Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/04/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I'll gladly admit that it was probably an off-line conversation that Joseph and I had that triggered that reaction! And I have apologized for that to him. Stepping on cultural faux-pax is part of an increasingly global world (like doing the circled thumb/index finger sign as ?OK? or showing the bottom of your sole/feet towards another person e.g. when sitting down on a floor/carpet are big no-no?s in some cultures). I think it is helpful if both sides of the argument shows some understanding. I?m curious to know actually as I tried to explain the purchasing behaviour/line-of-thoughts of a US/European-born Leica user to Joseph. For example, one is to buy a Leica Summicron-M 35/2 APSH to USE, not collect or polish. I tried to explain that one considers all variables in that purchasing decision: comparing new US prices with passport to used from dealer, to new from third party, to new from foreign source like Joseph?s authorized Leica dealership, to a used but mint one like from a trusted source like a LHSA and/or LUG member. Apparently I performed a great insult for comparing a ?used? product to a new?!?! I do understand the difference between buying new vs. used equipment, but I am actually very curious to know how it may be insulting to bring it up in the same argument. Cheers, Patrick - who did take some courses in Inter-cultural communication at the university and do have an interest/fascination of the subject being an ex-pat myself --- Joseph Yao <joseph@yao.com> wrote: > Thank God someone understands me! Yesterday I had someone who compared my > price for a NEW Summicron 35 ASPH against that of a used/demo one. I was > so > hurt/insulted I almost fell off my chair. ;-) > > Joseph > > > on 23/4/05 2:46 am, Richard at richard-lists@imagecraft.com wrote: > > > That's true in Chinese society, isn't it? I remember having a great deal > > of > > difficulty to tell my family that, yes, while we can afford new clothes > > for > > our children, it makes so much more sense to buy used clothes since they > > grow up out it so fast... When I was growing up, we were so poor that you > > passing down the clothes to another person in the family or to your > > friends > > until there's no fabric left is the norm :-). So the stigma is "why > > wouldn't nice clean clothes be in the store? Did something happen to the > > child?" etc. > > > > Of course with the Leica, if you find a 50 year old Leica, chances are > > that > > the owner did finally go to the Big Leica store up there... :-) > > > > At 11:14 AM 4/22/2005, Joseph Yao wrote: > > > >> Little does Coenen know that there is a taboo/stigma associated with > >> buying > >> used/second hand in certain cultures. By not offering (I am not saying > >> they > >> should or should not) an entry level model, Leica is turning away many > >> potential customers. This is where Cosina/Voigtlander have succeeded > >> and I > >> expect the Zeiss Ikon camera and lenses will accomplish the same. > >> > >> Joseph > >> > > > > // richard (This email is for mailing lists. To reach me directly, please > > use richard at imagecraft.com) > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 >