Was Minolta Canada killed on purpose?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

By Canon and Nikon? Were retailers told to keep
prices at MSRP for Minolta while Canon and Nikon were
discounted? Check out these price comparisons:

Canada - 20 D 1600 Canada (about 1350 US dollars) (Henry's)
US - 20 D 1300 bucks at B&H

Canada - 7D 2000 Cad dollars (about 1685 US dollars) (Henry's)
US - 7D - 900 US after rebate.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

>On Wed, 07 Sep 2005 21:49:44 -0400, Rich <none@none.com> wrote:
>By Canon and Nikon? Were retailers told to keep
>prices at MSRP for Minolta while Canon and Nikon were
>discounted? Check out these price comparisons:
>
>Canada - 20 D 1600 Canada (about 1350 US dollars) (Henry's)
>US - 20 D 1300 bucks at B&H

Maybe basic cameras are competitive. But Canon lens prices are a way
out of whack with US prices; and Henry's places the blame on Canon
Canada for that.

The best I could do on a package deal: Rebel XT kit; 70-200 2.8L IS;
and 1.4X; even with the manager being brought into the fray, was
around $200 more for the 70-200. They are familiar with B&H prices,
but say that because of Canon Canada's pricing structure, there is
just no way they can compete with American lens prices. :-(

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On 9/8/05 6:41 AM, in article 43213f47.2888046@news.netrover.com, "Stan
Birch" wrote:

>> On Wed, 07 Sep 2005 21:49:44 -0400, Rich <none@none.com> wrote:
>> By Canon and Nikon? Were retailers told to keep
>> prices at MSRP for Minolta while Canon and Nikon were
>> discounted? Check out these price comparisons:
>>
>> Canada - 20 D 1600 Canada (about 1350 US dollars) (Henry's)
>> US - 20 D 1300 bucks at B&H
>
> Maybe basic cameras are competitive. But Canon lens prices are a way
> out of whack with US prices; and Henry's places the blame on Canon
> Canada for that.
>
> The best I could do on a package deal: Rebel XT kit; 70-200 2.8L IS;
> and 1.4X; even with the manager being brought into the fray, was
> around $200 more for the 70-200. They are familiar with B&H prices,
> but say that because of Canon Canada's pricing structure, there is
> just no way they can compete with American lens prices. :-(

So buy from American vendors - what's the problem?

PC

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

I'm not certain, but usually if there's a Canadian arm/division of a
corporation, they have exclusive warranty rights in Canada. So if you
buy an Canon US lens, you're ineligible for warranty service (or its
exceedingly expensive due to shipping) as a foreigner, and Canon Canada
refuses to honour the warranty. Canon US equipment would be equivalent
to 'grey market' product in Canada.

Canadian $ is about $0.80 of the USD now, so there's shouldn't be that
much of a discrepancy between prices ... the Camera market appears
quite finicky though. Regularly I get computer components much cheaper
than the going rate in the US even factoring the exchange rate in.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On Thu, 08 Sep 2005 12:40:52 -0400, birch999@hotmail.com (Stan Birch)
wrote:

>On 8 Sep 2005 08:58:59 -0700, burnsdavidj@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>>I'm not certain, but usually if there's a Canadian arm/division of a
>>corporation, they have exclusive warranty rights in Canada. So if you
>>buy an Canon US lens, you're ineligible for warranty service (or its
>>exceedingly expensive due to shipping) as a foreigner, and Canon Canada
>>refuses to honour the warranty. Canon US equipment would be equivalent
>>to 'grey market' product in Canada.
>
>While that's usually the case, Canon **cameras** carry a North America
>wide warranty. It's not necessarily the same for all Canon products
>though. My printer for instance, is country specific. For Pentax
>stuff, products purchased in the US, have to be sent to the US for
>warranty service
>
>>Canadian $ is about $0.80 of the USD now, so there's shouldn't be that
>>much of a discrepancy between prices ... the Camera market appears
>>quite finicky though. Regularly I get computer components much cheaper
>>than the going rate in the US even factoring the exchange rate in.
>
>I calculating the more expensive cost of purchasing a Canon lens, I've
>taken the exchange into account. If Canon Canada has a warehouse full
>of stuff that they imported with a 78 cent dollar, just because the
>Canadian dollar is 84 cents today, doesn't mean that Canon Canada can
>suddenly offer their products for any less, until their current stock
>is depleted.

And yet the oil companies after refining and establishing a cost,
RAISE gasoline prices when the price of crude rises. Looks like not
all businesses operate the same?
-Rich

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

The Minolta 7D came to market while I was still trying to choose a system,
and it arrived carrying a very hefty price tag. When I priced-out a full
system, Minolta was $1,000 higher than a Canon 20D based system. High prices
for bodies and lenses, and a limited selection of lenses and accessories
couldn't have helped Minolta's cause in the Canadian market. Heralding a six
megapixel sensor, when your lower priced rival already offers eight, only
compounded their difficulty.

Anyway, it reminds of when they stopped selling Yugos in Canada. It took
time, but we put it behind us.

