70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM $1169 at Dell

Despite the rumors that this is a mistake,.. take into account the fact that Dell likes to put stuff on sale.

We are just not used to seeing this type of gear on sale, it never does. But as soon as a vendor like Dell carries it,. it will go on sale. It's that simple.

You're right, of course. I'm happy for the bargain, but still feel bad for the independents that can't even buy them through normal channels at that price, much less sell them for any kind of profit.

The retail world is certainly upside down from that perspective. At this pace, local indy camera stores will soon be extinct. If you take away camera/lens sales, followed by processing, and finally printing, there isn't much left for them to survive on.

And regardless of my high-minded self-righteousness, I'll be watching to see when DEll puts the 24-70L on sale. I might as well grab one of those, too.

This is specially true with Dell. In order to meet or exceed their profit quarter profit forecast, Dell would lure buyers with deep instant discounts, free upgrades and rebates. I get coupon codes emailed to me all the times after I bought a few systems (PC) from them.

Speaking of coupon code, here is another one:
Dell Home Customers: Save $25 on Peripheral Purchases over $300! (Affiliate only online offer).

Coupon Code: 5713F8997AC6

Offer Expires: 9/25/2003 - 11:59:00 PM CST

Some sale rep (don't remember the name) told me that the 10% sale ends 9/30, so it depends who you talk to.
Good luck,
Ken

That is certainly true. Though I tend to buy my large purchases online I do count on my local shop to supply many items.

I learn a lot from those guys and they're getting hit hard by the bulk players. Sure I'd save a few hundred per year buying everything online, but it's not like I can call Dell or B&H and ask them to give me their opinion of smooth bokeh between lenses or test drive three or four items for comparison or simply pick their brains for an hour because I want to learn. So I make sure I DO spend a decent amount of money at my local stomping grounds.

"Tribal Knowledge" is worth a lot more than most people realize and I really do believe that as the small shops lessen in number there'll be an increasing number of "photographers" out there with Great gear bought at Great prices with little or no idea of what they have or what do do with it.

That said, I just called my Dell Rep and let him know there's talk that the deal is too good to be true. He laughed, looked up the SKU, MSRP, MFGR#, cross-referenced the Dell#, called me back after he went off looking to see if he could find any reference of a non-IS version of the 70-200 which could have been mis-represented and said "It's correct, in fact - we've brought the 70-200 IS onboard specifically for the 10D".

I said "A knowledgable forum member asserts they know that a shipping problem was noted at a warehouse where the non-IS version was received in place of the IS version".

Dell Rep --> Orders for this item are through the roof but I have heard absolutely nothing about any issue regarding this product other than we're trying to keep up. It's not impossible that there's an error which hasn't been dealt with. I just haven't heard of it. If you come up with any more information don't hesitate to call me. I'll check into anything I can for you.

Tid bits here, rumors there. Stranger things have happened. Until there's an Official cancellation from Dell or a lens is in hand we won't know. Ain't it a nail biter!? . I know that so far, for me it's been worth every penny! LOLOL

lol,. well the good news is we are dealing with Dell,.. not "HotBuysElectronics.co​m" in which case we would all be $cr@#%ed

hahaha

I've been hearing talk that this is afterall NOT the IS version of the lens from Dell.

http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/48445

Check it out for yourself.

phidong wrote:
I've been hearing talk that this is afterall NOT the IS version of the lens from Dell.

http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/48445

Check it out for yourself.

I'll check your link and raise you mine

http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/48479

Here's the latest on the 70-200 f2.8L IS Lens...

http://forums.dpreview​.com …orum=1019&messa​ge=6212109

Lookin' kinda good, ain't it?!!!

Thanks again for the 'heads-up' on this deal... and,
what a deal it is!

Oh, and BTW, THANKS to DELL Computer!

Here's hoping everyone that ordered in time, gets the product before too long.

Regards,
Jim

With this fanfare Dell has entered the camera and lens business.

These days computers aren't worth as much as a lens. So this may be a good move. More competition means lower lens prices for all.

Let's see if B&H enters the computer and laptop business.

I was listening to the local computer talk show in San Francisco this morning (Bob O'Donnell On Computers, KSFO am 560), and the host told about Dell's plans to branch out into other areas of consumer electronics and related fields. He told about their plans for a new iPod-like hard drive MP3 player, downloadable music like Apple is doing now, new video products, and a couple other things I've forgotten already. Maybe this is no mistake, but a calculated program to draw attention to the fact that they intend to become a player in the digital photography niche. It's clear they've committed themselves to selling a lot more things than just computers.

Just to whip that dead horse one more time...

Dell has clearly made a mistake. Even if you believe the pricing for the 70-200mm lens was correctly entered into their system then it would be difficult to explain why Dell would do a promotion which they did not advertise or promote in any way and one for which they are unable to fulfill the orders until February (which is what I have been told by the sales department at Dell).

Everything about this smacks of an error, but Dell is the type of company that is likely to deliver in spite of the error just to avoid the ill will that would be generated if the stiffed the 540 customers who ordered the lens before they removed the SKU from their system.