Nikon Should Punish Dealers Who Sell Short Suppy Items on eBay

Am I the only photographer who resents camera stores that sell the D200 and 18-200 vr lens on eBay for significant mark ups over list price? This will only cause resentment towards Nikon. Store X orders D200 from Nikon and then wont sell them for MSRP to customers who contack their store. I think Nikon should cut these stores off from hot items.
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Nikon D2x, Nikon Lenses 10.5, 12-24, 28-70 2.8, 70-200 VR, 85 1.4 Sigma 30 1.4
Tamron 28-75 2.8, Fuji S3, SB800, Quantum T4d, & More.

That concept is as old as our country...and it's what made this country great economically. it's called supply and demand....it's what sets prices on most of the items we buy (think gas prices), no what they are. Get over it...if you realy want to get a new item you just have to do your homework to find out who has them at a reasonable price. I got both the D200 and the 18-200mm VR by surfing the internet until I found them at a "reasonable price", while others were lamenting that they couldn't find them or were paying ridiculous ebay prices.

If you are an "early adopter", and you want the item, you either have to look relentlessly, or pay the price.

Nikon (and any other manufacturer) merely wants to make sure that their item is not sold below a certain price.

While all the "major" camera suppliers were without stock, places like Best Buy and Circuit City were getting them (D200), and they were available for a short period of time...you had to act fast, and catch it just right. I just received my 18-200mm from a place called "Camera Wholesalers"...they had just sold 20 the day before and had a few left, so I snagged one....while most folks remain on a waiting list. In both cases, I paid no more than the standard retail price.

No excuses, they are out there at less than what you will see on ebay. So, GET OVER IT.
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Tim Kriebel
Digital Photo Magic
http://www.tkdpmagic.com

What bothers me more is the dealers that by selling as "Buy It Now" make it difficult to find legitimate items being sold by individuals (read as "used"). Ebay used to be popular for that. Now if it's a hot item, 100 buy it nows! With such stupid prices, who buts them? Maybe people out of country trying to avoid taxes and vats?

How about Ebay putting "Buy It Nows" in a separate section entirely?

Joe

Just remember how you were treated there and don't shop with them later on. If others do maybe they will be gone quick.

Dan Wagner said:

Am I the only photographer who resents camera stores that sell the
D200 and 18-200 vr lens on eBay for significant mark ups over list
price? This will only cause resentment towards Nikon. Store X
orders D200 from Nikon and then wont sell them for MSRP to
customers who contack their store. I think Nikon should cut these
stores off from hot items.
--
Nikon D2x, Nikon Lenses 10.5, 12-24, 28-70 2.8, 70-200 VR, 85 1.4
Sigma 30 1.4
Tamron 28-75 2.8, Fuji S3, SB800, Quantum T4d, & More.

Click to expand...

--
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FCAS Charter Member, pbase supporter, pc geek
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D 200, D 70, CP 57 00, N 70, SB 800, PS CS2, Epson 22 00, Epson P-2000, Feisol3301/KirkBH3, Man frotto 676B/3232

Just select Auction Only.
That filters out the buy it now!
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Car dealers do it too - sell hot models, in short supply, at a markup. It's a short-term gain for them but yes I think it does alienate customers in the long run.

I think if this is the case, Nikon would be better served exerting their efforts instead to producing more cameras, more quickly.

It's only "gouging" if it's an essential product in short supply due to some emergency (bottled water after an earthquake, for example).

For a purely luxury item such as a digital camera, the law of supply and demand is appropriate. You'd be happy if supply and demand lowered the price of a D200 to $1000, so don't complain when it happens to raise the price temporarily.

Hi Dan, I know its extremely frustrating the see this but I have to agree with the replies you have received.

Something is only worth as much as what people are prepared to pay. And unfortunately it appears some, for perhaps good reason, have determined the D200 is worth these inflated prices.

The practice of having the product there but only selling it to higher ebay bidders and opposed to selling in from the store at the MSRP tells me the store lacks basic business ethics. I'd be giving them a wide birth. But of course at the end of the day the store can operate in anyway it wants to, as long as its within the law. They then have to live with the consequences, if any.

Be patient, D200 supplies will catch up.

Dan Wagner said:

Am I the only photographer who resents camera stores that sell the
D200 and 18-200 vr lens on eBay for significant mark ups over list
price? This will only cause resentment towards Nikon. Store X
orders D200 from Nikon and then wont sell them for MSRP to
customers who contack their store. I think Nikon should cut these
stores off from hot items.
--
Nikon D2x, Nikon Lenses 10.5, 12-24, 28-70 2.8, 70-200 VR, 85 1.4
Sigma 30 1.4
Tamron 28-75 2.8, Fuji S3, SB800, Quantum T4d, & More.

