Red Ringed Tupperware Talk -- Good Times are had by all (16)

hahaha I LOVE that one!! I'd forgotten about it.

(We interupt this thread for a rant...)

So, I learned my lesson today. Unless they come through in a major way, I'm done with one local merchant in particular and probably all local merchants in general.

Wanted a good walking around "street" bag and found a Lowepro Classified 200 AW at a Phoenix brick & mortar store selling for $169 (list $199.) I figured $30 below list was reasonable so I bought one. Come to find out that B&H sells the Black-colored version for $149. Now I've tried to be a proponant of doing business with local stores so long as items are within a reasonable price gap. I would not call a $20 difference unreasonable.

However, I bought the Sepia-colored version which B&H are selling for $116!!! WHAT!!?? A $54 gap? Are you kidding me? So, I composed the following to the local store's Retail Manager:

---------------

Dear Judith,

You don't know me from Adam but if you did, you'd know that on the photography-related forums that I frequent, I've tried to champion the cause of brick & mortar stores. I've always felt that even in this age of internet shopping, establishments like Photomark, Tempe Camera and Foto Forum are, in fact, valuable to Phoenix area photographers. As I often tell people, "Let's see you get something off the web 20 minutes from now."

I purchased a Lowepro Classified 200 AW in "Sepia" from you folks on February 5th for $169.99. I've subsequently discovered that while the Black-colored version is selling at B&H for $149.00 (in my opinion, an acceptable $20 difference), the Sepia-colored version from B&H is selling for ONLY $116. Is the Sepia-colored version by any chance actually being phased out or discontinued? Was $169.99 really a correct price?

I fully understand that local, independent merchants can not be expected to compete penny for penny with B&H, Adorama, etc. but a difference of nearly $54 is simply too much to let pass as the "price of doing local business."

Unfortunately for me, I have an all-day shoot scheduled for February 9th, which will preclude me from being able to return to Photomark within the five-day return period. Rest assured if I were not tied up on the 9th, I'd be camped on your doorstep in search of a full refund.

As I said, I've been a proponent of doing business with local merchants as often as price-gap reason will allow, but with this pricing difference, I'll be re-evaluating that stance. This much of a price difference is, well, a total relationship breaker.

What's truly odd is that I also purchased a P Series-sized Lee .6 GND from you for a price that was actually at or below the best price I could find on the web.

I respectfully request you look into the price difference on the Sepia-colored Lowepro Classified 200 AW. I'd like to know whether or not there should have been a price change that perhaps didn't make it to the sales floor. I grant you, we're talking about B&H here but we're also talking about a nearly $100 drop from the full list price of $199.99 which is significant even by B&H standards. Something just doesn't feel right in all of this.

Thank You for your time.

---------------

So, I'll either get my wheel greased or I'll forever be done with local camera shops. I hope they do right but I have a feeling I'm going to be left holding the bag (with a $54 price gap...) As they say, no good deed goes unpunished...

Here's Your Sign...

oh gosh I hear ya Jay. We had that happen with the camera store in Portland. It was nearly that same price gouge too. They WOULDN'T take it back or meet the B&H price. We actually haven't purchased there since...and we've spent thousands there.

Chief, that first one would be great in the Captions thread! Come to think of it, they both would!

tonylong wrote in post #9571696
Chief, that first one would be great in the Captions thread! Come to think of it, they both would!

Thanks Scout.

Oh wait. You're not Scout.

And I'm not the Chief!

But thanks!

And for the record, I'm not Puddle either!

T.D. wrote in post #9571714
Thanks Scout.

Oh wait. You're not Scout.

And I'm not the Chief!

But thanks!

And for the record, I'm not Puddle either!

LOL!! I thought you missed the Dan reference in my note

T.D. wrote in post #9571714
Thanks Scout.

Oh wait. You're not Scout.

And I'm not the Chief!

But thanks!

And for the record, I'm not Puddle either!

Heh! That's what I get for only keeping one eye on the ball! Sorry Chris!

Welp, I'm officially a quarter century old now.

tonylong wrote in post #9571729
Heh! That's what I get for only keeping one eye on the ball! Sorry Chris!

No worries Ted!

T.D. wrote in post #9571733
No worries Ted!

Sure, Sam, all is already forgotten!

Come whining when you hit the half century mark.

Woolburr wrote in post #9571750
Come whining when you hit the half century mark.

I'll be Half -1 on Wednesday. Can I at least whimper a little?