Hi All, Let me introduce myself, I have had a love for photography since my early 20's, now retired and decided to pick it up again and of course because my first serious SLR was a Pentax SP 1000 I had to look into Ricoh/Pentax.

Well here is my concern here in Canada, trying to find a store that stocks product for our beloved brand, I did a purchase through Adorama back in Sept 2017 a K-70 w/18-135mm, love it!

Here is a copy of a message I just sent to Ricoh/Pentax support:-

What are the feelings of other members of this group, or other groups?

I feel the Exact same way you do SharkyCA. My story is slightly different from yours, as I'd shot with a Canon SLR in the past, but used a Fuji bridge camera later before finally settling on a K5 from Henry's. They had it in stock at the time, and there was a sale too which made a big difference as I was able to play with it and made what I know now to be the right choice. In the past few years, I have not seen any Pentax cameras on display in the stores - the smaller Henry's near do not seem to have Pentax Anything. I do not know why Ricoh does not do anything for this brand. I have actually had people ask me questions ranging from "why do you choose to shoot Pentax?" to "Pentax make DSLRs?" The K-1 that I just got two weeks ago, I could not even go to the Henry's store to pick it up, cause they do not have it there, and it was a three-week wait for it to arrive after I ordered it online. The only time I ever saw and touched a K-1 was when I was in Japan last year.

Drewski, I think as Canadian's we need to send letters to Ricoh and get them do something with their resellers to get more "shelf" space! Nice that there is no duty on cameras bought from the US, my purchase from Adorama only took 3 days to arrive!

I agree the availability of Pentax products along with Pentax related 3rd party products such as K Mount lenses for "Off the Shelf" purchases here in Canada is a real problem. It's my understanding that Ricoh has adopted the policy of requiring Retailers, such as Henry's or Atlantic Photo Supply here in Halifax, that wish to display and promote Pentax Products to "purchase" their inventory, over the more traditional methods of the retailer displaying and selling the brand on consignment. I guess Ricoh doesn't consider the "Canadian" market big enough to justify offering Canadian retailers consigned inventory as they would do with high volume retailers such as Adorama & B&H

Plus just about everyone knows if you want to "Sell" a product you must "Advertise and Promote" the product it seems Ricoh is not interested in doing that either, at least here in Canada.

SharkyCA I assume you may already know this but it bears repeating. Any Pentax product purchased through an American Retailer comes with a 1 year Manufacturers Warranty not the 2 year warranty available through Canadian Retailers which could be a deal breaker for some

I think the Pentax factory warranty in Canada is now only 1 year.

If there has been a change the Ricoh Canada Website does not reflect the warranty policy change. According to the Ricoh Canada website Pentax Cameras sold through a Canadian Retailer still comes with a 2 year warranty

Warranty Information?Support?RICOH IMAGING CANADA

Very interesting and as you say Ricoh Canada indicates on their website that Pentax Canada has an exclusive Canadian warranty of two years, which lists the K-1 body as having a 2 year Canadian warranty.

I bought my K-1 , last year in Canada and in the K-1 box, only had this following section. Which as you can see lists only one year for Canada.

"Conditions of RICOH IMAGING NORTH AMERICA Warranty

1. RICOH IMAGING products originally distributed by RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION and RICOH IMAGING CANADA and purchased through our authorized distribution channels, are warranted by RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION and RICOH IMAGING CANADA to the original retail purchaser for a period of one year from date of purchase against defects in material and/or workmanship.

2. This warranty is limited to repair of defects in material and/or workmanship. These repairs will be made at no charge to the customer. However all charges related to shipping the product to the service center are the responsibility of the owner. (Note: RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION and RICOH IMAGING CANADA will not assume the responsibility for damages or loss encountered in transit to the service center, but will assist in processing any claims whenever possible.)

3. This warranty does not cover finishes or batteries, nor does it cover damages resulting from accident, misuse, abuse, dirt, water, battery leakage, tampering, servicing performed or attempted by unauthorized service agencies. This warranty is valid only in the country where this product is purchased. Routine cleaning and normal cosmetic and mechanical wear are not covered under the terms of this warranty. RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION and RICOH IMAGING CANADA shall not be liable for any consequential or incidental damages resulting from any breach of warranty, express or implied, applicable to this product.

Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific rights and you may have other legal rights which vary from state to state. This warranty policy does not affect the consumer’s statutory rights.

For Service related questions, please call

Canada
Phone: 1-800-461-6203 "

If I have a Pentax 2 year Canadian warranty on my K-1 and 28-105 and battery grip ...all bought at the same time from Henry's, well that makes me happy. I've printed out the Ricoh link information regarding the 2 year Canadian warranty and attached to my K-1 paperwork.

Thanks for the info.

Les

Actually that was one of the main reasons I bought it from Canada instead of from the US, crappy exchange rates notwitshtanding. I'm not sure if I have register anything on the Ricoh website though - I'll check later tonight.

Same could be said about Sigma warranties in Canada as well - I recall reading somewhere that if you purchased from Canada it's 7 years, from anywhere else it's 1 year back in Canada.

Totally agree - even if they ignore us small potatoes, it'd be nice for someone to know that there ARE potatoes up here in the North. Did you just send it to their head office? Addressed to anyone in particular? Wanna make sure if hits the same desk :-)

I have heard that the issue as to why retailers don't carry Pentax gear in their stores is as NS Sailor has indicated:

Does the same policy exist in the USA ? It might, I don't know .

