GH2 in stock thread

Has anyone gotten a black body from panasonic direct epp that was ordered after 12/16? I still haven't received one, just wondering if anyone has.

Ordered on 12/19 two GH2 from PD through their EPP program. One silver and a black one. I got the silver one week later and the black body on Jan 7th. Because I was in love with my Olympus P2 I sold them without even opening the boxes (paid $625 for each). That was a stupid move. Meanwhile I got accross a hacked GH1. I wish I had kept one of those. Ordered another one a couple of weeks ago. It might take a couple of months but meanwhile I will enjoy the GH1
 
Gotta say at this point, Panasonic is really starting to look like a bunch of amateurs. My first camera was the DVX 100, also bought the A model a year later, have always been a fan of the company, but you gotta wonder with this GH2 fiasco, just who is running things over there now? I mean, really, months after release of a product, and it can't be found in stock anywhere?!?!?! Maybe Canon will announce the 5D MK3 next week and I can give up on the GH2...

Yeah, gotta agree with this. When you have a better product in a fast moving market, you have to make it available to lock in as many users as possible, because you can then sell them accessories and generally monetize that relationship in both the present and in the future - it's not just about current sales. If Panasonic waits too long, a competitor will come along, count on it, whether it's Canon or somebody else. Really, lack of supply is a cardinal mistake. If I were at Panasonic I'd take a hard look at who is responsible for what, because this is a major F*Up.

Unless... the reason for lack of availability is that there's a technical problem they are trying to solve, and would rather not put out too many faulty cameras since a recall might be very costly. But that's speculation, and I have no grounds to suppose that. I still suspect it's a basic F*Up.

Too bad. I want the GH2 for shooting mid-year. If it's not available, or if a better camera comes out - maybe even a Canon - Panasonic will lose a sale... but more importantly, they'll lose a customer relationship.

I hope somebody is awake at the steering wheel at Panasonic.
 
For what it's worth, the GH2 is a product of Panasonic consumer division and the other cameras you mentioned are products of their professional division. They are two totally different companies with the same name. So that may explain the difference, although it is no excuse.
 
Good point.
I still want a GH2. I just don't know how the hell to get one...

For what it's worth, the GH2 is a product of Panasonic consumer division and the other cameras you mentioned are products of their professional division. They are two totally different companies with the same name. So that may explain the difference, although it is no excuse.
 
This isn't my grounds to talk, but I sort of saw something similar with the iPad Demand.

It took a while for it to seriously proliferate consumer homes. Me thinks if I were a major corporation in this day and age, I'd trickle product down to the consumers slowly as well, so that by the time the next iteration rolled out (and technology moves FAST) there'll still be consumers left to purchase the new one without flooding the market with second hand second generation--in the case of the GH--models. The second hand market takes a small percentage toll on manufactured goods, because it means one less sale of a brand new one and those sit in a warehouse forever until the big special sales roll around.

By controlling the flood, you control the second hand market and your profits and losses margins narrow.

Could be wrong, though.

They should get those GH-2's out there, though!
 
I dunno Kholi, Apple relies on buzz and elitism as it's core selling strategy. It counts on people who feel that they must compete and gather the newest and best in order to be seen as equals in society. Make it look sexy, make you feel that if you have it, people will like you. That's how budweiser sells beer, that's how marlboro sells smokes and that's how Apple sells their "phones", Ipads and macs. I mean seriously, when people go out and buy multiple Ipads so that they can multitask, when people have to hold their phone by their fingertips just so they don't drop a call due to a piss-poor design yet they defend them with true anger and vitriol that has to say something about the whole thing..

Panasonic just seems to underestimate demand and be rather slow and somewhat unappreciative. It won't matter though because they'll still sell every single camera they can make and we'll still thank them for it when they eventually get around to sending us one, 6 months after the fact, but still..
 
I dunno Kholi, Apple relies on buzz and elitism as it's core selling strategy. It counts on people who feel that they must compete and gather the newest and best in order to be seen as equals in society. Make it look sexy, make you feel that if you have it, people will like you. That's how budweiser sells beer, that's how marlboro sells smokes and that's how Apple sells their "phones", Ipads and macs. I mean seriously, when people go out and buy multiple Ipads so that they can multitask, when people have to hold their phone by their fingertips just so they don't drop a call due to a piss-poor design yet they defend them with true anger and vitriol that has to say something about the whole thing..

