That's a rather cynical attitude, Tom. Do you not allow that there are some retailers out there who may actually be in if for more than just money? Perhaps some are actually camera buffs. Perhaps some feel that providing good service (both repairs and free after-sales advice) is good for future sales and the industry as a whole.
Perhaps... but the nature of any for profit business is... I don't have to tell you.
Let's not forget that one of the big problems that these poor schmucks (the mom and pop stores) have, and one of the reasons that the big boyz can undercut them, is that the manufacturers themselves will give the b.bz. huge volume discounts. Let's face it, it's cheaper to ship hundreds or thousands of units a month to some huge operation than maybe 5 or 10 units to Billybob's Cameras on Main Street. Not just cheaper to ship, but economies of scale being what they are, it's a hell of a lot cheaper to make each unit if they're made in the thousands rather than the hundreds. It's worth it for the manufacturers to support the big guy with such incentives.
Anyway, again, this could go on and on, so I'll end my commie rant right about here. One parting shot, however: If I owned a gas station, you wouldn't get the washroom key, no matter how much gas you bought! <LOL>
Then I'd have to do what I told my wife to do last time it happened. I'd pee on your floor on the way out. :) My wife didn't do it, but I'm just waiting for the opportunity... cheers!
Tom C.
