Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/09/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]This thread has drifted into a discussion of philosophies. In some ways it is the Wal-Mart versus the little guy, or the price is almost everything philosophy. For the expert, low price and timeliness are the major factors in the purchase. The expert knows what the object is supposed to do, how to make it do it, and where to go to solve any difficulties that arise. It is also possibly a commodity that is pretty interchangeable. As long as the expert community remains somewhat small then full service institutions can continue to exist to serve the normal customer that has no idea what works for them and has no idea who to talk to for more information. Many of this list would be surprised how many people don't know about B&H or dcresource, stevesdigicams, and other online resources. When products become mostly well designed, constructed, and marketed then price does become a prime motivator. Gray Tri-X was the same as any other and so why would you pay $5.49 a roll when you could get it for $2.19? An issue is that innovation can make the tried and true not so true. We are in an era where many things change in a twelve to twenty four month cycle. Energy prices will make all of us reconsider our transportation choices as well as such mundane matters as the furnace in our home and payback times for a new, more efficient model. Our list has and will continue to undergo a huge change in focus as the digital revolution changes everything about Leica photography. Less knowledgeable people just assume price is everything, find the lowest price possible, and scream when the sleazeball vendor turns out to be a sleazeball after all. Photo.net is full of people who bought from Smile or whoever that was 0.02 cheaper. You do get what you pay for. In an era of rapid change, society needs a group that can guide normal people in choices. It could be your sister, it could be the local shop keeper who keeps up to date on the products she sells and give good advice on what is appropriate to you. Summarizing this somewhat lengthy ramble, if you find someone who provides great service, knows the area you are interested in, and is genuinely useful to you, then support that person. If it your brother then buy him lunch once in a while; if it is the local shop, then make quite a few purchases from that shop as keeping that resource alive is pretty important to you and others. 0.02 Don dorysrus@mindspring.com -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+dorysrus=mindspring.com@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+dorysrus=mindspring.com@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of B. D. Colen Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 9:37 AM To: 'Leica Users Group' Subject: RE: RE: [Leica] Let's Hold the Future at Bay a Tad Longer 1. There is gear other than Leica in this world, and the price differentials are enormous; 2. By shopping beyond the local shops - especially on the net, one can find a much greater variety of gear. 3. We are both thinking of the same shop - and when it comes to used gear, that shop's prices don't even compete with Ken Hansen in NYC - which is hardly a discount spot. (His last home on Madison Avenue looked more like Harry Winston's than a camera store. :-) 4. The shopper keeper of whom we speak is a lovely guy - but.... Even Buddies Disagree Sometimes...:-) -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of buzz.hausner@verizon.net Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 10:11 AM To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: RE: [Leica] Let's Hold the Future at Bay a Tad Longer Where have you been hangin', B.D.? I can't speak to other brands, but at least for Leica gear, our local shops offer the exact same prices as B&H et alii. Of course, if you mean saving the 5% sales tax, you are absolutely correct. Buzz > > From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net> > Date: 2004/09/02 Thu AM 09:50:44 EDT > To: "'Leica Users Group'" <lug@leica-users.org> > Subject: RE: [Leica] Let's Hold the Future at Bay a Tad Longer > > Yes, waiting around at B&H can be a pain - but the prices aren't. I'm > willing to put up with the wait to save significant money - even more > significant if you're purchasing over the internet or by phone, > because you eliminate the obscene NYC/NYS sales tax. I've literally > never had a problem with an on-line order from B&H, and have found > that their standard UPS gets to me within 24-48 hours. > > I understand the wanting to support the little shoppe on the corner - > and I make a point of buying books from my independent book store. But > there's a big difference between paying an extra five bucks to get a > book right away and support the local folks, and paying an extra 50 or > even a couple hundred on photo equipment. I don't find that local > places give me any more "support" than a places such as B&H or KEH, > and they certainly don't give me any better quality. Yes, it's nice to > go in and leisurely play with equipment or schmooze with some guy > behind the counter - but not only am I not willing to pay more than a > few bucks for the priviledge - I can't afford to. > > B. D.> _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information