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Olympus vs Panasonic - if you're Canadian

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panolympus

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I didn't realize how much difference the prices were until I started shopping for m4/3 gear. Some of the Panasonic cameras and lenses are literally double the price in Canadian stores, over the giants in the US like B&H, Adorama, and Sammys. I bought Panasonic gear, GH3, GX1, lenses etc, but I had to order most of it from the US in order to keep the overhead low. However, if I need to take something back for warranty, I have to send it to the US, rather than take it to a local store.

When I started researching Olympus, I found the prices in Canada are on par, and sometimes better than stores like B&H, which generally have the lowest prices. If you're Canadian, you might want to consider this when buying your camera/lenses.

People sell their Panasonic gear used here for new prices on B&H website. You could literally start your own little Panasonic dealership here just by buying in bulk and selling through kijiji. Hold the phone! I just thought of a way to support myself doing what I love most...buying camera gear :D
 
panolympus said:
panolympus wrote:

I didn't realize how much difference the prices were until I started shopping for m4/3 gear. Some of the Panasonic cameras and lenses are literally double the price in Canadian stores..
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...but in Winnipeg the local camera stores have prices which are competitive with B&H. It's harder to find m4/3 stuff in stock but the pricing is usually close. Right now, for example, Don's Photo has the GH3 on sale for $1100 (from a regular listed price of $1150), compared to B&H's listed price of $1300. So, for $200 less you get local service and don't have to pay shipping or wait for the camera to arrive.

I've certainly never seen a camera price double that of American pricing, unless you are meaning "figuratively" when you say "literally".
 
Canadian, I am.

Bought my Olympus E-510 two lens kit new in 2008 in Halifax. It is still going strong and my lens purchases since then have been second hand from both U.S. and Canadian private sellers. Also bought an E-1 the same way. I bought refurbished cameras ( Canon S-1, Panasonic ZS-1) as well as a refurbished tablet and saved money.

I just bought and have not yet received a Panasonic G-5 two lens kit from Amazon US at half the cost of Canadian on line stores (Vistek, Henry's)

We are a much smaller market up here so some deals just don't happen.

The used market is where the deals are.

Bill
 
Have to somewhat agree with the OP. Price the 45-175 panny in Canada vs US. Close to if not a $200 difference. Not all are like that but generally we get the wrong end of the shaft with Panasonic products :) As noted above it may just be market pressures and sales but I have noticed the tendency.
 
I have noticed the same thing. Olympus has a pricing policy in Canada more similar to its policy in the US than Panasonic has.

There is a big price difference for Panasonic gear between Canada and the US indeed - not always as high as you say, but high in spite of the Canadian dollar being at par or above. The difference is greater on some Panasonic products than others.

Panasonic's pricing policy seems partly to blame, and big retailers like Henry's also have higher prices than some other smaller Canadian stores. They will price match to some extent with stores in Canada but not with American internet companies.

Canadian prices also tend to stay at list and do not fluctuate as "street" prices. This may reflect the markup that Panasonic gives Canadian stores. The GH3 body itself is about the same in both countries - at list - or was the last time I checked.

One would prefer to buy from a local retailer who supports the local economy rather than off shore and on- line. Tough to do on a budget.

F.
 
I am now in B.C. and bought a Panasonic LX-5 for less than half its original price. On sale since the LX-7 is out and a further discount by whining about it being a demo model. list was $499 and I paid $223

London Drugs, a chain of stores inthe West, are very good to deal with.

Bill
 
Elemental Photography said:
Elemental Photography wrote:
Elemental Photography said:
panolympus wrote:

I didn't realize how much difference the prices were until I started shopping for m4/3 gear. Some of the Panasonic cameras and lenses are literally double the price in Canadian stores..
Click to expand...
...but in Winnipeg the local camera stores have prices which are competitive with B&H. It's harder to find m4/3 stuff in stock but the pricing is usually close. Right now, for example, Don's Photo has the GH3 on sale for $1100 (from a regular listed price of $1150), compared to B&H's listed price of $1300. So, for $200 less you get local service and don't have to pay shipping or wait for the camera to arrive.

I've certainly never seen a camera price double that of American pricing, unless you are meaning "figuratively" when you say "literally".
Click to expand...
 
I live in Toronto.

To my surprise, I can't find a decent dealership or Panasonic specific store here.

We have SonyStyle stores here, though Sony closed one store after another.

I had to buy my LX7 (USD299) and G1 X (USD274) from New York.

Their prices go from 60% to 70% of my local ones.

Best Regards.

Harrison
 
How are Panasonic and Olympus imported and distributed in Canada?

Is it by companies owned by the Japanese parent, as in the U.S., or through third party importers and distributors? That could account for the different pricing structures.
 
Sometimes prices are better in the US, sometimes it's on par if you order from outside your province to avoid provincial sales tax. For example, the Panny 12-35mm is only $14 more from thecamerastore.com in Calgary than from BHPhoto.
 
Toronto. G3, with kit lens, open box, full warranty. $245.00. Beat that.
 
RichRMA said:
RichRMA wrote:

Toronto. G3, with kit lens, open box, full warranty. $245.00. Beat that.
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That's a good deal. However, an Open box is a used item. Also, something on sale is obviously not a "normal price". "Regular prices" are the norm for price comparisons.
 
gak44 said:
gak44 wrote:

How are Panasonic and Olympus imported and distributed in Canada?

Is it by companies owned by the Japanese parent, as in the U.S., or through third party importers and distributors? That could account for the different pricing structures.
Click to expand...
Yes, I talked to a manager at one of our chain stores, and he indicated this exactly. They don't buy direct. And I imagine this is the same for most of our little Canuck camera outlets. However, Olympus, the same store chain, can buy direct.
 
same thing in australia... i gag at the prices quoted in the US for pany...we pay double here, but the olympus prices seem comparable to US....
 
The nice thing about Photoprice is that it not only gives comparative Canada-US pricing but also comparative pricing within Canada for possible price matching. Eg The 45-150 lens is selling in Alberta for $229 and for $299 at Henry's.

F.
 
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