Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]"Frank Filippone" Wrote: ...That brings up an interesting point.... Hasselblad has, for about 3 years now, given away backs and done deep rebate discounts to promote new camera sales and lens sales....... Given say 5000 camera bodies, and a selling price of $2000 right now, I wonder if..... - - - - - - - - - - I think you will that the "real world" selling price for an R8 right now is about $1,495 to $1,595 (USD) for those who want to take the time to look at the ads in ShutterBug Magazine. - - - - -- - - - - - "Frank wrote" What is your opinion: Which Lens(es) should Leica USA require us to buy in order to get a deeply discounted R8 body? Base your opinion both on optical quality and business sense..... They gotta make money off the deal..... - - - - - - - - - - - I think your above solution would only make the problem worse. The R8 is not a body that everybody wants, therefore requiring the purchase of a lens in order to get a discount would be counter productive. Leica's best shot at getting rid of this less than desirable product will be to offer it with a 5-year "exchange" warranty at no cost to the buyer. If the buyer has a problem with the R8, he can send it in for a new one...and the warranty would have to be transferable. The problem with the R8 (other that it's history of malfunctions) is that it is a BRICK. It is as big as a Nikon F5, it is as heavy as an F5, but it only does about 1/3 or of what an F5 is capable of doing. As I have said this before, Leica would be well advised to make another production run of the R7s in order to generate sales of both the R7 and R lenses. Because of the slow R8 sales, it follows that Leica is therefore experiencing slow R lens sales. Many times it is difficult for old, well established companies to bring in the outside consultants who can provide the third party opinions necessary to resolve difficult problems. Leica may be such a company. The "Catch-22" here is that the longer they wait before seeking outside help, the more difficult the problems are to resolve. I will be interesting to see how this unfolds. Kind regards, Bill Erfurth m6rf@yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com