frank theriault wrote:
That's a rather cynical attitude, Tom. Do you not allow that there
are some retailers out there who may actually be in if for more than
just money? Perhaps some are actually camera buffs. Perhaps some
feel that providing good service (both repairs and free after-sales
advice) is good for future sales and the industry as a whole.
Let's not forget that one of the big problems that these poor schmucks
(the mom and pop stores) have, and one of the reasons that the big
boyz can undercut them, is that the manufacturers themselves will give
the b.bz. huge volume discounts. Let's face it, it's cheaper to ship
hundreds or thousands of units a month to some huge operation than
maybe 5 or 10 units to Billybob's Cameras on Main Street. Not just
cheaper to ship, but economies of scale being what they are, it's a
hell of a lot cheaper to make each unit if they're made in the
thousands rather than the hundreds. It's worth it for the
manufacturers to support the big guy with such incentives.
Anyway, again, this could go on and on, so I'll end my commie rant
right about here. One parting shot, however: If I owned a gas
station, you wouldn't get the washroom key, no matter how much gas you
bought! <LOL>
cheers,
frank
Could you let Pentax know that bit about economies of scale, etc. etc.?
I'd like to get my FA 35/2 from B&H some day. If only the real world
(where no true free markets actually exist) was as "simple" as an
economics or philosophy textbook.
Glenn
