NPS Australia

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doug on September 6, 2009 at 11:59am

Please don't take this a criticism, it is meant to be food for thought.

It appears you wish to punish Nikon.
Instead you will end up;
• Subsidising overseas Nikon customers and their support networks.
• Financially supporting the company you are upset with.
• Financially supporting 2 foreign economies instead of the usual 1 (I guess they need it?)

NPS Australia exists to support Australian Professional Photographers who support them (purchases made overseas do not do that).
When you purchase Nikon Pro Equipment HERE in Australia you are entitled to join the NPS and it does indeed offer support worldwide.
When you purchase and run a business in the States you are equally entitled to join NPS U.S.A. and would be offered equal support worldwide.

Nikon clearly state this and list recognised Australian dealers on their website
You have made a choice to purchase outside of these recognised dealers and yet still seem to think you are entitled to the same benefits as those of us who support these networks. Perhaps you would have success joining NPS in the US

If Every Single SLR and Lens purchase made by Australians was made overseas, how would NPS Australia be funded and would Nikon Australia even exist?

When you have equipment which was purchased overseas it is easy for NPS to assume you have deliberately taken your business to a competitor (Nikon U.S. is as much a competitor as Canon or Sony).

How are Nikon Australia to deal with the fact that you may well have had no inkling that you would need to make a significant equipment purchase while overseas.
They assume, as may or may not be the case, that the purchase was made to avoid the price disadvantages of living within an economy that is smaller than some overseas camera stores (camera stores which thrive due to all their extra overseas customers who demand little in the way of support).
Nikon are here to make a profit as are you in your own business. If we support them it will be good for all of us.

Also, there really is no need as a working professional to make your purchases overseas for any reason other than price.
Good hire facilities exist worldwide and any Pro would be able to take advantage of this should equipment fail or if different equipment is required for any particular reason.
In fact it is considered normal to charge the client for hire of anything above and beyond the equipment which you would normally work with.
It is also good practice to hire equipment at your destination due to the luggage limitations of the various airlines.
If you had purchased all equipment here and joined NPS Australia you might have already been able to take advantage of their Expedient repair and loan facilities as well as their network of contacts.
And, proper planning will obviate the need for these overseas purchases. It is not very professional to turn up at a job and say hmm, probably should have arrived with X.

I do believe there is some room for overseas purchases - for instance if I turned up in New York with 2 flashguns and felt I needed a third, I believe this would be fair to buy locally and were it my decision I would support this item as part of an existing NPS membership, but with larger items I actually want to support Adelaide, Australia, Nikon Australia, PWS and anyone else who can be involved locally in my purchase.

Regardless of how you read all of the above how does it help to boycott a local camera store who had no part in these decisions and has little control over the pricing which results from our smaller population?
Surely boycotting Nikon altogether is the way to send them a message, No?

Of course the competitors all have very similar policies so perhaps giving up photography altogether is the answer;-)

Doug

PS 'their' website :-)

Permalink Reply by John Driggers on September 7, 2009 at 1:38am

Hmmm. Obviously strong opinions about this topic.

It would indeed, seem proper for a world-wide company like Nikon to offer a world-wide NPS program. But the fact is, each authorised regional importer has set up their own NPS program to support owners of products purchased through them. While it's not unfair of them to not support equipment bought outside of their region, or permit such equipment to qualify for local NPS membership, it doesn't really seem to match a global profession's needs.

Having lived in Adelaide for three years, I am still amazed at the price differential for technology products: Cameras, TVs, Computers, Software and so on, compared to US prices. I usually compare prices using the following formula when comparing to US prices: Adjust for exchange rate, add 10% for GST, add 10% for customs, add 10% for small market/higher cost to support and then I look at the price difference. There are shockers: Like the 125% price differential for a Panasonic G1 battery. Compare the prices from the manufacturers online web sites for all Apple products and all Adobe products using the above formula and the price differential is disgusting.

I recently bought a second Nikon D5000 body from a local retailer (after buying a new one in the US on vacation when it was released). I showed the Adelaide retailer the Melbourne COSTCO price for the 2-lens VR kit ($1599 before rebate) and they said that was below their cost (they showed me their invoicing book from Nikon). They checked with Nikon and the COSTCO stock is authorised Australian market equipment. They are now inquiring about why, as part of a large national chain, they are not getting competitive wholesale prices from Nikon AU. I think part of the problem is that Australian consumers and retailers have been gouged so long by the importers (who use the small market story), that the Australian consumer has come to accept unreasonably high prices as a fact of life in Australia.

