30% Price Increases in the UK

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by sdai

It seems so funny that the dealer has put up a picture of CHE on the front page of their web site, please allow me to quote Mr. Guevara:

one can only win at the cost of others

Red Dot are running a competition for customers to win an authorised original print of THAT photograph, together with a Cuban paper note, both signed by Corda

[marknorton]

Originally Posted by marknorton

Currently, one UK dealer has it at £1519

Well there's good news and bad news. The good news is that the 75/2 hasn't gone up by 30%, the bad news is that the same dealer is now showing it at £1899, 25% up.

Other lenses which seem to have been hit are the 24/2.8, £2049, the 50/1.4, £1799 and the 90/2, £1839. They haven't increased the Noctilux from what I can see (no point if you're not actually supplying any) and I think the WATE + Finder might even have come down a little.

[jaapv]

Well, for instance the 24 is 2995 Euro in Germany, I do not know what that makes in GBP today.

[marknorton]

Originally Posted by jaapv

Well, for instance the 24 is 2995 Euro in Germany, I do not know what that makes in GBP today.

So in 3 years, in Germany, the 24 is up from €2400 to €2995, up 25%, a little less if you adjust for the increase in German VAT.

At our current dismal exchange rate, €2995 makes it £2341 after adjusting for tax, so £2049 perhaps not as bad as I thought. Was selling for £1749 though, last week.

[jaapv]

Here are the German prices. Sorry for the low-grade scan, this is an ancient flatbed...

[marknorton]

Interesting, Noctilux has gone...

[marknorton]

... also, as expected, the 50/2.8 Elmar, 90/2.8 Elmarit and 75/1.4 Summilux have gone and it looks like the 90/4 is only supplied as part of the macro set. Include the Noctilux and MATE and that's 6 lenses dropped.

[delander]

I just did a few quick calculations on the Leica price increases in the UK.

Over the last 12 months I bought 2 M8s and a bunch of new lenses. If I was to buy the same today I would need to pay 17% more. The biggest increases (from my purchases) seem to be: 50mm cron +30%; 75mm cron +25%; 24mm elmarit +24%; WATE +21%.

Would I buy them at the new prices? Difficult to know.

Jeff

[ffordes]

Originally Posted by andybarton

If there's ANYTHING wrong with the lens you buy from the Scottish dealer, tell them very quickly.

If you leave it a week or two, they don't want to know...

I have been alerted by a customer of mine to Andy Barton's comment and can only assume that he is talking about us, I am not sure why he is not happy though as we offer a ten day approval on all used equipment that is purchased by mail-order, obviously we do not offer this on new items though.

From our experience ten days is usually long enough to decide on whether a used item is as described and if not happy to alert us.

In our defence I think we are very fair to all of our customers as we rely on repeat business.

with kind regards,

Steve Byford
Ffordes

[Thomas Edwards]

...surprisingly, the price increase in the states has been relatively mild...heard, tho, that another price increase may come later this summer...

[marknorton]

I bought a used second version 28-35-50 Tri-Elmar from ffordes and was more than happy with the condition of the lens, the price and the service.

[pekem]

I also bought from Ffordes on occasions, first time they were judged "Amateur Photographer" Retailer of the Year. It is interesting that if you look through a copy of Amateur Photographer published in the seventies, perhaps even earlier, you will see that Ffordes were going strong under the leadership of Reg Byford. I think the major change that has occured since is that the business is led by Steve Byford, Reg's son and they have relocated from Southend to bonnie Scotland. They must be doing someting right!

[jaapv]

ffordes? Great shop! Both for buying and selling.

[stunsworth]

Another satisfied customer. I've bought from Ffordes several times, and they're always the first place I look when I'm thinking of buying something.

[ffordes]

Hi

I have been alerted to Andy Barton comments about us but I am a little surprised about what he is saying, we at Ffordes operate a ten day approval on all used equipment bought by mail order and if you buy something from us and are not happy with it then can return it within this time for a refund.

We do not operate an approval scheme on new equipment though.

I can only think that Andy may have bought something used from us and wanted to return it after the ten day approval period and in this case it can cause us problems as we sell equipemnt for customers on commission and can't then ask them to return the funds to us.

In our defence we look at each case individually and I think that we are fair, we are honest with gradings and this is why we are happy to offer an approval period.

With kind regards,

Steve Byford
Ffordes


Sorry, new to this Forum and hadn't relaised my reply had already been posted, whoops, thanks for the other kind comments, appreciated.

[ericperlberg]

Bought and sold through Ffordes with no problems or complaints. Plus their prices are usually a tad less expensive than off line shops.

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by ffordes

Hi

I have been alerted to Andy Barton comments about us but I am a little surprised about what he is saying, we at Ffordes operate a ten day approval on all used equipment bought by mail order and if you buy something from us and are not happy with it then can return it within this time for a refund.

We do not operate an approval scheme on new equipment though.

I can only think that Andy may have bought something used from us and wanted to return it after the ten day approval period and in this case it can cause us problems as we sell equipemnt for customers on commission and can't then ask them to return the funds to us.

In our defence we look at each case individually and I think that we are fair, we are honest with gradings and this is why we are happy to offer an approval period.

With kind regards,

Steve Byford
Ffordes


Sorry, new to this Forum and hadn't relaised my reply had already been posted, whoops, thanks for the other kind comments, appreciated.

Here is my original post, in context

Originally Posted by andybarton

If there's ANYTHING wrong with the lens you buy from the Scottish dealer, tell them very quickly.

If you leave it a week or two, they don't want to know...

Many thanks for your detailed response to the issue raised - it is very good to receive feedback from dealers, especially if customers post messages on here which can be perceived to be critical.

However, I stand by my post above. I bought a 28 Elmarit-R with ROM from ffordes about 2 years ago. It was used and cost me £899 plus postage. I cannot recall how it was described, but it would be most likely E++ (perhaps you keep records of customer purchases?)

I noticed that the focus ring was binding slightly at around infinity when I first tried it, but it wasn't until a couple of weeks later that my local dealer had a look at it and said that it was well out of adjustment. I phoned ffordes and asked whether they would care to take it back from me and tell me whether they considered it to be acceptable, given its description. I was told in no uncertain terms that they will not take back lenses that have been sent out to customers if they were not returned immediately should there be a fault (no mention of 10 days was given). The person to whom I spoke suggested that I must have caused this problem to the lens myself (not sure how one would do that, but needless to say, when I pay >£900 for a lens i am pretty careful with it.)

Consequently, the lens was sent to Leica UK, who did a CLA and returned it to me, no longer binding.

My comment above could be related to any internet dealer. There is clearly a very large element of trust involved in the purchase of expensive kit unseen, so it makes good sense to check any purchase immediately it is received.

For the record, I have, since this episode, bought other lenses and bits from ffordes and have been extremely happy with them, as I was with a previous M lens that came from them. I have, however, learned my lesson, and will phone them immediately should any item purchased be not as I expected.

ffordes have been a valuable source of camera equipment for a very long time and I am sure that they will continue to be so in the future. Their stocks are huge and are generally the first place that I look should I be in the market for something in particular.

[graeme_clarke]

Just to say I've always had the best of service from Ffordes - accurate, helpful and prompt for both new and s/h equipment.
Graeme