Group Buy(...continued)

[John Mankos]

Well....seems we maxed out that thread...time to start another!

I wanted to respond to the person who contacted Kenmore Camera....I'd highly doubt your friends numbers. If the dealer cost is almost $1300, and then Minolta reimburses them $300, then they couldn't sell for less than $1000 and still make a profit.

I'd like your friend to explain how REPUTABLE camera shops such as B&H, Adorama, CameraWorld, Buydig....etc. are selling this camera US VERSION for $799. Hell, Best Buy sells it for $999 and I know Best Buy isn't in the business of selling things to break even. Just something to think about...I think your friend at Kenmore Camera is yanking your chain.....

JM

 

[Steven Sterne]

John-

The text of my message to Kenmore Camera was as follows:

"Damon and Bob-

I have been casually following this thread at dpreview.com. A guy is trying to put together a group buy for 100+ D7's and claims that at that volume he has found dealers that will sell them at $650/ea. Is there any way that is a legitimate deal with a USA warranty? If so, do you want me to steer this guy to you? A few people (myself included) have posted about our positive experiences with Kenmore Camera.

I wouldn't recommend reading the entire thread - it's extremely long. Read "rikster's" posts and you will get the idea.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=2015047

Take care,

Steven

ps I love my camera, I am more than satisfied with what I paid for it, and will not be participating in this buy myself whomever the dealer."

So I think that if it were possible for Kenmore to get the camera at this low a price, it would certainly be in their interest to try to get a 100-unit order.

But I will follow wth great interest the continuing saga of the "group buy." The earlier post claiming that people who sell electronics at "100% margins" made me laugh so hard I cried. My company sells some electronics (fax machines, dictation equipment) and they are the lowest margin items we sell. We buy from Olympus and I have their dealer price sheet for cameras - the highest prices you see in the market (Best Buy, etc.) are no more than 20% higher than their prices. It's one of the reasons my company doesn't sell digital cameras.

To be competitive, margins are generally in the single digits. Manufacturer-to-dealer rebates can add 5-10 points, but at the rate models change (and inventory becomes worthless), it's a brutal business.

Respectfully,

Steven

Well....seems we maxed out that thread...time to start another!

I wanted to respond to the person who contacted Kenmore
Camera....I'd highly doubt your friends numbers. If the dealer
cost is almost $1300, and then Minolta reimburses them $300, then
they couldn't sell for less than $1000 and still make a profit.

I'd like your friend to explain how REPUTABLE camera shops such as
B&H, Adorama, CameraWorld, Buydig....etc. are selling this camera
US VERSION for $799. Hell, Best Buy sells it for $999 and I know
Best Buy isn't in the business of selling things to break even.
Just something to think about...I think your friend at Kenmore
Camera is yanking your chain.....

JM

 

[dogbone210]

FROM PREVIOUS THREAD:

Rikster:

How can I contact Sunshine Digital? Are the camera's grey market?
I'd gladly pay $699 for a USA warranty D7.

Dean

OK dean here it is 1-800-845-0693 also
http://www.store.yahoo.com/sunshinedigitaldeals

make sure you verify it is usa version cause they want more for dimage 5 than dimage 7 that is strange.

Rikster,

Does the D5 have the same rebate as the D7? This could explain why the D5 price is higher than D7. Just a thought.

 

[rikster74272]

Rikster:

How can I contact Sunshine Digital? Are the camera's grey market?
I'd gladly pay $699 for a USA warranty D7.

Dean

OK dean here it is 1-800-845-0693 also
http://www.store.yahoo.com/sunshinedigitaldeals
make sure you verify it is usa version cause they want more for
dimage 5 than dimage 7 that is strange.

Rikster,

Does the D5 have the same rebate as the D7? This could explain why
the D5 price is higher than D7. Just a thought.

No the D5 has 200 rebate and D7 has 300 rebate. read my next post.

 

[rikster74272]

Rikster:

How can I contact Sunshine Digital? Are the camera's grey market?
I'd gladly pay $699 for a USA warranty D7.

