D70 Price Point

miggy · Dec 7, 2003

Seeing as how the Dollar's value is dropping steadily against the Euro, I wonder if Nikon will review their estimated prices on release of the D70 (assuming, of course, the market stays as it is)

At today's exchange rates, at $1000, even with duty added, I could import a grey model for a little over £700, but if I bought in Europe, at a price of €1100, I'd be paying £760. Worth the risk? I think so.

And if the duty doesn't get charged, which it often doesn't, as it is the responsibility of the mail carrier to collect and they often can't be bothered, then it makes the D70 an absolute steal at £600

God bless a weak US economy, and roll on Spring...
--
mig
A poet, a lover and a fool
http://www.pbase.com/miggy

Uncle Frank · Dec 7, 2003

miggy said:
God bless a weak US economy, and roll on Spring...

I'm not sure how the US economy plays into the equation, Miggy, considering that Nikon Corp. is yen based, and the d70 will probably be made in China or Korea. Most of your savings would come from ducking the high margins Nikon's Euro subsidiary and their dealers charge, and evading taxes.

--
Warm regards,
Uncle Frank, FCAS Charter Member,
Hummingbird Hunter, DPR/NTF Supporter
Coolpix fifty seven hundred and nine ninety five
http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/coolpix&page=all

miggy · Dec 7, 2003

Uncle Frank said:
I'm not sure how the US economy plays into the equation, Miggy,
considering that Nikon Corp. is yen based, and the d70 will
probably be made in China or Korea. Most of your savings would
come from ducking the high margins Nikon's Euro subsidiary and
their dealers charge, and evading taxes.

But with the USD being the world currency, and the benchmark by which all other currencies are judged, and given that Nikon have announced estimated price points, a $999 price looks more attractive to anybody UK based than a price in Euro's ever will, for the reason's you mention, namely greedy dealers and high taxes.

If Nikon feel they absolutely have to break the $1000 mark, then a grey import from the US has to be the only way to go
--
mig
A poet, a lover and a fool
http://www.pbase.com/miggy

marek k · Dec 7, 2003

miggy said:
But with the USD being the world currency, and the benchmark by
which all other currencies are judged, and given that Nikon have
announced estimated price points, a $999 price looks more
attractive to anybody UK based than a price in Euro's ever will,
for the reason's you mention, namely greedy dealers and high taxes.

I believe you may find the Euro to be taking over that particular role. However the profits still go back to the mothership in Japan, you are mistaken in thinking that they care how much the dollar is worth in relation to any other currency than the yen - which will tell them
a) how many they can sell
b) how much comes back as profit

As for the european prices, they've been traditionally higher. This is due ot import duties and a numbre of different factors.

miggy said:
If Nikon feel they absolutely have to break the $1000 mark, then a
grey import from the US has to be the only way to go

I dont follow. Nikon USA might, what nikon europe sells it for is a different matter.

miggy said:
--
mig
A poet, a lover and a fool
http://www.pbase.com/miggy

--
-marek

Equipment list in profile.

http://www.pbase.com/mkrol/
http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=port&data=14298

miggy · Dec 7, 2003

marek k said:
marek k said:

If Nikon feel they absolutely have to break the $1000 mark, then a
grey import from the US has to be the only way to go

Click to expand...

marek k said:
I dont follow. Nikon USA might, what nikon europe sells it for is a
different matter.

If Nikon USA DO decide they have to break the $1000 dollar mark, in order to compete with Canon and Olympus, then the weaker the dollar gets, the more my pound is worth. As an example, at an exchange rate of 1:1 a price of $1000 would cost me £1000 to import from the US, but when the rate is 1.6:1, as it is now, a price of $1000 would only cost me £625. Even with duty added, it only comes to £735.

I know from experience that a European launch will be priced according to the market rates in force at the time (Nikon have already chosed not to break the €1000 mark), hence my hope that Nikon USA will feel compelled to stay below the $1000 mark, regardless. If they do, then Nikon Europe won't be getting my money, Nikon USa will. Sorry if I wasn't too clear on that point.

With the advent of the http://www , there is little consequence in buying from next door, or from another continent. There may be some after-sales issues, but if it saves me enough money, i'll chance it.
--
mig
A poet, a lover and a fool
http://www.pbase.com/miggy

Ching-Kuang Shene · Dec 7, 2003

miggy said:
I know from experience that a European launch will be priced
according to the market rates in force at the time (Nikon have
already chosed not to break the €1000 mark), hence my hope that
Nikon USA will feel compelled to stay below the $1000 mark,
regardless. If they do, then Nikon Europe won't be getting my
money, Nikon USa will. Sorry if I wasn't too clear on that point.

I do get your point. The only BIG concern is that when your D70 has trouble and needs repair, NikonUK will not repair your D70, and Nikon USA will. Would you like to pay high shipping for sending your D70 to Nikon USA? So, you are not make ONE choice. In fact, you are making TWO, one for purchasing and the other for repair.

miggy said:
With the advent of the http://www , there is little consequence in buying
from next door, or from another continent. There may be some
after-sales issues, but if it saves me enough money, i'll chance it.

Wish your D70 will never break down. Cross your fingers.

CK
http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam
Nikon Coolpix 950/990/995/2500/4500 User Guide

marek k · Dec 7, 2003

I understand now - I read your earlier posts as a discussion on global pricing practices. You do need to weigh up the warranty issue though, as you're not particularly likely to get anything serviced here.

miggy said:
marek k said:

miggy said:

If Nikon feel they absolutely have to break the $1000 mark, then a
grey import from the US has to be the only way to go

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

miggy said:

I dont follow. Nikon USA might, what nikon europe sells it for is a
different matter.

