Originally posted by eddie1960 Doc at this point I doubt anything is going to add value for you. Will a 5 year lens warranty do it???? how about bi yearly rebates where the 60-250 for instance sells for 1399 after rebate?????
Or is the only thing that will make you happy is a return to the status quo which so obviously wasn't working?
there are enough hints that a number of changes are coming, not everything Pentax does will make everyone happy. In the end the only thing that really matters is does it grow the business. For that we'll be looking at a 1-2 year wait before being able to judge the actions.
Certainly I sympathize with the anger you feel, but since it is obvious that they will not change the plan for at least a few months endlessly ranting about it at this point does nothing but raise stress levels and make you even more unhappy. I know from before this you have a pretty decent Kit and have mostly been pretty level headed. You need to take a breather and go shoot some pictures and get back to why you own a good camera (that's really what we all need to do actually....lenses we don't buy right now will still be there in a few months)
Meanwhile if you need a lens you have the same option many of us did in the past....cross border shop. Prodigital2k has some at lower than US prices for now (heck they have lower than most retailers in Canada - but I have the option to walk into a store and request a price match)
that may not last forever though
Reasonable questions at the beginning of your post, so I'll try (honestly, again) to answer.
Yes, added value (not some HS kid at Target with an entry level camera and maybe, MAYBE, 2 lenses) would make me re-evaluate my position. Also, if those morons at Pentax USA would apologize to ALL OF US for treating us as if we were idiots and saying that we're not their customers. Pentax Japan should be apoplectic over that statement alone from the CEO for the USA because it is a deeply embarrassing and frankly insulting statement that I hope, HOPE, that Ricoh and Pentax Japan do not believe to be true.
- 5 year warranty - added value for certain. It is part of why I own the Tamron 10-24 instead of the Pentax alternative.
- Rebates periodically with absurd regular prices - probably not, unless they were instant and did not involve the BS of filling out, cutting out, praying that it was processed correctly, and waiting.
- Improvements in the lenses that CLEARLY have design and QC defects - absolutely.
- Actual CS from Pentax USA - definitely
- Carrying the ENTIRE Pentax line - including accessories that they have in their manuals - a little bit but this is one that is so embarrassing for Pentax USA that they need to fix it no matter what else they do.
- Better Warranty Service from more locations and with repair parts on hand in 98+% of cases - yes.
The hints from His Holiness Ned are merely BS because of the shitstorm around the internet right now to their high-handed treatment of their current non-customers. They have committed to NOTHING to change this situation. Words from Ned are less than meaningless as evidence over the past 3+ years unequivocally shows. Without a loss of sales, and a significant one, I do not expect any additional concessions or value from Pentax USA because if they had a plan (as we hear incessantly) then they would have rolled those out at the same time TO AVOID this kind of angry response from non-customers.
Thanks for asking, I hope I was clear and not too heated in my response to you.