US Lens tariff/price increase. Is there a definitive new price list?a

[leicarox]

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Looking around, it's hard to tell what the true new prices are. Leica's online store shows heftier increases on many lenses compared to other online retailers who appear to have raised prices already, but not by as much on some? 

For example, at Adorama it looks like the Summilux is at $7295, and BH is at $6595. However, leica shows it at $8295 (a 25% increase). So is $7295 sort of the "new price" and it's up to dealers where they are going with the prices?

 

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[JT07]

You’ll see that many retailers will have them at different prices because they knew the price increase was coming so many retailers ordered extra inventory to get the items at the lower prices before the increase kicked in. Once more time passes by the prices will level out at whatever Leica has set the matYou’ll see that many retailers will have them at different prices because they knew the price increase was coming so many retailers ordered extra inventory to get the items at the lower prices before the increase kicked in. Once more time passes by the prices will level out at whatever Leica has set them at.   If you are thinking of buying might be a good time.  

[leicarox]

Exactly!  Just trying to plan which ones to purchase now vs which ones to hold off on

[ktmrider2]

Trump protecting the vulnerable US camera and lens manufacturers.

[adan]

Nope, these tariffs on EU products are all about Boeing vs. Airbus, and EU subsidies of the latter, as adjudicated by the WTO.

Trump's trade folks just picked items among EU exports that they think will pinch the hardest. I have no idea why optics are thought to fall in that category - pretty niche.

I'm taking no side on that (forum rules on politics) - just stating the situation.

[jaapv]

11 minutes ago, adan said:

 I have no idea why optics are thought to fall in that category - pretty niche.

I'm taking no side on that (forum rules on politics) - just stating the situation.

Because Europe picked on Harley Davidson? That is a rather  niche too - Symbol for symbol - all rather childish and ineffective.

[Michael Geschlecht]

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34 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Because Europe picked on Harley Davidson? That is a rather  niche too - Symbol for symbol - all rather childish and ineffective.

Hello Everybody,

Or, perhaps because certain European lens companies are associated with certain cell phone makers from elsewhere.

Best Regards,

Michael

[Jeff S]

As I wrote in another thread, one Leica dealer told me that he expects Leica to raise prices 10% across products starting Jan 1 rather than applying greater increases to just lenses.  I have no idea about his company connections.

Jeff

[Chuck Albertson]

I got an email today from my local dealer (promoting their holiday sale) that mentioned a tariff-related price increase (didn't say by how much) on 1/1/2020.

[ktmrider2]

"Trump protecting the vulnerable US camera and lens manufacturers."  Was made in jest.  Can you name one optics company in the US the tariff would be protecting?  Luckily, Zeiss and Voightlander are made in Japan.

 

[RayD28]

I must have missed something.  When did these tariffs go into effect, and is there other Leica equipment impacted?  Finally, does the tariff apply to used equipment?  

[willeica]

13 minutes ago, RayD28 said:

  Finally, does the tariff apply to used equipment?  

Not unless it is imported, but all of the other usual taxes would apply. There might be a 'rising tide' effect for cameras and lenses from recent years, however.

William

 

[Chuck Albertson]

7 hours ago, RayD28 said:

I must have missed something.  When did these tariffs go into effect, and is there other Leica equipment impacted?  Finally, does the tariff apply to used equipment?  

October 18, and they apply to German-manufactured lenses only, so far. However, the day is but a fetus.

[leicarox]

Ok, so I saw that Leica actually changed their US sales page prices again. It now looks like it's a ~10% increase across the board. Earlier, the lenses looked like 25% increase. My dealer told me that likely it will be 10% for all products moving forward to spread the load, even though lenses were supposedly the only thing with the tariff.

 

[jcbjr]

there appears to be an uneven application of the u.s. import duties.  the sl summilux 50mm f/1.4 is listed in the online leica store (u.s.) for $5,295, while b&h has it listed for $5,895. 

[Jeff S]

On 12/13/2019 at 2:57 PM, leicarox said:

Ok, so I saw that Leica actually changed their US sales page prices again. It now looks like it's a ~10% increase across the board. Earlier, the lenses looked like 25% increase. My dealer told me that likely it will be 10% for all products moving forward to spread the load, even though lenses were supposedly the only thing with the tariff.

 

One dealer told me the same a couple of weeks ago... effective Jan 1.

Jeff

[RexGig0]

One Leica USA dealer raised the price of at least one in-stock M lens, the Summaron-M 28mm, on or about the day the tariff took effect, even though one would think that lenses already in the USA would not be subject to the tariff. This effectively removed this lens from consideration as my first Leica lens to be purchased as a new item. (My several Leica-M lenses, to date, have been bought pre-owned.)

[RexGig0]

I would rather that the higher prices be charged for the lenses, alone, rather than assessed across the line-up. A 10% hike in camera body prices makes my adding a new camera body less likely, as the new base price, plus Texas sales/use tax, adds about $1K to the out-the-door price of an M body. 

I say this as a one who has a “mature” selection of lenses, but has been considering an M10-P, or an SL2.

Edited December 16, 2019 by RexGig0

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Hallo,

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[mdemeyer]

The interesting question will be whether the prices go back down when the tariffs are lifted...

[scott kirkpatrick]

12 minutes ago, mdemeyer said:

The interesting question will be whether the prices go back down when the tariffs are lifted...

This increase is part of a separate battle that pre-dates Trump.  It's a response to the WTO's decision affirming the US claim that AirBus subsidies were excessive.  How German lenses got on the list, I have no idea, but I don't expect it to go away soon.