Brandon Skinner Posted October 11, 2011 Share #1 Posted October 11, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Working in the Watch industry, I am acutely aware of the problem the United States (and Europe for that matter) is suffering of lack of distribution of goods because of the demand and purchasing power of China. I haven't been a Leica user all that long but have noticed the last 3 or 4 months it's been damn near impossible to obtain new lenses from either Leica, Zeiss, and even Voigtlander. Is all the product being sold to Asian Markets right now or is everything sold before it hits the shelves? The day I bought my used M a new Zeiss 35mm f/2 was available so I bought it. Since then opportunities to buy other lenses has been very few and far between. Can anyone please explain? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Hi Brandon Skinner, Take a look here Lens Distribution to the United States. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Ronan Posted October 11, 2011 Share #2 Posted October 11, 2011 Working in the Watch industry, I am acutely aware of the problem the United States (and Europe for that matter) is suffering of lack of distribution of goods because of the demand and purchasing power of China. I haven't been a Leica user all that long but have noticed the last 3 or 4 months it's been damn near impossible to obtain new lenses from either Leica, Zeiss, and even Voigtlander. Is all the product being sold to Asian Markets right now or is everything sold before it hits the shelves? The day I bought my used M a new Zeiss 35mm f/2 was available so I bought it. Since then opportunities to buy other lenses has been very few and far between. Can anyone please explain? Buy online. Theirs a higher demand of M goods that manufacturers cannot meet currently. Not uncommon when dealing with small/medium size companies that create luxury goods. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Skinner Posted October 11, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted October 11, 2011 Buy online. Theirs a higher demand of M goods that manufacturers cannot meet currently. Not uncommon when dealing with small/medium size companies that create luxury goods. By "shelves", I meant online shelves. Online or not, the product has been unavailable for months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iTiki Posted October 11, 2011 Share #4 Posted October 11, 2011 By "shelves", I meant online shelves. Online or not, the product has been unavailable for months. Local dealer told me fewer pieces are coming into the U.S. That coupled with the current demand leaves us going without. Getting on a waiting list or paying higher than retail prices to those lucky enough to have the lens wanted seems to be our only options right nhow. 6 months to 1 year wait times are what I was quoted..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted October 11, 2011 Share #5 Posted October 11, 2011 The US is not a special case here. Supply is constrained everywhere. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted October 11, 2011 Share #6 Posted October 11, 2011 ..... or is everything sold before it hits the shelves? Yes, people decide what they want and put themselves on a Leica Dealers waiting list. If you do that usually the wait isn't as long as you think it might be. No countries are favourites and all dealers get a fair share. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronan Posted October 11, 2011 Share #7 Posted October 11, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) By "shelves", I meant online shelves. Online or not, the product has been unavailable for months. Plenty available online if willing to pay the price. But yes, some are much harder to find and much more expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted October 12, 2011 Share #8 Posted October 12, 2011 I don't believe the Chinese are getting any greater allocation of lenses, it's just that many Asian camera shops will buy lenses and hard to find cameras (M9-Ps) in the West and pay over list, only to bring them home and mark them up even more. The problem I foresee is that today, in China, Leica is only just scratching the surface. Sure there are 3 Leica Stores in Hong Kong, 2 in Beijing and 1 in Shanghai (and countless more authorized and grey market dealers), but there are hundreds of millions of Chinese in the interior with money and a passion for photography and western quality. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted October 13, 2011 Share #9 Posted October 13, 2011 Many threads have noted this problem. Often the reasons you cite are explained as M9 demand has outstripped lens supplies combined with the Japanese tsunami which reduced glass supplies. That is was has been said. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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