Helterskelter.

I believe you have Kim and my response mixed up.

Kim.

It's all relevant. I don't care if it's Pentax or the clothes on our backs. As far manufacturing goes, the West has gone to hell in a hand basket.

Much Japan's long standing photography products also end up being made in a third world rat hole.

RG.

KimC.

It's important to remind ourselves there is a huge cost in more ways than one, for so called cheap prices.

RG.

ChrisA.

You really don't believe you are paying much less do you, just because it is made cheaper in some slave labor camp in Shanghai ?
In any event I would be prepared to pay more for a US product, whatever it takes. If I could find them. Problem is, we would just about have an empty newer house if we had not been forced to buy foreign made goods to fill it.
Yes like dummies we included most of our older US made furniture in the sale of our old house, not realizing we couldn't replace it with US made.

I don't want to get help from a person that speaks Pigeon English at best. I don't want to converse with someone 10,000 miles away who does not understand the question, I don't understand the answer, who buggers off to ask some supervisor for help who speaks not much better, in the mean time listening to a bunch of local distorted music.

We dropped all the companies we were dealing with who have foreign located support. Not going to deal with it anymore

You bet your your butt I am perfectly willing to pay more.

Bottom line. It's the bottom line.

To me it is disgusting.

RG

I was informed by the manager of a local camera store that most Leica's are now made/assembled in Portugal, Japan and China.

Frankly I am sick and tired of not being able to find very much made in the USA anymore, to me it does matter where products are made.

We have lost millions of jobs in the USA to China, Mexico and India to name but a few countries.

Just wait until you call Pentax for technical help and then get a support person located in Vietnam or elsewhere who speaks very bad English.
Been there, done that with banking, computers, printers Dish TV etc.
It can be a nightmare of frustration.

RG

GL.

Plus having them built or assembled in China or every other third world rat hole on the planet.

Other than Sigma, anyone know what other manufacturer still builds their lenses in Japan and for that matter who builds their camera's in Japan anymore ? Are lenses/camera's built in Germany any more ?

RG.

GL.

According 2005 UN Stats the UK is in 35th place.

One just can't pick out England, it is part of Britain (The UK includes Ireland.)

Yes over 80% of the population lives in England and yes it is very crowded. Does that mean a Pentax costs less in Wales, Scotland or Ireland. I think not.

RG.

Hellterskelter.

However how long will the dollar be down ?

With the size of our market it doesn't matter. I can assure you there is plenty of buying power here and manufacturers know it.

Another problem is you guys only seem to gripe amongst yourselves. You need to vote with your pocketbook. I agree Europeans have to take some blame. I don't believe a mostly Socialist run EU helps either.
We don't have any of that EU BS to put up with here.

The average American has a totally different attitude, most want it yesterday at the lowest cost, If a company can't deliver, it's "screw them" we will go somewhere else. Competition and Service is the name of the game here. Plus the biggest market is going to get treated the best in every area.

My wife was in the UK last March and could not believe the cost of just about everything. Her comment to me when she got back was, "quote" My god how do those people live over there, but then they appear to be doing ok. "unquote"

So, with all due respect, get of your duffs and start yelling to the right people.

RG.

SteveJcoe.
John.

You are right on the money. Digital Camera's are a great bargain even in the UK.

I read somewhere that total USA sales were approx 30 million units for 2006. Worldwide approx 100 million units. With almost a third of the market in the US, it is pretty obvious we benefit from our huge sales volume with lower prices and also a much lower sales tax, or none at all in Oregon, Montana and I believe a couple or so other States.

Like I stated before the Pentax Rebates have not stopped in the USA since at least last July. One runs out and they start another, plus Pentax are doing a lot of advertising here in magazines and on billboards. If the latest US rebate will make a difference to UK prices, I don't know.

I do know the Sony A100 has not come down that much in our local stores, if at all. There has been a couple sales with $100 off over the last three months. Couple of stores have the new Sony Alpha 700 ($1399.99) sitting right next to the old A100 ($699.99) Nothing changed much there despite the latest and greatest.

RG.

GL.

When you have been here as long as I have, it rubs off on you.

Yep, I guess I am as American as Apple Pie.

Well gotta go now.

Have a nice evening.

RG.

PS With all due respect, your last name doesn't sound too English.

stevejcoe.

I don't know the import duties charged in Europe maybe that's another reason you pay higher prices for just about everything, plus of course your high VAT.

If you are right in your assumption that big bad USA is doing so well regarding low consumer pricing due to price gouging of Europeans by Pentax and other companies, just think what it would be like if the USA was not the largest market and user of products in the world, you would all be up s**t creek without a paddle. Your K10 would be $5000.00.

It makes me chuckle when I think of how many countries in the world are so envious of the USA and want all the things we have and try to copy much of our lifestyle. (The UK is a good case in point) Then we get the blame for just about everything that goes wrong in the world, including Pentax pricing.

I know what you mean about being glad to be home. Before retiring I traveled back to England and other EU countries on many business trips. I had a great time. However when I stepped off the plane at LAX I wasn't glad to be back home for the lower prices.

RG.