[bertwert]

It's probably cheaper and more effective to slap Ricoh on the camera's, because Ricoh already advertises for the Ricoh Brand.

There's a serious discussion about that somewhere... here it is...
why I won't buy a k3 (Warning: Satire Thread) - PentaxForums.com

[reh321]

With respect, I think that would be a big mistake. There's still a certain cachet to the "Pentax" brand, especially among those who used (or at least remember) Pentax film cameras. Aside from the mount, there's very little similarity between those old film cameras and the newer digital bodies, but many people see the new equipment as evolution of a reputable and well-established brand with an enviable history. The "Pentax" name is a marketing tool in its own right.

In another discussion, a true back-and-forth discussion, we determined that the aperture control on the K-30/50 does follow the design used when Pentax first introduced the A-mount thirty-plus years ago .... so there may be more similarity between modern Pentax cameras and film Pentax cameras than we realize.

[reh321]

There's a serious discussion about that somewhere... here it is...
why I won't buy a k3 (Warning: Satire Thread) - PentaxForums.com

Oh, is that what the serious part of the discussion was about?
3000 pages later, the discussion has kind of drifted - but it is still good for increasing the total post count.

[Kunzite]

@Dan Rentea, are you truly reading my posts? Not only to the point of finding ideas to dismiss?

OK, I'll help you:
- "They most likely wouldn't offer Pentax for rental" - already answered that. I don't believe they would, because they're not doing it now - and there's nothing to stop them from doing it. It wasn't Skin who made them put Nikon equipment for rental. It wasn't Canon Romania who made them rent Canon equipment. They're doing it to make money, and so far they don't think they can make money by offering Pentax.
- "they most likely would continue to promote Canon and Nikon and Sony" - already explained that. They're a camera store, Nikon, Canon, Sony are their main camera sales but Pentax is pocket change.
- "They wouldn't make a top-notch service unit just for Pentax" - quite obvious, really: a service is expensive, they'd lose money by doing it.
- etc. - I never made this particular claim.

"why would F64 do anything?" - well, they wouldn't even put a PENTAX logo in a visible place. At the entrance you're welcomed by many companies' logos, but not Pentax... that's how important that brand is for them.
I believe that track records do say something about the likely future behavior. F64 doesn't have a good track record regarding Pentax.
And it's interesting how you don't have to prove anything; we're supposed to take your word that it would've worked like a charm. Just like we're supposed to take your word that you could raise sales by an order of magnitude in 6 months, with no other change.

It's funny how you can't see it: F64 isn't doing anything for Pentax because they're not supported by a third party, the Pentax distributor. Yet they're supposed to do not just a tiny bit, but a lot more when... they won't be supported by a third party (when they would have to play the role of a Pentax distributor, there would be no one to support them).
As I said, the ideal case would be a strong, multi-brand company with money to spare. A camera store in trouble is not it.

Let's not make this forum a place for paying back whatever issues businesses have with each other.

[Dan Rentea]

@Dan Rentea, are you truly reading my posts? Not only to the point of finding ideas to dismiss?

OK, I'll help you:
- "They most likely wouldn't offer Pentax for rental" - already answered that. I don't believe they would, because they're not doing it now - and there's nothing to stop them from doing it. It wasn't Skin who made them put Nikon equipment for rental. It wasn't Canon Romania who made them rent Canon equipment. They're doing it to make money, and so far they don't think they can make money by offering Pentax.
- "they most likely would continue to promote Canon and Nikon and Sony" - already explained that. They're a camera store, Nikon, Canon, Sony are their main camera sales but Pentax is pocket change.
- "They wouldn't make a top-notch service unit just for Pentax" - quite obvious, really: a service is expensive, they'd lose money by doing it.
- etc. - I never made this particular claim.

"why would F64 do anything?" - well, they wouldn't even put a PENTAX logo in a visible place. At the entrance you're welcomed by many companies' logos, but not Pentax... that's how important that brand is for them.
I believe that track records do say something about the likely future behavior. F64 doesn't have a good track record regarding Pentax.
And it's interesting how you don't have to prove anything; we're supposed to take your word that it would've worked like a charm. Just like we're supposed to take your word that you could raise sales by an order of magnitude in 6 months, with no other change.

It's funny how you can't see it: F64 isn't doing anything for Pentax because they're not supported by a third party, the Pentax distributor. Yet they're supposed to do not just a tiny bit, but a lot more when... they won't be supported by a third party (when they would have to play the role of a Pentax distributor, there would be no one to support them).
As I said, the ideal case would be a strong, multi-brand company with money to spare. A camera store in trouble is not it.

Let's not make this forum a place for paying back whatever issues businesses have with each other.

Yes, I forgot for a moment why I chosed to ignore you. I remember now. You don't do anything other than talk on forums and defend a dealer that is ignored by the majority of Pentaxians. I have to go to the Pentax dealer and see if it is the same sad mood in that basement and see also if they installed a POS in order to be able to pay with a card in 2018. I have to see also if I still find that salesman that was sick and tired by the lack of action of his boss. You seem to avoid (as usual) talking about ways to improve sales, like introducing shopping cards in collaboration with some banks like Credit Euro Bank. Or start a Facebook page/group that you can moderate if you like to become a part of a new and improved Pentax image. It's like spending time on this forum but you will do it for a greater goal. See what happens if you post articles and images from Pentax ambassadors or good images of romanian Pentaxians. There is a guy in Cluj who once used to work for Playboy and now he shoots with K1 and he is specialised in nude photography. Reach him and ask him if he will help your facebook page with some good images. He's also doing workshops.

