What will Henry’s do?
It appears Henry’s will NOT be honoring the previous price of the 5D Mark II, this is completey understandable. What Henry’s will be doing is giving out a free 8gb Ultra II CF card to people with preorders. Henry’s is contacting their customers at the moment with the news.
Thanks for the heads up.
cr
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Well, throwing in the 8GB Ultra II is just a way of ‘playing cheap’. It’ll only let you store 300 pictures if you’re lucky.
When you get a D700, you’re not forced to pay more and then be slapped with a CF card.
In fact, on ebay there’s some *amazing* deals on the D700:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-D700-DIGITAL-SLR-Camera-3-Lenses-Huge-Kit-D-700_W0QQitemZ220302352932QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Cameras?hash=item220302352932&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1309
4 me this looks like P L E A S E buy Nikon we’ll give you a lot of other crap in addition! :P
Honestly, I have a ahard time to do the link with the topic Nikon… your comment, again, is not really helpfull for the community. Do you have an idea why it’s called Canon Rumors ? I’ll help you on this one, because we are interested MOSTLY in Canon stuff… You know, we don’t need a D700 comment for every Rumor/information that we get on the 5D MKII. That is my 2 cents this morning.
From Lozeau.com in Canada
“There is no official indication issued from Canon Canada for a specific increase of the selling price of the Canon 5D mark II although the present rumours are persistent and we expect that an announcement should done soon.
We cannot guaranty the final selling price level and the last expectation for first shipment of the product is still plan for the end of November or the beginning of December 2008.
The actual reservation list is containing more than 80 customers.”
Well, that doesn’t mean a lot. “No official indication” sounds more politic than reality. Why Henry and Aden would go up then… maybe they are better connected to Canon ?
The Camera Store out of Calgary just sent me an email saying prices for my pre-order are now $3092.63 and can opt out if I wish.
Class action time:
Dear Valued Vistek Customer,
Vistek Ltd. has received official notification from Canon Canada that the pricing on the 5D MkII will be increasing prior to any cameras being shipped in Canada due to the increase in the Canadian exchange rate. This is unfortunate and something that Canon couldn’t have predicted.
The new prices are:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II body only Was $2799. It has been increased to $3099.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II kit (with EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens) Was $3649. Now $3949.
As your imaging supplier, we have the unfortunate task of notifying you that the Canon prices on your Vistek sales order dated prior to Nov. 5, 2008 is no longer valid.
We very sincerely apologise for this increase, it is driven by the economy and in response to our supplier’s increase.
Please contact us if you have any questions, your revised pricing is listed below.
Best regards,
On-Line Sales Department
I just received one of these e-mails too, bummer. Can they do this?
so just one email and they got 300 dollars more????…that is so easy to make that money….or they can just go rob the bank!! the rate keeps on changing every day so they should adjust the price everyday then. When the canadian dollar was equal or higher to the US dollars, how come they didnt make that quick move to adjust the price???
The increase in prices for Japanese cameras is the result of the Western financial crises which led to an increase of the Japanese Yen. In Europe the price increase will be even higher, because the Euro has lost about 30% against the Yen. Nobody with a living brain cell can expect Canon to sell the camera 30% cheaper then calculated!
Everyone who preordered could form a group and file a class action law suit against canon, given the number of people, the chances are good that they will win.
Personally, I won’t buy it at the jacked up price, I’ll wait until it goes back down and I suggest others do likewise if they want to see a fast price decrease.
Canon would rather get lower profit than no profit at all.
Called Henry’s, (didn’t get an email), and they confirmed the price hike, but didn’t confirm the 8gb card offer.
The fact that they called it “pre-order” was really a joke. So they can increase the price for whatever reason. That was just a pure “reservation”.
I don’t personally agree that Henry’s price increase is ‘completely understandable’ and this falls into a general category that I always like to label ‘Canadian small thinking’.
I used to travel internationally quite a bit and it dawned on me as I was ‘outside looking in’ that Canadian businesses excelled at a number of things but the one they were best at was setting up a process and telling people what you ‘can’t do’. In this case it is ‘you can’t have this price if we or Canon revises the price upward’.
I don’t know how much Henry’s makes on each sale but it has to be tidy – so let’s say they actually lose $50/camera – times 80 ( was that the waiting list number?) that is 4k$ – is that worth jerking around 80 people and the resulting fallout – of course not.
