit card ...
- REI has monthly scratch-and-dent sale were you can buy returned merchandise at ~75% discount
And on top of that REI offers adventure trips (at cost), free "courses" etc, + the tallest climbing wall in the town I lived before ...
Bottomline is REI offers A LOT to win their customers. What does Pentax offer? This is the big question which Pentax itself needs to answer clearly. Pentax needs to define clearly its principles and PROMOTE them. And this should have something original different or extra to what other manufacturers offer.
I got my Pentax almost by accident only because I spent (wasted) a lot of time researching my options and even then I was not convinced and made my mind only when got a better deal (by $270) on K-5 than on the Nikon D7000. While owning Pentax I have learned of several more good reasons to buy Pentax, it is a pity these reasons are not on the surface (not being promoted by the company).