Re: [Leica] LHSA Black Paint M6

["SML" <inyoung@jps.net>]

Hi,

  I am completely with Jack.  I have been bothered by the same questions
that Jack asked below.  In a word, I feel that I was fooled.  I ordered one
of each model, of course paid in full up front.  Legally, I think it is
binding contract between LHSA and Leica, members who ordered and LHSA.  What
is going on?  Have we been cheated?  It seems that Leica is still getting
more orders.

Best Regards,
David

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Jack F. Matlock <jfmatlo@ibm.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2000 5:37 AM
Subject: [Leica] LHSA Black Paint M6


> Rich of Photovilla wrote:
>
> "Of course, many dealers (including me)
> ordered a bunch more then they pre-sold to speculate that prices would be
> going only up on these desirable cameras."
>
> As an LHSA member who unfortunately was unable to get to Boston this year
but who bought one of the black paint LHSA M6's (a magnificent camera, by
the way), I must confess I have some questions regarding the way LHSA
communicated with its members.
>
> The only notice I received from LHSA specified that the cameras had to be
ordered through LHSA by members, and the full price paid up front, even for
deliveries that might not occur until November or later.
>
> A few months later, it turned out that the cameras were also available
through dealers who could offer much better payment terms (payment by credit
card upon shipment, for example).  As an LHSA member I received no notice of
this change in the rules.  Am I unique, or did LHSA fail to notify its
members of a change in procedure?
>
> Second question: why is it, if all orders had to be submitted by June 30,
that we cannot get an exact figure for the number of .72 and .85  LHSA M6s
that have been and will be produced?  If, indeed, orders are closed, surely
LHSA and Leica Solms must know how many have been ordered.  Why is this a
secret? (The only figure l have heard is "about 1200" but it is not clear
whether this includes both .72 and..85 models, and whether it is the number
already produced or the total production.  If the announced rules were
followed, it is most unlikely that the number ordered would be precisely
divisible by 100.
>
> Finally: members of LHSA could order as many of each model as they wished,
so long as they paid in full up front.  Were dealers also required to pay in
full upon their order?  Unless they were, the original announcement to LHSA
members was misleading.  Also, how can dealers sell for the same price as
LHSA unless they can buy at a discount?  (I would have no problem with that,
except that it is not what LHSA  members were told originally.)
>
> Anybody out there know the answers to these questions?
>
> I can imagine that sales under the original terms were slow, so dealers
were allowed to order the  same way they would any other model.  Nothing
wrong with this, except that it is not what members were originally told.
>
> l should add that I am delighted that LHSA persuaded Solms to make this
model.  But I think that, if the rules for ordering were changed after the
original announcement, LHSA members should have been notified and an
explanation offered.  Although I am a user, not a collector who simply puts
cameras away in the hope of future value appreciation, I still have an
interest in knowing what the future value is likely to be for an article
commanding a premium price.
>
> Maybe this was discussed in Boston, and if so I apologize for raising it
here, but I am genuinely perplexed.
>
>
>
> Jack
>
>