You simply grit your teeth and publicize the fact that you hold the customer relationship as the number one factor in your business and you are going to hold the line in the face of a price increase and gain customers from that very practice.
I will buy a 5D MkII – it won’t be from Henry’s and it won’t be at the new price.
I’ll pick and choose the price and I’ll choose the dealer based on a set of principles that Henry’s simply refuses to live up to.
I like the concept of the site – just stumbled across it today – keep up the good work.
I “pre-ordered” several weeks ago at Henry’s and had to put a 25% deposit ($750) down. I got in at the $2799 price because I knew a price increase was looming due to the falling Canadian dollar. When I pre-ordered, I confirmed with the salesperson that this was the price I was going to pay.
I read the news from this site yesterday and went up to Henry’s today. I was told that they were not honouring the pre-order price of $2799. They didn’t even mention the CF card; and I didn’t ask about it since it would have made a difference. I got my $750 deposit back.
I am not too disappointed since I am heading over to work for several months in Taiwan starting next month. Shipments to Taiwan will likely be at the end of this month as well. I was looking at possibly being on the waiting list until early next year before I was able to get one here; or at least that is what I was told at Henry’s. I should be able to pick one up in Taiwan for cheaper (at least saving on tax) and, likely, sooner.
As a salesperson I am hearing complaints from everybody who ordered a mark ii at our store. Let me just get it out right here so everybody has a chance to understand. IT’S NOT MY FAULT THAT YOUR PRICE WAS RAISED. Please do not get mad at me. Your beef is with Canon, I understand that you were upset, I am too because I had an order as well and my price got raised, there’s nothing that I can do for you. We all have the right to be upset but to belittle and insult me is completely uncalled for.
I agree! I am also a salesperson and have had to call many people to tell them the new price. Do not yell at me or blame me….do you really think that I make the price? Of course not!! But I can see what the cost is and I can tell you that there is no possible way that we or anyone else can sell at the old price. It is isn’t possible. PLEASE PLEASE just remember that this is CANON!!!! Not us or anyone else! Especially not the salesperson. If you are upset file an offical complaint!! But don’t do it with me because this is above my payscale and not my fault. It is NEVER okay to treat salespeople this bad. Keep it up and you will get even worse service everywhere!!!!!
Ditto, on the treatment of sales people – most of the people complaining about the Canon price increase need a live view economic reality check. In case you didn’t know we are living next door to an economic super power that has just had it’s bubble burst. Canada has always had the reputation of being “too regulated”. It is because we are “too regulated” that the full impact of that nasty word “recession” has not impacted the Canadian consumer to the same extent as United States. We are just beginning to feel the “economic ripple effect”. Wait until you feel the “wave” – never mind the ripple.
I agree that people shouldn’t be getting mad at salespersons. The real decision makers who approved this increase are the cowardly upper-level executives hiding behind desk and secretaries. At the same time I believe it is the responsibility of Sales people, managers, and everyone at distributors like Henry’s and Vistek to be taking a stand in order to defend your customers. You’re worried about people yelling at you, when you should be more worried that if Canon Canada and distributor executives keep telling you to phone customers with news like that your going to lose a lot of business. Your distributor might not go out of business but with this “economic ripple effect” it might be enough to cost you your job.
Thanks for your feedback Rob – with or without a job doesn’t bother me one bit, and I don’t give a rat’s pituti if I get yelled by customers.
The reality is I have a better understanding of international finance than you do.
I fully expect jobs to go by the wayside, as customers from the auto industry are trickling into the store, asking if they can bring their camera back, as they were just laid offand can’t afford the payments.
Camera stores, like just about everything else are not recession proof. It is indeed a domino reaction – it did not begin at the retailer, and it did not begin at Canon – try to see the bigger picture.
Charles it’s funny your working in a Camera store with such an extensive knowledge of international finance.
I’m understand that the price of the 5D MK II needs to rise to a point that is in line with global currency exchange rates. Even at the newly revised price the 5D MK II is still priced cheaper than the U.S. when currency is converted.
