Lens prices and our channel strategy in the U.S. - Ned Responses

**monochrome** · 05-25-2012, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by mee

Having and maintaining a track record (history) of honesty and decency to their employees, customers, stockholders, etc for starters...

Those are fine and desireable qualities for a company to promote in its culture but they aren't success. Stokholders may even require them of managers (easier when it is a private company). At day's end, though, stockholders own the company and stockholders demand a profit.

Class A · 05-26-2012, 04:16 AM

Originally posted by Pentaxtic

Target seems to sell out most Pentax items...or were they never in stock ....????

The following screenshot from the "Target" website tells a sad story.

Name: target.jpg
Views: 621
Size: 33.3 KB

leadfoot · 05-31-2012, 09:34 AM

Well, it's been a few months since Pentax raised their lens prices in the US.

I sincerely hope B&H and Adorama have a large stock of Pentax lenses that are just sitting on the shelf collecting dust. Stock that doesn't move, is a money loser.

Perhaps a large stock of lenses that are not selling, will convince Pentax that their strategy is not working. $1499 for the 16-50mm f/2.8, $1399 for the 300mm f/4, etc are stupid prices, and I can only see Pentax losing market share because of this. And selling even less gear than they were selling.

60-250mm f/4 lenses sit on the forums "for sale" section, used, for $1600 or less, and they don't seem to be selling. I just can't see anyone spending $2K for this lens new, when that same $2K will (almost) buy you one of those superb Nikon or Canon f/2.8 full frame zooms.

eddie1960 · 05-31-2012, 11:35 AM

Originally posted by mee

Having and maintaining a track record (history) of honesty and decency to their employees, customers, stockholders, etc for starters...

Pentax would be the first then. Almost all business beyond some very small ones they seem to devote themselves exclusively to short term return for the shareholder. everything else is just a means of attaining that goal. It's incredibly short sighted and stupid but it's the reality that has been building since the early eighties

**monochrome** · 05-31-2012, 12:22 PM

Originally posted by eddie1960

Pentax would be the first then. Almost all business beyond some very small ones they seem to devote themselves exclusively to short term return for the shareholder. everything else is just a means of attaining that goal. It's incredibly short sighted and stupid but it's the reality that has been building since the early eighties

Until stockholders demand these values they won't be a priority. Don't forget, "stockholders" is us, through our 401k's, mutual funds and pensions. Stockholders isn't some rich guys somewhere else. Private investors directly own only 3% of shares outstanding.

Until we tell our intermediaries we want honesty they won't ask for it - but my clients never ask me how much honesty we earned this year. They only ask how much money we earned this year.

bobmaxja · 05-31-2012, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by leadfoot

Perhaps a large stock of lenses that are not selling, will convince Pentax that their strategy is not working. $1499 for the 16-50mm f/2.8, $1399 for the 300mm f/4, etc are stupid prices, and I can only see Pentax losing market share because of this. And selling even less gear than they were selling.

Go in British Columbia, they sell them for $969 for the 16-50mm f2.8
Pentax DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL IF SDM - Canada and Cross-Border Price Comparison - photoprice.ca

eddie1960 · 06-01-2012, 06:06 AM

999 in several different shops in Toronto, but this would be the best to deal with

PENTAX SDM 16-50MM F2.8 ED AL(IF)

bobmaxja · 06-01-2012, 06:27 AM

Aden is the best deal at $919
Pentax SMC DA * 16-50mm F2.8 ED/AL (IF) SDM

I mention to Leadfoot to go to BC because is in Oregon

eddie1960 · 06-01-2012, 09:11 AM

Originally posted by bobmaxja

Aden is the best deal at $919
Pentax SMC DA * 16-50mm F2.8 ED/AL (IF) SDM

I mention to Leadfoot to go to BC because is in Oregon

Aden doesn't have stock though, and they have the crappiest service (I was in the store the other day, they had several FA43, 2 DA35 2.0 and a few sigma for Pentax
Kid serving had no interest in what i wanted (I asked when they expected the DA50 1.8 as i wanted both the 35 and the 50 by July - he didn't know it existed and couldn't be bothered to ask anyone else working.

I can go into Downtown camera (a couple of block away) and they will match Aden camera and the service is light years better. there are several Pentax fans in that shop

Class A · 06-09-2012, 12:16 AM

B&H has dropped prices below the UPP level again. What a shambles.

ElJamoquio · 06-09-2012, 06:54 AM

How do we know what the minimum price under the UPP "contract" is?

Kunzite · 06-09-2012, 10:19 AM

A reasonable (IMO) guess:
1. wait for things to settle
2. look at BH's prices

ElJamoquio · 06-09-2012, 11:43 AM

I would argue that if Amazon and Adorama have different prices than BH for over, say, a week, something's amiss - the UPP is being 'violated' (of course a UPP isn't a contract, so it can't be violated).

kenafein · 06-09-2012, 02:40 PM

I suppose b&h could just be liquidating its pentax stock for what it will sell for. No sense keeping boxes on a shelf. That may mean they don't plan to get more stock from pentax.

**monochrome** · 06-09-2012, 03:06 PM

Originally posted by kenafein

That may mean they don't plan to get more stock from pentax.

IIRC Adorama and Amazon were late implementing the initial UPP changes, too.

