What’s going on with the RF 200-800 backorder

[LaneW]

Estimated shipping date was Dec 14.  I ordered through Adorama, and they just say that they are backordered.  Seems to be the same story ordering direct from Canon and other sellers.  What is really going on here?

[flyingron]

There's no need to do that manipulation.   Canon price fixes everything to begin with.   No artificial means is necessary.

[rswoan]

My 200-800 finally showed up from Canon USA direct. Ordered originally 11/2023. Canceled because they couldn't update expiring credit card in 1/23. Reordered 2/1/2023, delivered 6/18/2024. Phew, was starting to worry wouldn't show up before my August trip to Katmai.

[MilwaukeeMax]

This is what infuriates me. I had an order in with B&H since December for this lens and they couldn’t fulfill it even after six months, while people were ordering from canon direct way after I ordered and getting their lenses already. That is enraging. I’ve canceled my order finally and am done with this garbage.

[A_Random_Dude]

I wonder if that might be the right thing to do, to cancel my B&H notify request, and try with Canon Direct. Price is the same with both. For the record, however, just yesterday I got an email from Canon flogging various pieces of gear and of course the 200-800 only had (and still has this evening) a "Notify me when available" link. My concern is that cancelling with B&H might be like calling your insurance company and being on hold until you can't take the Muzak anymore and hanging up, thus immediately losing your place in the queue. Would I be setting myself up for an even longer wait?

[March411]

A_Random_Dude, for what it's worth I had a long conversation with B&H and they are noncommittal on when they can fulfill their back orders. All I asked was based on total back orders, average receipts and my place in line can you please project when I might receive the 200-800mm.

Their response: We just had a similar situation with the Fuji X100 VI camera, that we are learning a lesson from. I hope that we will be approaching the Canon 200-800mm lens the same way shortly. Even if we did provide you with the information you are asking for there are so many variables that could drastically impact the position and time.

I cancelled my order and will wait for the dust to settle.

Ultimately Canon has dropped the ball communicating to their consumer. Regardless of the challenges, be it logistics through the canal, accessibility to raw materials or something else they can convey this to the consumer and they are horrifically silent. I am disappointed in both B&H and Canon for how they have handled the rollout and the communication for this lens being that the release was Nov 23 and they are still having significant issues. 

[Tronhard]

Not disagreeing with you, but you are not alone.  A colleague had to wait over 5 months with no word for his Fuji 100V and then it suddenly turned up at his retailer.  Nikon have been rubbished in a similar way.   I think that while the camera makers are really challenged with logistics for components coming in, and end product going out, they can certainly do a much better job to explain their woes.

Things break, go wrong and processes fail - it happens....  but people will be much more forgiving if they are not left in an information vacuum - that is when frustration grows, then the conspiracy theories start, and all the while trust is eroded.

[March411]

That is my only complaint Trevor, I have no theories because I have no data or information. 

My belief is that when a particular business doesn't communicate with their consumer base, especially when they experience challenges they have failed at their core. It has the appearance that they are hiding something because they lack transparency. That is the fuel for rumors and conspiracy theories from some and drives a lack of consumer confidence from their dedicated base.

It's only my opinion but the manner in which Canon announces and rolls out new products is an extremely poor business model and a reflection that they don't simply do not care about the average consumer.

[Hovruder]

Agree completely.   It has been my thought, only a thought, that there is some issue aside from the logistics in parts acquirement theory.  I say this as silence just doesn’t make sense when a global issue affecting many companies could be easily explained to their customers.   It’s rather disrespectful to take this approach.   As for B&H, I don’t fault them, they are caught in the middle and they can’t make assumptions and promises when they too have no control.    I hope we see this resolved soon.   

[A_Random_Dude]

I agree as well. For a company the size of Canon, with what I have to believe has a generally good reputation, to be so quiet on this topic is very incongruous. For myself, I have too much invested in Canon hardware to even consider switching, but I can certainly see where someone might well give up and hop over to Nikon or another brand.

Especially in these days of social media and instant worldwide communication, Canon's silence seems very strange to me.

[flyingron]

Six months is abhorrent by any standard, but the more disturbing thing is Canon's lack of transparency, which they can get away with because we are committed to the line.