My problem isn’t with Canon’s need to raise prices due to changing economic conditions. My problem is with the fact that they (and their distributors) aren’t honoring pre-order pricing. Regardless of what state the Canadian or global economy is in Canon’s distributors have made an agreement with pre-orderers and to not honor it at this point is a huge breach of trust.
It’s an unfortunate situation for Canon and their distributors to be facing increases due to fluctuating currencies. It’s even more unfortunate that distributors accepted pre-orders without considering the possibility of fluctuation. However just because Canon and their distributors made an imprudent business decision accepting pre-orders at a specific price does not mean that their customers should have to pay for that mistake.
At the very least there should be a dialog between Canon’s distributors and the customers who pre-ordered. I think some middle ground can be found so that customers and distributors split the cost of their mistake.
Something like pre-orderers pay half the increase and distributors pay the other half of the increase would be a fair situation. I would have an inordinate amount of respect for a distributor who admitted that they were wrong and that they needed the help and cooperation of customers in order to resolve the problem. Instead they have just passed on the whole cost of the mistake to their customers, and passed the blame onto Canon.
WHO IS AT FAULT – Canon – the retailer, or perhaps the United States of America, take your pick, but be prepared to do class action battle on a mega scale.
In the big scheme of things – be informed – be educated
it’s about more than your DSLR
Rob:
Funny that I am working in a store with a knowledge of International Finance ? As I have stated, I am retired, my job is part time, and it really makes no difference to me financially if I work or don’t. I enjoy the exchange of communication with fellow photographers. It gives me great personal satisfaction to create the experience of purchasing a camera an “event” with dialogue and creativity instead of a oh-hum regular purchase. I use imagination and plant seeds that generate a genuine interest with what the client is doing with his/her photography and respond accordingly to the need.
I can make more money part time than others do full time.
However, money is not and never has been the prime objective.
Don’t shoot the messenger, I am passing on to you the benefit of an extensive education in finance and 35 years of international business experience.
Rob:
in what world do you live in? the bigger the corporation, the less is chance of it paying for its own mistakes. if they can find someone else to pay for it, they will, and in this case they found their Canadian customers as the scapegoat.
It’s sad that Henry’s and other stores are lying consumers straight in the face. As I posted earlier, when a few weeks ago I called some stores, they ALL said they will honor the pre-order prices, no mention what so ever that they at least MIGHT have to pass on the increase.
I get the price increase, and blaming salespeople for it is pointless, but it IS henrys’s (and other stores’) fault for blatantly reassuring customers that the lower price will be honored. If you don’t know it 100%, don’t say it, it’s as simple as that.
Hey here’s an idea. Don’t buy the 5D Mark ll. Instead of complaining about the price increase, send Canon a message.
If a few thousand people did this they might get the hint.
Or buy the first version of the 5D. The difference between the two won’t be earth shattering.
Sorry all, but I am not paying the price increase, and I have found that I have enough legal ground to stand on.
Charles: I made an agement to purchase with a promise to deliver based on a payment already made to secure delivery at that price.
Hex: With a belief system like that it is no wonder that in your world the corporation people like you enable get away with this stuff,
As for me, Bell, Yellowpages, Futureshop….and a whole number of other large companies have caved when I stood my ground.
the first version of the 5d will work wit all your old batteries too, really, who has lost work in the past because they did not have a 5d mk ii? whose clients have complained? We have amazing photos shot with cameras prior to the second 5d…how is that even possible you ask? The marketing hadn’t hit us yet? Now for some reason yo uso cannot live wihtout the second gen 5d that you are willing to accept being screwed out of a contract for anextra $300….
oh yeah and CHARLES – class action on a mega scale, nope small claims court, with two pieces of proof, an agreement to purchase and deliver and a debited Credit, oh yeah and for the third clincher, the advertising that had went on for months selling the camera at the lesser price.
All other arguments are just smoke and mirrors…Economy schmemonenmee….it was an arbitrary price increase that was profiteering driven….why did the same economy not even effect the price of the 24-105 lens included in the kit?
