What's up with B&H

So I was thinking of picking up the 70-200 F2.8L IS. The price after after the $200 rebate was $1600 (and after the $100 price increase). So I checked last night and the price was $1700 basically wiping out the savings from the Canon rebate. The price prior to May 3rd was $1600. That's ridiculous..so what's the point of the rebates then!!

Not sure if they increased their prices on other lenses..I haven't checked yet. Did the other online retailers (Adorama, etc) increase their prices too. It's definitely cheaper for me to buy from a Canadian site than American now.

Not all retailers on the same day, but generally all are raising prices. Due to production cost increases and currency exchange rates.

See http://www.lensrentals.com/news/2009.04.24/state-of-the-slr-industry-2009 for more.

The Canon rebate program eased that, but there should be no expectation that base prices would necessarily remain at pre-rebate levels.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-70-200mm-2-8L-Telephoto-Cameras/dp/B00006I53X/ref=pd_cp_e_1

Amazon price: 1576 USD. I was also disappointed with B&H price, that I bought it in Switzerland instead (with Swiss guarantee).
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/35457337@N00

Telephone One Call and ask to speak with a sales person. They may be able to negotiate a price to your satisfaction.
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Melvin Surdin

I got ripped for claiming in another thread that they decided to pocket the rebate themselves.

But they did.

The guy from BH made some half hearted excuses but this has happened predictably in past years with BH. Not all retailers pulled this.

Compare prices with Canogacamera, I got the real price on a recent $1500 purchase. Nice folks.

Bob

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http://www.greatschatz.com

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What we have here is another classic example of (Tire Kicking) at its greatest. Look for a lens to find something to complain about and start a thread about it. Never any intention to buy anyways..!

Cheers, rtw

FYI Mr. Wizard. I bought the lens about 15 minutes after my post this mornig...and it wasn't from B&H. This was a legitimate post..so don't go around making dumb generic accusations about someone's legitimate questions/concerns.

How would like it if I just assumed from your post you're a few IQ points short of an idiot because you don't know the difference between the words "anyways" and "anyway".

Cheers
"Tire Kicker"

I've been watching this happen for the last couple of years. I've bought a camera and two lenes after the rebates ended for less than the rebate price. I'm sure a lot of people haven't caught on to this marketing trick and think that during the Canon rebate it is the best time to buy. Not so. By the way Amazon and most of the other sellers do the same thing so it's hard to find a good deal during the rebate seasons.
Bob

Well pixel the same ole thing about B&H.. if yah dont like the price, dont buy it from them. Seems to be this thing that if something is $.01 more at B&H they are screwing some one. We never had any issues at all from B&H about it being $.01 more then somewhere else.. if i dont like the price, i dont buy it..Plain and simple..not whine about it on the web..
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http://www.pbase.com/bulbmogul/moguls_equipment B&H was $.02 more on these things but didnt whine..!

Cheers, rtw

Canon's got it all figured out with the rebates. It's all about increased sales and marketing technique. No way would Canon want to decrease their lens prices.

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Fincoon

This also happened with the Tamron rebates. Other sellers' price went up like $30 on a $50 rebate but Canoga Camera stayed the same price.

LensWizard said:

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What we have here is another classic example of (Tire Kicking) at its
greatest. Look for a lens to find something to complain about and
start a thread about it. Never any intention to buy anyways..!

Click to expand...

Um, no.

Just calling it how it is, I bought from a great company that didn't gouge.

You just make yourself look silly guessing then accusing.

Sheesh.

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http://www.greatschatz.com

Totally agree with you. Prices are pretty equal amongst the big Online dealers..

Cheers, rtw

People have to stop blaming B&H for the MFG's raising or lowering there cost's,

the retailers have to adjust to any factory cost increases ,B&H is one of the most credibale companies out there and they did not work hard to get customer satisfaction keeping rebates,

I am in raw materials sales and my cost's change weekly that have to be passed on , also consider they have to make some profit, to keep there company operating in the black , thay have a large overhead, but I have alway's found there price's fair,but for me even if they were a few dollar's higher, I would still buy from them because of there incredible service

Why is the fact that a store that doesn't have the lowest price provoke an outraged post?

There seems to be some moral indignation that any deviation from the expectations of the shopper is an example of gouging.

Canoga Camera has a different business model and a great reputation but to compare one item and use that as evidence of gouging is just foolish.

Shop where you want but making broad statements about business integrity without comprehensive knowledge of the business you are commenting on informs no one, helps no one and serves to reduce the quality of discourse on these boards.

As I said above before, most of the time those that do this type of post never have any intention to buy anyways. They sit here and study the prices like the stock market, then jump when something fluctuates...!

Cheers, rtw

Relax people..

Where in my post did I mention anything about B&H's business integrity? They have every right to increase/decrease their prices, just as I have every right to purchase from another store.

Yes it is true, I do not have comprehensive knowledge of the business...that's the whole point of me making this post..I was asking what's going on with them and if it's happening at other retailers.

All I was doing was asking why the price of a lens increased (twice) about 12% ($1700 to $1900) in just over a month and a half. Wouldn't your customers/clients wonder if you increased your rates by 12% and ask for an explanation. That's all I'm looking for..an explanation. I've watched the price of this lens for the last 2 years and the base price hasn't moved an inch...until the day before I want to pull the trigger, so it was bad timing on my part.

I've purchased thousands of dollars in photo equipment with B&H without even looking at other retailers because I knew they'd be the cheapest or pretty close to being the cheapest. i'll pay a few extra dollars for the great service...but it's not worth $200 on a $1700 item. I guess I'm just upset at the fact I have to waste time to do some comparison shopping to find a decent price when before I could just go to B&H and pretty much guarantee I was getting the best deal.

Not anymore, however !!!

Why dont you call B&H and ask them outright instead of asking the public on a forum whom has no idea why B&H does what it does? I would think B&H could answer your question alot more accurate then speculation on a internet forum.

rtw

Dell used to have good prices, then the rebates would come out and they clearly had the NY houses beat on prices when you mailed in the rebates! Bought my 5D, 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200 f/2.8is from Dell and saved allot of money... while I watched B&H and others mysteriously raise their prices when the rebates went online.

Sadly, Dell hasn't been a player anymore, and I have been buying from Adorama first, and B&H if I can't find things elsewhere!
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thank Canon for L and BMW for M

Every major purchase I make, I shop around... maybe a dealer had stock they brought in at a lower cost and can sell it lower, maybe fatwalet has a kickback for a particular retailer at the time - saved big money on my 400DO that way d( --- )b

You have to hunt for the deals! It's not a conspiracy, there are just so many factors involved!
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thank Canon for L and BMW for M