On May 17, 4:55 pm, Robert Coe <
b...@1776.COM> wrote:
> On Thu, 16 May 2013 19:36:42 -0700 (PDT), RichA <
rander3...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> : Why don't the camera companies just sell directly now?
>
> Don't they? I'm pretty sure Canon does (although I guess they rarely give
> significant discounts). But surely this isn't the first time we've considered
> this question (online vs brick and mortar). As an experienced photographer and
> long-time newsgroup contributor, don't you find it a bit embarrassing to be
> asking a troll's question?
>
> Bob
From 1965 to 1977, Celestron in California was the largest maker of
good telescopes for the consumer market. They did about $60M a year
in sales. All sales were done by them directly. By 1979, a dealer
network was set-up and there were substantial discounts from them.
Now, with camera and telescope stores going down the tubes in record
numbers, the mfg is selling direct, there are no more discounts and
most larger products are drop-shipped by them even if ordered at a
store. Cameras are headed the same way. Camera stores are dying
off. Trying to maintain anything but "big box" store distributors is
probably a waste of time.