With the internet, why do you still need retailers?

Why don't the camera companies just sell directly now?

 

A lot of people (internationally) do not have internet access. The camera
companies would suddenly be concerned with abiding by the laws of 200
countries regarding taxes, warranties and such. It is simpler for them to
just make the cameras and sell them to a distributor incorporated in each
country and let them handle the legalities.

 

Well, Ebay seems to be doing that with it's international shipping
program, at least to an extent.

 

If they did all their retailers would stop selling their cameras.
And they would have to set up a call center to deal with customers.

I have bought my Canon 500D in a high street shop paying a small premium. I could had got it cheaper on the net but I wanted to hold it and take some sample pictures. I could have done that and order it online from somewhere else but that would be wrong.

People who know what they want would buy online. High street shops reach out to impulse buyers as well.


DanP

 

No they'd still be able to sell them.

I agree.

So.....

There's a company called Apple that have Apple stores and sell to the public who they let people wander in and play with their products and you can buy those products at other outlets too, even online at amazon if you wish.
It's said that those stores are the most profitable per square/metre of any retailer and one of the wealthest componies currently trading.
The problem is that the camera companies along with most others are tryionmg to make quick short term profits rather than higher longer term ones.

 

: 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.