Canon Increased the Price of Its Gear? See What is Happening and how it Might Affect your Wallet!

Photo Source: www.canonrumors.com/

As of November 1st, Canon has begun enforcing a new Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) policy, meaning most of its gear just got pricier. Under this new rule, all Canon Authorized Dealers are prohibited from advertising products at prices lower than the MAP set forth by Canon. Retailers who fail to comply face retributions such as not being shipped Canon inventory, or at the worst, losing their status as an authorized dealer. MAPs are designed to keep retail prices from falling too low which is great for the manufacturer, not so great for the third party seller and the consumer.

Rumors had been swirling online in the days leading up to this policy change, with some sites encouraging consumers to take advantage of sale prices before the November 1st time frame. Early this morning, Canon Rumors noted that B&H Photo and Adorama had begun changing the base prices of certain Canon camera bodies and lenses, confirming that Canon was indeed enforcing the new MAP policy. So how much have prices fluctuated? Here is a sampling of price changes; most appear to be an increase of at least $100.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III - $3,194.00 going to $3,499.00
Canon EOS 5D Mark III and EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS Kit - $3,949.00 going to $4,299.00

Canon EOS 7D $1,499.00 from $1,457.00
Canon EOS 7D w/ EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Kit $1,899.00 from $1,699.00

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - $2,099.00 going to $2,199.00
Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS Kit - $2,899 going to $2,999.00

Canon EOS 60D - $956.00 going to $999.00
Canon EOS 60D and EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Kit - $1,199.00 going to $1,299.00

This new MAP policy means it will be more important than ever to take advantage of rebates offered by Canon , since dealers can no longer advertise their own discounted sales. On the other hand, forum users point out that Canon’s MAP enforcement may have a caveat. When you are shopping for Canon gear on a retailer’s site, take note if they say you must add the item to your cart before you see the final sale price. The retailer could technically sell the product for less than the MAP, but simply can’t advertise it openly.

Another reason to own a Nikon

Really Canon?

You can still find prices below the MAP -- they just can't be advertised below the minimums. Amazon now has some Canon bodies that don't display the price on the product page, you have to add the item to your cart in order to see the price. I'm sure any online retailer can get around the MAP the same way...if they choose to. Some will most likely choose not to, since that will mean bigger profits for them and they can easily blame it on the manufacturer.

Grab 'em while you can! What a bone head move if you ask me. Well I'm a Canon fan either way, but will gripe about this!

I look at it in a different way. I paid full retail when a body came out as I did for the XTi, 50D and the 7D. Then I find out that prices keep dropping, devaluing my Camera gear. If a stable price is maintained as with Lenses, then I wouldn't have a camera bag full of gear that has absolutely no current market value. We cannot always go for the latest and the greatest. our investments need to hold a reasonable market value.