Originally posted by codiac2600 ...
I've had no trouble selling them at 1299 and neither has any other "real" dealer.
...
Watching these prices on Amazon is stupid IMO because it's just a camera and if you aren't willing to spend the money its worth then why eve buy the camera? It's definitely worth 1299 so I'm not seeing this fascination in stores who suck dropping prices...
Good for you that you have no trouble selling at your chosen price point, but I can't agree that it's "stupid" to watch and compare prices.
For me, the price difference "savings" of $220 is significant.
Seriously. Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 significant... with $20 left to eat on. :-) Free shipping was nice too.
I'm unclear what your definition of a "real" dealer even is.
I'm guessing it has nothing to do with volume of sales, in which Amazon, Adorama & BHPhoto ( all of whom offer the K20D for below your quoted MSRP of $1299) no doubt excel.
Or if your criteria is that they must have a 'storefront retail' location, Adorama, BHPhoto, and Beach Camera all meet that criteria - yet all sell the K20D for less than $1299.
To my knowledge they're also all (yes even Amazon) authorized Pentax distributors. That certainly sounds real to me.
If I needed to define it myself, a "real" dealer is one who supports their product and customers. And I've certainly gotten far better service from Amazon than from any of the local camera stores. Amazon also doesn't hold my order until they call me and attempt an accesories 'up-sell'.
Likewise I don't know why you feel "stores who suck (for) dropping prices". If they follow their sales strategy and provide the same (or better) service to the customer while making a profit for themselves... what's the problem? Perhaps it "sucks" that other stores have to compete? You stated that you have no trouble selling them for hundreds more, so why again do you feel that the other stores suck?
So, at the same, (or quite possibly better service) from an Authorized distributor, like Amazon, why pay an additional $220 for the
same exact item? Well... if the money went straight to Pentax R&D maybe. :-)
But I'm happier supporting the above mentioned stores, which have supported me as well, and pocketing the extra $220 myself.
I'm a bit puzzled by your statement that I take to mean that we should, based on your assertion that the camera is "worth it", simply pay MSRP - even when other sell the exact same item for much less.
My K20D is in shipping, so I can't speak directly as to what it's "worth" yet.. to me. But I do fully expect that it will be "worth" every penny... to me. I suggest that the camera is "worth" different price points to different people, not simply a value determined by the MSRP. Ultimately an item's monetary value must be determined by that zone of intersection of "what it's available for" and "what people will pay for it".
But maybe I'm odd. I compare prices on many of the purchases I make.
I even compare gas station prices. I've never paid MSRP for an automobile. And I didn't pay MSRP on my new camera.
Not sure why I would.
That would suck.