Leica User Forum - View Single Post

adan · 04/28/08, 05:58 AM

I'll just toss in that Leica actually saw an INCREASE in film body sales with the introduction of the M8 or thereafter. (from retail business sources)

Now - that could just be people rushing to get one before they disappeared forever - or it could be a side effect of the M8 publicity - or it could be people on the fence deciding maybe Leica had a future after all - or folks who tried the M8, didn't like it (but did like the RF viewing) and swapped even.

Cosumer psychology can be weird, so I don't claim to know which - if any - of those possibilities is correct.

From a business perspective, it's fairly simple. You can't sell a product at a loss unless you are building for the future in a growing market. And film is NOT a growing market. So the moment the M7/MP can't be sold at a price that covers their cost (labor, materials, promotional expense, etc.), their time is up. Sic transit gloria and all that.

My suspicion is that Dr. Kauffmann is smart enough to read the numbers and will know and act when that time arrives.

04/28/08, 05:58 AM	#22 (permalink)
adan Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 03/04/04 Location: Denver Posts: 940	Re: Leica Solution? I'll just toss in that Leica actually saw an INCREASE in film body sales with the introduction of the M8 or thereafter. (from retail business sources) Now - that could just be people rushing to get one before they disappeared forever - or it could be a side effect of the M8 publicity - or it could be people on the fence deciding maybe Leica had a future after all - or folks who tried the M8, didn't like it (but did like the RF viewing) and swapped even. Cosumer psychology can be weird, so I don't claim to know which - if any - of those possibilities is correct. From a business perspective, it's fairly simple. You can't sell a product at a loss unless you are building for the future in a growing market. And film is NOT a growing market. So the moment the M7/MP can't be sold at a price that covers their cost (labor, materials, promotional expense, etc.), their time is up. Sic transit gloria and all that. My suspicion is that Dr. Kauffmann is smart enough to read the numbers and will know and act when that time arrives.