Cheap Nikon Good

Just a brief note to say thanks to everyone who ordered a Panasonic GX1 from Amazon's "Deal of the Day" yesterday. It's always nice for me when Amazon has a photo-related daily deal—the site makes a chunk of extra money.

If you're curious, 1,848 people went to look at the Amazon page from TOP; 26 people ordered themelves tasty new GX1's (I resisted, but with difficulty—I love the design); 13 of those orders have been filled as of this morning, and TOP earned $205.40 from those sales.

And that's how we do it. So please, remember that you have to buy yourself a present every now and then through our links to keep this enterprise afloat. I know, it's a tough duty, but you've got to suck it up and treat yourself to something at least every now and then. You're not doing it for you, of course, you're doing it for TOP.

Note that even small things help, although of course bigger things help more.

Speaking of which, if you're looking for a present for yourself or someone you know, B&H Photo has some good deals right now on refurbished Nikon CoolPix cameras, as well as a nice deal on the CoolPix S9100 in black (above) and red. Cheap Nikon good.

B&H has announced price drops on some mainstream Canon products, such as the Canon 5D Mark II body, the nifty G1X large-sensor all-in-one compact, and the PowerShot G12.

Several products are newly available in stock, such as the cool new Pentax K-30 in a kit, the Samsung NX1000 with a 20–50mm lens, and the Nokia 808 PureView phone with its 41-MP camera.

Finally, the sometimes-hard-to-get Leica 25mm ƒ/1.4 Micro 4/3 lens is currently in stock at B&H. My task for the foreseeable future is to resist this.

First the Pencil, then the Book on the Bookshelf, then...
And if you happen to be looking for an interesting book, I notice that the wonderful Henry Petroski has a new book out: To Forgive Design: Understanding Failure. (Not everyone is reading Gone Girl.) "This book is a litany of failure," writes the Times, "including falling concrete in the Big Dig in Boston, the loss of the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, the rupture of New Orleans levees, collapsing buildings in the Haitian earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon blowout, the sinking of the Titanic, the metal fatigue that doomed 1950s-era de Havilland Comet jets—and swaying, crumpling bridges from Britain to Cambodia." "'Success is success but that is all that it is,' Dr. Petroski writes. It is failure that brings improvement." Henry Petroski, if you haven't had the pleasure yet, is one of the most interesting nonfiction writers we have. I treated myself to this one, with a bit of the proceeds from yesterday's GX1 sales. Thanks again.

Mike

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Original contents copyright 2012 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Question from Janne: "Can we buy things you do not link to and still get you that kickback?"

Mike replies: Yes, as long as you go to either site (B&H or Amazon) from a TOP link, and then choose and buy your purchases in the same visit. If you put it in a cart and then go away, or buy something that was already in your cart, we no longer get credit.

And by the way, it works for non-photo stuff, too. Here are just a few things sold through TOP so far in July: a DVD of "Parks and Recreation" Season 4; an impeller for a Mercury/Mariner outboard motor; a bottle of fragrance-free sunscreen; an armored case for a Samsung cellphone; 15.4 lbs. of cat food; a Kindle Touch; and a copy of the video game Sniper Elite V2. (I get a report of what was sold, but not how purchases were grouped and no identification at all as to who the buyer was—that's to protect your privacy.)

Featured Comment by Søren Kristiansen: "OK, so just for you, Mike, definitely not to make myself happy, I ordered a Pentax 35mm ƒ/2.4 from Amazon UK. Enjoy! (I'm fairly convinced I will :-]) Regards, Søren From Denmark."

Mike replies: Now you've got the idea. It's not for you. You're only doing it to make me happy.

P.S. On the Pentax Mailing List years ago, they used to call me the "LPE." It stood for "lens purchase enabler."  :-)

Comments

[Andre]

Hmmm, the Petroski book sounds interesting but gets seriously mixed reviews on Amazon. Apparently some people absolutely hate his writing style. Hmmm, to take a chance on it or not...

[Josh]

I'm also tasking myself with resisting getting the 25mm f1.4 for m4/3. It would go nicely with the E-M5. But then so would a grip, a bag, a wrist strap, a hood for the kit lens, and so on. Somehow having such a long list makes me feel better about not getting anything on it.

[Mike Johnston]

Andre,
You can read pages 1-6 of the book right on the Amazon page, which should give you an idea of his writing style. Just click on the image of the book or on the line under it that says "Search inside this book." A new window will come up. Then on the left there will be a list of "Book Sections." Just go to "First Pages." You can also just scroll down from the image of the cover that appears in the window.

It's dense, and erudite, and tough going at times--in some of his books he goes into almost fanatical levels of detail. (How else do you write a whole book about the pencil?)

Rewarding, though. Before I read "The Book on the Bookshelf," I had NO IDEA how thoroughly such an apparently simple topic could be researched, or how much history there was behind such a simple system.

