marknorton Posted August 18, 2007 Share #1 Posted August 18, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Browsing the Popflash web-site today, I was surprised to see them selling the new Summarit lenses - not yet available - "on sale" at $1495, reduced from $1700. As I understand it, $1495 is the standard US list price for 3 out of the 4 lenses, so Popflash are mis-representing the sale by suggesting there's a discount there which doesn't exist, where actually they are simply selling for the standard US list price. And I thought they were supposed to be whiter than white... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 18, 2007 Posted August 18, 2007 Hi marknorton, Take a look here Seeing Popflash in a New Light. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ejcaliguri@comcast.net Posted August 18, 2007 Share #2 Posted August 18, 2007 I am not making - or inferring - any 'moral' statement on PopFlash or how their business is conducted; I have been able to easily find all my original Leica UV/IR cut filters there, including the elusive 49 mm. But I have heard other dealers (including my 'mainstays') grumble non-specifically when I mentioned the issues of "why does PopFlash have this or that and you don't?" I don't know why - I have been treated well by PopFlash, and get what I need from who has it. Beyond that, I have no idea why there is a combined 'Dealer Despised' list they seem to be on. Until then, as I said - I will make or infer no judgment. I will buy from PopFlash if they have what I need. But I would like to see some of these 'grumbles' explained a bit further ..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruby_rose Posted August 19, 2007 Share #3 Posted August 19, 2007 Browsing the Popflash web-site today, I was surprised to see them selling the new Summarit lenses - not yet available - "on sale" at $1495, reduced from $1700. As I understand it, $1495 is the standard US list price for 3 out of the 4 lenses, so Popflash are mis-representing the sale by suggesting there's a discount there which doesn't exist, where actually they are simply selling for the standard US list price. And I thought they were supposed to be whiter than white... The suggested list price is $1700.00 and the “Minimum Sell Price” by ALL USA LEICA Dealers is $1495.00. If we were to advertise for LESS we would be not allowed to have Leica Dealership . We have never misrepresented Leica and we plan not to. If we wanted to we could sell any Leica M items for any price as we feel we could but only to our loyal Leica customers. Our customers are our most import concern and we have proven this year after year. TR Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imported_peter_m Posted August 19, 2007 Share #4 Posted August 19, 2007 I am with Edward, PopFlash always treated me well and I found there prices very competitive. They have excellent customer service. Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted August 19, 2007 Author Share #5 Posted August 19, 2007 I suppose most people who buy from Popflash will recognise that the end price of $1495 is pretty much the same as anywhere else and that the "strike-out $1700, on sale at $1495" is unhelpful noise. Adorama simply state the price as $1495, why can't Popflash? "You save $205". Compared to what? Compared to what we could have offered the product for? What not make that $1205 to make the imaginary savings even more attractive? Truth is, apart from the free shipping, you're not saving one cent because the item has never been sold at the higher price. Fortunately, here in the UK, sellers cannot make such claims unless the item has actually been on sale in the recent past at the higher price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 19, 2007 Share #6 Posted August 19, 2007 Fortunately, here in the UK, sellers cannot make such claims unless the item has actually been on sale in the recent past at the higher price. True, but I'd much rather have more of the 'can do' dealers like Popflash in the UK than the sorry bunch (with some exceptions) that we currently have. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker Posted August 19, 2007 Share #7 Posted August 19, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) True, but I'd much rather have more of the 'can do' dealers like Popflash in the UK than the sorry bunch (with some exceptions) that we currently have. "Can do" wins over honesty these days in so many fields - sad:( Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted August 19, 2007 Share #8 Posted August 19, 2007 Kudos to Tony Rose for responding to the complaint here. Conversely I noticed that The Classic Camera didn't respond when numerous complaints were levelled against it in a recent thread. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted August 19, 2007 Share #9 Posted August 19, 2007 I should begin by saying that Popflash has loaned several cameras and lenses that I've tested, including the Ricoh GX-100 I'm testing now. That said, so too have many other companies and that fact does not keep me from being frank when commenting about them. If the worst one can say about a business is that it lists a retail price and then a lower "sale" price, I'd say that business is doing just fine. There are indeed retail and MAP prices for those lenses. I think Mark is making a mountain out of a molehill here. There will, indeed, be some dealers who sell, and/or who try to sell, the new lenses at full retail. Selling them at MAP is just fine and I think that the good experiences many here have had with Popflash are more important than quibbling over the phrasing of pricing, sales, etc. $1500 is $1500 no matter how one wants to get there and I don't expect to see dealers selling these lenses (which I imagine will be popular) for less than that - at least initially. More important, in my mind, is that if one has a problem with that $1500 lens, he or she may find that Tony does a far better job of getting that problem sorted out than would many other dealers. That's a bigger deal than fussing over phrasing. There isn't necessarily a monster lurking behind every tree. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted August 19, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted August 19, 2007 My own customers benefit from completely transparent pricing, no weasel words to try to create some impression of benefit where none exists. That's the way I do business. No mater, I've told Tony I think he should just quote a price and drop the "on-sale" nonsense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruby_rose Posted August 19, 2007 Share #11 Posted August 19, 2007 My own customers benefit from completely transparent pricing, no weasel words to try to create some impression of benefit where none exists. That's the way I do business. No mater, I've told Tony I think he should just quote a price and drop the "on-sale" nonsense. Popflash wants to try to make sure we will do our best to accept any help on how we can display our site. We have change our site to read "$1.00" savngs. If any of my customers feel this is not fair transparent pricing, you can contact me directly at Tony@popflash.com. In the same thought we would like to remind all who read this "In a New Light" that we offer Free Freight for shipping within the USA.. We will extend "Free Freight" to any of my customers in the UK through August 2007. Please accept my "Transparent" offering with a smile. TR Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted August 19, 2007 Share #12 Posted August 19, 2007 I must add to this thread that Tony is also a supporter of this website, and has been one for as long as I can remember. PopFlash offers a lot of value beyond the point of sale, and is a reputable operation that many of us have patronized in the past. Time to move onto something more egregious, IMO, like the continuing operations of GiftSix out of Hong Kong...a "business" that casts a dark shadow on everyone in the retail trade. Thanks. Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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