TwistedLincoln
Veteran
What amazes me about this thread is the disregard for Panasonic's perspective.
Everyone can make an argument for losing out on something they wish they could take advantage of.
I bought my first HVX before there were any rebates, not even Barry's book. My second HVX came with the 8gb card, but not the 16gb card that they are giving out now. Do I wish I could have gotten 16gb cards with each camera? Of course. Do I feel cheated? No. Too bad for me. That's life.
Panasonic isn't evil because they were charging $1,300 for 8gb P2 cards which now cost $700. Does the dramatic price drop indicate that their cost was much less than they originally let on? Maybe. But who cares? Imagine Jan came on here and announced that they've developed a 24th century process to manufacture P2 cards, and as a result, each one only costs them $2.75 to make. Oh, but they're still going to sell them for $700. Are they even more evil? No, they're just making a larger profit. Don't complain about it. Buy their stock.
Why do people think that companies are entitled to pass along their cost savings to their customers? Supply and Demand dictates that companies should charge whatever people are willing to pay. If you were willing to pay $1,300 a few months ago, then there you go...
What gets me is that obviously the same people that feel cheated were, at some point, willing to pay the higher prices. Did you feel cheated then? Why does the knowlege that Panasonic could have afforded to sell them for less make you feel like a victim? If you thought the price was acceptable when you paid, then you were getting a good deal. The fact that the price has since gone down does not change that. Sure, your resell value has gone down, but nobody buys these types of electronics for their resell value.
I don't mean to make this a rant, but I get frustrated by the growing attitude amoung consumers that they are entitled to anything more than what they pay for. I've been in sales in one form or another for a while now. When someone points out that my prices are higher than the competition on an item, I tell them to shop the competition then. When asked "well how can you justify charging this much when the other guy charges less" I'd respond "becasue people will pay." I don't see much difference with the P2 cards. Their cost is irrelevant. The only thing relevant is what you are willing to pay.
As far as only caring about new customers and ignoring the early adopters, that makes sense. The early adopters already gave Panasonic their money. They aren't likely to be spending lots more in the near future, at least not in comparison to the new buyers. Panasonic is going where the money is: the new customers. Sure, it stings a bit to be in the early crowd and get ignored, but I'm not offended by it.
In regards to rebates in general, I hate them too. Not because they are unfair or evil, or because they exist based on the knowlege that half the customers won't fill them out right and will get nothing. I hate them becasue I have to fork out extra in advance and wait around to get part of that back. I sold the 8gb card that came with my HVX to offset it's cost. And what do you know -- I got less for it when I sold it than it was worth when I bought the camera. That sucks. But I knew it going in, so even though I don't care for the situation doesn't make it unfair or unethical.
Rebates are annoying because you have to wait, and I don't like to wait. But they aren't evil.
Everyone can make an argument for losing out on something they wish they could take advantage of.
I bought my first HVX before there were any rebates, not even Barry's book. My second HVX came with the 8gb card, but not the 16gb card that they are giving out now. Do I wish I could have gotten 16gb cards with each camera? Of course. Do I feel cheated? No. Too bad for me. That's life.
Panasonic isn't evil because they were charging $1,300 for 8gb P2 cards which now cost $700. Does the dramatic price drop indicate that their cost was much less than they originally let on? Maybe. But who cares? Imagine Jan came on here and announced that they've developed a 24th century process to manufacture P2 cards, and as a result, each one only costs them $2.75 to make. Oh, but they're still going to sell them for $700. Are they even more evil? No, they're just making a larger profit. Don't complain about it. Buy their stock.
Why do people think that companies are entitled to pass along their cost savings to their customers? Supply and Demand dictates that companies should charge whatever people are willing to pay. If you were willing to pay $1,300 a few months ago, then there you go...
What gets me is that obviously the same people that feel cheated were, at some point, willing to pay the higher prices. Did you feel cheated then? Why does the knowlege that Panasonic could have afforded to sell them for less make you feel like a victim? If you thought the price was acceptable when you paid, then you were getting a good deal. The fact that the price has since gone down does not change that. Sure, your resell value has gone down, but nobody buys these types of electronics for their resell value.
I don't mean to make this a rant, but I get frustrated by the growing attitude amoung consumers that they are entitled to anything more than what they pay for. I've been in sales in one form or another for a while now. When someone points out that my prices are higher than the competition on an item, I tell them to shop the competition then. When asked "well how can you justify charging this much when the other guy charges less" I'd respond "becasue people will pay." I don't see much difference with the P2 cards. Their cost is irrelevant. The only thing relevant is what you are willing to pay.
As far as only caring about new customers and ignoring the early adopters, that makes sense. The early adopters already gave Panasonic their money. They aren't likely to be spending lots more in the near future, at least not in comparison to the new buyers. Panasonic is going where the money is: the new customers. Sure, it stings a bit to be in the early crowd and get ignored, but I'm not offended by it.
In regards to rebates in general, I hate them too. Not because they are unfair or evil, or because they exist based on the knowlege that half the customers won't fill them out right and will get nothing. I hate them becasue I have to fork out extra in advance and wait around to get part of that back. I sold the 8gb card that came with my HVX to offset it's cost. And what do you know -- I got less for it when I sold it than it was worth when I bought the camera. That sucks. But I knew it going in, so even though I don't care for the situation doesn't make it unfair or unethical.
Rebates are annoying because you have to wait, and I don't like to wait. But they aren't evil.
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