Canon Experience Stores Coming Soon [CR3]

[Canon Rumors]

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Following Apple & Leica….
Canon will be launching their first “Canon Experience Store” in the coming days. They will start with at least one store in Calgary, Canada and slowly open more stores around the globe. I’m told Canon is buying “heritage” type buildings around Australia for the stores.

Features of the store (Unconfirmed)

• They will be similar to apple stores, all white, simplistic and will allow hands-on use of canon equipment.
• These stores will feature camera and lens trial areas, 8 to 10 iMac computers for education courses and a learning area.
• The audiovisual systems in the store will feature multiple large-format LED and LCD displays.
• The customers will walk through a “LED Tunnel” when entering the store to immerse the customer in sights and sounds.

The announcement for this project should come early next week.

cr

[rs]

Soon there will be a few Jessops stores available in the UK for them to use...

[sandymandy]

If there would be one near me id be happy if you could try out L lenses there. They should install some 1200mm lens to try out too

[Grummbeerbauer]

Well, at least we now know where they plan to put all that extra cash they are making (trying to make) out of us gearheads with their recent pricing "strategy". 

But that bitching aside: Of course it would be nice to try out some of the more exclusive lenses. The best thing I have seen in stores within 100km of my home town is around the level of a 5Dmk3 and 70-200 2.8 IS II. But if they are now trying to become Appleish (i.e., sell stuff not merely for it being good, but for it being hip, and that at a premium), I am not interested.

[sandymandy]

Well i guess the most money is just made by the appleish stuff.

[rs]

Will these stores sell at RRP? If so, the stores will just be loss leaders, designed to increase product awareness and Canon sales through Amazon and the like. If they are competitive on price, RRP goes out of the window and smaller retailers will struggle and probably stop selling Canon gear.

I guess another option is to go fully down the Apple route and use price fixing to ensure everyone sells at RRP

[zim]

That's great news, trying stuff is becoming a real issue, as long as one opens near me of course 
Lots of heritage buildings and a big fancy Jessops store near my work so ya never know 

[squarebox]

This is cool to hear, since we have these already in Japan, albeit Nagoya and Tokyo are the only ones I know of.  It's pretty cool that they have classes there and it is a great chance to try out all their lenses to get a feel for something you are about to plop down $2000 on. 

The one near me offers free intro classes on how to use the 650D, Macro, Portraits (need to bring a girl with you), and kids photography (must supply own child).

I don't think you can buy anything at the one we have in Nagoya.  I don't think I've even seen a cash register. 

[SwampYankee]

Those of you that were early adopters of the 5D3 now know where their $1,000 markup went

[Daniel Flather]

An excuse to go to Calgary.

[infared]

Now I know where that $1000 premium that I paid on my 5D Mark III went ...To open a Canapple Store. LOL!
I thought it was for the facilities that got destroyed in the Tsunami?
I hope my investment was used for the LED Tunnel.....that would REALLY excite me.
( BTW the new white Canon N is looking very "Applish")

[ewg963]

Well, at least we now know where they plan to put all that extra cash they are making (trying to make) out of us gearheads with their recent pricing "strategy". 

But that bitching aside: Of course it would be nice to try out some of the more exclusive lenses. The best thing I have seen in stores within 100km of my home town is around the level of a 5Dmk3 and 70-200 2.8 IS II. But if they are now trying to become Appleish (i.e., sell stuff not merely for it being good, but for it being hip, and that at a premium), I am not interested.

Aye aye sir 

[littlewildcat]

Don't have to wait for the Calgary CES. The showroom in Hong Kong serves more or less the same purposes. They have very polite and  professional people there explaining Canon products and you are free to play and test with all the cameras and lenses. Super-tele lenses are set up therein and you can view the beautiful scenery of the harbor too.
I went there with my dad once during our last trip to Asia in 2010 and was very impressed.
Btw, you will find very beautifully printed brochures for their products there.

[shunsai]

This is cool to hear, since we have these already in Japan, albeit Nagoya and Tokyo are the only ones I know of.  It's pretty cool that they have classes there and it is a great chance to try out all their lenses to get a feel for something you are about to plop down $2000 on. 

The one near me offers free intro classes on how to use the 650D, Macro, Portraits (need to bring a girl with you), and kids photography (must supply own child).

I don't think you can buy anything at the one we have in Nagoya.  I don't think I've even seen a cash register.

Here in Osaka too! Just opposite the experience store is the Canon repair center.  Pretty nice setup.

[ddl]

Do they intend to sell product there (Calgary Store) to compete with Vistek/Saneal/TheCameraStore/etc.?

If so then they're competition for those stores who might then tend to push other product.