Tea8 wrote:
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.
So I'm feeling like I might be a bit out of the lo... (
show quote)
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.