Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

So I'm feeling like I might be a bit out of the loop and I figured those of you here might know. Does Nikon still have it's price lock or fixed price thing where pretty much no matter what you're buying of theirs it's going to cost the same, or right at about the same, at every place? (Unless you're getting a grey market item that is.)

When I purchased my D5200 several years ago it didn't matter where I bought it it cost pretty much the same at the store versus purchasing it directly from them, so I supported my local camera store and bought from them. Since then, I haven't purchased any major things and the camera store changed owners. After these long years I am finally getting back into photography again and wanting to expand what glass (lens) I have to shoot with.

My latest interest has been with micro photography and so I headed to my camera store to see what they had in the way of macro lenses to go with my camera. They didn't have anything used in at the moment so I asked about new. The only way that I could purchase a macro lens that day and walk out of the store with it was to purchase it in a two lens set they were selling. It was the 40mm DX micro lens and a 10-20mm DX lens. The guy at the store told me that if I purchased them together I could save some money and I could leave with both of the lenses that day, whereas they would have to order in just the one lens and I would have to wait on it. He didn't give me the price of the lens individually.

So, this got me to thinking about how much they would be individually and how much it would run if I were going to purchase these lenses directly from Nikon, or at least get an idea of what I would be spending for the one lens I want. Come to find out, even before taxes, it's $75 cheaper for me to purchase the lenses individually from Nikon than to get them in this set from the store. I get that this is a store and that they have to make money, but when I purchased my camera and the lens it came with the price was the same at the store, maybe $10 more for the kit I purchased, as it was online from them.

So, what's changed? Is there not a price lock anymore? Could it be because the store has changed hands? If you've read this far, thank you so much. I just wanted a little more info before I went out and spent my money because I would like to get a deal if possible so I can get some other gear. (I will be checking back to see if by chance they got anything good in in the used lenses since last week.) The GAS is kicking back in with me and I'm pretty excited.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

The Retail market is complicated. When I was a Manufacturer's Rep for Computer Components, I worked to make sure all my Distributors and Retailers kept pricing in line. The only exception was when a vendor had excess inventory to move or had made a major purchase and moved into a top tier discount.

In this case, Nikon wants to move inventory and knows that their direct sales will not impact the volume of the major distis like B&H, Adorama, Samys, etc.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Any time a Nikon camera is discontinued, Nikon will reduce its price to rid of the inventory. In order to increase sales of the replacement. Which is usually the standard price. The exception is Black Friday Sales, where certain cameras will be selected for a discount price. Then the price goes back up thereafter. You can get a discount on cameras from 42nd Street Photo. But they are likely to be gray market ones without a Nikon USA warranty.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Its not a Nikon thing. Each and every camera and lens manufacturer now has MAP pricing policies.
This started almost 10 years ago when the industry recognized the problem of huge retailers getting huge quantity discounts and selling products at hundreds of dollars below small dealers lower buying power costs. This decimated the small stores all over the country and caused thousands of them to fold because they could not compete pricewise with the big New York catalog stores and the internet discounters.
MAP pricing set a solid selling point for ALL authorized dealers and the dealer discount that is still tied to quantities ordered assures EVERYONE makes at least a slight profit. The profits get MUCH bigger depending on the quantities ordered. But high volume NYC dealers can make upwards of 35% on cameras and lenses while small mom and pop stores are given a minimum 6% profit. Which leaves very little margin if the credit card that is used to pay for that camera charges 4%.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

This is exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks MT for explaining it. I knew at some point you'd probably comment and I would get the answer. So I know then that I should be able to get these lenses for the same price. However, it still doesn't quite explain why Nikon would allow them to sell a two lens set like that for that much over what the two lenses would be from them individually. So, looks like I'll probably end up going with Nikon and having it shipped directly to me rather than supporting a local business for that transaction.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Dealers are actually allowed to sell items for any price they want, so long as it is not BELOW MAP pricing. Be sure to check and make sure you are comparing the EXACT same lenses though, there are often 2 or 3 different models of a particular focal length available and the prices can be quite different on some of them.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

Based on the information on the box I am looking at the same lenses on the Nikon site individually as to what was in the two lens set from them. I'm going to try looking at the stores website to see if it shows them pricing them individually versus what they told me the set was.

