Sony DSLRs a t Wal-Mart

[Dusty]

Went to Wal-mart over lunch today and saw an a230 there. That's a first, they've always had Canon and Nikon DSLRs, but that's the first Sony. It was also discounted to $299. At that price I'm tempted to get it for my wife, even if it does use a different battery and media.

Does that mean there's a replacement coming for it? Of is the 4450 that replacement?

Their website only lists the 230, 330 and 380, none of the newer models. Perhaps Sony is trying to dump the stock of their non-selling P&S upgrade models by selling to this mass marketer?

Dusty

[InTheSky]

This is less expensive of the last I saw finished on Ebay yesterday (looking to buy one a cheap price for a friend I'm giving them some lenses I'm not using often).

I have checked in the walmart.ca and there is no sony digital camera in store.

Regards,

Frank

[Javelin]

we have them on ontario A230 and 330 I don't know the prices though. the A230 has been there since they came out

[UrsaMajor]

Went to Wal-mart over lunch today and saw an a230 there. That's a first, they've always had Canon and Nikon DSLRs, but that's the first Sony. . . . Their website only lists the 230, 330 and 380, none of the newer models. Perhaps Sony is trying to dump the stock of their non-selling P&S upgrade models by selling to this mass marketer?

The A230 and A330 were available at a local Target store from the first week they were on the market - as I discovered by accident. Although Target is not as large as Walmart, they are definitely a mass marketer, and are large on an absolute scale. By itself, I doubt very much that the appearance of the A230 cameras at your local Walmart has any connection to Sony dumping them, although the fact that they are being discounted may indicate this.

Let's see what Adorama and B&H do in the next week or so, as that may provide a better clue as to whether or not Sony is trying to clear out the A230 stock.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

[Greg Beetham]

I received an email newsletter from My Sony, it's basically a periodic update with adverts of new things Sony, one of the items was the A330 marked down from their list price of $899 to $699, and comes with a free carry case valued at $99.99. Looks very much like a clearance too me.
There has been other news here of sluggish retail sales gererally, January and Febuary, and a lot of large Retailers are struggling...having to discount heavily to generate any interest....sign of the times, people are just not splurging on non essentials.
Greg

[David Kilpatrick]

I love these figures about retailers. Same in the UK. But - once you factor in the weather, it's got surprisingly little to do with the economy! We planned to drive to Belsay to see the crystal horse exhibit which Murph photographed, go to Alnwick and spend an hour in Barter Books (UK's biggest s/h and rare book depot), visit a specialist wool shop in the town - certainly spend some money overall.

But it snowed. Again. We could probably do the drive no problem, it's wet, slushy, overcast and slippery.

I am sure if you looked at the retail figures for all the small independent local shops in our town, and similar small towns, they are up not down because the weather has limited the shopping expeditions to city centres, big malls, and the usual places where retail data is gathered. People shop locally instead.

From what I've heard about recent weather conditons in the US, same may apply. Australia, of course, different situation.

David

[Greg Beetham]

I think also a factor in the US is unemployment, (and here, but nowhere near as bad), it has climbed quite a lot, in June 08 the US unemployment rate was around 5.5%, compare that to now, it's around 9.7%, the US economy lost 8.4 million jobs since the start of the recession in December 07...I'm just not sure how big an impact this would have retail wise on non essential type spending there, but I would expect it would amount to some.
The UK over the same period went from 5.4% to 7.8%, pretty good really (especially compared to the rest of the EU with 10% unemployment), and here in old OZ it's gone from 4.2% to 5.3%, again pretty good, so it's a little puzzling why the retail slump is happening here, the weather isn't playing such a factor here as it is elsewhere.
Greg

[bakubo]

Went to Wal-mart over lunch today and saw an a230 there. That's a first, they've always had Canon and Nikon DSLRs, but that's the first Sony. It was also discounted to $299. At that price I'm tempted to get it for my wife, even if it does use a different battery and media.

Over the last year or two I have seen low end Sony DSLRs at Wal-Mart several times. We are on another road trip out west right now and at the moment we're in Las Vegas. I saw the a230 at a Wal-Mart here too for $299 a few days ago. I didn't check if that was body only or the kit, but I bet it was the kit.

