Re: [Leica] Lieca DUMPS Kindermann

[Dan Cardish <dcardish@microtec.net>]

Perhaps it is because Leica preceives L-K as being more sales oriented than
Kindermann?  L-K advertises quite heavily in Canada, more so than
Kindermann as I perceive it. For instance, they are always running some
form of promotion ("buy a Hasselblad kit, and get an A12 magazine free").
I'm not sure if these promotions originate with L-K or with Hasselblad in
Sweden, but they are not the same ones as those offered in the USA. 

I'm not saying that this is a good thing, but Leica is undoubtedly
re-evaluating their sale's forces (re: Belgium shake-up) to try and help
out their bottom line, and Kindermann's excellent service may not be
considered a high priority.

I don't think that repairing leicas requires advanced knowledge in rocket
science.  If L-K wishes to provide good service to it's new Leica
customers, they can provide it.  There is no reason why they won't.  

My main concern is, what will happen with my local dealer?  He currently
does not sell Hasselblads, I hope he will continue with Leicas.

Dan C.

At 10:40 AM 12-02-00 -0800, Bill wrote:
>
[snip]
>change.  My opinions of why this change may have taken place are as
>follows:
>
>1) Kindermann was not performing as well as Leica thought they should
>be performing.
>
>2) The quality of Kindermann's service (an independent distributor)
>was so far superior to the quality of service offered by Leica USA (a
>Leica owned distributor) that Leica Solms thought Kindermann was
>making Leica USA look bad, so Kindermann had to go.
>
>3) This, along with a few other things, are designed to impress the
>equity markets and thus pump-up the price of Leica Camera's stock.
>
>4) This may very well be a move designed to intimidate, or should I
>say put the "Fear of GOD" into, all of the other independent
>distributors to try to prevent them from selling product into the
>"Gray market".
>
>5) This maybe a "smoke screen" to divert attention away from
>something else more important that is happening.