STEPHEN:Pre-order? reservation, I was sold a promise to deliver a camera for that price and in order to secure that I do not miss the shipment of cameras already destined (already made prior to the market increase) i need to pay a substantial deposit to seal the deal….what was sold and common understanding to gether with the fact hta there was no mention or disclaimer regarding price increases, (similar to like what canon has on large ticket item bill Sales orders (it is not like canon is unaware of this necessary legal step), Iwill get my camaera at the pre-sold price – I ALREADY BOUGHT IT PRIOR TO THE INCREASE
Unfortunately JCSS is right. What happens with the Canadian customer that paid 100% his camera IN ADVANCE and when the exchange rate was 1:1? He basically paid the full value and now an unethical economic body is screwing him with another $300 extra. You know what, I will have paid $3100 for that camera without blinking an eye but what bothers me is the incapacity to hold a deal and the tendency of the corporation to throw the losses on the final consumer. I assure you my friends that, in the case the camera wasn’t demanded so fiercely, as it is at this moment, Canon Canada would not have increased the price. They just blatantly laugh at the customer because they actually can – the demand is that big. That’s a bit cynical and a chronic problem at Canon, BTW.
If you’ve pre-ordered the Camera in alberta you can go to the following website to read more about Small Claims Court procedures
http://www.albertacourts.ab.ca/ProvincialCourt/CivilSmallClaimsCourt/CivilClaimProcess/tabid/166/Default.aspx
google “small claims court” for your province to find out more information. Every distributor charging the additional $300 should be taken to court on this matter.
Due to the lack of response to my open letter by Vistek or Canon I’m considering writing an open letter detailing the consequences of lack of action on their part (i.e. small claims courts, further publicizing their lack of response, getting in touch with Nikon to see if they’ll offer a mass discount for people willing to switch to a D3 or D700 because they were burned on the pre-order)
If you have suggestions for this open-letter follow up please post them as comments at
http://www.stoppriceincrease.blogspot.com
Again I really want this camera (high megapixel and video) but the way Canon and their distributors have handled this makes me think I can’t trust them as a camera producer or supplier. If they’re cutting corners and profiteering in a situation like this who knows what other garbage they’re up to, and after the way they handled the 1DIII focusing issues this new 5D situation makes me think that Canon just struck an iceberg….I’d like to get off the ship while it’s still above water….
Rob – to further enlighten the readers on the state of affairs with Canon: follow this real life analogy:
anyone else using the master slave functions of Canon 580 ex ii flashes?
anyone else feel like they are missing real time photo opportunities while holding the zoom button to wait a few seconds to get to slave master mode and then finally program? (unlike the 580 ex with dedicated button – instant)
anyone else ever wonder whether they are in slave master mode and not able to tell at a glance (unlike the 580 ex with dedicated button – again instant)
anyone else ever wonder if, (regarding the 580 ex to the 580 ex ii updatee) the well advertised improved weather sealing at the expense of the nearly silent removal of dedicated buttons (for a highly self touted functionality) was just a cover up for cost savings the change created and a necessary excuse for the upgrade as a distraction to the real reason behind the reiteration of the 580 ex – the fact that they had to introduce a new circuitry to prevent the flash from overheating and slow cooking itself (bulb – whcih leads to gradually worsening exposure issues and zoom mechanism failure – all my 580ex’s were replaced with 580exII’s by Canon for this reason)
You know I had to ask a canon rep if I needed a back up for my backup equipment due to the fact that it seemed that I always had something in repair that was manufacturing related, even brand new stuff, thus I would be left without a backup, and would have to rent or buy a backup 2 lenses and 2 cameras is not enough, if one of them is enroute or in repair (and on occasion despite sending in exhaustive evidence with files on CD, still receiving the equipment back un repaired but cleaned, only to be without it again for another iteration)
Canon sought quality, and like most companies who do, got there, then resting on the laurels of ‘reputation’ began their gradual decline…like most companies…
Canon not the only one:
Anyone ever here of silent recalls in the auto industry?
How about undisclosed software bugs?
My Chev Malibu 2001 – braking hardware all replaced under silent recall – my mechanic clued me into this when i brought up the fact that i felt the braking wasn’t reliable – the manufacturer sourced substandard parts from a discount company for 1 quarter, caused a few ‘situations’ so if you were well informed enough and you brought it up to your dealer, they would have to give you all new braking hardware.
