Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/07/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]John, Well, sure, I do not find it immoral that the Swiss importer and dealers are charging high prices. After all, we are not talking about a necessity of life here. But it is not a case like you describe for Leica USA (low camera prices and high accessory prices). Here, both the cameras and the accessories are expensive. This is the case with most products in Switzerland, not just Leicas. It is partly due to the fact that this country has the highest per capita income in Europe, so the market will bear a lot, but mainly due to the lack of effective competition in many Swiss retail sectors. Most are dominated by a couple of big chains who live in a cosy duopoly. Grey imports of Leicas do not exist. The only recourse for the consumer is to buy abroad. If enough people do this, then Swiss dealers will see the light. Nathan John Collier wrote: > So in short, the Swiss Leica distributor is not ripping anyone off. They > are balancing sales with profit margins. Often you are better off > lowering your sales slightly but getting a good profit margin than you > are if you reduce your price to the bone and sell cameras by the bucket > full. - -- Nathan Wajsman Herrliberg (ZH), Switzerland e-mail: wajsman@webshuttle.ch mobile: +41 78 732 1430 Photo-A-Week: http://www.wajsman.com/indexpaw2002.htm General photo site: http://www.wajsman.com/index.htm - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html