Wanted to see D2x in the camera shop...they said NO (Rant)

I work for a camera retailer and we do the exact same thing for people who come in and want to "look" at the D2X. We say no. Pay for it and then you'll get to see it.

As many others have mentioned already, a 5000 camera is no longer a 5000 camera after handling it. If you wanna take test shots with it you are using the shutter.. and we have a lot of picky pros who won't buy a camera when the shutters' been fired several times regardless of discount. For regular pros we know of, that come and buy stuff.. we'll let them look and touch it, but no shots.

I and we as a store realize that this practice is arrogant, but from our perspective.. the D2X is hard to get ahold of stock-wise.. and harder to move once it becomes a "demo". It is not worth "demo'ing" the status of the camera when we can't get new ones in readily.

Whether you guys like it or not, the camera is in high demand and we're going to sell it to someone in short time so the money is in the bank, so to speak. We don't need to do anything when they'll sell as untouched brand new cameras.

Its easy to point your finger and say.. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE and cry about it to your online brethren.. but you aren't the salesman that works 9-5 every day and have to put up with casual idiots that come in looking for the hottest tiny compact digital camera or the dSLR's that "they've just recently heard of".. and then demand to see the D2X or 1ds Mk.ii because they hear its got 12 or 16 MEGAPICKLES.

SO IN CONCLUSION:

1) It is not feasible to keep a demo model of somethign that is hard to come by in the first place.

2) Pros are actually incredibly fussy women on the inside and won't buy a 5000 or 9000 dollar camera unless its untouched.

3) From (2), it is also not often an amateur has the money to buy the D2X, therefore it is a money losing business to be showing them to you in the first place.

I used to think the way I'm hearing here: "Oh, I'll save some $$$ by buying from B&H rather than local...". Not any more. Here's the deal:

B&H MAY be selling you a camera that has been opened or returned and you have no say over it. If you look at their policies or talk to their sales folk, they will tell you this.

I have spent several tens of K$ at B&H so I speak from experience.

If you want to exchange or return B&H items by paying for all that shipping -- go right ahead.

When I bought my 1st S2, I exchanged the thing 4 times at no charge before I got one to work right. Try that with B&H!!!!!!

Sorry, I will deal with large local stores, even if I pay a little more. Know what? Sometimes the local guys ( Helix & Calumet for me) have the items I want at a lower price than B&H.

A few years ago, B&H had the reputation of being a no-rip-off NYC mail order vendor of top quality and low prices. I think the low price aspect of B&H has eroded away somewhat.

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Thom--

Thankfully he's an exception. Between myself and the owner we are well aware of the watch forum guys at Timezone and the many other places on the net. We know their worries about accuracy and questions about when and where to wear a given model. For the most part we are just like them. We're both watch geeks that know and appreciate the pieces we sold. It's not just a business for him, it's his life hobby.

Actually, in the words of my old boss..."we are (his still is, I no longer work there) watch w*ores." If there was a cheaper price online and they mentioned it.....we'd do our best to make them happy.

However, I totally agree with you...many brick and mortar shops are used to check the product out in person and online shops are used to purchase. Luckily for my old boss it works out differently for him most of the time. Of course there's always that person who has you looking for a model then comes in a few days later and says "don't worry, I found it online for $xxxx." It's fun when our price was going to be less though...haha!

Angelo

I can honestly see your point. It's a tough call. If it was their one and only D2x I can understand that they wouldn't want to sell it as a demo. Chances are they may feel bad about not letting people see it, but also need to sell it for the most money they can.

Angelo

When I go to buy a car - I don't use the "demo" I try the one I want. The next guy or gall gets in it, it has 2 more miles on it, and they buy it. Is it a new car?

Demo vs new has to do with warranty.

Would I buy an open box camera beat to tar - no, but I would buy the only D2X, if it was pulled out of the box for a guy or gal to run through the paces with 20 or 30 clicks - over 1000 clicks, then maybe it is used, but not really - I would then want some sort of discount.

Its not like you ruin the camera when you try it out - it is still fully functional and has the full Nikon warranty.

Demo vs new is really about degrees of use and abuse. A couple people testing a camera under the watchful eye of a sales person would not bother me - as others have mentioned B&H and other shops have sent worse as new.

a big enough retailer to be selling that level of product (in my opinion). Would I buy a highend car, or boat, without testing it first, don't think so. What do you loose, on having a camera that you then have to sell at a later date as a demo? Probably just your margin. I would think it would be more advantagious to have something potential buyers can handle, and its up to you to qualify them, if you want to keep the handling down to a minimum. I disagree with your statement about most non-pros not being able to purchase such a camera. Most of these cameras in their first 9mo's to year are not discounted by the likes of B&H, etc., so there is no advantage for someone to buy online, in fact; I think most people would rather go to thier local retailer to see, feel, handle, drool, and buy.
Regards,
crosdaddy

Well spoken.....lookey loos dont care about anything except the fact that THEY should be able to hold and use the camera...as if they are entitled to it ? Since when ? Is walking in the door of my store justification enough to warrant handing you a 5000 dolllar camera so you can play with it to see if you like the feel ? Get real........go buy your stuff somewhere else.....unless you are spending 10,000 a week at my store we wont miss your pennies spent ...................

Times have changed drasticallly from the good old days of the local camera shop.........bottom line is "best price".........a buyer should be informed even before he thinks of purchasing a high end camera like the D2X.....this isnt walmart where you can go in and handle everything.........

I disagree........to take a brand new camera out of its box just so you can hold it ? No way !

Any customer who would get p*ssed off because of something like that is no customer at all....i say good riddance to them....if they are a regular customer and spend there money there regularly, then that is something not worth losing...but if its some joe blow who doesnt shop there regularly.......then what is the loss ? NONE !

"You have a right" ? Says who ? You "? Is there some "law" that says you have the right.......a retailer can choose to conduct businesss however he wishes as long as he is not breaking the law..........if you dont like it, dont come inside...........go somewhere else....simple enough........

Thats because the market for million dollar boat buyers is small and the seller will do whatever it takes to sell that barnacle belly beast !

Yes that's it ! You got it ! Its the thrill of it all........retailers should let anyone handle hard to get expensive gear just for the thrill of it............why didnt I realize that before !

I wonder how many buyers have gotten to hold a camera they bought online ? See my point ? Online buyers still buy it even though they cant touch and use the item but still buy it online......duhhhhhh !

So for all of their consumer feely good treatment they still went out of business because all of the lookey loos bought online....that store should have had their own online sales and they would have probably done well....internet sales, no overhead, buy in bulk at reduced rates, no retail issues to deal with......thats the present and future and if retailers dont adjust their businesses they willl be out of business.

Excellent point ! I think Nikon should provide each retailer who sells their product 1 demo that cannot be sold down the road....only for customer handling........that would solve all of this..........

In your case they screwed up by chasing away a valuable customer...common sense should dictate .........

So what you are saying is that you had no intention of buying the product..only to look at it..........exactly why the retailers do what they do..because or people like you................

A couple of people times how many days in the year ? Day in and day out ?

hassy501 said:

Yes that's it ! You got it ! Its the thrill of it
all........retailers should let anyone handle hard to get expensive
gear just for the thrill of it............why didnt I realize that
before !

Click to expand...

A D2X is not exactly hard to get. If you have a need then I wouldn't consider it expensive either. What exactly would happen to one from someone handling it? If the D2X were that fragil then I would hardly see the point of it.
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Banned from the 3-0-0-D forum since 6-2005.