Dean

OK dean here it is 1-800-845-0693 also
http://www.store.yahoo.com/sunshinedigitaldeals
make sure you verify it is usa version cause they want more for
dimage 5 than dimage 7 that is strange.

Rikster,

Does the D5 have the same rebate as the D7? This could explain why
the D5 price is higher than D7. Just a thought.

No the D5 has 200 rebate and D7 has 300 rebate. read my next post.

I just received an email from alex at edigital pro. Here is what i asked and what i got for a reply. I asked if the dimage7 that is posted on yahoo store for 609.94 is a grey market or import camera and does it come with usa warantee. His answer is yes it is brand factory sealed camera with one year usa warantee uas made. well the usa made is a stretch. so go from there if it is not grey market it is one hell of a deal and he rules out refurbished to by his wording. I am saving the email. Everyone check it out.

 

[Tom Brock]

If you now go to the EdigitalPro site the camera is $690 not $609.94 and the accessories are way overpriced, typical of a lowball but make it up with shipping and add ons. I thought you were going with a reputable dealerand this one sure doesn't look like it on the surface.

Rikster:

How can I contact Sunshine Digital? Are the camera's grey market?
I'd gladly pay $699 for a USA warranty D7.

Dean

OK dean here it is 1-800-845-0693 also
http://www.store.yahoo.com/sunshinedigitaldeals
make sure you verify it is usa version cause they want more for
dimage 5 than dimage 7 that is strange.

Rikster,

Does the D5 have the same rebate as the D7? This could explain why
the D5 price is higher than D7. Just a thought.

No the D5 has 200 rebate and D7 has 300 rebate. read my next post.

I just received an email from alex at edigital pro. Here is what i
asked and what i got for a reply. I asked if the dimage7 that is
posted on yahoo store for 609.94 is a grey market or import camera
and does it come with usa warantee. His answer is yes it is brand
factory sealed camera with one year usa warantee uas made. well
the usa made is a stretch. so go from there if it is not grey
market it is one hell of a deal and he rules out refurbished to by
his wording. I am saving the email. Everyone check it out.

 

[rikster74272]

Rikster:

How can I contact Sunshine Digital? Are the camera's grey

market?

I'd gladly pay $699 for a USA warranty D7.

Dean

OK dean here it is 1-800-845-0693 also
http://www.store.yahoo.com/sunshinedigitaldeals
make sure you verify it is usa version cause they want more for
dimage 5 than dimage 7 that is strange.

Rikster,

Does the D5 have the same rebate as the D7? This could explain why
the D5 price is higher than D7. Just a thought.

No the D5 has 200 rebate and D7 has 300 rebate. read my next post.

I just received an email from alex at edigital pro. Here is what i
asked and what i got for a reply. I asked if the dimage7 that is
posted on yahoo store for 609.94 is a grey market or import camera
and does it come with usa warantee. His answer is yes it is brand
factory sealed camera with one year usa warantee uas made. well
the usa made is a stretch. so go from there if it is not grey
market it is one hell of a deal and he rules out refurbished to by
his wording. I am saving the email. Everyone check it out.

They just changed the site but i just got the email from them around 6pm also if you look at yahoo at 3pm there were 78 sites for dimage now there are only 16 is the shortage of the cameras i think

 

[John Stavick]

I have been following this thread since it started and just wanted to throw in my two cents worth (maybe thats all it's worth, but here goes)

I have been down that road before of buying a camera for what you may not think is an up and up dealer. It ain't no fun.

I buy 95% of all my gear from B&H. I just purchased my D7 from them for $779 and Fed-X had it on my door step in 2 days as B&H always does using the cheap Super Saver rate. I've tested Super Saver and the Express on two seperate orders. Shipping was the same 2 days. The extra day comes in if B&H is swamped with orders, they get Express orders out ASAP.

Anyhow, my point being, isn't it worth $75 or $100 to be able to sleep better at night knowing you bought from a VERY REPUTABLE DEALER? Why take the chance of ending up with a $699 worthless camera?

