[Leica] Apology to Bill R.

["Stewart, Alistair" <AStewart@gigaweb.com>]

Bill,

sorry if I didn't communicate so well - I was just trying to show that ebay
bargains can be found.

The len I was referring to was that 35 'cron in chrome, on consignment, that
we briefly talked about a couple of weeks ago. You were smart enough to
point out that it was in far too good condition (cosmetically) for me!

The point I was trying (and failed!) to make was that ebay can be a source
for good deals if you know how to work the system. This was just to offer a
counterpoint to the other ebay postings.
The owner of the 'cron you had on consignment wanted a (market) price of
$1000, very realistic, whereas on ebay one could (and I did) get a very
slightly lower grade lens (marginally older, black, but still mint) for 25%
less.

So, again, please accept my apologies for my miscommunication.

And for the Luggers out there who haven't dealt with Bill, consider this:
How many Leica dealers know their customers so well that they actually
advise against selling them something because the dealer knows it isn't
really right for the customer? Not many. Bill is outstanding to do business
with - people like he and Sam Shoshan really are the top notch, building
their business on relationships, not quickie sales. Using the term 'dealer
for folks like them actually demeans the role they have and the way they
fulfill it.

I hope that this clears up any misunderstanding (haven't checked later posts
yet!)

best of light,

Alistair  


- -----Original Message-----
From: LEICAMAN56@aol.com [mailto:LEICAMAN56@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 1999 12:40 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Slightly OT- More eBay idiocy!


Hi All,

Don't know how I got wrapped into this one.  Alistair is a hell of a nice 
guy, but I never had the lens he describes, so I don't know why I won't
budge 
on the price of something I don't have!

I do know the identity of the seller of the 15 Heliar on e-bay for $610.  He

also had a bid for $605 for the same item.  He feels that if someone wants
to 
pay a premium for a hard to get lens, then that is the buyer's prerogative.

No one twists their arms to bid.  After all, they're all grownups, right?  
Some may wonder why someone would pay a premium for an item advertised for 
less elsewhere.  The point is, the other dealers can't deliver. Some people 
will gladly pay a premium not to wait.  You might say, its capitalism at its

best (or worst)!

Bill Rosauer