Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Leica, like any other company, is not immune to producing a lemon. However, for anyone to say that a significant number of companies expect 30% wastage and expect the customer to do their quality testing ignores everything that has happened in business with Total Quality Management over the last 10 - 15 years. Yes, everyone is sick of that buzzword, but to a large extent that is because it has done its job in reversing the attitude mentioned. It is NOT cheaper to manufacture with less quality control because this ignores other unavoidable costs: 1. Having to continually advertize to get new customers to relace those old customers who do not repurchase. 2.The impossibility of building a brand when you have such negative publicity 3. The need to keep a repair facility or replace with new. In addition, irrespective of price-point, it is just not THAT expensive to do it right the first time. I have no experience with Australian manufacturers, but I don't believe that they operate much differently from those in the US, Europe, or Asia. stuart phillips