Entry into the Australian market by retailers like COSTCO will, over time, help to reduce prices to a fair level. In the interim, I try to support Australian retailers, but at a certain point it just becomes economically stupid and I buy overseas. I usually add a MACK Camera international warranty to my purchase and live with the consequences of buying grey market. I do not fault Nikon Au for not supporting my grey market equipment. I do fault them for having a pricing structure that frequently keeps me from buying local (I am just not rich enough to support a policy to buy Australian--at any price--in the face of more sensible economic options).

YMMV

John Driggers
Adelaide, AU

Permalink Reply by Robert Lindsay on September 8, 2009 at 5:26pm

Hello Christian,

I would first like to state that if it was possible, NPS Australia would like to support every photographer in their pursuit of photography. The reality is that to provide a premium support program such as NPS to professional photographers it is not possible to support everyone as the cost involved is massive and we in turn need the support of our members to keep it viable.

In Australia we are very fortunate to have four dedicated Pro staff who travel regularly in support of photographers in all parts of the country. This includes support at major sporting events and discussions with some of Australia's most prominent photographers at little or no additional cost.

We have had in the past the option of either opening up the membership to all photographers including those who purchased overseas or through grey market channels and reducing the benefits or limiting the number of events we participate in, or continue with the existing entry requirements and expand our services.

While I personally attend many of the major sporting events held in Australia many of the overseas NPS members comment on the outstanding level of service that is offered and the fact that our members are know on first name basis. This is something I am not willing to compromise on, now or in the future, and while I would personally like to support every photographer I realise that the NPS program is a premium program that can not be available to everyone. We would welcome you to reapply if your circumstances change in the future.

Regards
Robert Lindsay
Assistant National Manager
Nikon Professional Services (NPS)

Permalink Reply by rallygraphix on September 14, 2009 at 4:47pm

I have NPS, and personally feel it is well worth it.

I also had a multitude of Grey bodies/lenses etc. (Well over 50k worth) but I have since the dollar went thru the floor been buying a lot from Photowholesalers and in a lot of cases found their prices to be better than a Grey. D3 was a grand cheaper in the end locally.

Having been thru the hassle of a warranty of grey, i wont buy anything but AU bodies now, and with NPS they give you a loaner. easy as. And I have also seen the bad side of "mack" warranties. never again..
It is a great thing Nikon AU do, and naturally this costs them a heap of money. Its kinda like buying Subway and walking over to McDonalds to sit at their tables in reality isnt it? I can understand and fully respect the way they run their program.

I sadly say you need to suck it up and support AUST for a bit, no nastiness intended by this comment.

Permalink Reply by Adam Edwards on October 1, 2009 at 8:33am

Totally agree, some of my stuff also was purchased overseas, I think if Nikon are serious about making a global commitment to pro photographers then it shouldn't matter where your equipment has come from as long as you can provide proof of purchase and a valid serial number.

But I do agree with the above comments, and Nikon Australia is doing their part in the best way they can. I think the original comment is more aimed at Nikon globally.

As rallygrapphix has stated above all of my major purchases of late have been local stock.

Permalink Reply by soxOZ on October 26, 2009 at 7:18pm

I'm sorry but Nikon Australia sucks... All my camera gear I have purchased has been from overseas as all of it here in Oz is just totally over priced. The only country Nikon Inc looks after is the US...

How come to buy a D700 in the US is about $2300au street price from an authorized US Nikon dealer there and to get one here in Australia from an authorized Australian Nikon dealer is somewhere in the low to mid $4000au (and these are all in Australian Dollars)... Go Figure...

I bought mine from overseas for $2500au (to my front door), with 12mths warranty (door to door pickup for warranty) so even if something does go wrong after the warranty period, I'll have approx $2000 that I saved originally to spend on it.

I have approx $20,000 worth of gear and if I bought it from Nikon Australia I would only have half of it or would have to had spent over $40,000 to get it... I would rather buy local, but Nikon Australia has completely ruled that out with their exorbitant pricing on their products here in Australia...
Hey Nikon, instead of spending all that money on sponsoring a car race, cut you prices, I'm sure you'd be selling more and to the people that were buying from overseas....

Come on Nikon Australia... Wake up and look after the Nikon users here with realistic pricing and then, and only then you just might sell more locally making your dealers happy...
But until they change their pricing policy, I'll still be getting all my gear from overseas...
Sorry Nikon Dealers as they are the ones loosing out...