By the way, you have to mention the $779 price, because they show a $799 price...then take that $20 and apply it to a 5 year warranty for $59...then you can really sleep GREAT for the next 5 years or till the next model Minolta comes out and then we go thru this again! ugh!

That may have been three cents worth, but...Thanks for Reading!
PS: The Dimage 7 is a BARGAIN at $800

 

[Buffd]

Rikster:

How can I contact Sunshine Digital? Are the camera's grey

market?

I'd gladly pay $699 for a USA warranty D7.

Dean

OK dean here it is 1-800-845-0693 also
http://www.store.yahoo.com/sunshinedigitaldeals
make sure you verify it is usa version cause they want more for
dimage 5 than dimage 7 that is strange.

Rikster,

Does the D5 have the same rebate as the D7? This could explain why
the D5 price is higher than D7. Just a thought.

No the D5 has 200 rebate and D7 has 300 rebate. read my next post.

I just received an email from alex at edigital pro. Here is what i
asked and what i got for a reply. I asked if the dimage7 that is
posted on yahoo store for 609.94 is a grey market or import camera
and does it come with usa warantee. His answer is yes it is brand
factory sealed camera with one year usa warantee uas made. well
the usa made is a stretch. so go from there if it is not grey
market it is one hell of a deal and he rules out refurbished to by
his wording. I am saving the email. Everyone check it out.

They just changed the site but i just got the email from them
around 6pm also if you look at yahoo at 3pm there were 78 sites for
dimage now there are only 16 is the shortage of the cameras i think

According to resellerratings.com, edigitalpro is not to be trusted. Do you have any reason to trust them beyond an email. Whatever happened to the company out of PA that was going to do the camera at $650? Let us know if the group buy is still a possibility as I may just purchase the camera elsewhere is not. Thanks

 

[rikster74272]

I have been following this thread since it started and just wanted
to throw in my two cents worth (maybe thats all it's worth, but
here goes)

I have been down that road before of buying a camera for what you
may not think is an up and up dealer. It ain't no fun.

I buy 95% of all my gear from B&H. I just purchased my D7 from them
for $779 and Fed-X had it on my door step in 2 days as B&H always
does using the cheap Super Saver rate. I've tested Super Saver and
the Express on two seperate orders. Shipping was the same 2 days.
The extra day comes in if B&H is swamped with orders, they get
Express orders out ASAP.

Anyhow, my point being, isn't it worth $75 or $100 to be able to
sleep better at night knowing you bought from a VERY REPUTABLE
DEALER? Why take the chance of ending up with a $699 worthless
camera?

By the way, you have to mention the $779 price, because they show a
$799 price...then take that $20 and apply it to a 5 year warranty
for $59...then you can really sleep GREAT for the next 5 years or
till the next model Minolta comes out and then we go thru this
again! ugh!

That may have been three cents worth, but...Thanks for Reading!
PS: The Dimage 7 is a BARGAIN at $800

Not to be critical john but if you go to yahoo and look B&H now wants 1299.95 for the cameras plus shipping even though that is list price now and there is a 300 rebate. ie they are keeping the rebate. That is not right. I know you like them but that is plain outrageous and they should get the crook of the new year award if it is the price they want.

 

[rikster74272]

Rikster:

How can I contact Sunshine Digital? Are the camera's grey

market?

I'd gladly pay $699 for a USA warranty D7.

Dean

OK dean here it is 1-800-845-0693 also
http://www.store.yahoo.com/sunshinedigitaldeals
make sure you verify it is usa version cause they want more for
dimage 5 than dimage 7 that is strange.

Rikster,

Does the D5 have the same rebate as the D7? This could explain why
the D5 price is higher than D7. Just a thought.

No the D5 has 200 rebate and D7 has 300 rebate. read my next post.

