It took a long time for me to make up my mind to write this post.
I typically believe that we should be reasonable, with our expectations on local pricing.
After all, the distro and sellers got to make money.
Then we also get local warranty.
There is overseas shipping and GST so that adds up.
Finally, there is the hassle of dealing with defective goods if buying overseas.
But I look around today at overseas prices and I feel that I've got to get this off my chest.
The current pricing is just too bad compared to overseas prices.
Look at the K5IIs
Amazon JPN - Y80,807 = $1024
So all in (GST, Shipping ~S$50) = ~$1146
Amazon.co.jpF PENTAX ƒfƒWƒ^ƒ‹ˆêŠáƒŒƒtƒJƒƒ‰ K-5IIsƒ{ƒfƒB K-5IIsBODY ƒ[ƒpƒXƒtƒBƒ‹ƒ^[ƒŒƒX: ‰Æ“dEƒJƒƒ‰
Amazon US _ USD1079 = $1332
So all in (GST, Shipping ~USD50) = ~$1480
http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-K-5-16...?ie=UTF8&qid=1366156280&sr=8-1&keywords=k5iis
Here its ~$17xx.
There's also a bundle with a sigma lens, but lets be frank, how many ppl want that lens.
If its a $150-$300 off any other Sigma lens (or a better selection), then we're talking.
In the US, they have pretty lax return laws to cater into costs.
In JPN, they have probably the most direct of servicing support and impeccable Japanese service.
So we have neither here, but we pay the most.
To the APDS rep who sees this post, I'm not trying to tell you how to do your job.
Don't get me wrong.
I'm concerned and trying to give some feedback from the ground.
There are lots of factors thats going against the number of Pentax users from growing :
1. Pricing as shown above
2. Pricing of competitors
-the D7100 is now newly launched at 24mp no-AA filter, etc and its already at $14xx.
The K5IIs of course holds itself well if not better (if based off samples on DPReview), but D7100 is a just launched camera and we should really at least be matching price.
(In retrospect, I feel bad for those of us who trusted Pentax pricing locally from launch price till now)
This also applies to the K30.
Fantastic camera, probably best in class all things considered (handling; features; interface; WR; peaking; IQ; etc)
But we need a parallel importer (formerly emjay) to give us a good price of $6xx and perhaps help pull in newbies on a limited budget.
(BTW, also have to wait for a nobody and lightweight photographer like me to write a review on it and post it on Clubsnap and PentaxForums)
I just hope, pricing can be better and this will help the number of Pentax users grow.
Eventually, its going to be more profit for the distro in the long run, so no one looses.
I typically believe that we should be reasonable, with our expectations on local pricing.
After all, the distro and sellers got to make money.
Then we also get local warranty.
There is overseas shipping and GST so that adds up.
Finally, there is the hassle of dealing with defective goods if buying overseas.
But I look around today at overseas prices and I feel that I've got to get this off my chest.
The current pricing is just too bad compared to overseas prices.
Look at the K5IIs
Amazon JPN - Y80,807 = $1024
So all in (GST, Shipping ~S$50) = ~$1146
Amazon.co.jpF PENTAX ƒfƒWƒ^ƒ‹ˆêŠáƒŒƒtƒJƒƒ‰ K-5IIsƒ{ƒfƒB K-5IIsBODY ƒ[ƒpƒXƒtƒBƒ‹ƒ^[ƒŒƒX: ‰Æ“dEƒJƒƒ‰
Amazon US _ USD1079 = $1332
So all in (GST, Shipping ~USD50) = ~$1480
http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-K-5-16...?ie=UTF8&qid=1366156280&sr=8-1&keywords=k5iis
Here its ~$17xx.
There's also a bundle with a sigma lens, but lets be frank, how many ppl want that lens.
If its a $150-$300 off any other Sigma lens (or a better selection), then we're talking.
In the US, they have pretty lax return laws to cater into costs.
In JPN, they have probably the most direct of servicing support and impeccable Japanese service.
So we have neither here, but we pay the most.
To the APDS rep who sees this post, I'm not trying to tell you how to do your job.
Don't get me wrong.
I'm concerned and trying to give some feedback from the ground.
There are lots of factors thats going against the number of Pentax users from growing :
1. Pricing as shown above
2. Pricing of competitors
-the D7100 is now newly launched at 24mp no-AA filter, etc and its already at $14xx.
The K5IIs of course holds itself well if not better (if based off samples on DPReview), but D7100 is a just launched camera and we should really at least be matching price.
(In retrospect, I feel bad for those of us who trusted Pentax pricing locally from launch price till now)
This also applies to the K30.
Fantastic camera, probably best in class all things considered (handling; features; interface; WR; peaking; IQ; etc)
But we need a parallel importer (formerly emjay) to give us a good price of $6xx and perhaps help pull in newbies on a limited budget.
(BTW, also have to wait for a nobody and lightweight photographer like me to write a review on it and post it on Clubsnap and PentaxForums)
I just hope, pricing can be better and this will help the number of Pentax users grow.
Eventually, its going to be more profit for the distro in the long run, so no one looses.
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