Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/03/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Tom, Great post. I am glad to see that there are still people who have a good understanding of economics. Regards, Bill Erfurth Evergreen, Colo ======================================================================= You wrote: > >Dear L.U.G.-nuts.....as someone already so succinctly put it..... > >I noticed a few interesting and very worthwhile suggestions and commnents >on how to improve the already-outstanding Leica M-6. As Eric Wech already >wrote, they're still selling like hotcakes. His adder for a price >reduction of about 5% is simply fantasy. > >1) Supply and demand. Until the demand falls thru the basement, the >prices won't drop a dime. Why do they have to? Find a rebate on a >hot-selling car! > >2) With the weak U.S. dollar, the LAST thing you'll see is anything >imported cheap. Reasonable, yes, but not cheap. However, all things are >relative. If anyone thinks the US government is gonna let the dollar get >stronger and jeopardize the balance of trade further, forget it! But >don't forget, elections are coming. A flat economy - however generated - >is bad for votes. Leicaphiles, we're not gonna see any price relief. > >3) The Swiss economy - at last report - wasn't the best on Earth. They're >not ready for foreign aid just yet but they're not gonna start selling off >high-profit items cheaply either. Seen a bargain Rolex lately? Not >hardly. No, the Swiss are acutely aware of the voracious appetite >Americans have for Leicas, Rolexes and other non-essential items. >Hey....they didn't get to be the world's bankers by being stupid >businesspeople. > >And....Leicas, as with many luxury items isn' really linked to a flat >economy anyway. I remember the "ouchie" in early 90-92 and a friend of >mine at a BMW dealership was outselling Chevrolet salesmen right down the >road! The Chevy buyer - perhaps linked to employment in manufacturing - >simply couldn't afford a new car. The stereotypical BMW owner - perhaps a >little more involved in more high-tech segments of the business world - >was still chugging along nicely. Yeah, he passed on buying the new boat >but sacrifices have to be made! > >Watch! (Not the timepiece, with your eyes!) If we hit a post election >recession, someone take a poll of Leica sales. I bet they don't drop 5 >percent! > >Add your M-6 fantasy bells and whistles - driving the price higher, of >course. Or simply bite the bullet and get in now while the getting is >just about as good as it's gonna get. Waiting on a cheaper Leica M-6 >voluntarily from Switzerland is waiting for a train that simply isn't >coming. > >Regards, > >Tom Hodge >