I just received an email from alex at edigital pro. Here is what i
asked and what i got for a reply. I asked if the dimage7 that is
posted on yahoo store for 609.94 is a grey market or import camera
and does it come with usa warantee. His answer is yes it is brand
factory sealed camera with one year usa warantee uas made. well
the usa made is a stretch. so go from there if it is not grey
market it is one hell of a deal and he rules out refurbished to by
his wording. I am saving the email. Everyone check it out.

They just changed the site but i just got the email from them
around 6pm also if you look at yahoo at 3pm there were 78 sites for
dimage now there are only 16 is the shortage of the cameras i think

According to resellerratings.com, edigitalpro is not to be trusted.
Do you have any reason to trust them beyond an email. Whatever
happened to the company out of PA that was going to do the camera
at $650? Let us know if the group buy is still a possibility as I
may just purchase the camera elsewhere is not. Thanks

edigitalpro has a good rating it is edigitalmall and edigitalsomething else that is bad. resellerratings did not have anything for edigitalpro but yahoo did. and they have them with 5 stars and that is highest. The place in filthydelphia has none and they do not know when they will get any they will not even take an order. THey said they are mad at minolta cause they could sell tons of them and none to be had. ONly the vendors charging too much have them now. everyone else is out of them. The camera is just selling too good now. Every vendor i talked too that is reasonable had same thing to say everyone wants the dimage 5 or 7 and none to be had. I just hope minolta starts making more. Hell lots of unemployed now here that would be willing to work to make them. But alas maybe they have learned from the arabs and oil companies keep supply low and you get more money for it. I hope i am wrong on the later.

 

[Jon W77861]

edigitalpro has a good rating it is edigitalmall and
edigitalsomething else that is bad.

The smart cons change their name on a regular basis.

edigitalxxxxx are all the same people.

 

[Jon W77861]

rikster said:

Not to be critical john but if you go to yahoo and look B&H now
wants 1299.95 for the cameras plus shipping even though that is
list price now and there is a 300 rebate.

Last time I checked, B&H didn't directly publish their price on the D7. If you want their best price you have to go to their web page and click a link which will email you their current best price on the camera.

 

[bnewman]

Edigitalpro is part of edigitalmegastore. The ratings given edigitalmegastore on http://www.resellerratings.com are very low.

Be careful.

 

[The Man]

I have been following this thread since it started and just wanted
to throw in my two cents worth (maybe thats all it's worth, but
here goes)

I have been down that road before of buying a camera for what you
may not think is an up and up dealer. It ain't no fun.

I buy 95% of all my gear from B&H. I just purchased my D7 from them
for $779 and Fed-X had it on my door step in 2 days as B&H always
does using the cheap Super Saver rate. I've tested Super Saver and
the Express on two seperate orders. Shipping was the same 2 days.
The extra day comes in if B&H is swamped with orders, they get
Express orders out ASAP.

Anyhow, my point being, isn't it worth $75 or $100 to be able to
sleep better at night knowing you bought from a VERY REPUTABLE
DEALER? Why take the chance of ending up with a $699 worthless
camera?

By the way, you have to mention the $779 price, because they show a
$799 price...then take that $20 and apply it to a 5 year warranty
for $59...then you can really sleep GREAT for the next 5 years or
till the next model Minolta comes out and then we go thru this
again! ugh!

That may have been three cents worth, but...Thanks for Reading!
PS: The Dimage 7 is a BARGAIN at $800

Not to be critical john but if you go to yahoo and look B&H now
wants 1299.95 for the cameras plus shipping even though that is
list price now and there is a 300 rebate. ie they are keeping the
rebate. That is not right. I know you like them but that is plain
outrageous and they should get the crook of the new year award if
it is the price they want.

Rikster, you are incorrect. The $1299 price is NOT list price. It is actually what is referred to as MAP price or Minimum Advertised Price. Many manufactures set a MAP price so that it can't be advertised below that if the retailer wishes to have the manufacturer help them with advertising costs. The retailer may set any actual selling price they want but they just can't show a price in an ad below MAP if they wish to have the manufacturer share the cost and esxpense of the advertising. This is also why many times you will not see a price listed but instead the ad will say "call for price" or something similar to that. And I will gaurantee you that B&H is giving their customers the $300 rebate. you are doing a lot of research lately for a lowball price on the D7 but you don't seem to quite understand what you are researching.

