Rising Prices from Leica?

[craig talmy]

I have heard a rumor that Leica has plans to raise their prices across the board stating in the new year. Anyone else aware of this? Should I go out and empty my kids college funds before the years end?

[jaapv]

It woudn't surprise me in the States. They must be losing money on the Dollar-Euro rate.

[john_j]

I was told the same by my dealer the other night.

[jrc]

You might be too late. Checking prices at Popflash, it seems to me that everything is more than it was a few months ago.

JC

[ho_co]

Didn't I read somewhere that this was a part of the Summarits' introduction plan?

That is, we get a range of reasonably priced, easier-to-produce, available lenses; and in exchange, the high-speed lenses whose production requires higher technology costs will see their prices raised.

In other words, IIRC, in addition to currency fluctuations, this is in part a marketing decision.

--HC

[4X5B&W]

My dealer (in Toronto) mentioned the same last week. It is surprising to me, being right on the heals of the M8 price increase just a month or so ago.

[Hacker]

Same, but the increase will be in March 08.

[Chuck Albertson]

5% across the board, 1/1.

[Hacker]

Originally Posted by jrc

You might be too late. Checking prices at Popflash, it seems to me that everything is more than it was a few months ago.

JC

Prices have just creeped up at Popflash.

[steed]

What about the need to cover what must be staggering warranty repair/replacement costs, since it looks like a significant percentage of the new items are either lemons or dogs. A price hike might help defray those costs.

[bindrar]

In Switzerland a price hike for M8 from CHF6600 to CHF7800 was announced in November from 1 Jan. (CHF1.2=US$1) ... other prices including all lenses stayed at same price.

[darkstar2004]

Originally Posted by steed

What about the need to cover what must be staggering warranty repair/replacement costs, since it looks like a significant percentage of the new items are either lemons or dogs. A price hike might help defray those costs.

Leica releases defective equipment then the customer pays for fixing it via price increases?

That's called "making love to" the customer - not a smart strategy, if you want to stay in business.

[Black Dot]

Originally Posted by jaapv

It woudn't surprise me in the States. They must be losing money on the Dollar-Euro rate.

No need to justify it. Leica will raise prices regardless of what the dollar is doing. It's what they do.

[tobey bilek]

That`s why I gave up and bought a Nikon. Not as nice as Leica`s upcoming R10 to be sure, but at least I don`t have to empty the retirement fund to pay for expensive German wages and panach.

They are down to a few hundred employess form 6000 according to Leica Historical Society. I suppose that is all it takes to build a few cameras for a few oil shieks. As the volumn shrinks, the developmental costs and fixed overhead needs to be spread over fewer and fewer units making them cost more and more, sales plunge more, costs rise, death spiral.

Just how much market is there for $10,000 cameras without lenses. You laugh? Price the new M9 and R10. You read it here first.

[darkstar2004]

Maybe Leica should introduce a new category of cameras:, the RAF edition (RAF for Rich And Fabulous). They could start with the M9 and R10.

They could have the Oil Shiek models - platinum plated, encrusted with rubies.

They could also have the Pimp Daddy line - gold plated and diamond encrusted, for billionaire rap "artists." Of course, the aperture rings on all the lenses would continue to spin for five minutes after you set the camera down.

They could have the Useless Twat line, chrome plated with pink leather, which would burn up the fashion runways from New York to Paris to Brunei.

And of course, there would be the Herpes line of Leicas LeicaHermes

Maybe Leica could even see fit to continue to build a few plain black MPs, M7s and M8s and lenses for real, honest-to-god photographers - people who are passionate about imagemaking and Leica cameras; you know, people who actually put film in their dinged and brassed Leicas and use them to make actual photographic images.

Just a thought...

[Craftsman]

Those are wonderful ideas for new releases. I like to see a continuation of tradition.

[Black Dot]

Originally Posted by darkstar2004

Maybe Leica should introduce a new category of cameras:, the RAF edition (RAF for Rich And Fabulous). They could start with the M9 and R10.

They could have the Oil Shiek models - platinum plated, encrusted with rubies.

They could also have the Pimp Daddy line - gold plated and diamond encrusted, for billionaire rap "artists." Of course, the aperture rings on all the lenses would continue to spin for five minutes after you set the camera down.

They could have the Useless Twat line, chrome plated with pink leather, which would burn up the fashion runways from New York to Paris to Brunei.

Judging from the new website design I'd say they are already heading in that direction!

[Rona|d]

Price increases are standard for Leica, they do this every year. So it wouldn´t surprise me at all. And to be honest, this makes them unique - non of the professional camera-manufacturers can do it this way!
Don´t forget: It´s much easier to produce one Leica camera for 60.000 $ instead of ten cameras for 6.000,- $ - and it reduces the customer service costs too

[daveco]

So...it really IS an investment?

[usefeet]

Just be happy you already have some Leica gear to use (at the old price, or the very very old price).