Re: [Leica] Re: Int'l price differences

[Jim Brick <jim@brick.org>]

Please excuse me while I step up upon my soap box.

You are all looking at the moment, rather than the big picture. Buy your
expensive equipment, that might need adjustment or repair (many of you have
bitched and moaned about Leica QA) from your local dealer AT HOME. Then
when the rangefinder is out of alignment, or the film counter quits
working, or the DOF preview lever (on both R7's at the same time) decide to
break, the R8 shutter goes berserk, or the zoom mechanism on your 70-180
zoom doesn't work correctly, or, or, or... (the above are real recent items
on real new Leicas) you will have it taken care of at no added cost and
little (perhaps no) inconvenience. If you don't care about paying full
repair fare, or shipping your equipment abroad to someone you don't know,
through customs, then buy away. Not me. I would buy something used, a
winder, filter, stuff like that, but certainly not a new M6, R8, lens, etc.
FWIW!

There are many people who come here to the US, and/or buy via mail, just to
get the unique US passport warranty. If you have an authorized Leica dealer
close to where you live, get to know him/her. If you don't have one close,
get to know a known reputable dealer over the phone. That Leica Dealer -
customer link will be an important asset over the years. I personally have
had it proven to me many many times.

Jim


At 12:54 PM 7/3/98 -0700, you wrote:
>
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>Wolfgang Frei wrote:
>
>>I think the discussion that Martin started about price >differences
>of new and used Leicas interests many >LUGers.
>>A new M6 titan for example costs 4780 Swiss francs >(about 3190 US$)
>at a leica specialist in Zurich, the >Summilux M Asph. silver 2750 US$.
>>Why are M3s cheaper in the US then in germany?
>
>>Wolfgang Frei, Zurich, Switzerland
>
>Hello Wolfgang,
>
>I think Leica and other companies are going to start having problems
>with their pricing.  The Internet is the "great equalizer" because it
>gives people instant access to information...Price information...and
>that is a problem for companies that are selling the same product in
>different places at different prices.
>
>For example, when I am in Europe, I buy clothes and shoes because I
>can get the same (European made) products that that I can get here in
>the US, but at about half the price. 
>
>The same goes for cameras.  For example, an M6 is the same no matter
>where you buy it.  So if I am going to Europe and the price is roughly
>the same as it is in the US, plus I get the VAT tax refunded why not
>buy it there?  And, as merchants in Europe start doing more mail
>order, why pay $2,000 for it in the US when I can buy it mail order
>and save 12% to 20%.  Or in Wolfgang's case, he could purchase the
>same M6 titanium in the US for about $2,200 to $2,400 (USD).
>
>The same thing goes for buying in Hong Kong.  It is only a matter of
>time before buying outside your own country is common thing to do.
>
>Maybe it would be a smart move for Leica to offer factory direct
>pricing?  You go to the Leica factory and they have a store there that
>sells at dealer prices.  The European car companies do it...why no
>Leica?
>
>Regards,
>Bill Erfurth
>
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