Permalink Reply by Doug on October 28, 2009 at 12:19am

What can be said except, if anybody wishes to view or handle those items prior to purchase be sure to do so anywhere other than an Australian camera store. Taking up time when you know you have no intention of local purchase is little different than shoplifting. Or do you spend $20,000 sight unseen?

To loyal Australians who support local business, I apologise when you have to wait or can't get through on the phone. We might be busy serving a genuine customer, but then again.....

I don't know what the tax man says, but even if items are legally imported I doubt you would be getting your 50% investment allowance.

soxOZ said:

I'm sorry but Nikon Australia sucks... All my camera gear I have purchased has been from overseas as all of it here in Oz is just totally over priced. The only country Nikon Inc looks after is the US...

How come to buy a D700 in the US is about $2300au street price from an authorized US Nikon dealer there and to get one here in Australia from an authorized Australian Nikon dealer is somewhere in the low to mid $4000au (and these are all in Australian Dollars)... Go Figure...

I bought mine from overseas for $2500au (to my front door), with 12mths warranty (door to door pickup for warranty) so even if something does go wrong after the warranty period, I'll have approx $2000 that I saved originally to spend on it.

I have approx $20,000 worth of gear and if I bought it from Nikon Australia I would only have half of it or would have to had spent over $40,000 to get it... I would rather buy local, but Nikon Australia has completely ruled that out with their exorbitant pricing on their products here in Australia...
Hey Nikon, instead of spending all that money on sponsoring a car race, cut you prices, I'm sure you'd be selling more and to the people that were buying from overseas....

Come on Nikon Australia... Wake up and look after the Nikon users here with realistic pricing and then, and only then you just might sell more locally making your dealers happy...
But until they change their pricing policy, I'll still be getting all my gear from overseas...
Sorry Nikon Dealers as they are the ones loosing out...

Permalink Reply by ChopChop on October 29, 2009 at 1:20am

A very simple question to you soxOZ, are your purchases of products such as TV's, motor vehicles, washing machines, furniture, clothes, food, drink, alcohol done on the same basis and rationale as purchasing camera gear? Any of these items can easily be purchased considerably cheaper overseas yet we still buy our cars from local dealers and we still purchase food at the local supermarket. Cameras though, seem to be the curious exception! Why is this so?

You mentioned "Go figure"....At say 15x the population of OZ, the good ol' laws of supply and demand are indeed hard at work. There are many more buyers and more sellers in the US than here. Further in the big scheme of things, Australia represents a minute percentage of the world photographic market. So, given you were the manufacturer of a product, who would you realistically support?

Let's not overlook exchange rates irrespective whether the dollar is stronger now than it was when stores made their purchases, perhaps without hedging facilities to guard against currency exposure. State and Federal taxes in the US do not have to be quoted in the price like GST must be included by law in the price in Australia. Better factor that in also as it's easily overlooked and gives a misleading impression of the actual price.

What of the costs to ship and freight, pay for the handling staff wages, the store staff wages and wait let's not forget the fuel to deliver? If there was parity with Australian prices then there is merit in comparing prices purely on the basis of cost but we know for sure that there is no parity in pricing when it comes to what we pay for fuel over here and it'd be reasonable to presume there is no parity in wages, shipping, advertising and all other costs to get the goods to the shelf to sell. In laymans terms you have to compare apples with apples, not apples with oranges.

At days end your hard earneds have left these shores and are pumped into the US economy feeding the very same monster and continuing the position that so annoys you. Far more effective to boycott it altogether to garner change, don't you think?

As others have stated here earlier and as I encountered as recently as a day ago, I can attest that those who have bought overseas and struck difficulties with their gear wonder whether the odd saving was worth it. What price do you place on your grief and time mucking around organising the goods to be fixed? Let's be realistic here, the saving in real terms is a fraction of the order of "approx $2000" (sic) and I have yet to see a growing line up of investors demanding to open up camera stores to cash in on the markups you're suggesting. Rest assured, I'd be first in line.

What I really find ironic though is the spleen venting on an Australian website. Buys from the US and posts on an Australian website. Decorum prevents from passing comment suggesting where your business is sought er, sponged from, to pay for equipment. I would suggest if you do have a problem, direct it to the source of your grief, in this case Nikon Inc (sic).

Now to whom and where do I send an invoice for time wasted on this reply?

What price Karma?

Like Doug above, I too extend my apologies.

"Go figure" indeed.