Well, if this is correct, it sounds good for the consumer. It may be bad for the smaller companies, though. Pentax could be one of the more vulnerable companies. I mean, let's face it, Canon and Nikon are big enough to absorb price war losses, in order to maintain market share. So are computer/electronic companies like Sony, HP and Panasonic (with their so-called Leica lenses - ha!).
I wonder if Pentax is big enough to absorb the inevitable losses that a price war would necessitate? They need market share with the *ist D, and they need it now. I'd be worried. cheers, frank "Daniel J. Matyola" wrote: > EMERGENCY BULLETIN: > > As the old auctioneer will tell you: > > �The best way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your > wallet.� > > Stock touts and newsletters often issue "strong buy" or �strong sell� > orders. > > We usually send our www.nyip.com readers just one e-mail a month. But > we�re sending this special note for a very good reason. > > We�re issuing an advisory to you in the strongest possible language: > > Don't buy a digital camera before Thanksgiving if you can wait! > > Here's why: > > We've been visiting the autumn industry events including Tech Expo here in > New York City. Something remarkable is happening -- it�s a bigger > battleground out there than ever before! > > First, going back a few years, the traditional camera manufacturers that > make > digital cameras had to start to share the marketplace with the big > electronics > manufacturers that burst on the scene. > > That meant Canon, Fuji, Kodak, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus and Pentax (listed > alphabetically) had to fight each other, and with: > > Casio, Epson, Sony, Toshiba and a few others. Suddenly, companies that > never made a film camera (nor other traditional photo-related equipment) > were > players in the arena. > > Now, the computer dealers are getting involved in a big way. Gateway, Dell, > and HP all have camera lines, a strategy to bundle cameras with computers, > and very low prices. As one rep from one of these companies said to me > �they�re cheap because we sell them direct to the consumer.� How cheap? > Well, there�s one company offering a 4-Megapixel camera for $199. That�s > pretty cheap. > > We can't name names right now, but one major photo manufacturer told us > that they will cut prices on their entire line of consumer cameras in the > very > near future. > > What does this add up to? Simple. PRICEWAR! The field of players continues > > to grow, and they�re all ready to battle it out for market share. This is > one > type of war where there is a winner you, the consumer. But only if you > wait > a while. We anticipate price cuts all over the place. > > �When do the cuts kick in?� you may ask. Over the last few years we've > seen major retailers break with tradition and begin sales offers before > Christmas instead of waiting until after all the presents are purchased. > Like > the manufacturers, the retailers and discounters are battling for market > share. > Last Christmas, more digital cameras were sold than ever before, surpassing > the record that was set the year before that. We anticipate the same thing > this Christmas. In fact, this year the sale of digital point-and-shoot > models will > outpace the sale of equivalent film models for the first time ever. > > All the manufacturers want you to buy their brand. All the dealers in each > distribution channel want you to buy from them. Everyone wants to increase > margin in this area because they believe it�s one of great growth over the > next > few years. > > So, it�s time to fold your money and put it back in your billfold. We know > you > want to buy a digital camera in time for the holidays, either for yourself > or for > a present. You�re right to feel that way. They�re better and cheaper than > ever. But, we advise you in the strongest possible terms wait -- you'll see > > bigger bargains right after Thanksgiving when the Christmas promotions begin > > in earnest. > > In the meantime, do your research. For information visit the Digital > Photography area at www.nyip.com. You'll find some tips for how to use your > digital camera, along with other useful information. We'll be posting our > Holiday 2003-2004 Complete Digital Camera Buying Guide shortly on our site. > We'll notify you when we post it. > > As always, we welcome your comments and feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Regards > > Chuck DeLaney > Editorial Director > <http://www.nyip.com> > > -- > Daniel J. Matyola mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Stanley, Powers & Matyola mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Suite203, 1170 US Highway 22 East http://geocities.com/dmatyola/ > Bridgewater, NJ 08807 (908)725-3322 fax: (908)707-0399 -- "Hell is others" -Jean Paul Sartre
