Well, after much hemming and hawing, I ordered a Sigmonster on the weekend -- and may have inadvertently caused some headaches for Camera Canada.
I first checked the price at Henry's ($7,000), then Camera Canada ($6,607). Thought I'd order through Camera Canada's retail outlet and drive to London to pick it up. Then I got to thinking that if (God forbid and fingers crossed) there was anything wrong with the lens, I'd have to drive it back (OK, so I'm old-fashioned ... but I have seen what courier companies can do to packages).
My wife made the decision for me. We were in between birding locations at the weekend and she told me to head for a Henry's store in Mississauga to order the lens. I obeyed.
At Henry's, the sales rep comments "big dollars" when I say I want to order the lens. He quotes me $7,000. I ask "what about a price match?" He says we'll see. I tell him "Camera Canada ... $6,640" (I couldn't remember the exact price). He comes back a minute later and tells me his manager has approved the price match!!
Sales rep called me this morning to say the lens is being shipped from Japan and should be here by the 17th.
He also mentioned that the manager of Gentec (which distributes Sigma lenses in Canada) is going to "look into" Camera Canada's price, which he says is "too low ..."
Ah well .... apologies to Camera Canada if they get in trouble ... but in the meantime, hope they keep lowballing prices.
cheers,
jim
