[Leica] Leica prices

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

Some of this may have to do with the idea that there are often or usually
two people bringing in money to support the home and buy stuff. Two income
families in other words. Perhaps this makes things cost more all over!?


On 9/26/14 4:08 PM, "Akhil Lal" <Akhil.Lal at bcc.cuny.edu> wrote:

> As I have posted before, when analysing historic price trends it is
> instructive to compare prices of consumer goods not to the official cpi, 
> but
> rather  to the rate at which the value of a primary residence has increased
> over the period under consideration. In 1955 an M3, DS of course, with 50 
> mm
> Summicron sold for approx DM 1100,  $ 275.  Today a new M7 + 50 Summicron
> will cost $ 7400. Over the same period of time a 'starter' middle class 
> home
> in one of NYC's boroughs has gone from ca. 10k to  800k.
> 
> As Piketty and others have pointed out, we are living  in new Belle Epoch 
> so
> it is not a surprise to see that brands which were formerly accessible to
> the middle class have adjusted their pricing (and market positioning) in
> order attract a more upscale buyer and maximise profits.
> 
> BTW, this link from Fortune magazine might be of interest:
> 
> http://fortune.com/2012/05/06/how-top-executives-live-fortune-1955/
> 
> Regards,
> Akhil
> 
>   
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: LUG [mailto:lug-bounces+alal=poly.edu at leica-users.org] On Behalf 
> Of
> Larry Zeitlin via LUG
> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 9:04 PM
> To: lug at leica-users.org
> Subject: [Leica] Leica prices
> 
>  So contrary to the assertions of the most avid Leicaholics on the LUG. you
> don't get what you pay for. Like jewelry or cosmetics you get the price 
> that
> the market will bear.
> Given the cost of the new models, I'm shocked, shocked that Leicas aren't
> made of platinum and gold by Black Forest elves. I guess I'll stick with my
> 60 year old M3.
> Larry Z
> - - - -
> I am surprised that the price has only doubled in real terms. Other
> companies that have made the leap from manufacturers of relatively mass
> market consumer durables to high luxury (like Montblanc and Rolex for
> example) in the same period have seen much higher increases in prices in
> real (i.e. inflation adjusted) terms. All these companies price their goods
> at what the market will bear, and not on plebeian principles like cost 
> plus,
> so there is no point going down that road. It is like trying to figure out
> the price of a Dior Couture dress by the cost of the cloth and thread.
> Pointless.
> Cheers
> Jayanand
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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Mark William Rabiner
Photographer
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