Panasonic just seems to underestimate demand and be rather slow and somewhat unappreciative. It won't matter though because they'll still sell every single camera they can make and we'll still thank them for it when they eventually get around to sending us one, 6 months after the fact, but still..
I agree. Another example is the automotive industry. No industry has more second hand sales,but they keep an adequate supply most of the time. What Panasonic risks here is the competition coming up with a similar product. And if that happens, Panasonic could lose sales,and customers. As it is now,many of us that purchased the Gh1 want the Gh2 and would probably follow up with the GH3. The lifespan of electronics (as far as long term competitiveness and desirability go) is fairlyshort, so you would think a manufacturer would strike while the demand is there.

I was just checking for a friend on PD, and the G@ is also listed as back-ordered.
 
The silver one that I ordered from Samy's on Saturday arrived today. The battery is charging now. :beer:

Yeah, I paid extra for 2-day.

As for the silver color, I like it. It's closer to a gray instead of the light silver you see on a lot of the point and shoots plus the grip is black with some sort of rubberized coating.
Guess what. After I ordered my GH2 from Samy's back on the 19th (when they still said it was "in stock") I waited and waited for a notice of shipment or something. 5 days later I call them to see what's up, and they said they're out of stock. It would've been nice of them to let me know. However...

I ordered from Arlington Camera in Texas. I don't live in Texas but I go there all the time when I visit my parents who live down the street from them. Very nice people. Got a black GH2 with 14-42 lens for $999. Ordered this morning and an hour later a UPS tracking number was sent to my email... Here's Arlington Camera link. They had 3 kits as of this morning. No body only kits. I'd call first to make sure they're in. Good luck! :)
http://www.arlingtoncamera.com/shop..._DMC_GH2KK_Kit_with_14_42mm_Lens-11764-0.html
I followed pnmd's advice and just now ordered from Arlington Camera as well. Black one with 14-42 kit lens. We'll see if they have it in stock, or if I have issues again. Keep your fingers crossed!
 
I just ordered a black GH2 with the 14-42 kit from Kenmore Camera (they have 1 more in stock) and they already shipped it. Awesome.
 
And wouldn't you know it, Arlington Camera just emailed me, saying that the camera was out of stock by the time I finished placing my order online. But, hey, at least they let me know right away, unlike Samy's...

However, there's a happy ending to the story. I followed garitd's lead and ordered from Kenmore Camera, and they just sent me an email with the Priority Mail shipping information! Woo-hoo!!!
 
I also ordered from Kenmore camera based on postings in this thread. Placed the order late last week. Called to be sure they actually had stock first. Staff couldn't have been nicer. Very pleasant and extremely helpful. Camera showed up Tuesday! Had to get the 14-42 kit, but beats waiting. Looks like those holding out for body only will be waiting the longest (unfortunately). I ended up canceling an original order from January for the body only that apparently is still out stock! Now just trying to sort out proper settings to get the best video quality. Initial tests produced super crappy results. Guess I need to keep tweaking.
 
I ordered the GH2 kit with 14-140mm lens from Houston Camera Exchange on Tuesday, based on a recommendation here. I got it today, which is quick, but the warranty card states, "This warranty is valid when the product is purchased in the following countries. LATIN AMERICA (then a list of latin american countries). USA is not listed.

I called the Panasonic Service Center in IL, and the rep put on on hold to get an answer. When he came back, he said my warranty was no good. Then after talking for a while about the model number and such, he put me on hold again to talk to someone else. He came back and said that if I have a US receipt I can get it repaired at a US service center under warranty.

I don't have a lot of confidence in the answer. And the invoice states that ALL returns are charged a 15% restocking fee, so I don't feel like returning it either. I'm not going to send in the warranty/registration card, because it might flag the unit in their database. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope that it won't need repair, and if it does, they'll take it with just a receipt.

Buyer beware.
 
Last night I ordered the 14-140 GH2 kit with 2 extra batteries from thecamerastore.com and I just received my Purolator tracking number.
It's coming tomorrow.
It looks like they still have some in stock.
 
This isn't my grounds to talk, but I sort of saw something similar with the iPad Demand.

It took a while for it to seriously proliferate consumer homes. Me thinks if I were a major corporation in this day and age, I'd trickle product down to the consumers slowly as well, so that by the time the next iteration rolled out (and technology moves FAST) there'll still be consumers left to purchase the new one without flooding the market with second hand second generation--in the case of the GH--models. The second hand market takes a small percentage toll on manufactured goods, because it means one less sale of a brand new one and those sit in a warehouse forever until the big special sales roll around.

By controlling the flood, you control the second hand market and your profits and losses margins narrow.

Could be wrong, though.

They should get those GH-2's out there, though!


Your hypothesis sounds quite probable to me Kholi..... Hoping they get the GH2 body only out as well.

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