Re: [Leica] LHSA M6 cameras

[John Coan <jcoan@alumni.duke.edu>]

Apparantly Leica USA is paying the LHSA membership fees.  Nice, huh?  Like I said, it's a small
thing to me.  I think what is most frustrating is that if I had only waiting 3 weeks to order I
would have been able to get a better deal.  Sort of like purchasing a new TV and having them go
on sale the next month!

John

Stephen Gandy wrote:

> I agree with you, but how do you know this was done by LHSA ??
>
> The dealers are presumably getting the cameras from Leica, who understandably wants to sell
> all the Leicas possible. It could be  a Solms decision to sell LHSA cameras through the
> dealer network, and then just pay for the LHSA membership.  Does anyone know if ALL Leica
> dealers world wide are selling  LHSA cameras, or just USA Leica dealers ?
>
> At my site, if a non-member wants a LHSA camera, they have to pay for the LHSA membership,
> see http://cameraquest.com/lm6lhsao.htm
>
> Stephen Gandy
>
> John Coan wrote:
>
> > It's a small thing, but as one who fits the class I find the situation irritating and
> > feel somewhat taken advantage of.  I ordered from the LHSA and had to pay the $45 dues
> > with my order, whereas if I had purchased from a dealer I could have the camera now
> > instead of waiting and have a free LHSA membership.  No big deal, really, just irritating
> > -- and I can see things from the LHSA viewpoint too.  The mistake was in letting
> > non-members order and make them members (or give them the opportunity to be members,
> > whether they decide to or not) for free so they meet the criterion.
> >
> > It would be nice to get a second year membership gratis, or partial refund, or whatever.
> >
> > John
> >
> > Emanuel Lowi wrote:
> >
> > > Far be it from me to fan the flames of potential discontent, but I am now informed
> > > that those who purchase the LHSA paint M6 receive with the camera an application for
> > > free membership to the LHSA. Originally, according to the LHSA pamphlet,
> > >
> > >             "The LHSA Black Paint M camera will be available exclusively to LHSA
> > > members for only a limited time."
> > >
> > > Now, it seems there is actually an advantage to being a non-member who orders a black
> > > paint camera from an LHSA-member dealer. While I certainly laud every effort the LHSA
> > > (of which I am a member) makes towards recruiting new members, I object to the cost
> > > advantage (albeit small) non-members now gain. As a resident of Canada, LHSA
> > > membership costs me $60 per year, yet the price I will pay to buy the black paint
> > > camera is no less than for a non-member who subsequently gets to join for nothing.
> > >
> > > I daresay this was definitely not the original intention behind the project to offer
> > > black paint cameras to LHSA members. While perhaps the LUG is not the appropriate
> > > forum to propose this, I believe the LHSA should now extend an offer of free
> > > membership for the next fiscal year to ALL who purchase this camera from dealers.
> > >
> > > Emanuel Lowi
> > > Montreal