Pentax Unilateral Pricing Policy

**monochrome** · 04-02-2012, 12:49 PM

FA Limiteds are still 25% below stated list px at B&H - haven't pulled the trigger on my Wish List because I got my taxes back and the money is going the wrong way.

Last edited by monochrome; 04-02-2012 at 01:15 PM.

SenorBeef · 04-02-2012, 12:50 PM

I really hope this shakes out quickly. I just ordered a K5 and I'm seriously considering sending it back and getting a different camera simply because the lens costs were a big part in my decision about which system to go with, and if I'm going to have to pay 20-100% more for lenses, that's going to change the cost/benefit ratio of choosing to go Pentax.

eddie1960 · 04-02-2012, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by SenorBeef

I really hope this shakes out quickly. I just ordered a K5 and I'm seriously considering sending it back and getting a different camera simply because the lens costs were a big part in my decision about which system to go with, and if I'm going to have to pay 20-100% more for lenses, that's going to change the cost/benefit ratio of choosing to go Pentax.

from what i see it depends on what your lens needs are. Nikon's good glass is still quite expensive (look at the price on any of the G lenses)
and there is no real direct comparative on both limited series.

**monochrome** · 04-02-2012, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by SenorBeef

I really hope this shakes out quickly. I just ordered a K5 and I'm seriously considering sending it back and getting a different camera simply because the lens costs were a big part in my decision about which system to go with, and if I'm going to have to pay 20-100% more for lenses, that's going to change the cost/benefit ratio of choosing to go Pentax.

Unfortunately there is no way to guess well. We just don't know what's going to happen. How many times in your business career have you witnessed a company switch from volume pricing box stores to margin dealer network? There's just not much guidance available.

My advice is to make your play, whatever it is, and don't look back. Time and Prince speculation rarely works out well for the buyer.

**luftfluss** · 04-02-2012, 01:50 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

FA Limiteds are still 25% below stated list px at B&H - haven't pulled the trigger on my Wish List because I got my taxes back and the money is going the wrong way.

The FA 77 is now only $85 more than the DA 70... perhaps Pentax is pushing us toward FF...

**monochrome** · 04-02-2012, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by luftfluss

The FA 77 is now only $85 more than the DA 70... perhaps Pentax is pushing us toward FF...

Or clearing the stock because THERE WILL NEVER BE A FULL FRAME PENTAX

**7samurai** · 04-02-2012, 02:07 PM

or we could be expecting new dfa lenses series...hmmmm
it is kind of funny. lens pricing was finally down to a level where I was buying again. oh well. back to wait and see mode.

emergo · 04-02-2012, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by Edvinas

amazon.com seems that doesn't care about unilateral pricing: they have Pentax lenses at old prices. I've just ordered DA 15mm there.

not any more - prices on Amazon look like they just fell in line. the 15 limited is showing $649.95. you got in under the wire.

Edvinas · 04-02-2012, 02:59 PM

Originally posted by emergo

not any more - prices on Amazon look like they just fell in line. the 15 limited is showing $649.95. you got in under the wire.

Now I just hope that Amazon will honour my order and will ship DA 15mm for $140 less...

emergo · 04-02-2012, 03:42 PM

I'm wondering if that 77 limited will jump in price to match the pentax webstore at 1049.95... B+H is still at 784.95, which is the price they've had on it for quite a while... I hate feeling rushed into a buying decision.

krebsy75 · 04-02-2012, 04:03 PM

Regarding feeling rushed... JOIN THE CLUB!

mecrox · 04-02-2012, 04:10 PM

Originally posted by eddie1960

Pretty much a US problem. Europe already operates this way I think (at least a variant of it)

While I'm not sure how Pentax does business in Europe, I can say that prices in the UK for Pentax products have been much higher than in the USA for a long while now, so rude though this shock is I guess it is just bringing the USA into line. Pentax here is still less expensive than Canon and Nikon, but not by much until you get to the very costly Canonikon pro-grade stuff (which Pentax doesn't have anyway). For myself, i don't see price hikes like this doing Pentax any favours anywhere unless they flesh out their product line and substantially boost their sales and marketing. If they don't then they are offering dealers a higher percentage of no sales. On the other hand, this does seem to have allowed some pretty amazing deals on bodies, with the K-5 being a bargain (relatively) here now at a price much lower than, e.g., the D7000 whereas initially it was about the same or more expensive.

einstrigger · 04-02-2012, 04:20 PM

Wow...the DA* 16-50mm is $1499.95 now on Amazon. I paid $744.95 for the same lens through Amazon back in 2010. Sorry, but I don't see how this is good for Pentax as the affordability just went out the window. I suppose on the bright side, if I ever wanted to sell all my Pentax gear, I could probably get higher prices in the used market.

**7samurai** · 04-02-2012, 07:07 PM

I'm hoping they work it out and bring it back to what the street can afford. The MSRP is to close to what I would pay for Canikon equivalent.

fuent104 · 04-02-2012, 11:43 PM

Originally posted by einstrigger

Wow...the DA* 16-50mm is $1499.95 now on Amazon. I paid $744.95 for the same lens through Amazon back in 2010. Sorry, but I don't see how this is good for Pentax as the affordability just went out the window. I suppose on the bright side, if I ever wanted to sell all my Pentax gear, I could probably get higher prices in the used market.

How can they be serious? Just raising prices that much out of the blue? It seems like they are trying to drive customers away with every move they make.

