Boxing Day "Sales" anyone planning on spending up ?

Ian Robinson · #1 25-12-2008, 05:51 PM

Harvey Norman, Domayne, Bin Lee, Joyce Mayne are doing the hard sell hoping to get us to spend up big tomorrow.

Might pop over and to Bennetts Green tomorrow to put the hard word on them and see if I can't get that EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS USM for a good price (under $1800 say).

I'm betting they wont be interested.

renormalised (Carl) · #2 25-12-2008, 05:55 PM

I would if I had any money...might have to win the Lotto tonight or on Jan 3rd....think I could do OK with $30mil

Ric · #3 25-12-2008, 10:06 PM

Think I'll be giving them a miss Ian. I'm not into fighting my way through massive crowds.

I'd be interested if the Astro shops were having Boxing day sales though.

Cheers

Ian Robinson · #4 25-12-2008, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric

Think I'll be giving them a miss Ian. I'm not into fighting my way through massive crowds.

I'd be interested if the Astro shops were having Boxing day sales though.

Cheers

I'll not go into the shops if they are packed out either (I hate shopping at the best of times). The shops at Bennetts Green are only 5 minutes drive away and so it wont be much bother to drive over and do a reccy.

Jen · #5 26-12-2008, 01:17 AM

no way im over shopping im just gonna chill at home for the day

Octane (Humayun) · #6 26-12-2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

Might pop over and to Bennetts Green tomorrow to put the hard word on them and see if I can't get that EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS USM for a good price (under $1800 say).

$1,800 for a lens at a retail outlet, when the item sells for $2,600 at one of the most popular (and cheapest) grey importers in the country?

If I was a retailer, and someone was trying to put the hard sell on me, especially on a niché item such as that particular lens, for that much of a discount, I'd kindly tell the customer to go elsewhere. Even prior to the financial crisis.

How much profit do you think they'd make on that item at the price you have in mind?

If, for some crazy reason, they say yes, see if you can pick up two. I'll buy one off you for what you paid (plus shipping); I wouldn't mind saving $800.

Good luck.

Ian Robinson · #7 26-12-2008, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

$1,800 for a lens at a retail outlet, when the item sells for $2,600 at one of the most popular (and cheapest) grey importers in the country?

If I was a retailer, and someone was trying to put the hard sell on me, especially on a niché item such as that particular lens, for that much of a discount, I'd kindly tell the customer to go elsewhere. Even prior to the financial crisis.

How much profit do you think they'd make on that item at the price you have in mind?

If, for some crazy reason, they say yes, see if you can pick up two. I'll buy one off you for what you paid (plus shipping); I wouldn't mind saving $800.

Good luck.

HND and similar - on camera lenses - heaps of profit (probably at least 40%) so they have plenty of wiggle room.

they also buy in very large volumes, and this also increases their margin.

Octane (Humayun) · #8 26-12-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

they also buy in very large volumes, and this also increases their margin.

I've never seen Harvey Norman stock niché items such as L-series lenses (it's typically an ordered-in item with a few days to two weeks lead time). As a consequence, they wouldn't be able to pass that volume purchase discount on.

If your local Harvey Norman does stock those lenses, then there must be a lot of amateur enthusiasts and professional photographers living in your area.

acropolite (Phil) · #9 26-12-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humayan

I've never seen Harvey Norman stock niché items such as L-series lenses

I bought my 24-105L from Harvey Norman for the $1399, before the $ dropped. The cheapest on line price plus freight then, was around $20 more expensive.

Octane (Humayun) · #10 26-12-2008, 03:33 PM

Phil,

Quote:

Originally Posted by acropolite

I bought my 24-105L from Harvey Norman for the $1399, before the $ dropped. The cheapest on line price plus freight then, was around $20 more expensive.

I stand corrected. I was going off my own experience from having gone to different Harvey Normans throughout Sydney.

Cheers!

Regards,
Humayun

leon · #11 26-12-2008, 05:14 PM

Not a chance,

I only shop when necessary, something like, Oh, I need a new camera,

go to camera shop, buy, and then home.

Leon

Ian Robinson · #12 26-12-2008, 05:46 PM

Never got there, boss woman had other plans (all day with her family at her mum's place).

Did drive past on the way and their carpark looked packed, as did Joyce Mayne's ,and there were heaps of cars in the big parking lot at Glendale too.