[bakubo]

I think also a factor in the US is unemployment, (and here, but nowhere near as bad), it has climbed quite a lot, in June 08 the US unemployment rate was around 5.5%, compare that to now, it's around 9.7%, the US economy lost 8.4 million jobs since the start of the recession in December 07...I'm just not sure how big an impact this would have retail wise on non essential type spending there, but I would expect it would amount to some.
The UK over the same period went from 5.4% to 7.8%, pretty good really (especially compared to the rest of the EU with 10% unemployment), and here in old OZ it's gone from 4.2% to 5.3%, again pretty good, so it's a little puzzling why the retail slump is happening here, the weather isn't playing such a factor here as it is elsewhere.

Speaking of unemployment, here is an interesting animated graphic of the U.S. counties and the change in the unemployment rates month by month:

http://cohort11.americanobserver.net/la ... final.html

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are nearly 30 million people currently unemployed -- that's including those involuntarily working parttime and those who want a job, but have given up on trying to find one. In the face of the worst economic upheaval since the Great Depression, millions of Americans are hurting. "The Decline: The Geography of a Recession," as created by labor writer LaToya Egwuekwe, serves as a vivid representation of just how much. Watch the deteriorating transformation of the U.S. economy from January 2007 -- approximately one year before the start of the recession -- to the most recent unemployment data available today.

[Vidgamer]

I think I saw an A100 at W*M years ago, as it was being phased out. I don't recall if I have seen any other Sony DSLRs at any stores I visit. So, if W*M is carrying Sony DSLRs, they are doing a poor job of it! Oh well.

The economy has hit the US pretty hard. Even if you still have a job, a lot of people are "under water" on their houses, and may have financial troubles because of that. I'm surprised that retail has been doing as well as it has. Maybe it's just that most of us that have jobs are still doing OK.

I Googled the unemployment rate for the US, and it says 10.6% in January. The actual number is probably worse than this, as some people tire of looking and drop out of the system and are not trackable.

I found an interactive chart on Google, when I entered "us unemployment rate". Neat.

[Greg Beetham]

This is a pretty good site for most things economic...http://www.tradingeconomics.com/World-E ... Rates.aspx
Greg

[bakubo]

This is a pretty good site for most things economic...http://www.tradingeconomics.com/World-E ... Rates.aspx

I have read a few times that often different countries calculate unemployment differently so it is usually hard to compare unemployment rates across national borders. For example, I have read Japan would have a much higher unemployment rate if they used the same method as in the U.S. Even within one country the official unemployment rate can often be misleading since it doesn't count people who have become so discouraged they have stopped looking, people who are severely under-employed, etc.

[BigRich]

At that price I'm tempted to get it for my wife.

Dusty

If you can get the coupon to work, this is a great deal to get the wife. Below is the description and coupon code and the URL.

"Sony has the refurbished Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 10.2 MP Camera with 18-70mm Lens Kit for $450 - $150 off with coupon code SONYA200K150 = $300 with free shipping."

http://tinyurl.com/yka2tgv

[stevecim]

This is a pretty good site for most things economic...http://www.tradingeconomics.com/World-E ... Rates.aspx

I have read a few times that often different countries calculate unemployment differently so it is usually hard to compare unemployment rates across national borders. For example, I have read Japan would have a much higher unemployment rate if they used the same method as in the U.S. Even within one country the official unemployment rate can often be misleading since it doesn't count people who have become so discouraged they have stopped looking, people who are severely under-employed, etc.

I think in Australian, if you work 1 hour per week, you are "employed" has far has Gov figures go. Also there is also rule like "if you are under 25, live at home and have never worked you are not classed has "unemployed" even if you get "unemployment benefits"

[Greg Beetham]

Yep, your probably right, like the saying goes, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics. The various Governments of the world try to present the best face on their performance, lest the populace hold them unduly responsible for the situation at hand.
As Henry showed, on that other site, the 'official' unemployment rate is probably very conservative.....
Greg