Canon Cannot Keep Screwing It's Customers Over

[bdunbar79]

The notion of Canon screwing its customers over is laughable. Are they forcing anyone to buy their products? Did they fail to meet some agreement made at the time of purchase? Presumably, customers are willing participants in transactions, so we must assume that customers feel as if they are made better off by these transactions.

So unless you can claim that Canon has deliberately tried to deceive their customers, i don't see how you can claim that anyone is getting screwed over.

It's a larger problem of modern day society. There is no accountability for one's actions and it's always someone else's fault.

 

[Krob78]

The notion of Canon screwing its customers over is laughable. Are they forcing anyone to buy their products? Did they fail to meet some agreement made at the time of purchase? Presumably, customers are willing participants in transactions, so we must assume that customers feel as if they are made better off by these transactions.

So unless you can claim that Canon has deliberately tried to deceive their customers, i don't see how you can claim that anyone is getting screwed over.

+1 You got that right!

It's a larger problem of modern day society. There is no accountability for one's actions and it's always someone else's fault.

 

[rpt]

The notion of Canon screwing its customers over is laughable. Are they forcing anyone to buy their products? Did they fail to meet some agreement made at the time of purchase? Presumably, customers are willing participants in transactions, so we must assume that customers feel as if they are made better off by these transactions.

So unless you can claim that Canon has deliberately tried to deceive their customers, i don't see how you can claim that anyone is getting screwed over.

+1 You got that right!

It's a larger problem of modern day society. There is no accountability for one's actions and it's always someone else's fault.

I can't believe we are still screwing around with this topic!

 

[rlarsen]

There are so many new cameras to choose from, and the internet makes finding and buying used gear convenient. Even finding discount pricing is fairly easy with online searches.

No need to get grumpy with Canon, there are plenty of options for the consumer and this website helps photographers make educated decisions.

Actually the price of quality, high-res, large file-size Canon bodies has come way down. Many photographers use them instead of really expensive large- format digital cameras.

For years I used 1-D MKll bodies. They cost just under $4000. My new 5D MK lll bodies are in many ways a hell of a lot better and cost less.

Thanks Canon.

( I do wish I had the option to pay less for cameras without video. I don't use it so I'm not thrilled about paying for that feature. )

 

[Faxon]

Well, I bought a few L series lenses a few years ago, and most of them have increased in value. It's the bodies that diminish in price. Naturally so, since the sensors keep getting better. That's one of the regrets I have regarding digital photography. Back when I bought my first Nikon F, I felt it would always be there for me. It was. Right up to the point when I bought the Canon 20D. I would never buy a Leica M9, since it will be worth quite a bit less in five years in my opinion.
It's the nature of the technology. I wish I only had to buy new film to get the benefit of the latest technology. And my Nikon F made ME focus the lens.

 

[Radiating]

Well, I bought a few L series lenses a few years ago, and most of them have increased in value. It's the bodies that diminish in price. Naturally so, since the sensors keep getting better. That's one of the regrets I have regarding digital photography. Back when I bought my first Nikon F, I felt it would always be there for me. It was. Right up to the point when I bought the Canon 20D. I would never buy a Leica M9, since it will be worth quite a bit less in five years in my opinion.
It's the nature of the technology. I wish I only had to buy new film to get the benefit of the latest technology. And my Nikon F made ME focus the lens.

The point is NOT that gear depreciates. This is a given and you have to accept that.

The point is that Canon is playing pricing games, like neither they nor Nikon has ever done before, and they are pricing their products 20% higher for the first 6 months than is "normal". This means your depreciation goes from 1% per month to 5% per month.

Nothing depreciates that fast. Not even a car when it's driven off the lot. It's mind blowing.

It's so crazy that it would almost as expensive to RENT the camera as to buy it.

In fact if cars companies took pricing from Canon's recent products, you'd be paying $1,000 a month to lease the redesigned 2013 Honda Civic.

So it's not the depreciation, it's the incredible level of depreciation.

 

[kubelik]

It's so crazy that it would almost as expensive to RENT the camera as to buy it.

In fact if cars companies took pricing from Canon's recent products, you'd be paying $1,000 a month to lease the redesigned 2013 Honda Civic.

if you were to "RENT", not lease, a Honda Civic ... it DOES cost you $1,000 a month. in the real world. what's the point here?

 

[agierke]

The point is that Canon is playing pricing games, like neither they nor Nikon has ever done before, and they are pricing their products 20% higher for the first 6 months than is "normal". This means your depreciation goes from 1% per month to 5% per month.

so don't buy a lens right when its released. wait til the price normalizes. its not that hard....

no one is forcing you to buy these products.

i never buy any product upon its release....ever. i wait, until prices drop and preferably when there are rebates available or a sale. its easy. try it.

