Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/23

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Thanks!! OT Contax G2: Cost
From: "AWSteg" <upstream1@mindspring.com>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 09:37:31 -0400
References: <FNODGBKIBCNMBAAA@mailcity.com> <002301bfc448$ef2daa60$f7318ad1@al> <003901bfc45c$4be075e0$775848a6@kimmel>

Bud:  I am not sure your analogy works! First, we are talking about a
Japanese camera with a 3 year warrantee not an American camera with a 6
month warrantee.  Second, when you factor in the cost of insurance and
maintenance / repairs owning a Mercedes it's quite expensive! Third,
Mercedes has actually made technology improvements over the years. . .cruse
control, power windows, air bags. . .Leica has done very little. Let's face
it- Leica has obviously amortized the design/tooling cost of the camera by
now and makes a simple marketing choice to keep the price high.  So be it. .
.it's a great camera. . .but it is priced higher not because it cost more to
produce but because they want the price high to keep the appearance of
greatness, which is also fine. The release of all the collector edition is
just an extension of this philosophy. The sad part is that it does limit the
ability of the average college student interested in photography or just the
average Joe with a family from having the ability to utilize and enjoy an M6
and 3-4 lenses.  Although to their credit, Leica does offer a buy program of
their loaner camera's at around $1,000 at some colleges.  The price is
artificially kept high as a direct result of Leica's marketing program which
is focused at people with money or who are paid very well .  Your average
photographer (AP) or whatever is not is this financial group .  But this is
the marketing choice of the Leica Company.  Understand that they could
charge much less and still make a good profit but they choose not to.

Al Stegmeyer

Al Stegmeyer
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Bud Cook" <budcook@attglobal.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2000 10:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Thanks!! OT Contax G2: Cost


> Most people make the mistake of looking at what something costs to buy
> rather than what something costs to own.   That's why people buy new
> American cars every few years rather than buying a Mercedes which gives
you
> an option about deciding just how many decades you want to drive it.
>
> The same thing applies to Leicas (at least those that I've bought).   I've
> wasted very little money on Leicas but I've spent a bundle on Nikon gear
and
> it's all gone.
>
> Bud
>
>
>

Replies: Reply from "Bud Cook" <budcook@attglobal.net> (Re: [Leica] Thanks!! OT Contax G2: Cost)
Reply from Jeff S <4season@boulder.net> (Re: [Leica] Thanks!! OT Contax G2: Cost)
In reply to: Message from "Takeshi Hashimoto" <hashimoto.takeshi@mailcity.com> (Re: [Leica] Thanks!! OT Contax G2: Cost)
Message from "AWSteg" <upstream1@mindspring.com> (Re: [Leica] Thanks!! OT Contax G2: Cost)
Message from "Bud Cook" <budcook@attglobal.net> (Re: [Leica] Thanks!! OT Contax G2: Cost)