Deals at Focus 2012

specialman

specialman

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Pat MacInnes
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Further to my other thread about moving to FX, at work we also have a budget for a load of gear that has been approved by accounts. It's stuff like half a dozen 60D bodies, a load of 430EX flashes, some 10-22mm lenses and other stuff that particular to the needs of each journalist. Anyway, it'll be several thousand pounds worth of stuff.

Hypothetically, going to Focus 2012 armed with a company credit card that I can spend on to my heart's content, do people reckon there would be substantial enough discounts available? Of course, as a business acquisition, the VAT would be reclaimed on new products so we're talking good prices anyway, even at RRP. But of course, doing a bulk buy of equipment is going to make a shop happy and I know there have been show deals in the past.

Anyone done the bulk-buy thing for their own business and how did you get on against the regular cost on the high street?
 
I've been a couple of times and yrs there were some dismounts, but nothing major and as is always the case, not on anything you want !!!

Be armed with the best price you can purchase them before you go
 
Generally seem to be a few £ off the best price around I think. I haven't puchased anything there, but know others have and generally got some good deals. The really good bargains tend to be on the refurbs though. As above make sure you know the cheapest you can get elsewhere and then just look around at the show...there aren't that many stalls that sell gear but they do tend to try and match each other price wise, so don't buy first thing on the Sunday (if you are going then) as they might change for the cheaper a bit later (this happened with the 7Ds on one stall last year).
 
The margins on things like cameras and lenses are very tight and I doubt whether sellers will have much room on prices, unless they're selling off old stock, shop soiled stock or similar. Lencarta will be selling off a small number of ex demo items at discounted prices, but there aren't many of them and our reason for going isn't to sell them... Also, as previously our stand demo items will be sold off at discounted prices, but that can't be done until 2 hours before the show closes on Wednesday.

Just to make things more difficult, having a stand at an exhibition like Focus is incredibly expensive, meaning that giving discounts adds to the losses.

In short, no real bargains as such, just a few items that are cheaper than normal for a reason - they've been handled - and I expect that other stands will be doing much the same.
 
I wasn't paying much attention to hardware like lenses and cameras when i went last year, more focussing on discounted lighting equipment, hence my uncertainty. :)

Was it a few years ago they were doing white box 5D2s and 1D3s? Can remember a lot of folk on here talking about good deals.

Also, on refurbs is the VAT deductible unlike on used equipment?
 
specialman said:
I wasn't paying much attention to hardware like lenses and cameras when i went last year, more focussing on discounted lighting equipment, hence my uncertainty. :)

Was it a few years ago they were doing white box 5D2s and 1D3s? Can remember a lot of folk on here talking about good deals.

Also, on refurbs is the VAT deductible unlike on used equipment?
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Last year they definitely had some cheapish refurbs and I've seen some walk away with very affordable 70-200/4L and 17-40L
3 years ago I managed to get a real bargain on Manfrotto tripod from one of the shops just before the end. Sun + Wed is the best combination if you can.
 
make sure you check prices before you go to Focus.
I bought mine d700 and few bits over there as it was cheaper at that time.

And if you plan to but dozens of bodies, would it not be better to get in touch with a bigger supplier to get a discount ? or at the event itself ask to speak with manager of any of the shops ;)
 
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