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

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Subject: Consumerism [was RE: [Leica] Digital Leica M]
From: shino at panix.com (Rei Shinozuka)
Date: Wed Jun 14 16:26:22 2006
References: <p0623090ec0b605a56016@10.0.1.3> <C0B5D1E6.12017%bdcolen@comcast.net> <4cfa589b0606141610u78eaff1blf1eb471cf1df9dbb@mail.gmail.com>

so true.  we ended up with all viking and a 48-inch subzero because 
the marginal cost over the standard appliances was a small part of
the reno.  that being said, the subzero has needed several
visits (ice-maker, door handles), the front of the viking range
has fallen off and the viking stove's heat regulator gave out, 
which caused the oven to bring itself to such a prodigious 
temperature that both glass panels burst.  the fisher-and-paykel
dishdrawer ($2,000) was so corroded and decrepit that we had to
throw it out after 5 years.  when i told the repairman that my
folks had the same kenmore washer the entire time i lived at home, he
laughed indulgently.  it was as if i had asked why people didn't
live to be 969 years old anymore.

however, with the exception of the new zealand luxury dishwasher,
i do expect viking and subzero parts and repairmen to be available
as long as i can pay for them.

-rei

On Jun14 16:10, Adam Bridge wrote:
> What planet do YOU live on - I'll bet the APPLIANCES ran $20K, the
> counter tops (with installation $10K unless they used a marble in blue
> so it becomes $20K), and the cabinets, if they're good, another $20K.
> 
> Yes, we're about to remodel our kitchen -- any day now -- good thing
> I'm still not eating!
> 
> Adam
> 
> On 6/14/06, B. D. Colen <bdcolen@comcast.net> wrote:
> >Ahhhhh...$75K...:-)
> >
> >
> >On 6/14/06 2:29 PM, "Richard S. Taylor" <r.s.taylor@comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> >> 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)
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> 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
> >
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information

-- 
Rei Shinozuka shino@panix.com
Ridgewood, New Jersey


Replies: Reply from msmall at infionline.net (Marc James Small) (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])
Message from abridge at gmail.com (Adam Bridge) (Consumerism [was RE: [Leica] Digital Leica M])