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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Canon Canada CPS
Chris Large, Photographer
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Jason Joseph, Photographer
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Dublin | OH | USA | Posted: 2:50 PM on 04.20.10 |
| ->> Canon, at least in the U.S., has been doing this for at least a year and a half. To me it is still a good deal to get the turn around on repairs as well as to use the loaner program in leu of rentals when applicable. I know it is a little harder to swallow when you have been used to getting this same service for free for so many years. But I guess I have had a year and a half to swallow it and the shock of it is long since past. |
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Kevin M. Cox, Photographer, Assistant
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Galveston & Houston | TX | US | Posted: 3:14 PM on 04.20.10 |
->> It looks very similar to the Canon USA CPS program except there is no free Silver level and the Platinum level (not taking exchange rates into account) is only half the price of the USA version.
http://tinyurl.com/CanonUSACPS |
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Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
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Boise | ID | US | Posted: 3:22 PM on 04.20.10 |
| ->> They're just trying to cut down on the number of people calling themselves pro's... For most people it'll end up costing less (and in the US they give you a couple free clean and calibrate's too) |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 4:55 PM on 04.20.10 |
->> Israel,
At least in the US, ANYONE with the right kind of gear can join CPS! Pro or not!! A good friend of mine, a retired engineer, joined CPS Gold last year, he wasn't even asked if he was a Pro. They just asked about the gear he owned and he was immediately accepted into CPS! Even though the only income he recieves is from his retirement plans and 0% from Photography!! So, this has nothing to do with "trying to cut down on the number of people calling themselves pro's". |
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Kevin M. Cox, Photographer, Assistant
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Galveston & Houston | TX | US | Posted: 5:05 PM on 04.20.10 |
->> I also don't see how this would cut down on the number of non-pros joining. I remember when I first joined I had to submit a bunch of tear-sheets, copies of credentials and as a freelancer include letters from editors testifying that they regularly published my work.
If anything this is a way to cut down on the amount of hassle on their end. Instead of having to look through clips and read letters and then deciding whether or not someone qualifies they just check to make sure they've entered enough unique serial numbers into the gear section.
And there is nothing wrong with that. It is their program and they are free to administer it however they wish. It still allows most working pros to qualify and even offers different levels instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. Some may be happy with the free (USA) level and others may think the Platinum level is easily worth the money it costs to join. |
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Michael Durisseau, Photographer, Assistant
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Santa Fe/Houston | TX | USA | Posted: 10:15 PM on 04.20.10 |
| ->> But Kevin, it may not cut down on the non-pros, but those of us who don't own the requisite lenses because they can't afford them, but still make a living with their products ARE cut out...that was my beef with it when it started. I would have done the tearsheet thing again, along with some other ways to prove your professionalism, instead of how much you spent with them...just my .02... |
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Kevin M. Cox, Photographer, Assistant
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Galveston & Houston | TX | US | Posted: 5:54 PM on 04.22.10 |
->> Michael, I agree it isn't a perfect system and that is why I said "most working pros." It sucks for those like you who are out there shooting everyday but still don't qualify.
Unfortunately they had to draw the line somewhere and hopefully they spent some time trying to determine the best place to put it. I assume the requirements they came up with exclude more amateurs then it does pros. I also assume if they lower the criteria more they risk being flooded by soccer moms, who while having a surprising amount of nice gear these days, don't need the expedited repair service and will just clog up the system for those who do. |
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Codie McLachlan, Photographer
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Edmonton | AB | Canada | Posted: 11:38 PM on 04.22.10 |
| ->> While I do agree that it's good that they're weeding out the GWCs, I also think it's dumb that they classify professionals by their gear. I have a 1D Mark II, I guess I no longer qualify. |
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Michael Ivanin, Photographer
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Oakville | On | Canada | Posted: 11:53 PM on 04.22.10 |
| ->> I guess that Canon classifiy professionals by their gear because they are no longer going to service old gear. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 12:05 AM on 04.23.10 |
->> Michael, I disagree!!
It's a Marketing ploy to sell new gear!
I am a Pro, if I was a Pro back in 1988 when I first Joined CPS, what changed?? When they changed their Policies, I didn't have the required gear.
When I joined NPS back in 1987, I was a Pro, I had to send proof of it, I'm still a Pro in Nikon's eyes!!
Y |
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Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
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Boise | ID | US | Posted: 8:54 PM on 04.23.10 |
->> CPS is a service that costs money for Canon to run. They're trying to put restrictions in some form or fashion on who's allowed to join, which is not the simple task you're making out to be... Are they doing it perfectly? No! Would you or I do it perfectly? No! :)
The idea that you can go check references or check portfolio images or whatever else is just as flawed... You could have just used a shot from istockphoto, or used your own home phone and your wife's cell phone to make up people as references.
The removal of the Mark 2 makes sense in a lot of ways - they have a huge supply chain in order to make parts in order to service older cameras... Because of the number of complicated parts in them, along with their increasing age and decreasing value, it is now more economical to pick up another Mark 2 than it is to keep one in good shape with the cost of repairs, etc. Therefore they can't justify the expense on their side of keeping the supply chain going at all levels, warehousing inventory, distributing that inventory on demand. Cost < Benefit for them at this point.
What it really comes down to is that they're just charging a premium for a premium service, which is targeting those who are putting a lot of wear on their gear, thus it needing to be serviced frequently and its wearing out quickly. |
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Codie McLachlan, Photographer
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Edmonton | AB | Canada | Posted: 9:39 PM on 04.23.10 |
->> Israel, I understand your point, but I maintain that it's a little ridiculous to have certain gear in order to be qualified as a professional.
When the 1D Mark II came out six (?) years ago, it went for what, $5,000, give or take? With that kind of price tag, Canon should be servicing it for at least 10 years after it was released, in my opinion. The camera is still more than usable, and I know lots of working pros still using it.
If they don't want to service my gear when it goes down, fine, but don't strip me of my CPS card... if my 5D Mark II goes down, they can still service that, and at least I could have the discount. After all the fuss with the 1D Mark III, you would think that Canon would have at least a little bit of appreciation to its professional customers... telling me I no longer qualify unless I buy a new camera doesn't make me feel very appreciated. |
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Chris Large, Photographer
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Okotoks | AB | Canada | Posted: 11:16 PM on 04.23.10 |
->> I still think they are doing a disrespect to working pro shooters. A couple of reasons
- we spend way more money on gear than P&S shooters
- we influence others in equipment choices ( your brother in law asks " I need a new camera - what are you using?")
- because I don't need a Mk 4, I use a 50d, 7d, 5dmk2 I am refused admission to their club. I am a full time working pro, feed my family, pay my bills using their cameras. But if I choose to pay the fee I'm not accepted, but a dentist who has all the money in the world to buy all the gear is accepted......
I'm not buying their logic at all. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 12:07 AM on 04.25.10 |
->> In all honesty, they should change the name to the Canon Owners Club, just like Hassy did!!
They are honest about it, it's an owners Club and you have the gear and you pay the fee, you can get in....
Y |
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