Originally posted by VSTAR Now the Pentax experience...go to the 3 largest photo stores in Toronto, ask to hold a Pentax K1...told sorry not in stock in the store...need to order one...have to put a deposit on one before ordered. Unless you are a Pentaxian you would likely move on to Canon/Nikon. I think the only store I could walk in and touch one was in NYC's B&H.
Originally posted by normhead They need to be creative to exist. Buy from on-line companies that offer free returns if you aren't happy with the product. I stopped shopping at one Toronto area camera store when the told me they wouldn't return lens more than once.
I don't know much about the specific question of
retailer alienation, nor do I have much concern about the Pentax 'market share'. Personally, I feel that I can gain lots of information about Pentax products through online sources, including this forum, so I don't feel bound to B&M stores for advice or assistance. When I decide to shop for my next camera, I would hope to be able to hold it and play with it before committing to the purchase. Having a local retail outlet would be convenient,
but not essential.
Similar to Toronto, no dealers in Ottawa (pop. 1 million) stock Pentax. A Canadian photo/camera chain has a branch that I can walk to in 15 minutes, and an online presence. They'll order Pentax for you, but you're fully committed to such
special orders - no returns (except for defective products). So, there's no 'try and buy' option, only 'buy and keep'. They stocked Pentax on the shelf until several years ago; I don't buy Pentax from them now because their policy on Pentax places all the risk on me.
Fortunately,
there are several good options for buying new Pentax gear in Canada. I recently bought a Pentax DA 20-40mm Limited online from a retailer in London Ontario (pop. 350,000). They have a B&M store and a good website. Yup, the lens was in stock, so 'click-click-click' on a Wednesday evening and it was delivered to my house on Friday morning. They have a reasonable 7-day return policy.
I could purchase Pentax from other online sources in Canada, including Amazon, or from a B&M store in Montreal, about 2 hours drive from here. I could also order from B&H or Adorama; import duty is not applied on camera equipment, but I'd have to pay the 13% federal/Ontario sales tax.
Concerning Ricoh's marketing and promotion of Pentax products, I'm not really too fussed over their low profile in Canada. I don't feel obligated to help a large corporation with their marketing or sales.
There was one instance when being able to handle various items was very useful for me -- at a photo expo in Montreal a couple of years ago, Pentax had a small booth with most of the products on display. The booth was quiet when I visited, so I was able to spend about 30 minutes handling a K-1 and lenses, including the D-FA 70-200.
- Craig
Last edited by c.a.m; 04-16-2019 at 12:15 PM.