Click to expand...

If Nikon USA DO decide they have to break the $1000 dollar mark, in
order to compete with Canon and Olympus, then the weaker the dollar
gets, the more my pound is worth. As an example, at an exchange
rate of 1:1 a price of $1000 would cost me £1000 to import from the
US, but when the rate is 1.6:1, as it is now, a price of $1000
would only cost me £625. Even with duty added, it only comes to
£735.

I know from experience that a European launch will be priced
according to the market rates in force at the time (Nikon have
already chosed not to break the €1000 mark), hence my hope that
Nikon USA will feel compelled to stay below the $1000 mark,
regardless. If they do, then Nikon Europe won't be getting my
money, Nikon USa will. Sorry if I wasn't too clear on that point.

With the advent of the http://www , there is little consequence in buying
from next door, or from another continent. There may be some
after-sales issues, but if it saves me enough money, i'll chance it.
--
mig
A poet, a lover and a fool
http://www.pbase.com/miggy

--
-marek

Equipment list in profile.

http://www.pbase.com/mkrol/
http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=port&data=14298

miggy · Dec 7, 2003

marek k said:
I understand now - I read your earlier posts as a discussion on
global pricing practices.

God no, I'm much, much, more low brow than that

marek k said:
You do need to weigh up the warranty
issue though, as you're not particularly likely to get anything
serviced here.

Yup, that's the crunch issue. Seems ludicrous that a company can manufacture a product, then refuse to acknowledge any statutory rights, purely because you bought it from the wrong authorised dealer
--
mig
A poet, a lover and a fool
http://www.pbase.com/miggy

Ron T · Dec 7, 2003

miggy said:
God bless a weak US economy, and roll on Spring...

But your idea of purchasing from the US via the internet would improve the US economy. What if everyone in Europe did this...you better keep your idea a secret until spring. LOL

--
Ron T
5 7 0 0

marek k · Dec 7, 2003

Is part of their way of making peoiple buy local. I know there are some valid reasons for the price differentials across countries, but ... they're f'ing huge. The difference can be 100% on the price of bodies. A d100 here in Poland goes for 9000PLN (most shops though can be bought cheaper) - thats 2250USD at the moment. A joke...

Seriously though, something like camera gear that is expected to travel SHOULD receive an international warranty. Maybe once the global market levels a little more and prices are closer companies will use this as a differentiator.

miggy said:
marek k said:

I understand now - I read your earlier posts as a discussion on
global pricing practices.

Click to expand...

God no, I'm much, much, more low brow than that

miggy said:

You do need to weigh up the warranty
issue though, as you're not particularly likely to get anything
serviced here.

Click to expand...

Yup, that's the crunch issue. Seems ludicrous that a company can
manufacture a product, then refuse to acknowledge any statutory
rights, purely because you bought it from the wrong authorised
dealer
--
mig
A poet, a lover and a fool
http://www.pbase.com/miggy

--
-marek

Equipment list in profile.

http://www.pbase.com/mkrol/
http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=port&data=14298

marek k · Dec 7, 2003

its unfair to people who do travel a lot be it for work or otherwise. Or those who live in strange countries like 1PatrickM (he works in Peru) where they dont really have anything like a nikon service centre let alone an authorised store.

Take me for example, my 5700 was bought in Australia, Ive spent the past year in Poland, and I might spend hte next three in the UK. My 5700 had an issue, I haven't bought it as a grey camera to avoid anything in particular and even though my warranty runs out on the 10 dec Im going to find out how much I have to pay tomorrow to fix it... sigh ... maybe they will be nice to me

marek k said:
Seriously though, something like camera gear that is expected to
travel SHOULD receive an international warranty. Maybe once the
global market levels a little more and prices are closer companies
will use this as a differentiator.

miggy said:

marek k said:

I understand now - I read your earlier posts as a discussion on
global pricing practices.

Click to expand...

God no, I'm much, much, more low brow than that

marek k said:

You do need to weigh up the warranty
issue though, as you're not particularly likely to get anything
serviced here.

Click to expand...

Yup, that's the crunch issue. Seems ludicrous that a company can
manufacture a product, then refuse to acknowledge any statutory
rights, purely because you bought it from the wrong authorised
dealer
--
mig
A poet, a lover and a fool
http://www.pbase.com/miggy

Click to expand...

--
-marek

Equipment list in profile.

http://www.pbase.com/mkrol/
http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=port&data=14298

--
-marek

Equipment list in profile.

http://www.pbase.com/mkrol/
http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=port&data=14298

silverio · Dec 9, 2003

hey you have to thank G.W. Bush, he is a great economist... lol

miggy said:
Seeing as how the Dollar's value is dropping steadily against the
Euro, I wonder if Nikon will review their estimated prices on
release of the D70 (assuming, of course, the market stays as it is)

At today's exchange rates, at $1000, even with duty added, I could
import a grey model for a little over £700, but if I bought in
Europe, at a price of €1100, I'd be paying £760. Worth the risk? I
think so.

And if the duty doesn't get charged, which it often doesn't, as it
is the responsibility of the mail carrier to collect and they often
can't be bothered, then it makes the D70 an absolute steal at £600

God bless a weak US economy, and roll on Spring...
--
mig
A poet, a lover and a fool
http://www.pbase.com/miggy

--
Silverio Tostado

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