25% price increase in US Nov 1st

[Jeff S]

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1 hour ago, wellfleet said:

IItems like the 35  & 50 SLs were already in short supply so that's probably why Popflash has them listed at the new price.

Leica advised that those two lenses will have price increases starting tomorrow.  This does in fact result from the lack of current supply and the subsequent tariffs when orders can be filled.

Jeff

Edited November 8, 2019 by Jeff S

[wellfleet]

1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

Leica advised that those two lenses will have price increases starting tomorrow.  This does in fact result from the lack of current supply and the subsequent tariffs when orders can be filled.

Jeff

Some people, including myself, had assumed that the price of used lenses would automatically increase due to the tariffs. I was told that this is not necessarily the case as many of the lenses are in wide supply around the country and might not even see a price increase if the tariff situation can get resolved in a "reasonable" time. It will be the more "esoteric" lenses that will probably first see the price increases.

Edited November 8, 2019 by wellfleet

[Jeff S]

12 minutes ago, wellfleet said:

Some people, including myself, had assumed that the price of used lenses would automatically increase due to the tariffs. I was told that this is not necessarily the case as many of the lenses are in wide supply around the country and might not even see a price increase if the tariff situation can get resolved in a "reasonable" time. It will be the more "esoteric" lenses that will probably first see the price increases.

Leica is trying hard to prevent increases and, yes, lenses already in stock (or in the US) are safe.  But as the SL 35 and 50 are basically not available, even from Leica, those increases seem imminent... possibly tomorrow.  Others like the 24-90, and 75/90 Summicrons seem safe for now. Of course, given the crazy political scene, changes could happen on a moment’s notice, for better or worse ... and then change again.  A conversation today with a dealer revealed lots of complexity, especially with regard to accessories (hoods, etc).

Jeff

Edited November 8, 2019 by Jeff S

[Chuck Albertson]

1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

Leica is trying hard to prevent increases and, yes, lenses already in stock (or in the US) are safe.  But as the SL 35 and 50 are basically not available, even from Leica, those increases seem imminent... possibly tomorrow.  Others like the 24-90, and 75/90 Summicrons seem safe for now. Of course, given the crazy political scene, changes could happen on a moment’s notice, for better or worse ... and then change again.  A conversation today with a dealer revealed lots of complexity, especially with regard to accessories (hoods, etc).

Jeff

I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope for the tariffs to disappear anytime soon. This WTO proceeding started during the previous administration (possibly the one before it), and the US in unlikely to budge before the competing EU proceeding against Boeing subsidies works its way through the WTO process early next year, and the EU imposes tariffs on US goods. That said, the list of items currently subject to the 25% tariff is a subset of goods previously identified by the current adminstration as potentially subject to tariffs, and it is free to levy tariffs (up to 100%) on an entirely different subset of those goods, if it wishes.

[Jeff S]

All that’s logical.  But if logic prevailed, there would never have been tariffs on German lenses in the first place, encouraging us to instead buy all those fabulous US made lenses. I hold little hope, but I’m also rarely surprised at anything these days.

Jeff

[wellfleet]

Okay, here are the stores that I know of that have increased some lens prices. If you've heard of any others that have, why not post them here.

B&H, Adorama, Popflash, Samy's and the Leica Online Store have all increased prices on SL Summicron 35mm ($5795) and 50mm ($5695).

Bergen Bros. Camera is still showing the SL Summicron 50mm at the lower price ($4460)

Edited November 23, 2019 by wellfleet

[wellfleet]

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In case you missed it, the 25% tariffs have a new look, and Leica will be spreading the pain around.

 

 

 

[Herr Barnack]

I'm glad that at present, my Leica acquisition desires can be called wants rather than needs. 

I suppose we Leica users should be ashamed of ourselves for the devastation we have caused the aviation industry by purchasing our German made cameras and lenses.  🙄