It is a pain if you want to try something out or at least be able to see it up close and personal.....before, you buy...which I do for every other product except Pentax cameras. I'm a long time customer of Pentax ...going back 50 years to the McQueen Sales days. McQueen used to distribute Pentax equipment way back when. As a long time customer I have faith enough in Pentax to order in their products, but most people will not do so. If you're a new customer to the DSLR world, I would say chances are, you won't consider buying a product you can't see, handle, etc. If it's not in a store, but Canikon is.... along with Fuji, Sony, et al...why would you look at buying a 'no seeum' product ? If it's not there and the other makes are...well it doesn't exist in the mind of the new or long term average consumer.

When I was a student at U., many moons ago, I earned my bread in sales. There was a saying among the sales fraternity.

" You can't sell from an empty wagon. "

It was true then and it's true now.

My concern has been for a long time if Ricoh does not get product into retailers...well this can't be a good, effective, long term sales strategy. Or maybe it is...what do I know.

I do know that Pentax equipment is excellent. When I bought my K-1, 28-105, battery grip last year...I bought it with confidence and ...touch wood...I'm very happy with it. I dithered for a couple of months as to whether I should buy a new Canon 5D3 or a Nikon D750...D810. I could see, touch, try the competition out, but I couldn't with the K-1, etc.

So 50 years of experience with Pentax, having bought new Pentax cameras over that time, convinced me that the K-1 , 28-105, BG would be fine and that's what I wanted. But 3 grand plus, is a lot of $$ to buy something you have only read about, for a lot of people.

Warranty Information?Support?RICOH IMAGING CANADA

From the Ricoh site, Canadian warranty is 2 years for purchases in Canada

[quoteExclusive Ricoh Imaging 2-Year Canadian Warranty
2year Warranty
Applies to:

• K-Series Digital SLR Camera Bodies (ie. K-1, KP, K-3II, K-70 K-S2)
• Digital and Autofocus 35 mm Lenses (ie. DA, DA Limited, DA★, DA-L and FA series lenses)

This limited two-year warranty is composed of a one-year manufacturer’s warranty, as well as an additional 2nd year domestic warranty. This two-year warranty applies only to Ricoh Imaging products originally distributed by RICOH IMAGING CANADA INC., 100 - 5560 Explorer Drive, Mississauga, ON L4W 5M3, and purchased within Canada from a Ricoh Imaging authorized dealer. This warranty is limited to repair of defects in material and/or workmanship. If your Ricoh Imaging product malfunctions due to such a defect within this two-year period, RICOH IMAGING CANADA INC. will repair it at no charge. However all charges related to shipping the product to the service center are the responsibility of the owner. (Note: RICOH IMAGING CANADA will not assume the responsibility for damages or loss encountered in transit to the service center, but will assist in processing any claims whenever possible.) This warranty does not cover finishes or batteries, nor does it cover damages resulting from accident, misuse, abuse, dirt, water, battery leakage, tampering, servicing performed or attempted by unauthorized service agencies. Routine cleaning and normal cosmetic and mechanical wear are not covered under the terms of this warranty. RICOH IMAGING CANADA INC. shall not be liable for any consequential or incidental damages resulting from any breach of warranty, express or implied, applicable to this product. This warranty only applies to Ricoh Imaging photographic equipment originally distributed in Canada by RICOH IMAGING CANADA INC., 100 - 5560 Explorer Drive, Mississauga, ON L4W 5M3, and purchased within Canada from a Ricoh Imaging authorized dealer. This warranty applies to the original owner only and is non-transferable.][/quote]

drewski, sent my inquiry here! Contact Us?Corporate?RICOH IMAGING CANADA

Be sure to share!

Feb 7/18 Have not heard a peep back from Ricoh/Pentax so I have sent another message via the above link!

A part of the problem is the sales model in Canada. One rep travelling to different photography stores is selling Ricoh along with Sigma and multiple other products and accessories. The reps are selling what they can move easily to ea n the best commission.

Canon and Nikon reps are only selling one dedicated line. They have more skin in the game.

And here's my rant.. I mean, comment :


I am writing today to share my experience trying to purchase Ricoh's top of the line DSLR Pentax K-1 and 28-105 kit recently. I purchased my first Pentax camera (K-5) back in 2012 from Henry's in downtown Toronto having come from a different brand, and have stuck with the Pentax brand since. In the past five years, I've purchased a K-01, Q, Q7 and Q-S1 - every single one of them were purchased online. Not because I did not want to support the Canadian operations of Pentax / Ricoh, but because the stores I went to had Zero stock available or do not even carry Pentax equipment at all. When it was time to purchase the K-1, I wanted to walk into the store and try it out, but the very few stores that actually sold the camera did not have it in the store. The first time I actually touched one was in Tokyo Japan. I finally purchased one from the local Henry's store, but because they do not have it in their store (again), it was another 3 week wait for me before I got it in the mail.
My question today is if Ricoh has any plans to address this situation. I have learned since I bought my first Pentax camera that the people who actually buy these cameras tend to love their cameras... a lot. I would hate to see this brand continue to languish in the marketplace due to perceived vendor apathy.
Thank you in advance for hearing me out and would love to hear your comments.

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Previous post about contacting Ricoh/Pentax still waiting for reply to the TWO posts I sent to them, very disappointed!