And, after a little further inspection of the Nikon website, I have found the same lens set for a price a bit less than quoted to me at the store, but still wouldn't make much sense as it is still more than the lenses individually. However, the are conveniently running a sale of $100 off their regular price right now and throwing in a few Nikon photography lessons for Landscape and Macro photography. So, all in all that wouldn't be a bad deal. Might have to consider it.

FreddB Loc: PA - Delaware County

Once all the Mom and Pops get priced out of existence, the Waltons will have the mfrs by the balls and demand lower costs (higher margins) on the road to becoming the ONLY retailer, not just the largest.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

There is always wiggle room. Went to my local camera shop and agreed on the price for a D7200 kit, which was less than the price on the box. When I looked at the receipt I saw the list price for the kit then immediately underneath a $200 store credit. So the camera shop kept Nikon pricing, but I got a nice discount.

toxdoc42

Often stores will match the price listed by Nikon or other stores. They may throw in extras as well. I hate to bargain, but also don't liken to be "taken," and want to support the local store, IF, only IF, I feel they give me better service! If they don't provide some sort of service to me, i don't feel the need to support them.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

That's what happened to bicycles for kids in grade schools in my community. Walmart bought in volume, but not before they set the prices to the mfg. Putting the local bicycle (mom & pop stores) with a big loss in sales for that product. They could only sell adult size bicycles. Racing bikes and road bikes, etc.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I'm retired military and shop in the military exchange stores frequently. They don't sell Nikons in the stores. I was told by the camera representative that Nikon won't discount their cameras to enable markdowns to military stores.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I know Vietnam Veterans who claim they bought SLR film cameras in the Base Exchange at cheaper prices than in the USA. They were Nikons and Minolta. Perhaps servicemen serving in the Pacific today, don't get those discount prices of the past?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Camera and sporting goods items usually sell for the Manufactures suggested retail price. If you are a Authorized Nikon Retailer (the only way you can get Nikon USA equipment to sell) you must sell for what NIKON USA says you can sell it for. Nikon USA usually had sales about 4 times a year. Now on their site, Nikonusa.com, they seem to always have something on sale which, will be the same price as what an Authorized Nikon Retailer will sell it for.
So, when you see B&H, or Adorama, or other biggies have Nikon on sale, most all retail Nikon Authorized Retailers will also have it on sale.
In this way, ma and pa stores can compete with B&H and Adorama, everyone sells it for the same price.
Now, that said, what B&H has done is they sometimes give you a 4% bonus cash on some Nikon products, ma and pa cannot do this, advantage B&H and Adorama. B&H and Adorama also put kits together on Nikon products.
Example, if you by a Nikon Lens, B&H will through in a free shoulder camera bag, lens cleaning cloth and a memory card.
So, prices are fixed on bodies and lenses if your selling Nikon USA.
Gray market folks can sell Nikon products at a discount because they buy their products from the country of origin, ie. Company sells a Nikon D500 imported from Singapore for $300.00 less than say B&H is selling it for. The D500 is the same camera as the one sold by B&H EXCEPT that if you need Warranty service you must send the camera to the country of origin for servicing, in this case, you would have to send it to Singapore Nikon for factory warranty servicing. AND, if you buy gray market NikonUSA will NEVER service it at any time.
So, buy Nikon USA when it is on sale and enjoy life.

BebuLamar

I misunderstand your term "Country of Origin" here. I thought country of origin is where the camera is made and for example all Nikon D500 are made in Thailand, gray market or NikonUSA they are all made in Thailand.