Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1995/11/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]** Reply to note from Charles Albertson <chucko@eskimo.com> 11/02/95 6:47pm -0800 > Actually, I believe Leica Camera (in Solms) was bought out by its current > management several years ago. That is correct. In fact, if I remember correctly, it was in part a way of keeping a group of American investors from getting their hands on it. Boy, imagine if that would have happened. Leica would have probably become the Wal Mart of cameras. :-) No, that's Sigma's job. I know, Leica would have maintained their "air" of precision through fancy marketing while reducing labor costs by putting lots of plastic in everything and reducing quality control. Shoot, how can any company stay in business with a worker to inspector ratio of 2:1. And all that expensive equipment built in house, and all that R&D into new glasses and such. Sheesh, why don't we farm out lens assemby to Vietnam or Cambodia? Or Mexico? And pay the workers minimum wage. Shoot, we'll just hold pep rallys to keep their spirits up. Lot's better than all that expesnsive training of skilled labor. Sarcasm mode off..... ;-) As a matter of fact, I heard the American investors planned to kill off the R system and sell only the M system. Which is stupid, since the R system sells better than the M system about everywehere than the U.S. And with Leica profits up 30% last year, I guess they much be doing something right. The only camera company to post an increase in sales besides Leica was Contax. Is there a thread here? How about precision and uncompromising quality? Regards, Eric Welch Grants Pass, OR