Mike

[- et -]

As an additional indication of the variety of items for which TOP can get a commission from Amazon, the July report should also show a purchase of 4 smoke alarms that were on sale earlier this month :-)

With best wishes,
- Tom -

[Paddy C]

Mike, can you clarify one more thing:

I maintain a wish list at B&H and Amazon. If I go to either site from your link then put items that are already in my wish list in my cart and purchase them do you still get some cash?

[Jim Hart]

Mike,

You might also make mention that if folks put something on their Amazon wish list when they go to purchase it they have link back to the product page and add it to their cart in order for TOP to get credit. Buying directly from the wish list doesn't credit TOP with the sale. Or did I get that wrong?

Regards,

Jim

[Paul Crouse]

If you put a link to Amazon Japan, I will use it all of the time. I like your site and want to support you.

Paul Crouse
Kyoto, Japan

[Yuda]

Mike,

Apologies: I came incredibly close to buying a GX1 yesterday. In fact, I ordered it and then cancelled. But I did pick up the Steve Simon book, at least.

[Robert]

I just received my 25 1.4 two days ago from Adorama after waiting a couple of months for B&H to fill the backorder. That means I paid $30 more and missed a chance to support TOP. AARGH! There is no justice when Friday falls on such an unlucky day (though I would recommend you not resist unless you have a 20 1.7)

[Ben Rosengart]

Do not resist the 25mm f/1.4. Just don't.

[Eamon Hickey]

@ Andre

Hmmm, the Petroski book sounds interesting but gets seriously mixed reviews on Amazon.

Interesting. Reading your comment made me realize I didn't even think to look at the reviews before buying it.

I didn't look because Mike had praised the author, and the recommendation of somebody who I know (a little) and whose judgment I respect is worth more to me than 10,000 anonymous Internet reviews. I just clicked straight through and paid without thinking twice.

Not a criticism of anyone who is guided, to whatever extent, by those reviews; just an observation about my own weighting criteria.

[Jeffrey Behr]

EVERY time I go to Amazon or B&H, I get there thru TOP; enjoy the pennies, Mike. Until I added one DPR forum recently, yours was the only foto-related site on my panel of faves.

[David Bostedo]

I'm one of those folks who can't get into Henry Petroski's writing style. The information is terrific; But reading it, to me, is like listening to a boring monotone teacher describe something.

I actually ordered a different book based on the great description, and only realized upon delivery that it was another Petroski. That was a couple of years ago; I haven't read it yet.

[Mike]

I think you need a new business model. These big things are not (or didn't used to be) annuity purchases. You need some sort of consumable that gets used up whenever you make a picture, something cheap but regularly bought. something like film, perhaps?

I have been thinking the last couple of days about the limited relationship I enjoy with the owner of my local camera shop. Because he sells digital cameras I have no need to visit as I already have one. Therefore, our relationship has no opportunity to develop and I have little reason for loyalty. If he sold film on a regular basis and I needed film for photography, there is a much better basis for a long term relationship.

I understand that the camera manufacturers have been wildly successful at turning camera purchase into an annuity business, but the frequency isn't high enough and the quality is now plenty good enough that economic hardship can cease their business altogether, and certainly that of the smaller (and some larger) outlets.

Pleased you made some cash:)

Mike

[James B]

This is fascinating - I'm a complete novice when it comes to web kickbacks for referring blogs (i.e. TOP), and from Mike's text, I'm going to be very pleased to buy anything I may need via Amazon.co.uk by starting the process with a visit to TOP. Think of it as a "Community Charge" for the privilege of being part of the TOP Global Village.

But, how does it work? In your example above, TOP nets $205.40 from 1,848 click throughs, of whom 26 actually buy.

Would TOP still gain $205.40 if there were only 26 click throughs, of whom 100% bought? If so, I'm setting up my own blog and Amazon affiliation and using another computer to click through lots of times to get what I want for free. But that sounds too easy and Amazon would not allow that anyway. If there were 18,480 click throughs and still only 26 bought, do you still receive $205.40, or with an extra zero on the click throughs, do you gain $2054.00? In other words, is the $205.40 related to the total number of click throughs, or the total number of sales?

[Jim Campbell]

Mike, Keep the book recommendations coming-- TOP is becoming my best source of book titles to read next. I don't think I would ever have stumbled across The Fortunate Fall http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2012/05/ot-five-books-that-will-drive-you-to-think.html or Touching the Void http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2012/06/random-excellence-ralf-dujmovits.html without reading this site. I will add To Forgive Design: Understanding Failure; as a practising engineer I have read and enjoyed several of his books.

[Chris Lucianu]

Great to see Henry Petroski showcased again at TOP.
He makes the thrill of engineering and technology — old industrial technology, often — feel more vibrant than any fiction.

