[net.rec.photo] grey market -- an interesting twist

ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) (03/27/85)

Suppose I were running a discount mail-order camera store
and I didn't want to traffic in the 'grey market.'
I would run the usual ads in the usual places and sell
the usual stuff.

Now suppose an inquiry came in: "How much is an XYZ lens
with USA warranty?"  This person is presumably willing to
pay a premium over my posted prices for something that
he doesn't know I am actually offering anyway.

Do I yield to the temptation to quote him a higher price?

dsg@mhuxi.UUCP (David S. Green) (03/27/85)

> Suppose I were running a discount mail-order camera store
> and I didn't want to traffic in the 'grey market.'

You would not make very much money because your competitors would
be undercutting you on price on most items.      

> Now suppose an inquiry came in: "How much is an XYZ lens
> with USA warranty?"  This person is presumably willing to
> pay a premium over my posted prices for something that
> he doesn't know I am actually offering anyway.
> Do I yield to the temptation to quote him a higher price?

If the person is willing to pay a higher price, local camera stores
are a better place to buy merchandise.   "Yield to the temptation"
is just a question of your business ethics --  something mailorder
discount houses are not noted for.