[Leica] S2 and dealers - another problem?

[ejcaliguri at comcast.net (Edward Caliguri)]

I believe that the problems associated with S2 dealers
may have been overlooked. From what I am hearing, US dealers, in order  
to be an 'official S2 dealer', are required to have at least one  
Complete System in their Rental Dept., as well as one Complete System  
in Stock at all times (defining a complete system is unclear to me,  
but I believe it is a Body, and 3 lenses of different focal lengths,  
with or without leaf shutters, grip, flash etc.) I understand their  
profit on each S2 body sale will be around $1.5K - $2K. You can then  
rent a body and lens for about $600 a day. You'd better need that kind  
of equipment for your project at that price!

This seems a huge investment up front for all but the very large  
dealers (such as B&H) and continues when/if stock has to be  
replenished. I wonder how much this can change who carries what, with  
dealers then deciding 'do we carry Leica or Hasselblad?', because they  
cannot afford both.

I don't know how true all this is, and why it is so, and wonder if it  
is linked to stocking M9's, M8's - or whatever. If this is so, what  
will it change for the consumer?

Ed

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