Adam has posted that the price changes seem to be worldwide.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
lens strategy/thoughts ?	rtpguy	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	24	11-30-2011 09:35 AM
My lens strategy (not a which one to buy thread)	jerryleejr	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	11	09-21-2011 01:08 AM
Pentax UK's responses to my K-5 questions	adamfogerty	Pentax News and Rumors	8	10-22-2010 12:36 AM
Ned Bunnel interview at Photokina - K-5, K-r, Pentax strategy etc	rawr	Pentax News and Rumors	50	10-13-2010 06:15 PM
Looking at the current lens lineup, ISO seems to be Pentax strategy.	Reportage	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	21	10-05-2010 02:28 PM

05-25-2012, 10:38 PM	#646
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by mee Having and maintaining a track record (history) of honesty and decency to their employees, customers, stockholders, etc for starters... Those are fine and desireable qualities for a company to promote in its culture but they aren't success. Stokholders may even require them of managers (easier when it is a private company). At day's end, though, stockholders own the company and stockholders demand a profit.

05-26-2012, 04:16 AM	#647
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by Pentaxtic Target seems to sell out most Pentax items...or were they never in stock ....???? The following screenshot from the "Target" website tells a sad story.

05-31-2012, 09:34 AM	#648
leadfoot Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 131	Well, it's been a few months since Pentax raised their lens prices in the US. I sincerely hope B&H and Adorama have a large stock of Pentax lenses that are just sitting on the shelf collecting dust. Stock that doesn't move, is a money loser. Perhaps a large stock of lenses that are not selling, will convince Pentax that their strategy is not working. $1499 for the 16-50mm f/2.8, $1399 for the 300mm f/4, etc are stupid prices, and I can only see Pentax losing market share because of this. And selling even less gear than they were selling. 60-250mm f/4 lenses sit on the forums "for sale" section, used, for $1600 or less, and they don't seem to be selling. I just can't see anyone spending $2K for this lens new, when that same $2K will (almost) buy you one of those superb Nikon or Canon f/2.8 full frame zooms.

05-31-2012, 11:35 AM	#649
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	Originally posted by mee Having and maintaining a track record (history) of honesty and decency to their employees, customers, stockholders, etc for starters... Pentax would be the first then. Almost all business beyond some very small ones they seem to devote themselves exclusively to short term return for the shareholder. everything else is just a means of attaining that goal. It's incredibly short sighted and stupid but it's the reality that has been building since the early eighties

05-31-2012, 12:22 PM	#650
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by eddie1960 Pentax would be the first then. Almost all business beyond some very small ones they seem to devote themselves exclusively to short term return for the shareholder. everything else is just a means of attaining that goal. It's incredibly short sighted and stupid but it's the reality that has been building since the early eighties Until stockholders demand these values they won't be a priority. Don't forget, "stockholders" is us, through our 401k's, mutual funds and pensions. Stockholders isn't some rich guys somewhere else. Private investors directly own only 3% of shares outstanding. Until we tell our intermediaries we want honesty they won't ask for it - but my clients never ask me how much honesty we earned this year. They only ask how much money we earned this year.

05-31-2012, 05:05 PM	#651
bobmaxja Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laval, Quebec Canada Posts: 2,171	Originally posted by leadfoot Perhaps a large stock of lenses that are not selling, will convince Pentax that their strategy is not working. $1499 for the 16-50mm f/2.8, $1399 for the 300mm f/4, etc are stupid prices, and I can only see Pentax losing market share because of this. And selling even less gear than they were selling. Go in British Columbia, they sell them for $969 for the 16-50mm f2.8 Pentax DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL IF SDM - Canada and Cross-Border Price Comparison - photoprice.ca

06-01-2012, 06:06 AM	#652
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	999 in several different shops in Toronto, but this would be the best to deal with PENTAX SDM 16-50MM F2.8 ED AL(IF)

06-01-2012, 06:27 AM	#653
bobmaxja Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laval, Quebec Canada Posts: 2,171	Aden is the best deal at $919 Pentax SMC DA * 16-50mm F2.8 ED/AL (IF) SDM I mention to Leadfoot to go to BC because is in Oregon

06-01-2012, 09:11 AM	#654
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,667	Originally posted by bobmaxja Aden is the best deal at $919 Pentax SMC DA * 16-50mm F2.8 ED/AL (IF) SDM I mention to Leadfoot to go to BC because is in Oregon Aden doesn't have stock though, and they have the crappiest service (I was in the store the other day, they had several FA43, 2 DA35 2.0 and a few sigma for Pentax Kid serving had no interest in what i wanted (I asked when they expected the DA50 1.8 as i wanted both the 35 and the 50 by July - he didn't know it existed and couldn't be bothered to ask anyone else working. I can go into Downtown camera (a couple of block away) and they will match Aden camera and the service is light years better. there are several Pentax fans in that shop

06-09-2012, 12:16 AM	#655
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	B&H has dropped prices below the UPP level again. What a shambles.

06-09-2012, 06:54 AM	#656
ElJamoquio Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4,873	How do we know what the minimum price under the UPP "contract" is?

06-09-2012, 10:19 AM	#657
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	A reasonable (IMO) guess: 1. wait for things to settle 2. look at BH's prices

06-09-2012, 11:43 AM	#658
ElJamoquio Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4,873	I would argue that if Amazon and Adorama have different prices than BH for over, say, a week, something's amiss - the UPP is being 'violated' (of course a UPP isn't a contract, so it can't be violated).

06-09-2012, 02:40 PM	#659
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	I suppose b&h could just be liquidating its pentax stock for what it will sell for. No sense keeping boxes on a shelf. That may mean they don't plan to get more stock from pentax.

06-09-2012, 03:06 PM	#660
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by kenafein That may mean they don't plan to get more stock from pentax. IIRC Adorama and Amazon were late implementing the initial UPP changes, too. Adam has posted that the price changes seem to be worldwide.