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04-02-2012, 12:49 PM	#166
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	FA Limiteds are still 25% below stated list px at B&H - haven't pulled the trigger on my Wish List because I got my taxes back and the money is going the wrong way. Last edited by monochrome; 04-02-2012 at 01:15 PM.

04-02-2012, 12:50 PM	#167
SenorBeef Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 77 Original Poster	I really hope this shakes out quickly. I just ordered a K5 and I'm seriously considering sending it back and getting a different camera simply because the lens costs were a big part in my decision about which system to go with, and if I'm going to have to pay 20-100% more for lenses, that's going to change the cost/benefit ratio of choosing to go Pentax.

04-02-2012, 01:00 PM	#168
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	Originally posted by SenorBeef I really hope this shakes out quickly. I just ordered a K5 and I'm seriously considering sending it back and getting a different camera simply because the lens costs were a big part in my decision about which system to go with, and if I'm going to have to pay 20-100% more for lenses, that's going to change the cost/benefit ratio of choosing to go Pentax. from what i see it depends on what your lens needs are. Nikon's good glass is still quite expensive (look at the price on any of the G lenses) and there is no real direct comparative on both limited series.

04-02-2012, 01:19 PM	#169
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by SenorBeef I really hope this shakes out quickly. I just ordered a K5 and I'm seriously considering sending it back and getting a different camera simply because the lens costs were a big part in my decision about which system to go with, and if I'm going to have to pay 20-100% more for lenses, that's going to change the cost/benefit ratio of choosing to go Pentax. Unfortunately there is no way to guess well. We just don't know what's going to happen. How many times in your business career have you witnessed a company switch from volume pricing box stores to margin dealer network? There's just not much guidance available. My advice is to make your play, whatever it is, and don't look back. Time and Prince speculation rarely works out well for the buyer.

04-02-2012, 01:50 PM	#170
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,628	Originally posted by monochrome FA Limiteds are still 25% below stated list px at B&H - haven't pulled the trigger on my Wish List because I got my taxes back and the money is going the wrong way. The FA 77 is now only $85 more than the DA 70... perhaps Pentax is pushing us toward FF...

04-02-2012, 01:53 PM	#171
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by luftfluss The FA 77 is now only $85 more than the DA 70... perhaps Pentax is pushing us toward FF... Or clearing the stock because THERE WILL NEVER BE A FULL FRAME PENTAX

04-02-2012, 02:07 PM	#172
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474	or we could be expecting new dfa lenses series...hmmmm it is kind of funny. lens pricing was finally down to a level where I was buying again. oh well. back to wait and see mode.

04-02-2012, 02:46 PM	#173
emergo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coloroado Photos: Gallery Posts: 271	Originally posted by Edvinas amazon.com seems that doesn't care about unilateral pricing: they have Pentax lenses at old prices. I've just ordered DA 15mm there. not any more - prices on Amazon look like they just fell in line. the 15 limited is showing $649.95. you got in under the wire.

04-02-2012, 02:59 PM	#174
Edvinas Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kaunas Posts: 1,458	Originally posted by emergo not any more - prices on Amazon look like they just fell in line. the 15 limited is showing $649.95. you got in under the wire. Now I just hope that Amazon will honour my order and will ship DA 15mm for $140 less...

04-02-2012, 03:42 PM	#175
emergo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coloroado Photos: Gallery Posts: 271	I'm wondering if that 77 limited will jump in price to match the pentax webstore at 1049.95... B+H is still at 784.95, which is the price they've had on it for quite a while... I hate feeling rushed into a buying decision.

04-02-2012, 04:03 PM	#176
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804	Regarding feeling rushed... JOIN THE CLUB!

04-02-2012, 04:10 PM	#177
mecrox Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxford, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,375	Originally posted by eddie1960 Pretty much a US problem. Europe already operates this way I think (at least a variant of it) While I'm not sure how Pentax does business in Europe, I can say that prices in the UK for Pentax products have been much higher than in the USA for a long while now, so rude though this shock is I guess it is just bringing the USA into line. Pentax here is still less expensive than Canon and Nikon, but not by much until you get to the very costly Canonikon pro-grade stuff (which Pentax doesn't have anyway). For myself, i don't see price hikes like this doing Pentax any favours anywhere unless they flesh out their product line and substantially boost their sales and marketing. If they don't then they are offering dealers a higher percentage of no sales. On the other hand, this does seem to have allowed some pretty amazing deals on bodies, with the K-5 being a bargain (relatively) here now at a price much lower than, e.g., the D7000 whereas initially it was about the same or more expensive.

04-02-2012, 04:20 PM	#178
einstrigger Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 728	Wow...the DA* 16-50mm is $1499.95 now on Amazon. I paid $744.95 for the same lens through Amazon back in 2010. Sorry, but I don't see how this is good for Pentax as the affordability just went out the window. I suppose on the bright side, if I ever wanted to sell all my Pentax gear, I could probably get higher prices in the used market.

04-02-2012, 07:07 PM	#179
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474	I'm hoping they work it out and bring it back to what the street can afford. The MSRP is to close to what I would pay for Canikon equivalent.

04-02-2012, 11:43 PM	#180
fuent104 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,356	Originally posted by einstrigger Wow...the DA* 16-50mm is $1499.95 now on Amazon. I paid $744.95 for the same lens through Amazon back in 2010. Sorry, but I don't see how this is good for Pentax as the affordability just went out the window. I suppose on the bright side, if I ever wanted to sell all my Pentax gear, I could probably get higher prices in the used market. How can they be serious? Just raising prices that much out of the blue? It seems like they are trying to drive customers away with every move they make.