[stephen_G]

Hi All,

I spotted a great deal for a Pentak KP on the Park Cameras website back in November last year.
This is the offer, Pentax KP DSLR With HD DA 18-50mm F/4-5.6 DC WR RE Lens Kit Black for £749.
They were awaiting stock at that time, and quoted 5-7 days for the stock to be available.
The deal seemed to be too good to be true. or to miss, so I ordered.
I'm still waiting, and the latest estimate from Park for stock to arrive is 25th February, which will be three months from the date that I ordered.
Here's a link to the page Pentax KP And 18-50mm WR Lens Kit Black | Park Cameras
A couple of questions for forum members.
Has anyone on the forum had any success at all in actually getting this deal from Park?
Is a three month wait for this sort of offer normal?
It has been many years since I bought a new camera, so I really don't want to be too critical of Park Cameras, (who I understand are a good retailer), if this sort of wait is common.
It just seems a bit off when they quoted 5-7 days initially for stock to be available.

Stephen

[pschlute]

if this sort of wait is common.

Not in normal times, but the virus has made everything difficult. I guess you have not tried to buy any semi-conductors recently ?

Call them. I have dealt with them many times over almost 20 years. Very professional company.

[ramseybuckeye]

i know nothing about Park Camera, but I'm extremely skeptical since the KP was discontinued by Ricoh Imaging nearly a year ago. Where is their stock coming from? I'd call them too.

[luftfluss]

i know nothing about Park Camera, but I'm extremely skeptical since the KP was discontinued by Ricoh Imaging nearly a year ago. Where is their stock coming from? I'd call them too.

They are in the UK. Excellent ratings at Trustpilot: Park Cameras Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of www.parkcameras.com

[Pegasus53]

. I have dealt with them many times over almost 20 years. Very professional company.

I agree - professional and reliable UK supplier. That's a v good deal given they now advertise the body at £999. Well worth the wait though - excellent camera.

[AfterPentax Mark II]

Hi Stephen, this offer seems to good to be true. Ricoh Europe sold out their KP stock just after the announcement from Japan that the KP was discontinued. I bought the KP with the grip and bag then. From early May or June most kits were sold out and at the moment there is no stock of either KP version or any kit. So I hope for you they found a hidden mine of KP's to bring to the surface. For it is such a good camera especially with a good quality lens it shines!

[stephen_G]

Not in normal times, but the virus has made everything difficult. I guess you have not tried to buy any semi-conductors recently ?

Call them. I have dealt with them many times over almost 20 years. Very professional company.

Thanks, I contacted them back in December and they gave me an estimate of 14th January for stock to arrive.
I appreciate that there is an issue with semi-conductors and that is most notably impacting the motor industry, and
I guess other industries. I would assume though that as the KP is discontinued, Pentax are no longer making the camera,
so supply of semi-conductors wouldn't be an issue (I may be wrong in that assumption).

---------- Post added 01-17-22 at 02:47 AM ----------

i know nothing about Park Camera, but I'm extremely skeptical since the KP was discontinued by Ricoh Imaging nearly a year ago. Where is their stock coming from? I'd call them too.

I have been in touch with Park and they gave a revised estimate of 14th January, which has since been revised again to late February.

---------- Post added 01-17-22 at 02:48 AM ----------

They are in the UK. Excellent ratings at Trustpilot: Park Cameras Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of www.parkcameras.com

I agree their reviews are excellent, and that gave me confidence to place the order.

---------- Post added 01-17-22 at 02:52 AM ----------

Hi Stephen, this offer seems to good to be true. Ricoh Europe sold out their KP stock just after the announcement from Japan that the KP was discontinued. I bought the KP with the grip and bag then. From early May or June most kits were sold out and at the moment there is no stock of either KP version or any kit. So I hope for you they found a hidden mine of KP's to bring to the surface. For it is such a good camera especially with a good quality lens it shines!

I hope too that they have found supplies of the KP. Presumably as they continue to give me estimated dates for stock to be with them, they must be getting informartion from their supplier to support those estimates.

[yucatanPentax]

I have been in touch with Park and they gave a revised estimate of 14th January, which has since been revised again to late February.

I'd be very curious to know where they've found a stock of them or even that they have found a stock of them, but wonderful news if you get a new KP.
They seem to have become 'unobtainium' in the US. I have my fingers crossed that we hear happy news from you in February!

[stephen_G]

It would also be interesting to know if anyone on the forum has actually received cameras from this offer since it was announced by Park.

[Pegasus53]

I contacted Ricoh Europe (they have a similar offer: PENTAX KP Silver + smc DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR for £766 - but 'out of stock') on 18 Jan. Said they'd get back in 2 days - still waiting. Will post when/if I get an answer.

[stephen_G]

I contacted Ricoh Europe (they have a similar offer: PENTAX KP Silver + smc DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR for £766 - but 'out of stock') on 18 Jan. Said they'd get back in 2 days - still waiting. Will post when/if I get an answer.

Thanks for that information, very interesting.

[Jeff]

I saw the deal - in fact it was me who pointed it out to you on this very forum, and whilst I didn't go for that one I did recently buy an 'as new' KP from Park Cameras. I was browsing the "discontinued" section on their website and noticed a silver KP for £499, with 700 odd actuations. It was described as black on their site but I correlated the serial number on the camera to the serial number listed in their particulars section and the two matched.

So I bought it.

Very fortunate, I know.

It's well worth trawling the various websites and looking for used/open box/discontinued equipment. I'd also suggest typing in 'Pentax KP' into the MPB site and asking for product notifications. I know it's a faff, but the KP is such a capable camera (I'm getting to know it better the second time round) that it is worth the detective work. Sorry you haven't got yours yet but as other posters have said, I'd call them up - Park that is. They are a good bunch of people and I've bought from them before.

[stephen_G]

I saw the deal - in fact it was me who pointed it out to you on this very forum, and whilst I didn't go for that one I did recently buy an 'as new' KP from Park Cameras. I was browsing the "discontinued" section on their website and noticed a silver KP for £499, with 700 odd actuations. It was described as black on their site but I correlated the serial number on the camera to the serial number listed in their particulars section and the two matched.

So I bought it.

Very fortunate, I know.

It's well worth trawling the various websites and looking for used/open box/discontinued equipment. I'd also suggest typing in 'Pentax KP' into the MPB site and asking for product notifications. I know it's a faff, but the KP is such a capable camera (I'm getting to know it better the second time round) that it is worth the detective work. Sorry you haven't got yours yet but as other posters have said, I'd call them up - Park that is. They are a good bunch of people and I've bought from them before.

Thanks for the info Jeff, well done on getting the as new KP.
I have been in touch with them, and they said that they would update me when stock arrives.

[slartibartfast01]

Thanks for the info Jeff, well done on getting the as new KP.
I have been in touch with them, and they said that they would update me when stock arrives.

Any news on the KP yet?