Re: [Leica] LHSA Black Paint M6

[Steve Beyer <steve@beyerphoto.com>]

Hi David,
    I think that LHSA promised Leica a certain minimum number of cameras.
Apparently they did not hit that number in sales so Leica USA sold the
remaining to dealers.

Steve

> From: "SML" <inyoung@jps.net>
> Reply-To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000 22:08:14 +0100
> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] LHSA Black Paint M6
> 
> 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
>> 
>> 
> 
>