This is an update on a previous observation on Ricoh's price cut in Hong Kong.
Cristi, a Ricoh user from Britain, met people of HK's distributor (Laikok) for Ricoh cameras recently. The Laikok people commented that their recent price cut for some of Ricoh's cameras, including the deepest cut of 30% for GRDII's, was rather a strategic move for economic consideration than a prelude to the coming of any new Ricoh's model. A new release would be in 2-3 months but rather later.
There is certainly credence in the comment. But let's reason further for a fuller picture:
1) Around nine months before the release of GX200, HSBC offered its local VISA card customers an approximately 30% off the price of GX100.
2) So, shedding a reasonable amount of the old stock requires a period of, say, nine months.
3) The price cut this time for GRDII is the deepest; coincidentally, for 30% (making it at the same price level of a GX200!).
4) Some informed GRDII users commented that the release cycle of GRD model was two years. GRDII was released in October 2007. The cycle for GRDII will come to an end in ten months.
5) Would strategic move be based more heavily on strategic market factors, less on routines?
6) The niche market of serious compact grows crowder, and more competitive with the emergence of similar cameras of other brands.
7) If there is a need to re-conquer the niche market, the tactics is either cutting the price or working out a more advanced model to stay on top.
The conclusion is yours to make. Whatever the conclusion is, price cuts are always welcomed. And keep taking more photos, do less guessing.
Note: The above guess is not materially founded in any way.
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