I took the advice of the group and called the Pentax Çolorado
office. The conversation was a bit surreal. They tell me that B&H
and amazon.com have the lens -- neither do or have for months -- and
this guy couldn't tell me when the lens will ever be made again,
although it's not discontinued. I asked him when they last made the
lens, and he says, immediately, four months ago. So I ask him how he
knows when they made it last and not when they'll make it again, and
he got obtuse again. He also said he's gotten at least eight calls
in the last few weeks about the 200mmf/2.8's availability. So again,
I ask whether demand or queries will stimulate interest in
manufacturing the lens, and he said no; plants cycle through the
manufacturing process: sometimes they make cameras, sometimes lenses
(aren't there separate machines for each?). He took my name and
number and promised to call once he was alerted to a new supply, but
a new supply could mean only a few lenses. In any event, it seems to
me the guy was blowing me off, and they probably won't ever make the
lens again. Even if Pentax doesn't list the lens as discontinued,
amazon.com does, and B&H hasn't had one in months.
I agree that it's good business to not let unsold inventory build up
if there isn't demand. But part of a company's reason for being is
to create and support demand for a product. Maybe if they could have
a bit more stock and a bit more willingness to serve existing demand
both would multiply.
Micah
- Re: lens around to buy? Micah Kleit
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