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Author Topic: Greedy camera companies  (Read 4303 times)

PeterAit

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Greedy camera companies
« on: June 26, 2014, 10:46:40 am »

I just bought an Olympus E-M1. Nice! A week later I get an offer from Olympus, they will sell me a DVD "How to Master Your E-M1" for $20. I buy a $1200 + camera and I have to pay extra for decent instructions? I don't THINK so!
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Isaac

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2014, 11:32:32 am »

David Busch’s Olympus® OM-D E-M1, eBook Price: $23.09

pdf E-M1 Instruction Manual: $0
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PeterAit

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2014, 12:02:57 pm »

Well yes (duh!) I have the free instruction manual. I was complaining about being offered, from the camera manufacturer, additional instructions.
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KirbyKrieger

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2014, 12:24:16 pm »

Not sure this is the same product:
http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/accessories/camera/quickpro-om-d-e-m1-dvd.html
... but if it is, not including it may have been the better option for you and for Olympus.

I agree that asking you to buy it is disrespectful.

Justinr

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2014, 05:21:30 am »

I just bought an Olympus E-M1. Nice! A week later I get an offer from Olympus, they will sell me a DVD "How to Master Your E-M1" for $20. I buy a $1200 + camera and I have to pay extra for decent instructions? I don't THINK so!

Yep, you are right. It's all about extracting as much from the punter as possible. It could be argued that this was always the case but there was once such a thing as service and respect for the customer, now you are considered just a milch cow. 
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Alan Klein

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2014, 01:09:06 pm »

I could of used a manual when I got married the first time.

KirbyKrieger

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2014, 02:45:59 pm »

I could of used a manual when I got married the first time.

Did you provide one for your partner?

Justinr

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2014, 02:51:51 pm »

I could of used a manual when I got married the first time.

A womanual might have been better.
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kaelaria

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #8 on: June 27, 2014, 11:03:35 pm »

They aren't selling instructions, they are selling education.  For those that are new and need such on how to use a new tool.  Nothing wrong with that
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donbga

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2014, 09:00:46 am »

I just bought an Olympus E-M1. Nice! A week later I get an offer from Olympus, they will sell me a DVD "How to Master Your E-M1" for $20. I buy a $1200 + camera and I have to pay extra for decent instructions? I don't THINK so!

This isn't any new, Eastman Kodak did the same for decades. Considering the potential benefit to many people, $20 isn't a large amount of money.
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petermfiore

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2014, 11:23:20 am »

$20 isn't a large amount of money.


True, and to a camera company it's even less. So why not include it with the camera. It could be furnished upon the customer's request, with S&H paid by the customer.

Peter

donbga

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2014, 11:31:34 am »

True, and to a camera company it's even less. So why not include it with the camera. It could be furnished upon the customer's request, with S&H paid by the customer.

Peter

Just keep in mind, nothing is free.
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petermfiore

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #12 on: August 03, 2014, 11:34:18 am »

Just keep in mind, nothing is free.


That's very true, that is where creative S&H comes into play.

Peter

melchiorpavone

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #13 on: August 15, 2014, 12:04:24 pm »

I just bought an Olympus E-M1. Nice! A week later I get an offer from Olympus, they will sell me a DVD "How to Master Your E-M1" for $20. I buy a $1200 + camera and I have to pay extra for decent instructions? I don't THINK so!

It amazes me how little some people value information that it took time and effort for others to prepare.
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PeterAit

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #14 on: August 15, 2014, 01:34:52 pm »

It amazes me how little some people value information that it took time and effort for others to prepare.

Oh DUH! It isn't that the information isn't valuable, of course it is. It's that it should be included in the price of a $1200+ camera.
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ned

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Re:
« Reply #15 on: August 15, 2014, 03:05:09 pm »

Next you will complain that they didn't include a lens hood.
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PeterAit

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Re:
« Reply #16 on: August 15, 2014, 04:11:42 pm »

Next you will complain that they didn't include a lens hood.

Well, they didn't. But it is a camera body, not a lens, so why would they include a hood?
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mezzoduomo

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #17 on: August 16, 2014, 08:47:29 am »

A womanual might have been better.

LOLZ!   :D

That's a knee-slapper!
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ned

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Re: Re: Re:
« Reply #18 on: August 16, 2014, 10:06:44 am »

Well, they didn't. But it is a camera body, not a lens, so why would they include a hood?

Kind of an Olympus inside joke.
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mezzoduomo

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Re: Greedy camera companies
« Reply #19 on: August 16, 2014, 11:35:32 am »

I just bought an Olympus E-M1. Nice! A week later I get an offer from Olympus, they will sell me a DVD "How to Master Your E-M1" for $20. I buy a $1200 + camera and I have to pay extra for decent instructions? I don't THINK so!

Rather than $1200, would you have paid $1218 or $1220 for the camera if it was bundled with the DVD?  You were offered an option and a choice, which many consumers appreciate. These are profit-making (or 'greedy' if you must) enterprises after all, and price-point vis a vis the competitive landscape, volume, and margin are under constant scrutiny.
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