My 2007 Quickbooks premiere (ironically the best – – most expensive) gave me a few months grief – after spending about $5000 on book-keeping and accounting to set up my company file in my office, and after some entry, took company file to accountants office. returned home. company file corrupted. Called tech support at Intuit (quickbooks in Canada) but got india – fruitless – “user error … pay us a lot of money and we will fix your company file”. On my own – Read hexidecimal in company file, the noted problem was identified – pointed again to time with accountant. Called repeatedly until escalated, (although I think the chat is what really got results as it goes to a canadian office) finally someone in canada called me back, I requested speaking with a programmer, cited evidence, they agreed to fix company file for free and extend my membership as my problem had resulted from an undisclosed software glitch -they didn’t disclose it because it required a specific set of actions to accomplish and figured it was unlikely anyone one would encounter it (meaning it is not worth bad press to be honest about a problen that will drastically effect on ly a few people)- I also asked for a receipt for the transaction and a letter of apology, which they gave me outlining the cause of the problem.
I won’t even tell you about the western digital enterprise raid edition drives that have an undisclosed raid error that causes raid arrays to fallout and become corrupted – Actually I will tell you because it is so relevent and no one else will – FOLLOW ME – RAID drives of ENTERPRISE LEVEL that are PRONE to RAID FAILURE (Beware the WD5000YS – it is the YS model with the problem) would you believe three copies is no longer enough? – Western digital apologized and sent me three replacement drives AND an extras – I only found out about this because i asked for the exact same model replacement for my failed drives and the new (assume new) call centre client rep told me quite by accident that they cannot replace it with the same model because they no longer make the model I was looking for due to an on going raid failure problem, and it has been updated to the new model he was trying to tell me to take – I replied immediately – I am glad you are recording this call, so what you are saying is that you chose not to tell your customers that like myself may have mission critical data, that your RAID system was flawed – what of consumer confidence…the call centre agents coach took over the call, interjecting with a self introduction and asking me what can we do to solve this problem, “replace my three drives with the fixed model and give me an extra just for backup, ” The coach said he couldn’t do it, the system won’t let him, he cannot replace 3 drives with four.” I told him I understood his limitations of empowerment, restrictions with the data base he is working on, and that it was not personal, but he should find someone to take my call who has the empowerment to accomplish exactly what i asked immediately, or I will start asking for a lot more -” I continued, “seagate is looking really good right about now, and I am tired of being and R & D Guinea pig who is sold product with known failures that put me at incredible risk…my time and opprtunity lost playing with my children is becoming more priceless as my clock ticks”
Next person on the phone agrees to send me the drives and puts the order through within 2 minutes.
My wife said to me the other day, “Imagine if everyone was honest and fair? No one would ever get locked out of anywhere and we wouldn’t even have to shop for the best price”
Sounds like there is a song in there somewhere.
PS “Stay aware and informed and fight back and don’t let anyone rip you off” Name that tagline first in this forum and I will send you a free battery for your new 5D ->Rules that apply – it must be a pre-ordered 5D with a deposit, and you must get it at the pre-order price. You fax me the two papers that prove it and voila I will mail you a brand new Canon battery, unless you specify you want another brand and the difference in a credit at a big name camera store…. :)
Anyone anyone? bueller bueller
name the show including the personality name
and for bonus points name the filing cabinet….
on another site regarding market: “None of this is good news (unless you can afford to run a car)
Most of this is already baked in, and even manufacturers running just in time production are hurting by these ‘price movements’ due to contractual hedging / forward orders etc… ”
I see in the comment that other manufacturers are ‘hurting’ by price movements – does that mean some companies actually take responsibility for their pre-orders? I would imagine only if they have to….legally
SO does this mean Canon thinks it’s photographers are just dumb, or slow?
so will the 8 gig card or camera battery resellers think we will accept as bait to dissolve our agreement actually cover the tax on the $300 and the interest on my deposit, what about opportunity lost for that money?
The $300 is not much but this is about the principle and integrity. The dealer had sold the camera on a verbal contract guaranteeing a transaction price and provided a receipt for the order. The receipt also acts as a legal written contract for this transaction where you deliver the money, they deliver the product. Now, the dealer is unable to deliver the product as per contract, so they have breach the contract. Here is some suggestions for some of you who is looking to take this further. Call up your local Better Business Bureau, just google BBB Alberta and you can file a complaint online, they will help you resolve or mediate this. I believe we should stop this type of bad business practice. If the dealer cannot run a business ethically and professionally, they will not be in business in the first place.