Pentax and Walmart.com

MSM · 04-28-2008, 10:09 PM

wow, what a hornet's nest this thread has dug up!! We all still love Pentax don't we?? BTW, I am more of a Target shoper

I like their popcorn better

As far as Pentax is concerned, I think it is a good move to get items seen where the masses go to shop. There may be lots of people here that don't like to shop at Walmart. However, if you look at annual worldwide sales, you and I are in the minority. Plus, those that might buy and like an entry level Optio p&s will one day maybe upgrade in the family.

cheers

roscot · 04-29-2008, 02:19 AM

Originally posted by fwbigd

Now that you can buy a K20D at Walmart.com, and Pentax has let most or all of their US sales reps go, I was wondering what the future hold. Is this the end or a new beginning? Any predictions?

VR
Darryl

Where did you hear that they have let their sales reps go? Do you have a link?

fwbigd · 04-29-2008, 03:01 PM

Originally posted by roscot

Where did you hear that they have let their sales reps go? Do you have a link?

Got it from my local camera store. Their rep called them on the 31st of March and told them. It had been mentioned previously in this forum. It was interesting to note that within a day of my original post that you can no longer by a K20d at walmart.com

VR
Darryl

regken · 04-29-2008, 03:36 PM

Originally posted by roscot

Where did you hear that they have let their sales reps go? Do you have a link?

Ned said it in an interview, can't remember where. Talked to my local store today and it was confirmed.

ftpaddict · 04-30-2008, 03:58 PM

I'm SO glad I live in Europe. I have never seen a Walmart store yet, and I couldn't be happier.

falconeye · 05-01-2008, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

I'm SO glad I live in Europe. I have never seen a Walmart store yet, and I couldn't be happier.

Keep your lips sealed.

We had a big Walmart opening here in Munich a couple of years ago. Somehow people didn't like it and it did fail miserably, though...

ftpaddict · 05-01-2008, 10:06 AM

Originally posted by falconeye

Keep your lips sealed.

We had a big Walmart opening here in Munich a couple of years ago. Somehow people didn't like it and it did fail miserably, though...

That's because Europeans (at least in German ones) are more discerning and conservative. There's enough Metro, Penny Market, Cora, Carrefour etc. Why have more of the same?

Damn Brit · 05-01-2008, 01:11 PM

Walmart is big in Britain, they bought a supermarket chain called ASDA. They're operating the same way, just under a different name. The ironic thing is, ASDA started out as a farmers cooperative to sell their produce.

JMS · 05-05-2008, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by roscot

Where did you hear that they have let their sales reps go? Do you have a link?

I can confirm this. I work at a shop, and, indeed, we lost our rep. Still waiting for Pentax to give us a new one.

**barondla** · 05-07-2008, 05:53 AM

The reps are gone, thats for sure. Tried to place an order recently and was told it would have to be faxed or emailed to them. It was like 6 items. Couldn't be bothered with it over the phone.

This required more time to prepare "correctly". Not a fan of this change at all.
thanks
barondla

regken · 05-07-2008, 06:35 AM

Originally posted by barondla

The reps are gone, thats for sure. Tried to place an order recently and was told it would have to be faxed or emailed to them. It was like 6 items. Couldn't be bothered with it over the phone.

This required more time to prepare "correctly". Not a fan of this change at all.
thanks
barondla

I rep 9 different companies and the day has passed that phone orders are accepted. Any well run operation needs a paper trail on all orders. You need it also.

MrApollinax · 05-07-2008, 07:14 AM

Originally posted by barondla

The reps are gone, thats for sure. Tried to place an order recently and was told it would have to be faxed or emailed to them. It was like 6 items. Couldn't be bothered with it over the phone.

This required more time to prepare "correctly". Not a fan of this change at all.
thanks
barondla

I am an end user and had to fax information somewhere in Raliegh, NC for an extended warranty. My guess this is for paper tracking more than anything else.

Reading from different statements from Pentax, is that they are restructuring their sales force. From what it sounds like Pentax's salesforce was P&L region based. Now it sounds like they are switching to a market based sales model. Teams of people who will work different market segments; Big Box retail, Online retail, distribution etc etc etc. The addition of Walmart is just the first of these sales initiatives from these teams. Target online already carries Sigma lenses for Pentax bodies so we may see Target carry some items in the future as well.

