Or not - I was at a recent camera show hosted by a shop in Edmonton. Nikon, Tamron, Sigma, Canon et al were there with displays and reps selling their gear. I went to the Nikon room (they rated a room to themselves - Sigma, Tamron and other shared a room, yes Canon got their own room, as did Pentax but that was a small room). But room size aside the Nikon reps were not at all friendly and I was totally put out by the way they spoke to me. It's not like I was rude. I had a D610 around my neck so they knew I was 'one of theirs" (maybe they only like the D800 and up group?). Anyway I was looking for a new lens and left with a Tamron 24-70mm 2.8 VC.
Price was certainly a big factor - but price vs performance is what they need to sell. And they need to learn to do it nicely.
But one encounter does not a business culture make.
why? whatd they say? did they have a superiority attitude, or condescending in tone?
they cant sell price performance because theyre selling at crazy prices. theres a huge price difference between them and the 3rd party crew. the price performance ratio is bad.
nikon 24-70 AFS sells for $1900
tamron 24-70 VC sells for $1300
the nikon is not $600 better. maybe $200. especially not with that stiff zoom ring and no VC
nikon 70-200 VR2 $2400
tamron 70-200 VC $1400
here its even more substantial. $1000 difference.
lets not even start with the ART lenses. there is no compromise buying an art lens at all. its completely win win win. price/build/performance
they sell a brand with history and a status (in their eyes) but I see nikon as a tarnished brand. not what it was in my eyes. I do not look to them with respect like I once did. I think they crossed the line with the way they act to their veteran loyal buyers.