K-3 II Jump in Price

K-3 II Jump in Price · 05:27 PM

I've been saving my pennies waiting to pull the trigger on a K-3 II. Prices at both B&H and Adorama have been hovering around $727. I just happened to check both sites and B&H is up to $799 and Adorama is at $896. Yikes!

sarge · 03-24-2016, 07:05 PM - **2 Likes**

I paid $779.00 through B&H back in Feb.
Even at $799.00 this camera is still a bargain. IMHO it is the best bang for the buck in photography.

Adam · 03-24-2016, 07:16 PM

Yup, still not bad. But this isn't any sort of official increase, the retailers just aren't discounting as much at the moment.

mee · 03-24-2016, 07:49 PM

It is interesting that they all changed pricing together though..

Lens prices have lowered somewhat while body prices have slightly increased. hmmmmm

**colonel00** · 03-24-2016, 07:56 PM

Yeah, I was just surprised to see the prices jump back up. Especially at Adorama. To me, the K-3 II's differences from the K-3 are "nifty" but not worth a substantial cost increase over the K-3, again to me. For $30-50, I was in, for $100-200, I may have to wait for prices to drop again.

Phroon · 03-25-2016, 02:08 AM

And here I had just about convinced myself to pull the trigger on ordering one. They must know.

I wonder if it's B&H over-reacting to Adorama's price. Since Adorama is out of stock the price may be inflated until they get more in?

mee · 03-25-2016, 05:30 AM

Originally posted by Phroon

And here I had just about convinced myself to pull the trigger on ordering one. They must know.

I wonder if it's B&H over-reacting to Adorama's price. Since Adorama is out of stock the price may be inflated until they get more in?

I'm starting to think they all are acutely watching each other and pricing accordingly.

Biro · 03-25-2016, 06:02 AM

Originally posted by mee

I'm starting to think they all are acutely watching each other and pricing accordingly.

Starting to think? I don't believe there's any doubt - particularly between B&H and Adorama!

**monochrome** · 03-25-2016, 06:16 AM

Originally posted by Biro

Starting to think? I don't believe there's any doubt - particularly between B&H and Adorama!

That or it is MAP.

Na Horuk · 03-25-2016, 06:23 AM

Is that just because the K-1 is creating so much buzz and that now even the K-3II will sell better (at higher prices than in the past)?

UserAccessDenied · 03-25-2016, 08:30 AM

Not surprising...
They don't want to discount the K-3ii while the K-1 is taking pre-orders. If anything I can see the K-1 taking a discount before the K-3ii drops again significantly. They want people to buy into the full-frame; there minimal incentive to promote the APSC lineup when there could be potential full-frame buyers.
If you were a beginner and saw the K-3ii at $699 with a plethora of DA lenses on sale, you'd be tempted to pass on the FF altogether and go for an incredible flagship APSC with a few DA limiteds for the same price.

My 2c

---------- Post added 03-25-16 at 11:33 AM ----------

Originally posted by colonel00

Yeah, I was just surprised to see the prices jump back up. Especially at Adorama. To me, the K-3 II's differences from the K-3 are "nifty" but not worth a substantial cost increase over the K-3, again to me. For $30-50, I was in, for $100-200, I may have to wait for prices to drop again.

I agree...
I was close to ordering a K-3 a while back when it had the grip included for free.
I think it was priced at $649?

I still kind of kick myself for not jumping on that.

But, the a K-3ii passed the Marketplace with 400 shutters on it and I jumped on that.
$625

Can't complain. But now I want that D-BG5 grip I passed up...

MadMathMind · 03-25-2016, 09:16 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Biro

Starting to think? I don't believe there's any doubt - particularly between B&H and Adorama!

Seriously. Who doesn't think each company pays someone (or multiple someones) for the sole purpose of watching competitor's prices?

C_Jones · 03-25-2016, 12:18 PM

I paid about $900 for my K-3 II last year.

mee · 03-25-2016, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

That or it is MAP.

That was the cause for my guessing.. is it watching/competing vendors or is it based on MAP?

