Japanese Earthquake Price Jumps

[Bear Dale]

Prices at DWI from last month to today.

Canon
70-200mm f/2.8 II up $269.00
100mm Macro L up $129.00
24mm f/1.4 II up $89.00
50mm f/1.2 L up $219.00
85mm f/1.2 L up $381.00

Definately some hefty jumps there.

[Scotty72]

This is mere opportunism!

The stock on shelves today would have left Japan long before the earthquake.

I think if people hold off for a few weeks, supply lines will be restored to normal etc as I don't believe any of the producers were affected directly. After a few weeks, the rush on the Yen will likely subside and it will go down to normal (or lower) levels.

A similar thing happened after Kobe - all industry was pretty much restored to normal within 2 months.

That was a far more devastating earthquake as it struck the heart of - and partially destroyed - a big, industrial area right next to Osaka. This one (and the tsunami) affected a far less industrial area.

The damage estimates (in $) have the two earthquakes at a similar $ cost (but Kobe was 15 years ago so, in real terms a far high cost).

Scotty

[peterb666]

Agree, prices will return to normal in a couple of months. Things like discounted camera prices and the stock market react to the short-term stupidity of people who live in the moronosphere. Most people will remain on the planet's surface and when twits that have hiked up their prices realise their sales have fallen faster than a harlot's knickers (not Nikkors) things will return to normal.

On the defence of some of the price rises, didn't Canon announce a fair few prices rises a month or so back - mostly to do with the fall of the USD in reference to the rest of the world?

[agb]

I checked the price of a lens I was interested in, and the rise was nowhere near as big as those, and could havebeen justified on the basis of the fall in the $A from its peak of a week or so ago.

[KeeFy]

Price increase is due to the weakening AUD as well. I'm no market expert but this is what i understand. AUD is getting quite big hits at the moment and may continue to do so as the USD starts to rally. AUD should strengthen for one last push before taking a dive. I could be very wrong as well.

[Scotty72]

Price increase is due to the weakening AUD as well. I'm no market expert but this is what i understand. AUD is getting quite big hits at the moment and may continue to do so as the USD starts to rally. AUD should strengthen for one last push before taking a dive. I could be very wrong as well.

Not at all. The $AU dropped only <4% for the weekend is now back up above parity. Hardly explains a >10% hike.

Retailers trying to ride the excuse of a natural disaster is probably much closer to the truth.

[Xebadir]

Very true. Typical profiteering from an already bloated sector. Australian prices actually look pretty good compared to grey atm.