For me it would make sense to make a dual lens kit and sell at warehouse stores like Costco since their members usually have a bit of disposable income available and their mindset is that buying at that store means they are getting more value for their dollar. Go into a Costco and you will see a D60 + 18-55VR + 55-200VR for about $900. I would think that if you had a Pentax Bix Box Retail rep at a store selling a comparable kit (K10D or K100DS) for at least $700-$750 they would be able to sway a few people away from the Nikon kit. Get them in the store just before summer starts when families are looking to go on vacation and try to capture some sales from people looking to upgrade from their P&S.

MikePerham · 05-07-2008, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

I don't think sales reps make much difference for Pentax. Most people on the Forum seem to do their research and know what they want before they buy. Especially when you have excellent websites like this to help you decide.
I would be interested to know how many people have issues about buying from Walmart.

I don't think the target market are the readers of this, or any similar discussion group. Rather, it's the plebian masses that gravitate to whatever the store clerk pushes at them ...usually a Cannon because at this point their marketing is geared that way.

I know that Canon took a group of Future Shop employees (from the camera dept.) from across Canada, flew them to Toronto, put them through a two day seminar on how great a camera the Rebel is ...gave each participant one for their own usage and sent them home. Now what do you think those folks are going to push on the uninformed masses?

Cheers, Mike.

**barondla** · 05-08-2008, 05:51 AM

Never said I didn't have it written down on paper. What I had to do was make it all pretty and hook up the darn fax machine to send it. That delayed the order a day. We are now 3 days later and still don't have confirmation that they got the order. So now I have to call and see what is going on. PIA. Order from many companies over the phone. Pentax is the only one to tell me in writing or else. Starting to get more like C everyday.
Its funny as a consumer I can call a big place like B&H photo, Adorama, Dell, etc and place an order over the phone. Any time you put more road blocks between the company and the buyer you will sell LESS! Very basic marketing.
thanks
barondla

user440 · 07-16-2008, 05:17 AM

Animated Growth of Walmart Across America

Watching the Growth of Walmart Across America

04-28-2008, 10:09 PM	#31
MSM Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Photos: Gallery Posts: 994	Walmart is evil wow, what a hornet's nest this thread has dug up!! We all still love Pentax don't we?? BTW, I am more of a Target shoper I like their popcorn better As far as Pentax is concerned, I think it is a good move to get items seen where the masses go to shop. There may be lots of people here that don't like to shop at Walmart. However, if you look at annual worldwide sales, you and I are in the minority. Plus, those that might buy and like an entry level Optio p&s will one day maybe upgrade in the family. cheers

07-16-2008, 05:17 AM	#45
user440 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Photos: Gallery Posts: 349	Interesting - Animated Growth of Walmart Across America Animated Growth of Walmart Across America Watching the Growth of Walmart Across America

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04-29-2008, 02:19 AM	#32
roscot Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,363	Originally posted by fwbigd Now that you can buy a K20D at Walmart.com, and Pentax has let most or all of their US sales reps go, I was wondering what the future hold. Is this the end or a new beginning? Any predictions? VR Darryl Where did you hear that they have let their sales reps go? Do you have a link?

04-29-2008, 03:01 PM	#33
fwbigd Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fort Worth TX Posts: 339 Original Poster	Originally posted by roscot Where did you hear that they have let their sales reps go? Do you have a link? Got it from my local camera store. Their rep called them on the 31st of March and told them. It had been mentioned previously in this forum. It was interesting to note that within a day of my original post that you can no longer by a K20d at walmart.com VR Darryl

04-29-2008, 03:36 PM	#34
regken Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangor, Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,377	Originally posted by roscot Where did you hear that they have let their sales reps go? Do you have a link? Ned said it in an interview, can't remember where. Talked to my local store today and it was confirmed.

04-30-2008, 03:58 PM	#35
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	I'm SO glad I live in Europe. I have never seen a Walmart store yet, and I couldn't be happier.

05-01-2008, 08:49 AM	#36
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Originally posted by ftpaddict I'm SO glad I live in Europe. I have never seen a Walmart store yet, and I couldn't be happier. Keep your lips sealed. We had a big Walmart opening here in Munich a couple of years ago. Somehow people didn't like it and it did fail miserably, though...