---------- Post added 03-25-16 at 04:25 PM ----------

Originally posted by MadMathMind

Seriously. Who doesn't think each company pays someone (or multiple someones) for the sole purpose of watching competitor's prices?

Pay a person to do this work? Why do that if one can code some pricing spider (software) that scours each vendor's website and adjusts accordingly?

I doubt there is somebody hired to visit competing vendor websites that is manually documenting pricing.

I mean there are THOUSANDS of products on their site. Maybe there is a manager that watches what the software is doing to ensure it doesn't go awry and start selling K-3 bodies for 79 dollars though and they are probably tasked with keying in discounts and keeping pricing in accordance to each manufacturer's MAP.

The less hands in the pot the better (from a accuracy; less failures standpoint)..

Then again, a few years ago either B&H or Adorama (I forget which) had DA* 50-135mm lenses for 109.95 USD accidentally.

It didn't last long and they cancelled the orders..

MadMathMind · 03-25-2016, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by mee

Pay a person to do this work? Why do that if one can code some pricing spider (software) that scours each vendor's website and adjusts accordingly?

Someone has to write the software, no?

Quote:

I mean there are THOUSANDS of products on their site. Maybe there is a manager that watches what the software is doing to ensure it doesn't go awry and start selling K-3 bodies for 79 dollars though and they are probably tasked with keying in discounts and keeping pricing in accordance to each manufacturer's MAP.

That happens on Amazon, although it's usually with price increases from what I've seen. There's scripts and such that adjust prices slightly based on competitors. Just as you don't want to sell for too much over your competitors, if they can get away with charging $20, you don't want to be selling it for $10 either.

So these scripts on Amazon raise prices by 5-10 cents a time. They keep competing with each other; if no one new comes in there at a lower price, the prices spiral out of control and you'll see OUTRAGEOUS prices for items. If the item is rare or discontinued or if the listing is simply unmaintained (there's over 5 entries for the FA43 on there now), which happens a lot if Amazon doesn't sell the item, then it's even more common. How do you think you find an FA43 for $2k+ on there? (Sometimes they use high prices as an 'out of stock' indicator as well, so this example may not be actually what happened here.)

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03-24-2016, 07:16 PM	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Yup, still not bad. But this isn't any sort of official increase, the retailers just aren't discounting as much at the moment. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

03-25-2016, 02:19 PM	#14
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	Originally posted by monochrome That or it is MAP. That was the cause for my guessing.. is it watching/competing vendors or is it based on MAP? ---------- Post added 03-25-16 at 04:25 PM ---------- Originally posted by MadMathMind Seriously. Who doesn't think each company pays someone (or multiple someones) for the sole purpose of watching competitor's prices? Pay a person to do this work? Why do that if one can code some pricing spider (software) that scours each vendor's website and adjusts accordingly? I doubt there is somebody hired to visit competing vendor websites that is manually documenting pricing. I mean there are THOUSANDS of products on their site. Maybe there is a manager that watches what the software is doing to ensure it doesn't go awry and start selling K-3 bodies for 79 dollars though and they are probably tasked with keying in discounts and keeping pricing in accordance to each manufacturer's MAP. The less hands in the pot the better (from a accuracy; less failures standpoint).. Then again, a few years ago either B&H or Adorama (I forget which) had DA* 50-135mm lenses for 109.95 USD accidentally. It didn't last long and they cancelled the orders.. Last edited by mee; 03-25-2016 at 02:26 PM.

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03-24-2016, 07:05 PM - 2 Likes	#2
sarge Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 460	I paid $779.00 through B&H back in Feb. Even at $799.00 this camera is still a bargain. IMHO it is the best bang for the buck in photography.

03-24-2016, 07:49 PM	#4
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	It is interesting that they all changed pricing together though.. Lens prices have lowered somewhat while body prices have slightly increased. hmmmmm

03-24-2016, 07:56 PM	#5
colonel00 Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 483 Original Poster	Yeah, I was just surprised to see the prices jump back up. Especially at Adorama. To me, the K-3 II's differences from the K-3 are "nifty" but not worth a substantial cost increase over the K-3, again to me. For $30-50, I was in, for $100-200, I may have to wait for prices to drop again.