Rob

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Rich is an economically ignorant retard:

> >I calculating the more expensive cost of purchasing a Canon lens, I've
> >taken the exchange into account. If Canon Canada has a warehouse full
> >of stuff that they imported with a 78 cent dollar, just because the
> >Canadian dollar is 84 cents today, doesn't mean that Canon Canada can
> >suddenly offer their products for any less, until their current stock
> >is depleted.
>
> And yet the oil companies after refining and establishing a cost,
> RAISE gasoline prices when the price of crude rises. Looks like not
> all businesses operate the same?

If you don't like how someone is pricing merchandise, you are free to
take your business elsewhere. In return for your freedom from being
forced to buy on their terms, they are equally free not to sell on your
terms.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On 9/8/05 2:13 PM, in article j9a1i15ni8tnjk0kao7hnps5hmu8ph9asb@4ax.com,
"Rich" wrote:

> On Thu, 08 Sep 2005 11:57:02 -0400, Alan Browne
> <alan.browne@FreeLunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
>
>> Rich wrote:
>>> By Canon and Nikon? Were retailers told to keep
>>> prices at MSRP for Minolta while Canon and Nikon were
>>> discounted? Check out these price comparisons:
>>>
>>> Canada - 20 D 1600 Canada (about 1350 US dollars) (Henry's)
>>> US - 20 D 1300 bucks at B&H
>>>
>>> Canada - 7D 2000 Cad dollars (about 1685 US dollars) (Henry's)
>>> US - 7D - 900 US after rebate.
>>
>>
>>
>> Canadian distribution of all products from all vendors his way out of
>> line wrt to the US distribution.
>>
>> I got the 7D for well under $1800 back when it was retailling for 1800 -
>> 1900. It is now much less here and further, the $200 rebate was
>> applied. (I got it even though I officially did not qualify for it (date)).
>>
>> Henry's (Toronto) have gone bananas in the last couple years, their
>> prices are way out of line on new stuff.
>>
>> The Nikon Coolscan is US$2000 at B&H and CAD $3200 - $3300 here in
>> Canadian stores. Total and absolute nonsense.
>>
>> In response to my complaint to Nikon Canada, their reply was evasive.
>>
>> I just purchased a new meter at B&H for delivery in Florida (where I'll
>> be next week). Even paying Shipping to Florida and GST/PST on return
>> I'll save a bundle.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Alan
>
> Canon 5D $3300 U.S. in the U.S., $3800 U.S. in Canada.

You are probably paying a hidden tax to finance your "free" medical
care.....

PC

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Rich wrote:

>>Alan
>
>
> Canon 5D $3300 U.S. in the U.S., $3800 U.S. in Canada.

Canon 5D $4500 AUD in Australia. Currency conversion of USD puts it at
$4,278.62 AUD. I guess the pigeons flying in tandem to relieve the
stress of carrying the thing cost a few bucks so there's no real saving
here.

--
Douglas,
My name is but a handle on the doorway to my life.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"dylan" <no@nowhere.com> wrote in message
newsfphem$qh$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> If it's a conspiracy we'll see whose's next, Sigma Canada pehaps ?
There is no Sigma Canada. Sigma is distributed by Gentec which is a small
importer. Konica-Minolta Canada was a subsidiary of Konica-Minolta Corp.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Basic Wedge" <basic-wedge@shaw.ca> wrote:

>The Minolta 7D came to market while I was still trying to choose a system,
>and it arrived carrying a very hefty price tag. When I priced-out a full
>system, Minolta was $1,000 higher than a Canon 20D based system. High prices
>for bodies and lenses, and a limited selection of lenses and accessories
>couldn't have helped Minolta's cause in the Canadian market. Heralding a six
>megapixel sensor, when your lower priced rival already offers eight, only
>compounded their difficulty.

It was the same in the UK. My friendly authorised Konica Minolta
dealer (of 20+ years standing) ordered one 7D body. Lots of Minolta
users came to inspect it, and handle it, but not one of them bought
it. He has lowered the price on it many times, so the ticket now
shows a whole 60% less than the original price, but it is still there,
gathering dust.

Meanwhile, the dealer has sold many Canon, Nikon and even Olympus
DSLRs to his loyal former Minolta customers. They are loyal to him,
because he is a very good dealer, but when Konica Minolta puts such a
high price tag for a thoroughly mediocre product, loyalty stops.

>Anyway, it reminds of when they stopped selling Yugos in Canada. It took
>time, but we put it behind us.

I wonder if Yugos sell anywhere but in "Yugoland", or wherever it is
they come from?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Rich scribbles on the fridge:

>>If you don't like how someone is pricing merchandise, you are free to
>>take your business elsewhere. In return for your freedom from being
>>forced to buy on their terms, they are equally free not to sell on your
>>terms.
>
> Ah yes, the response of the purely ignorant reactionary poster.
> After your "Canada is a small market speech" ask yourself why
> some products (Olympus) aren't huge ripoffs here while Minolta's
> DSLR is. Your all-encompassing theory doesn't fit.

I don't have to explain anything -- I merely point out to you what is
obvious to anyone else with a functioning brain: if you feel something
is priced too high, go elsewhere with your money. Do you have an
alternative suggestion, sirrah?