k-3 for £599?

A barge pole is much too short. Even two lashed together would be inadequate. The only reason such operations keep going is because they can persuade some buyers that the risks are worth taking for the (alleged) saving. If the camera ordered were to arrive poorly packed and badly damaged, beyond economic repair, I'd lay odds that a complaint would meet a deep silence. Although, regardless, there would of course be duty, VAT, and handling charges to pay.

Life is much too short knowingly to get ensnared in the hassle of dealing with an unresponsive supplier unwilling to do anything beyond ringing up a sale.

The best way for Pentax and other companies to combat these 'leaks' is for them, within reason (given that currency fluctuation is a daily business), to price more globally than they do at present. But I won't hold my breath. They, like any business, will usually charge the maximum they think a market will bear ... and unfortunately the population of the UK is often willing to accept higher prices than that of the US for the same goods and services.

Perhaps I should, after all, be encouraging everyone to take advantage of this fabulous offer on the K3. (I'll hold back for now ...)

Hm I thought Ricoh Pentax where a Japanese company

The item UPC number looks to be invalid on the UPC database.

Pentax probably do sell to the distributors at the same (or very similar) price worldwide (except maybe Japan). It is the distribution chain that pushes up prices.

A couple or examples from my experience.

I have dealt with some cables - made in China and sold around the world. US prices around $60 - £40 before tax, EU price, €85 - 68 and UK £70 again before tax. When we looked at the distribution chains there were two or three extra companies in the chains for EU and UK. The add nothing except costs!

Some DIY equipment - made in Germany; including tax prices - US $110 - £65, Germany, €120 - £100, UK £105. Again two extra links in distribution but why?

I can see that there must be all sorts of anomalies that have a cumulative effect on the price the consumer pays, including those you mention.

Without disputing that, or it's significance, it is none the less relatively easy to show that some markets are simply more price elastic than others. It works two ways of course: it determines that any company wanting to make sales in central Africa, say, will normally have to accept that it must charge significantly less there than in (say) Europe.

The US/UK example is one I am more familiar with. The argument often goes that economies of scale are the reason that some prices are frequently lower in the US than UK. There's something in that but not as much as might be thought. Likewise, the different movements of exchange rates have a fluctuating impact (ie if the ¥ appreciates or depreciates faster against the $ than the £ that will impact differently on Pentax prices in both markets). But overwhelmingly, at least in the sectors with which I'm familiar, US prices are lower than the UK's because they're lower!

In other words, ingrained economic and cultural behaviours, and companies' perceptions of them, lead in a self-reinforcing way to some markets tolerating higher prices than others.

Like any reputation, this can change over time, but it's a difficult transition. And meanwhile, in the UK we sometimes find ourselves paying more than on any rational understanding we 'should'.

CMW I understand what you are saying ... however in the case of the DIY equipment, they sell way more in Europe than they do in the US - about 3-4 times and with the cables the European market is about twice the US.


In Europe we just accept the prices.

I think you will find that the distributors set the prices, and we just happen to have the greediest one`s in this country.
This is the same for just about every thing that comes out of Japan, cameras/cars/ motorbikes etc.
Cheers
Dave

^exchange rate is an issue too. I know that for one Subaru in the UK were stuffed for a year or more by the Yen.

The only way to bring prices down is to stop buying, they will soon figure out why.
But i can`t see that ever happening in this country.
I bet the price of the K3 from the factory is around £100/125.
Cheers
Dave

For the camera body hardware maybe (most likely more though), but they've got the development/maintenance/marketing to pay for and I suspect a whole bunch of software (and IPR/patent) licenses to pay for too.

John.

Please ask yourself what is the K3 body made of??
Magnesium Alloy......
The cost of producing this alone will be high. It is hard to work with at this level.
The actual cost from factory will be triple that, easily!.
Some of the Canikon will cost nothing to make. But K3,
Glass Prism.
Magnesium.
Moving sensor array.
Sealing.
the list goes on............
People always moan about the cost of CE goods....They are sooooooooooo cheap.
When I get brassed off about the cost of stuff this is what I always think about...
Beer v Petrol.

This about the processes and vast expense needed to get fuel to the forecourt.......Then compare with BEER......now, compared to beer, everything seems cheap as chips.....

What marketing??

Your prerogative, however, for those who live and work outside of the UK, do they risk falling foul of the unscrupulous dealers that operate around the rest of the world?

Best regards

I followed the link and now have their ads wrapped all over my browser for this forum that said, their twitter feed makes interesting reading.

You should have a look at the reviews on their facebook page. The vast majority are '1 star' (some wanted to give zero but weren't able to). Most seem to refer to faulty goods and very poor aftersales when there is a problem.

Strangely there seem to be one or two '5 stars' quoting how wonderful they are and how they will be recommended to friends and used again. Obviously planted IMHO and very suspect.

I have bought many items from overseas companies and not had a problem. I've also bought from UK based suppliers and had nothing but problems. For this crowd I don't think it has anything to do with where they are based. Reading between the lines (and the lines themselves) says AVOID.