03-25-2016, 02:08 AM	#6
Phroon New Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 23	And here I had just about convinced myself to pull the trigger on ordering one. They must know. I wonder if it's B&H over-reacting to Adorama's price. Since Adorama is out of stock the price may be inflated until they get more in?

03-25-2016, 05:30 AM	#7
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	Originally posted by Phroon And here I had just about convinced myself to pull the trigger on ordering one. They must know. I wonder if it's B&H over-reacting to Adorama's price. Since Adorama is out of stock the price may be inflated until they get more in? I'm starting to think they all are acutely watching each other and pricing accordingly.

03-25-2016, 06:02 AM	#8
Biro Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,200	Originally posted by mee I'm starting to think they all are acutely watching each other and pricing accordingly. Starting to think? I don't believe there's any doubt - particularly between B&H and Adorama!

03-25-2016, 06:16 AM	#9
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Biro Starting to think? I don't believe there's any doubt - particularly between B&H and Adorama! That or it is MAP.

03-25-2016, 06:23 AM	#10
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Is that just because the K-1 is creating so much buzz and that now even the K-3II will sell better (at higher prices than in the past)?

03-25-2016, 08:30 AM	#11
UserAccessDenied Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Maryland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,677	Not surprising... They don't want to discount the K-3ii while the K-1 is taking pre-orders. If anything I can see the K-1 taking a discount before the K-3ii drops again significantly. They want people to buy into the full-frame; there minimal incentive to promote the APSC lineup when there could be potential full-frame buyers. If you were a beginner and saw the K-3ii at $699 with a plethora of DA lenses on sale, you'd be tempted to pass on the FF altogether and go for an incredible flagship APSC with a few DA limiteds for the same price. My 2c ---------- Post added 03-25-16 at 11:33 AM ---------- Originally posted by colonel00 Yeah, I was just surprised to see the prices jump back up. Especially at Adorama. To me, the K-3 II's differences from the K-3 are "nifty" but not worth a substantial cost increase over the K-3, again to me. For $30-50, I was in, for $100-200, I may have to wait for prices to drop again. I agree... I was close to ordering a K-3 a while back when it had the grip included for free. I think it was priced at $649? I still kind of kick myself for not jumping on that. But, the a K-3ii passed the Marketplace with 400 shutters on it and I jumped on that. $625 Can't complain. But now I want that D-BG5 grip I passed up...

03-25-2016, 09:16 AM - 1 Like	#12
MadMathMind Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,717	Originally posted by Biro Starting to think? I don't believe there's any doubt - particularly between B&H and Adorama! Seriously. Who doesn't think each company pays someone (or multiple someones) for the sole purpose of watching competitor's prices?

03-25-2016, 12:18 PM	#13
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,084	I paid about $900 for my K-3 II last year.

03-25-2016, 03:13 PM	#15
MadMathMind Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,717	Originally posted by mee Pay a person to do this work? Why do that if one can code some pricing spider (software) that scours each vendor's website and adjusts accordingly? Someone has to write the software, no? Quote: I mean there are THOUSANDS of products on their site. Maybe there is a manager that watches what the software is doing to ensure it doesn't go awry and start selling K-3 bodies for 79 dollars though and they are probably tasked with keying in discounts and keeping pricing in accordance to each manufacturer's MAP. That happens on Amazon, although it's usually with price increases from what I've seen. There's scripts and such that adjust prices slightly based on competitors. Just as you don't want to sell for too much over your competitors, if they can get away with charging $20, you don't want to be selling it for $10 either. So these scripts on Amazon raise prices by 5-10 cents a time. They keep competing with each other; if no one new comes in there at a lower price, the prices spiral out of control and you'll see OUTRAGEOUS prices for items. If the item is rare or discontinued or if the listing is simply unmaintained (there's over 5 entries for the FA43 on there now), which happens a lot if Amazon doesn't sell the item, then it's even more common. How do you think you find an FA43 for $2k+ on there? (Sometimes they use high prices as an 'out of stock' indicator as well, so this example may not be actually what happened here.)