 

[Loswr]

...wait, until prices drop and preferably when there are rebates available or a sale. its easy. try it.

Meh. It's much more fun to buy a product right when it's released, then when the price drops a few months later, go to an internet forum and bitch about how bad I got ripped off. :

 

[bdunbar79]

...wait, until prices drop and preferably when there are rebates available or a sale. its easy. try it.

Meh. It's much more fun to buy a product right when it's released, then when the price drops a few months later, go to an internet forum and bitch about how bad I got ripped off. :

Apparently so.

 

[HurtinMinorKey]

The point is that Canon is playing pricing games, like neither they nor Nikon has ever done before, and they are pricing their products 20% higher for the first 6 months than is "normal". This means your depreciation goes from 1% per month to 5% per month.

It's called intertemporal price discrimination, and it's been around for a long time in many different durable goods markets.

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3439170?uid=3739800&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21101491313133

 

[glongstaff]

As I have said before....the other issue is the pricing policy per market region (whoever it may be) and in some way Canon controls this via the sales & distribution plus control authorised dealers.

Even accounting for shipping, VAT or Sales Taxes etc......if you look at the Asia, Europe, UK, USA markets the pricing markups / concessions are ridiculous between the markets......

And before someone says it jokingly..'it's not viable to move!!' :-*

There needs to be some sort of level playing field, one where customer loyalty comes higher on the chain!

 

[Loswr]

There needs to be some sort of level playing field...

Why?

Keep in mind that each geography (e.g. Canon USA or Canon Europe) operates as a separate business unit within Canon, each responsible for maintaining their own profitability. That's why warranty policies, service policies, sales of refurbished units, and pricing differ from country to country.

 

[ahab1372]

There needs to be some sort of level playing field, one where customer loyalty comes higher on the chain!

Yes! I think congress should step in, and the UN! Teach Canon some manners, and protect us gear addicts from their screwing games! No lens should cost more than $999, and prices should never go up or down! Rebates are an insult for those who bought before the rebates came into effect!

 

[Don Haines]

There needs to be some sort of level playing field...

Why?

Keep in mind that each geography (e.g. Canon USA or Canon Europe) operates as a separate business unit within Canon, each responsible for maintaining their own profitability. That's why warranty policies, service policies, sales of refurbished units, and pricing differ from country to country.

and don't forget import duties, meeting local electrical standards, and different wages paid to sales staff....

 

[Don Haines]

and why are we not hearing the complaints from those who recently bought a 5DII, or a 60D, or a 7D at the "end of life sale". Why aren't those people demanding to pay launch prices? Life is so unfair to them

 

[jrh]

The point is that Canon is playing pricing games, like neither they nor Nikon has ever done before, and they are pricing their products 20% higher for the first 6 months than is "normal". This means your depreciation goes from 1% per month to 5% per month.

Wrong - depreciation is not the same as market value. Go back to school and pay attention - you may be able to get a better job and you wont care about a $500 price reduction.

 

[Loswr]

Wrong - depreciation is not the same as market value. Go back to school and pay attention - you may be able to get a better job and you wont care about a $500 price reduction.

+1. I just sent a piece of scientific equipment to salvage. Price new in December, 2008 was $250K. Net book value (what it's currently worth based on depreciation) is $110K. Fair market value is $7K. And you thought your dSLR lost value fast...

Now...who should I bitch to about that? At least I'm not the one losing $103K...

 

[Zlatko]

The point is that Canon is playing pricing games...

It's called "intertemporal price discrimination" (as someone noted above) and it's smart business. They make lovely products and should make money on them. That money pays for a lot of people and materials and facilities, which then help them make more lovely products. We don't tell them how to price their cameras and they don't tell us how to price our photography — that seems like a fair arrangement. If the prices really bother someone, there are plenty of other camera makers out there ... Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, Fuji, Leica ...

 

[dstppy]

Wrong - depreciation is not the same as market value. Go back to school and pay attention - you may be able to get a better job and you wont care about a $500 price reduction.

+1. I just sent a piece of scientific equipment to salvage. Price new in December, 2008 was $250K. Net book value (what it's currently worth based on depreciation) is $110K. Fair market value is $7K. And you thought your dSLR lost value fast...

Now...who should I bitch to about that? At least I'm not the one losing $103K...

By "Salvage" I hope you mean in a plain freight pallette c/o Grant Imahara, in California ;D