Consumerism [was RE: [Leica] Digital Leica M]

[bdcolen at comcast.net (B. D. Colen)]

Leica-like kitchen for only $15-20K? That sounds like resurfaced cabinets, a
couple appliances and some new linoleum. It's not at all unusual these days
to spend $50K on a kitchen - not that I ever have, mind you.


On 6/14/06 2:16 PM, "Richard S. Taylor" <r.s.taylor@comcast.net> wrote:

> Don -  This is not a land I inhabit routinely, but I'm sure it's
> still possible to buy consumer goods of exceptional quality if you
> are willing to pay the price.  The cost of high-end goods isn't
> exclusively in their gloss and prestige.  I have friends who recently
> remodelled their kitchen to the tune of about $15-20K and the gear
> they bought not only looks good but seems to be built like a tank.
> 
> You have to get used to the idea, though, of spending $3-4K or more
> for a stove, appreciate and enjoy the features and quality of the
> equipment, and be really thinking long term.
> 
> To get back to cameras, why buy a DSLR when, when you and get a
> high-quality advanced consumer camera for less, or why buy the
> advanced consumer camera when you can buy a good point and shoot for
> less?
> 
> The answer is the same for any tool.  The more expensive ones will do
> things the cheaper ones can't, have better build quality, be more
> reliable, and, maybe, just maybe, also be a joy to own.
> 
> Just where the value/price ratio is optimized is a very individual
> choice, he said, stepping down off his soap box.  :-)
> 
> B.T.W. my friends are enthusiastic cooks.  I'm sure their Leica-like
> kitchen will give them enormous pleasure for a very long time.
> 
>> Richard,
>> At least when you bought your machines you had the option of purchasing  a
>> well designed and engineered machine.  As retailers look to limit stock to
>> the 100/10000 top turning SKU's any item that doesn't turn inventory will
>> not be reordered.  Price becomes an issue as fewer people can descriminate
>> what is quality and what is not so let price rule.
>> 
>> Consumerism plays a part here as well.  Rather than have a few very nice
>> things, most would rather have a whole bunch of shiny junk just ot say 
>> that
>> they have one of everything.
>> 
>> B.D. briefly touched on this when commenting on the relative price of a
>> proposed dM and a D30 or the Oly line.  Why would someone pay 5K for a box
>> that does what a 1.4K box does?  It is for the same reason that I won't 
>> buy
> 
> 
> (snip)