Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/06/14

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Subject: Consumerism [was RE: [Leica] Digital Leica M]
From: r.s.taylor at comcast.net (Richard S. Taylor)
Date: Wed Jun 14 11:30:05 2006
References: <C0B5CC17.12012%bdcolen@comcast.net>

Well, I didn't include the cost of the ten-foot bump out on the 
house, or the new marble center island, etc, etc. etc...

>Leica-like kitchen for only $15-20K? That sounds like resurfaced cabinets, a
>couple appliances and some new linoleum. It's not at all unusual these days
>to spend $50K on a kitchen - not that I ever have, mind you.
>
>
>On 6/14/06 2:16 PM, "Richard S. Taylor" <r.s.taylor@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>  Don -  This is not a land I inhabit routinely, but I'm sure it's
>>  still possible to buy consumer goods of exceptional quality if you
>>  are willing to pay the price.  The cost of high-end goods isn't
>>  exclusively in their gloss and prestige.  I have friends who recently
>>  remodelled their kitchen to the tune of about $15-20K and the gear
>>  they bought not only looks good but seems to be built like a tank.
>>
>>  You have to get used to the idea, though, of spending $3-4K or more
>>  for a stove, appreciate and enjoy the features and quality of the
>>  equipment, and be really thinking long term.
>>
>>  To get back to cameras, why buy a DSLR when, when you and get a
>>  high-quality advanced consumer camera for less, or why buy the
>>  advanced consumer camera when you can buy a good point and shoot for
>>  less?
>>
>>  The answer is the same for any tool.  The more expensive ones will do
>>  things the cheaper ones can't, have better build quality, be more
>>  reliable, and, maybe, just maybe, also be a joy to own.
>>
>>  Just where the value/price ratio is optimized is a very individual
>>  choice, he said, stepping down off his soap box.  :-)
>>
>>  B.T.W. my friends are enthusiastic cooks.  I'm sure their Leica-like
>>  kitchen will give them enormous pleasure for a very long time.
>>
>>>  Richard,
>>>  At least when you bought your machines you had the option of purchasing 
>>>  a
>>>  well designed and engineered machine.  As retailers look to limit stock 
>>> to
>>>  the 100/10000 top turning SKU's any item that doesn't turn inventory 
>>> will
>>>  not be reordered.  Price becomes an issue as fewer people can 
>>> descriminate
>>>  what is quality and what is not so let price rule.
>>>
>>>  Consumerism plays a part here as well.  Rather than have a few very nice
>>>  things, most would rather have a whole bunch of shiny junk just ot say 
>>> that
>>>  they have one of everything.
>>>
>>>  B.D. briefly touched on this when commenting on the relative price of a
>>>  proposed dM and a D30 or the Oly line.  Why would someone pay 5K for a 
>>> box
>>>  that does what a 1.4K box does?  It is for the same reason that I won't 
>>> buy
>>
>>
>>  (snip)
>
>
>
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-- 
Regards,

Dick

Replies: Reply from bdcolen at comcast.net (B. D. Colen) (Consumerism [was RE: [Leica] Digital Leica M])
In reply to: Message from bdcolen at comcast.net (B. D. Colen) (Consumerism [was RE: [Leica] Digital Leica M])