"It is failure that brings improvement."
A good one, but it has me wondering. How will the obvious and large-scale failure of Homo sapiens be improved upon?

[Mandeno Moments]

Buying through TOP links does not increase the price of the item(s) that you buy. We pay the same either way, so why not reward Mike for his work?

[Tom Burke]

Presumably, though, only amazon.com and not, unfortunately, amazon.co.uk?

[Gerry]

Mike, do you get a percentage if we buy from Amazon sellers (as opposed to Amazon itself), as long as we go to Amazon via your link?

[Roger]

That's me if there's an X Pro-1 on your sales sheet.

[Rob Grey]

Don't resist the 25/1.4! It's the perfect lens (for Micro 4/3). I'm just assuming you won't be disappointed, of course.

[Sarge]

Mike,

In the "About Us" (TOP's Masthead) you mention Adorama. Yet I can't find any direct link to them here. Are you still an Adorama affiliate? Adorama though is an Amazon seller.

Do you get a commission for (a) Amazon gift cards bought through TOP's links? (b) items paid for by a gift card (or gift card balance) which may or may have not been bought through TOP's Amazon link in a previous visit?

If I access my Amazon/BH wish list from your links and bought them on the same visit do you get your cut (even if said items in my wish list were placed there in prior visits)?

[David Bostedo]

James B -

"Would TOP still gain $205.40 if there were only 26 click throughs, of whom 100% bought? If so, I'm setting up my own blog and Amazon affiliation and using another computer to click through lots of times to get what I want for free."

That doesn't seem to make sense. The answer to the question is "yes" I believe. But that doesn't mean setting up your own site would garner you anything. You'd have to spend the same amount those 26 buyers did to get your $205.40.

[Mike Johnston]

James,
I only get a percentage of sales. Clicks don't count. I only mentioned it because the software keeps track of it.

Mike

[David Dyer-Bennet]

I'm an Amazon associate myself, with MUCH lower returns (many fewer readers). I'm not absolutely sure there isn't another program than the one I'm in for high-volume sites.

That said -- the version of the program I'm in, and the only version that existed when I signed up (ages ago), pays me only for things purchased through the referrals, NOT for clicks or views.

[Sarge]

This might have occurred to you, Mike...

Maybe it's time you updated the "business plan" section of your "About Us" page like you did the "Contact" page? Say, with a FAQ on how to support TOP through your links, among others. Then you (or us) can point a "newbie" to that page when he/she asks an "old" question that has already been answered. (I'm a newbie myself.)

And may I suggest that the FAQ be kept open (like a comment box) so it can be updated each time a new question comes up.

Maybe you can also keep the "About Us" comment box open like you did for a time with your "Publisher's Statement"? With 35K intelligent readers, who knows one of us might come up with a business plan tweak from time to time to keep TOP chugging along forever.

[Chris Crowe]

Are you still doing the Book Depository? You used to have some links for that too.

[Robert]

Refurb offers always puzzle me. First of all where do they all come from? How do Nikon (or whatever manufacturer is offering refurbs) get back so many relatively new cameras? How do they refurb them; wipe them with a microfibre cloth or take each one apart, measure and test each piece and replace those that aren't perfect or something in between? The cost of the latter must be more than making the original item. Doesn't it also hit sales of new items too.
So my question is are these really refurbs or just excess inventory sold off cheaply.
Robert

[Roberto]

Mike, oh why you don't make me happy to make you happy? I live between Italy and France, and I could use either Amazon.fr or Amazon.it (and I do). Really can't you get an affiliation there?

[John Lloyd]

Some time ago, I added TOP links to Amazon etc to my favourites, and assumed that would take care of it. Right or wrong?

[Peter Croft]

I will say I looked at this, having just bought my first 4/3 Olympus body, but Panasonic, listen! I refuse to buy while you restrict image stabilisation to lenses only. No way. Olympus in-body I/S works with all my legacy lenses including Zeiss Contax G and next week, postage from HK permitting, my RF Minolta 250mm f5.6 MD mirror lens!

Nope, I like Panasonic a LOT, but you have chosen the wrong path for me.

[Paris]

Why no Adorama link?

[Fer]

I was one of those who clicked through and ckecked the deal, but just out of curiosity. I live in Spain, so the potential guarantee issues and the added shpping cost plus custom tax would make it a no deal for me. Any chances of TOP striking a deal with Amazon Spain soon?

[Jonathan]

Hi Mike,

Sorry I'm a bit late with this comment - just catching up with a couple of weeks' worth of TOP posts after returning from holiday.

The Petroski book sounds interesting, and it brought to mind another book - it's one I read last year & that I highly recommend - Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error by Kathryn Schulz. See: http://www.amazon.com/Being-Wrong-Adventures-Margin-Error/dp/0061176052/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343137073&sr=1-1&keywords=being+wrong

Much broader in scope, but very interesting...

Jonathan