Click to expand...

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I don't think it has a damn thing to do with business ethics.....let's see....hmmmmm...if any one of you happened to have 20 D200s in your posession right now...what would you sell them for? If you answered $1699 (the street price)....you'd be lying.....just like any red blooded American you'd be getting top dollar for them if someone was willing to pay.

This same thing happened when Xbox 360 and the D2X hit the market...folks were getting top dollar for them all over ebay and elsewhere. That's just the way it works and has nothing to do with ethics.

And if you think for a moment that your boycotting of them is going to put a dent in their sales...forget about it.....those same folks are here year after year.....

As I said before...the new items can be had without going to these inflated asking prices, you just have to be vigilant to score....Who'da thunk that the likes of Best Buy and Circuit City would have them in stock at various times after the initial shipment went dry, instead of Ritz, B&H and some of the other big guys????

This board provided the leads I took to get mine at street prices....so search on and quit whining.
--
Tim Kriebel
Digital Photo Magic
http://www.tkdpmagic.com

As much as some hate to admit it...

RD

Everyone loves it when the price is discounted below list price, but gets up in arms when it's above.

Sorry, guys, but supply and demand works in both directions.

Rob Duke2 said:

As much as some hate to admit it...

Click to expand...

I certainly hope the OP does not get to run the country or something. Or I'll have to emigrate and I would hate to do that.

It's not illegal though to post an opinion like the OP did, it should preferably remain only his opinion

Supply and demand form the core of economics in a capitalist world. And whether you agree or not, it has been clearly proven that the entire left world fell flat on its face as far as economy is concerned.

--
Speed is significant and interesting but accuracy is downright fascinating
http://www.pbase.com/pradipta

nt

Joe

I would not pay higher than the MSRP for a hot item. However, nobody is forcing me to. Gouging in a time of emergency or on essential items is reprehensible and should be prosecuted. A camera is not in that category. Besides, no one complains when manufauturers have to discount to move items not selling to their projection, like the 5D. As far as E-bay, for the most part I find it useless. When it began it was much more useful. Now with the buy it now and mostlly commercial sellers I find it worthless.

Regards,
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JR

Dan Wagner said:

Am I the only photographer who resents camera stores that sell the
D200 and 18-200 vr lens on eBay for significant mark ups over list
price? This will only cause resentment towards Nikon. Store X
orders D200 from Nikon and then wont sell them for MSRP to
customers who contack their store. I think Nikon should cut these
stores off from hot items.
--
Nikon D2x, Nikon Lenses 10.5, 12-24, 28-70 2.8, 70-200 VR, 85 1.4
Sigma 30 1.4
Tamron 28-75 2.8, Fuji S3, SB800, Quantum T4d, & More.

Click to expand...

Its a free market and demand dictates price, supply and demand go hand in hand with price.

But if stores are cashing in on ebay then simply dont ever buy from them again. A small retailer stands to loose a great deal more from quick profiteering.

--
James Grove
planet-images.com
http://www.pbase.com/jgrove

Why in the world would someone resent NIKON because Cameta Camera is selling the D200 for $2,199? I would think you can get angry at the company doing the selling - not the manufacturer.

Dan Wagner said:

Am I the only photographer who resents camera stores that sell the
D200 and 18-200 vr lens on eBay for significant mark ups over list
price? This will only cause resentment towards Nikon. Store X
orders D200 from Nikon and then wont sell them for MSRP to
customers who contack their store. I think Nikon should cut these
stores off from hot items.
--
Nikon D2x, Nikon Lenses 10.5, 12-24, 28-70 2.8, 70-200 VR, 85 1.4
Sigma 30 1.4
Tamron 28-75 2.8, Fuji S3, SB800, Quantum T4d, & More.

Click to expand...

--
ShutterBugin
http://www.exposureproductions.smugmug.com

The supply and demand theory is good but it doesnt lead to long term customer relationships.

Harley Davidson a few years back could not keep up with the demand and some of their dealers were selling for MRRP but forcing people to buy $3,000.00 in accessories or clothing just for the privilage of selling them a bike. Now that the supply is up enough to fill the demand many people remember how they were treated and are avoiding those dealers that once had them over the barrel.
Selling something at the full MSRP is not like their doing you any favors.