I don't even mention a K1 with the new 3 lenses to be available so that people can have at least an idea about what a K1 can do. You think it's difficult to cover the investment. Well, Razvan just left Pentax because he didn't want to spend the money on a 150-450mm lens without testing it. Not that it matters, but I've spent more than 1.000$ this year in renting gear. I would have rent a K1 with 150-450mm lens and I know at least 4 people who would have done the same. I would have written about the experience and post the article in 2 important Facebook pages. My last article about a shoot I organised in December 2017 had more than 40.000 views. I would have mentioned K1 if I had one to play with. You have a K1. Do something useful with it if you really want to help.

Anyway, good luck with your Pentax meeting. Maybe Ricoh will make us all a surprise and they release some products in the next 3-5 weeks so that you don't have to postpone the traditional Pentax meeting because nothing much happened in Pentax land (your words, not mine). Or, here is an idea that you can work with in the absence of new Pentax products. You may try talking to a Pentaxian who has a studio and he is a member in that Facebook group that is not so active and ask him if you can organise a photo shoot for Pentaxians at his studio. I know that from time to time he asks if there are people interested in helping him at shootings. This way you guys will have something to write about and also some images to share. Eating and drinking is nice, but at the end of the meeting you don't have anything to write about. Stay active and may the force be with you. I'm done talking to you for a while, especialy in this thread.

[BigMackCam]

Please, let's get back to the topic of (friendly) discussion, folks. Thank you

[Kunzite]

I've made sure to note how things are not rosy with our Pentax dealer, how he's content to have Pentax equipment for sale. I complained about ignoring social media. I've made a point how I want a local service unit. Apparently that's not enough; apparently I must go for blood. Well, I have no reason to go so far, just like I have no reason to praise a business (F64) who haven't done anything for me.

I paid my last major purchase by card; that would be the 150-450. Just sayin'.

Razvan knows how to contact me, he could've simply asked to see my 150-450. Not just to touch it, but getting out and shooting pictures. I wouldn't do that for anyone - and definitely I wouldn't let it alone 5 minutes with Bezergheanu.
Weird coincidence, just a few hours ago I've met with another Pentaxian (one of the usual participants at the Pentaxian meetings) which was interested in testing the 150-450. He probably won't buy it as it's expensive. But he asked.

L.E. Mike, I've seen your message after I pressed the Post button... if you wish you can delete it.
I don't want to continue this nonsense anyway, so from now on I'll heed your request.

[Adam]

@Adam is trying to encourage us to remain active here all summer. This seems like a large number, but it is under 1500 per day, which is not a trivial number, but not unreasonable if each person posts every day.

We're more or less on track so far, so keep it up!

[Ex Finn.]

Oh, is that what the serious part of the discussion was about?
3000 pages later, the discussion has kind of drifted - but it is still good for increasing the total post count.

Think twice before clicking on that link!

[reh321]

Think twice before clicking on that link!

But it's a good place to run up the count.

[Samwise.Gamgee]

One things that surprise me most is how can Ricoh afford to manufacture a quality camera like k-1 in this price (considering what competitors charge the customers).
Ricoh's pricing and marketing strategy is the strangest one I've ever since. I just can't simply understand it. You have one of the best brands in the world and don't do almost any advertisement. If you talk to people, most of them don't even know what Pentax is.

[LensBeginner]

One things that surprise me most is how can Ricoh afford to manufacture a quality camera like k-1 in this price (considering what competitors charge the customers).
Ricoh's pricing and marketing strategy is the strangest one I've ever since. I just can't simply understand it. You have one of the best brands in the world and don't do almost any advertisement. If you talk to people, most of them don't even know what Pentax is.

That's probably what fuels speculations and doomsaying.
I think there's some dark magic behind, maybe pixie dust!

[thibs]

One things that surprise me most is how can Ricoh afford to manufacture a quality camera like k-1 in this price (considering what competitors charge the customers).
Ricoh's pricing and marketing strategy is the strangest one I've ever since. I just can't simply understand it. You have one of the best brands in the world and don't do almost any advertisement. If you talk to people, most of them don't even know what Pentax is.

You really don't want to know the percentage of the product price big brands put to marketing.
And you don't wanna know either about margins.

I heavily suspect this is very different for Ricoh-Pentax. But if RIcoh-Pentax stays what it is, that's partly why too.

[LensBeginner]

You really don't want to know the percentage of the product price big brands put to marketing.
And you don't wanna know either about margins.

I heavily suspect this is very different for Ricoh-Pentax. But if RIcoh-Pentax stays what it is, that's partly why too.

I read somewhere that we're talking about a 40% roughly on the product, but that's before taking into account marketing, R&D etc.
I'd be interesting to know the figures.

[fsge]

I read somewhere that we're talking about a 40% roughly on the product, but that's before taking into account marketing, R&D etc.
I'd be interesting to know the figures.

40% of revenues sounds a lot to me.