More confiscation, and fines for repeat
offenders.
What do you think consumers ought to
know when considering purchasing from
a parallel importer?
Is the product legitimate? Does it meet
New Zealand’s required safety specifications,
including electrical, which all distributors abide
by? Who looks after the warranty, and is the
buyer out of pocket when it goes wrong? Has
this product been fraudulently imported, thus
exposing the buyer to extra cost, including fines
and potential confiscation?
What is your response to those who say that
legitimate importers and sellers are just
greedy with their markups?
Generally, prices are set globally. The only
fluctuations are countries’ goods and services
taxes and exchange rates. There are not
massive markups, and margins are very slim.
Geographically, we are very far away from
manufacturing nations, and sales turnover is
very small due to our relatively tiny population.
Sit in my chair for a day and you’ll see the true
cost of running a business in New Zealand. It’s
wholly incorrect to say that we are greedy; it is
a highly competitive business, and there is no
room to be greedy.
Besides importing products, how else
does CRK support the photographic
industry?
We are the main sponsors for the major
photographic conferences held each year.
We are the largest supporter of photographic
media in New Zealand: we support the
local associations (I even chair one),
we sponsor photographic competitions,
we run workshops and education courses,
we sponsor up and coming photographers, we
promote professional photographers through
our Ilford Masters.
What has you excited for the future of
the industry?
The photographic industry is a community
bringing together all sectors, from media to
associations, from enthusiasts to professionals,
from retailers to distributors. We are like a
family. We all get excited as new products are
released. We love to get our hands on the gear
and give it a good test.
There is an enormous passion for photography
in this country; I am proud to be part of it.