Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/11/18
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Geoff, the biggest problem of Leica raising prices is precisely that Leica is not just a premium brand, it's actually a rely-on tool for some people (probably yourself included). I know we are a small minority, but a Leica camera with all the Leica lens goodness but at some price levels that are south of the current prices are what we want. Unfortunately, we are so small that Leica wants to make money from the noveau riche from China and India. I am not blaming Leica, this is just economic reality. Even Zeiss tries to make a go with the new Zeiss Ikon and as far as I know, it's not a big financial success either. May be a Zeiss Ikon Digital (full frame) for $3500 would be, but that probably won't happen. At least we do have the options of Zeiss lens, which, with the exception of Herr Puts and other diehard "Leica Better," are pretty darn good values, and more affordable. On Fri, Nov 18, 2011 at 1:04 AM, Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at gmail.com>wrote: > As far as I recall Leica has regularly reviewed their prices every year for > ages and we have always seen those incremental rises. Paying more for > premium goods hurts of course but I understand existing orders are not > affected. I guess the side effect is increasing value for what you have. > I did the exercise with a calculator. The average price increase is not > quite 7%. I don't know inflation or material or labour or distributions > costs or development costs or market price differences or any of those > factors. I don't think that 7% is very surprising though. I dare say that > Leica Camera is not the only premium brand to see annual price reviews but > the web discussions seem to be full of theories on gouging and company > explosions etc etc etc. > > > Cheers > Geoff > > *Lighting- eyes- action* > http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman > > -- // richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com>