I usually do all my shopping for camera or astro stuff by phone or via the internet, going to the shops is waste of time and effort as far as I'm concerned , and if I do physically go into a shop I know exactly what I want , and am only there long enough to find it in stock or a salesman, and to ask what is the best price you can give me for an immediate cash sale , if I like the price I buy , if I don't I walk straight back out.

erick (Eric) · #13 26-12-2008, 06:05 PM

Yes, my wife took me to the shops - the usual - a few pairs of shorts, some polo shirts, a belt. Couldn't find a telescope shop in the Direct Factory Outlet complex

garyp · #14 27-12-2008, 03:21 PM

well i made it thru boxing day without buying anything

Now i'll save up to get something I really need like a new telescope

Cheers

Gary

Ian Robinson · #15 27-12-2008, 05:35 PM

Boss woman got it into her head yesterday that she needed a new point-and-shoot camera , the old one (that she bought 3 or 4 years ago is rubbish (3.5 MPix and has never ever been able to produce good photos irrespective of who was driving it , my Nokia mobile phone has the same size chip and does a better job !!!), she was shown an Olympus 8 MPix point-and-shooter that her brother has and decided she'd like one like it...great and I thought all my Xmas expenses were done.

Down to HND , Bin Lee and Joyce Mayne , and bought an Olympus FE20 http://www.olympus.com.au/component/...ail/Itemid,69/, for $140 , I tried to talk her into an 8 MPix Samsung (but it required 2 x AA batteries) and was thicker and heavier, she wanted the super thin one that came with a LiIon battery instead (bummer - the Samsung was offered to us for $75).

Told her she'll have to buy the 1 or 2 Gig memory card herself.

HND and Bin Lee refused the match the Joyce Mayne prices , wanted to sell us a similar point and shoot for $200 so walked out and went straight back to Joyce Mayne. This despite the same camera being in the HND sale catalogue for $147 .... "sorry sold out of that one" .... BS !!!

Whole exercise took 30 minutes.

Lots of people driving away with el-cheapo "no brand" or unheard off brand Plasma TVs from Bin Lee and HND. The brands that are lucky to last the warantee period. Looks like these things are walking out the shop as fast as they can stock them - bet mostly on the never never or those "buy now pay in 500 days cons".

We'll hold off a while more before we go to plasma Digital TV , old tele is fine .

Bin Lee had a 28-300mm L IS (had a feel of the it (on their stock 450D , it's a nice lens !) and they also had a 70-200 f/2.8 L lens on display .(I know what the IS version feels like so didn't ask for a look and feel) ... their prices .... shockers , both well over $3000 (yes and the 70-200 wasn't even the IS model !! and they wanted top dollar for it). Asked how much for f/2.8 for if I offered cash , and they refused to drop the price .... so much for "everything is negotiable" and "super sale".... all a big come on to get people with credit cards and cash in the doors.

renormalised (Carl) · #16 27-12-2008, 05:40 PM

Just went and bought myself a 1TB external HD today...$178 at Harvey Norman. Good for backing up and storing pics

Jen · #17 27-12-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renormalised

Just went and bought myself a 1TB external HD today...$178 at Harvey Norman. Good for backing up and storing pics

Thats a bargain

Ian Robinson · #18 27-12-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renormalised

Just went and bought myself a 1TB external HD today...$178 at Harvey Norman. Good for backing up and storing pics

Brand and model no .... ?
Is it powered by the mains or the USB ?

Looking for a big portable drive I store photos and backed up files on. Will be a better deal than upgrading the Lappy's HDD.

renormalised (Carl) · #19 27-12-2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

Brand and model no .... ?
Is it powered by the mains or the USB ?

Looking for a big portable drive I store photos and backed up files on. Will be a better deal than upgrading the Lappy's HDD.

It's a Maxtor Basics 1TB drive (actually a Seagate HD).
Model # : STM310005EHM301-RK. Powered by an adapter.
USB 2.0.
Compatible with both Windows and Mac.

IanL · #20 27-12-2008, 08:35 PM

Sales ??
I went into Brisbane to look for some shirts and t-shirts.
The things that were on sale nobody would ever wear. The shops had big signs saying 50% off when you went into the shops, Some of them had 2 small racks with the things that nobody would buy with 50% off.

Brisbane sales Pretty poor if you ask me.

Ian