Awesome Price Drop On Leica M9 And Leica M9P Up To $1500

[Leica Blog]

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After a first price drop on Amazon, B&H and Dale Photo for the Leica M9-P and the Leica M9 a few weeks ago, the cameras are now further discounted on Amazon USA.

 

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[wizard]

Well, there might be a M10 looming on the horizon ...

[wda]

Amazon UK shows price holding for M9.

[noeffred]

There's no real price drop. Leica just adjusts the price in the US according to the Euro/Dollar exchange rate. It's nice that they do that, but frankly I don't know why everyone gets so excited?

[gdi]

There's no real price drop. Leica just adjusts the price in the US according to the Euro/Dollar exchange rate. It's nice that they do that, but frankly I don't know why everyone gets so excited?

 

I don't think that is the case.

 

When the M9 debuted the Dollar was very low against the Euro and the price was $6999; it climbed higher than it is now in Summer of 2010 with no adjustment, it was still $6999. The dollar fluctuated since and now, with second rise in the Dollar, the official price still seems to be $6999, with some official Leica dealers offering either $500 off or a $500 gift certificate, which is worth much less that $500.

 

But I see no evidence that it has anything to do with the exchange rate, and definitely not evidence that Leica adjusts their prices strictly in relation to rate changes. I would gather that this is simply dealers moving stock in anticipation of the new model(s).

[noeffred]

I am under the impression that the US prices are without any form of sales tax, if they aren't my point is moot, if they are then let's do the maths:

 

So, 6499$=4954€ at the moment. I'm in Austria, we have a 20% VAT rate which I would need to add to that price. We're now at ~5945€

 

At the moment a new M9-P costs 5995€ here. So 5995€(AT)-5945€(US)=50€ difference, not much of a difference to be honest.

 

Here the M9 and M9-P are still at the price level they were at launch by the way.

 

Dealers still using the old price probably still have old stock, bought before the Euro tanked that bad... If I were to buy fresh stock from Germany now I would get a different price due to the exchange rate alone.

 

What we have to keep in mind is that the losses of the Euro have been pretty catastrophic recently, slashing the Euro value by more than half which allows everyone else to buy European goods much cheaper...

 

I'm very used to seeing that, when the Euro was worth more many bought loads of stuff in the US due to the very favourable exchange rate. I know folks who flew over just for a shopping trip which payed for itself due to the massive savings. Now the shoe's on the other foot

 

So yes, there is a price drop for you in the US, but it's only due to economic circumstances and I would warn against reading too much into that.

[gdi]

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I am under the impression that the US prices are without any form of sales tax, if they aren't my point is moot, if they are then let's do the maths:

 

So, 6499$=4954€ at the moment. I'm in Austria, we have a 20% VAT rate which I would need to add to that price. We're now at ~5945€

 

At the moment a new M9-P costs 5995€ here. So 5995€(AT)-5945€(US)=50€ difference, not much of a difference to be honest.

 

Here the M9 and M9-P are still at the price level they were at launch by the way.

 

Dealers still using the old price probably still have old stock, bought before the Euro tanked that bad... If I were to buy fresh stock from Germany now I would get a different price due to the exchange rate alone.

 

What we have to keep in mind is that the losses of the Euro have been pretty catastrophic recently, slashing the Euro value by more than half which allows everyone else to buy European goods much cheaper...

 

I'm very used to seeing that, when the Euro was worth more many bought loads of stuff in the US due to the very favourable exchange rate. I know folks who flew over just for a shopping trip which payed for itself due to the massive savings. Now the shoe's on the other foot

 

So yes, there is a price drop for you in the US, but it's only due to economic circumstances and I would warn against reading too much into that.

 

 

But you initially claimed that Leica adjusted their prices based on FX rates. Of course you can get an effective price decrease if you buy from countries with the currency valued lower than when the price was set, even if there are no list price adjustments. For example I saved significantly over the local (US) price by buying an M9 from Austria when the Dollar was peaking against the Euro in 2010, and no US dealers or Leica US were lowering the prices accordingly. And taxes (US or VAT) really only have to do we the buyers effective cost - they have nothing to do with the list price as set by Leica.

 

Of course it is possible that US dealers dropped their prices due to the fact they are paying a lower relative cost due to a drop in the Euro. But it doesn't makes sense they do it now for that reason; it does make sense that they are dropping the price in anticipation of new models.

 

My point was that the Euro saw a significantly greater drop between Sept 2009 and June 2010 than it has recently with no list price adjustment at all. In fact the euro has been gaining on the dollar since July of this year and only in the last week was the price reduced by dealers. And the stated list price of the M9 still appears to be $6999 (on BH and Adorama sites) with only some dealers offering a $500 price discount, and others offering a store credit in that amount. Of course this historic view contradicts your statement Leica adjust their list prices in response to currency swings.

 

All this really is moot, of course; the chances of Leica not introducing something significant in the next few days is virtually nil, and dealers are ready to make room for the latest and greatest. They may be willing to cut into their own profit margin to do so, or there may be some incentive offered by Leica to encourage it - I don't think that is public information ( at least I haven't seen it).

[Larcomb]

But you initially claimed that Leica adjusted their prices based on FX rates. Of course you can get an effective price decrease if you buy from countries with the currency valued lower than when the price was set, even if there are no list price adjustments. For example I saved significantly over the local (US) price by buying an M9 from Austria when the Dollar was peaking against the Euro in 2010, and no US dealers or Leica US were lowering the prices accordingly. And taxes (US or VAT) really only have to do we the buyers effective cost - they have nothing to do with the list price as set by Leica.

 

Of course it is possible that US dealers dropped their prices due to the fact they are paying a lower relative cost due to a drop in the Euro. But it doesn't makes sense they do it now for that reason; it does make sense that they are dropping the price in anticipation of new models.

 

My point was that the Euro saw a significantly greater drop between Sept 2009 and June 2010 than it has recently with no list price adjustment at all. In fact the euro has been gaining on the dollar since July of this year and only in the last week was the price reduced by dealers. And the stated list price of the M9 still appears to be $6999 (on BH and Adorama sites) with only some dealers offering a $500 price discount, and others offering a store credit in that amount. Of course this historic view contradicts your statement Leica adjust their list prices in response to currency swings.

 

All this really is moot, of course; the chances of Leica not introducing something significant in the next few days is virtually nil, and dealers are ready to make room for the latest and greatest. They may be willing to cut into their own profit margin to do so, or there may be some incentive offered by Leica to encourage it - I don't think that is public information ( at least I haven't seen it).

 

Many companies offer dealers 'price protection', which means they help them move older products by giving rebates on any unsold stock bought after a certain date, usually to help them clear out that stock in anticipation of a newer product.

[FTI]

Price protection is usually offered if the manufacturer lowers its own selling prices. Unsold stock held by the retailer are usually compensated for the difference in price. This does not have to result in a lower price for end consumers.