[Leica] Pros and Leica sales! was vanc.

[tedgrant@islandnet.com (Ted Grant)]

Greg Locke wrote:
>        This brings up the question of misguided marketing.
>Most working pro's I know spend a lot of money on equipment. They buy MANY
>camera, lenses, accessories and pay for repairs.
>
>        While I would love to be proven wrong, I know I spend a lot more
>money on camera equipment than my doctor and lawyer friends (yeah! I admit, I
>do have some)
>
>        I budget $10,000.00 per year for equipment replacement and repairs
>(although, it often comes in less then this. This year it was only
>$7000.00).  Do amateur photographers (not collectors) regardless of their
>net worth, REALLY spend $10,000.00 on cameras?>>>>>>>

Hi Greg,

You're right with many pro's and I believe Leica miss this point far too often.

Instead of using some mountain climber to promote their gear, I mean just
how many people climb Everest anyway carrying a Leica? It doesn't give me
any reason to buy a Leica and I'm sure many other professionals as well.

If they were to use a pro-shooter on a "pro-lecture teaching-promotion"
circuit, I'm sure their sales would show a marked improvement in the
professional ranks.

I know of professionals who have an M camera of some sort in their shoulder
bags for "quiet situation assignments" each one of them is a potential
customer, as many of them only own one lens & body. If there were a
promotion event directed at professionals by a professional in various
disciplines (news, commercial or wedding) I don't have any doubt the sales
and use of Leicas would increase.

If they are shown reasons for using them when and where, they will buy. No
not all of them, but a greater number would be buyers if the promotion were
directed along their line of work.

And as many pros do, put back into his gear $10,000 a year for replacement
or new, I'd sure want a chunk of that each year!

Leica misses out on this market constantly! It's their loss and could
become our  loss in the future if sales are not sufficient to make a solid
profit for the shareholders! It's history!
ted