I've mentioned this before but I'll mention it again for all the readers here. Any pricing you see below approx. $799 after rebate I would very highly suspect. It will either be a grey market camera or the retailer is not supplying all the standard included accessories. Even if the retailer says its a US warranty camera, make sure it is a MINOLTA US warranty, not their own private warranty. I've seen the dealer pricing and a store just can't sell a US intended Dimage 7 below approx. $799 without a loss. Places like B&H Photo and the other REPUTABLE dealers will sell products at a very low margin per unit but they don't sell them at a loss. Therefore, to sell the unit below that pricing and not take a loss it HAS to be a grey market camera or they are going to lowball the price sell you the standard accessories seperatly. A number of the disreputable store will do this - lowball the camera price and try to sell you the accessories seperate. If you choose not to purchase the accessories they will never sell you the camera - they never ship it!

I wish you luck in trying to get a MINOLTA US warrantied D7 at your $600 or $650 price with all the standard accesoories included with it but I honestly don't think it going to happen.

 

[DiamondHeadDude]

Just out of curiousity, i went to pricescan to find out the current "low" price on the D7 -- "TheGreatDealStore" has a price of $679 plus $40 second air shipping to hawaii-- it states all cameras are brand new and carry a manufacturer's USA warranty-- i wonder if they can have brand new "grey market" cameras that carry a USA minolta warranty-- being curious, i clicked on their customer service tab, which in turn brought up their "policies and services" page-- WOW, what a one sided document in their favor-- they state in their "return products" section products are guaranteed by the manufactuer, not them; although they have an exclusive "ten day" exchange/return policy as you read further, certain items are not available for return (big print giveth, small print taketh away)--AND returns are subject to a MINIMUM 15% RESTOCKING FEE-- if packaging is not in "mint", factory condition (and after you open a box, it is not in "mint" condition) they reserve the right to add more to the restociing fee -- and if you sue them, you can only sue them in a new york court and then the damages you can collect in the price of the item, not including shipping, etc.-- so at first, i thought they may be a good company to do business, but after reading their legalese document, i am hesitant to say this might be a company for the group to use for the group purchase -- rickster, lets check out all potential sites by reading ALL the small print buried somewhere on their site so the group doesn't get burned --

duke

Edigitalpro is part of edigitalmegastore. The ratings given
edigitalmegastore on http://www.resellerratings.com are very low.

Be careful.

 

[DiamondHeadDude]

aloha, also notice the site doesn't say it is in an unopened box, just that it is brand new and has manufacturer's usa warranty-- i am afraid that John Stavick's (the man) most recent post needs to be heeded regarding all factory accessories being included and not charged extra for-

duke

duke

Edigitalpro is part of edigitalmegastore. The ratings given
edigitalmegastore on http://www.resellerratings.com are very low.

Be careful.

 

[John C. Iliff]

If you would like the B&H price, then check with B&H! It's STILL $799.95!--Mr Pedagogue - Win XP Pro, D7

 

[John Stavick]

Not to be critical john but if you go to yahoo and look B&H now
wants 1299.95 for the cameras plus shipping even though that is
list price now and there is a 300 rebate.

IF YOU GO DIRECTLY TO THEIR WEB SITE...THE D7 IS CURRENTLY SELLING FOR $799.

YOU MUST TYPE IN YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND THEY WILL SEND YOU THE CURRENT PRICE.

 

[The Man]

Duke

i'm not John, but thanks for taking my post seriously. For your own sake please make sure 100% of what you are getting before you lay your money down. I always love a good deal myself, but if something sounds to good to be true than it probably is........

duke

duke

Edigitalpro is part of edigitalmegastore. The ratings given
edigitalmegastore on http://www.resellerratings.com are very low.

Be careful.