05-01-2008, 10:06 AM	#37
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	Originally posted by falconeye Keep your lips sealed. We had a big Walmart opening here in Munich a couple of years ago. Somehow people didn't like it and it did fail miserably, though... That's because Europeans (at least in German ones) are more discerning and conservative. There's enough Metro, Penny Market, Cora, Carrefour etc. Why have more of the same?

05-01-2008, 01:11 PM	#38
Damn Brit Guest	Walmart is big in Britain, they bought a supermarket chain called ASDA. They're operating the same way, just under a different name. The ironic thing is, ASDA started out as a farmers cooperative to sell their produce.

05-05-2008, 05:05 PM	#39
JMS Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 273	Originally posted by roscot Where did you hear that they have let their sales reps go? Do you have a link? I can confirm this. I work at a shop, and, indeed, we lost our rep. Still waiting for Pentax to give us a new one.

05-07-2008, 05:53 AM	#40
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,714	The reps are gone, thats for sure. Tried to place an order recently and was told it would have to be faxed or emailed to them. It was like 6 items. Couldn't be bothered with it over the phone. This required more time to prepare "correctly". Not a fan of this change at all. thanks barondla

05-07-2008, 06:35 AM	#41
regken Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangor, Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,377	Originally posted by barondla The reps are gone, thats for sure. Tried to place an order recently and was told it would have to be faxed or emailed to them. It was like 6 items. Couldn't be bothered with it over the phone. This required more time to prepare "correctly". Not a fan of this change at all. thanks barondla I rep 9 different companies and the day has passed that phone orders are accepted. Any well run operation needs a paper trail on all orders. You need it also.

05-07-2008, 07:14 AM	#42
MrApollinax Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,529	Originally posted by barondla The reps are gone, thats for sure. Tried to place an order recently and was told it would have to be faxed or emailed to them. It was like 6 items. Couldn't be bothered with it over the phone. This required more time to prepare "correctly". Not a fan of this change at all. thanks barondla I am an end user and had to fax information somewhere in Raliegh, NC for an extended warranty. My guess this is for paper tracking more than anything else. Reading from different statements from Pentax, is that they are restructuring their sales force. From what it sounds like Pentax's salesforce was P&L region based. Now it sounds like they are switching to a market based sales model. Teams of people who will work different market segments; Big Box retail, Online retail, distribution etc etc etc. The addition of Walmart is just the first of these sales initiatives from these teams. Target online already carries Sigma lenses for Pentax bodies so we may see Target carry some items in the future as well. For me it would make sense to make a dual lens kit and sell at warehouse stores like Costco since their members usually have a bit of disposable income available and their mindset is that buying at that store means they are getting more value for their dollar. Go into a Costco and you will see a D60 + 18-55VR + 55-200VR for about $900. I would think that if you had a Pentax Bix Box Retail rep at a store selling a comparable kit (K10D or K100DS) for at least $700-$750 they would be able to sway a few people away from the Nikon kit. Get them in the store just before summer starts when families are looking to go on vacation and try to capture some sales from people looking to upgrade from their P&S.

05-07-2008, 07:24 PM	#43
MikePerham Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Prince George, BC Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 642	Originally posted by Damn Brit I don't think sales reps make much difference for Pentax. Most people on the Forum seem to do their research and know what they want before they buy. Especially when you have excellent websites like this to help you decide. I would be interested to know how many people have issues about buying from Walmart. I don't think the target market are the readers of this, or any similar discussion group. Rather, it's the plebian masses that gravitate to whatever the store clerk pushes at them ...usually a Cannon because at this point their marketing is geared that way. I know that Canon took a group of Future Shop employees (from the camera dept.) from across Canada, flew them to Toronto, put them through a two day seminar on how great a camera the Rebel is ...gave each participant one for their own usage and sent them home. Now what do you think those folks are going to push on the uninformed masses? Cheers, Mike.

05-08-2008, 05:51 AM	#44
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,714	Never said I didn't have it written down on paper. What I had to do was make it all pretty and hook up the darn fax machine to send it. That delayed the order a day. We are now 3 days later and still don't have confirmation that they got the order. So now I have to call and see what is going on. PIA. Order from many companies over the phone. Pentax is the only one to tell me in writing or else. Starting to get more like C everyday. Its funny as a consumer I can call a big place like B&H photo, Adorama, Dell, etc and place an order over the phone. Any time you put more road blocks between the company and the buyer you will sell LESS! Very basic marketing. thanks barondla