abb-strack Posted May 1 Share #1 Posted May 1 Advertisement (gone after registration) I see that the M's are all now reflecting new tariff pricing - A whopping $6415 for a new M6 or MP. Makes me really glad I purchased my M6 relaunch at the original price of $5295. I am curious though, does anyone know why the pricing for the M6 had increased from $5295 to $5,995 even before this round of tariffs? Don't think I've ever read/seen any justification or mention of why that happened? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 1 Posted May 1 Hi abb-strack, Take a look here Tariff pricing kicked in... . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
LocalHero1953 Posted May 1 Share #2 Posted May 1 (edited) At current exchange rates ($1=£0.75) that's less than the price in the UK: £4990. Without the plunge in value of the dollar since January, the $ equivalent of UK prices would be a bit over $6000. Difficult to say whether the US price reflects tariffs or the dollar fall. I guess Leica don't care - it's all bad news so they put the price up anyway. Edited May 1 by LocalHero1953 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted May 1 Share #3 Posted May 1 Marketing sets prices more by what the customers will pay than by what the merchandise costs them. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted May 1 Share #4 Posted May 1 23 minutes ago, TomB_tx said: Marketing sets prices more by what the customers will pay than by what the merchandise costs them. So tariffs won’t affect prices? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helge Posted May 1 Share #5 Posted May 1 Not this fast 😎 I would rather blame the dropped exchange rate and probably the increased customs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted May 1 Share #6 Posted May 1 1 hour ago, LocalHero1953 said: UK: £4990. That includes 20% VAT and US prices don't usually include SalesTax, which will also be a lot less than 20%. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted May 1 Share #7 Posted May 1 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) 2 hours ago, 250swb said: So tariffs won’t affect prices? The effect of tariffs on prices isn't simple, as often such panic news is useful for companies to try and INCREASE their profit margins, while blaming the tariffs - it gives them an excuse. I still think Leica pricing is based more on market analysis of what their desired customers will pay than on cost to manufacture and market. Modern philosophy is "Never let a crises go to waste" as it's an opportunity to change things. Edited May 1 by TomB_tx 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abb-strack Posted May 1 Author Share #8 Posted May 1 Leica (or at least one of their boutique stores here in the US) have been messaging via email that prices will be going up as a result of tariffs on all new non-current inventory. That's not to say there also isn't a bit of opportunism taking place too. Would be interesting to see if you walked into a Leica store today and wanted to purchase a new camera that they have on hand, if you would pay the new 'tariff' pricing or yesterday's price. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter12 Posted May 2 Share #9 Posted May 2 Leica has raised prices in the US before, no need to peg it on tariffs. The emails I have received from Leica dealers announced the price increase as of May 1, no mention of why. Typically, Leica customers pay full price for new merchandise, no matter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abb-strack Posted May 2 Author Share #10 Posted May 2 30 minutes ago, Pieter12 said: Leica has raised prices in the US before, no need to peg it on tariffs. The emails I have received from Leica dealers announced the price increase as of May 1, no mention of why. Typically, Leica customers pay full price for new merchandise, no matter. copying and pasting the exact email I got from a US Leica Store: Leica Camera has announced, due to recently imposed tariffs, a price adjustment will go into effect starting this Thursday, May 1, 2025. The tariffs impact a broad range of products and retail pricing across much of the lineup. Leica products received after May 1 will be subject to the new pricing structure. This includes items currently on backorder or special order that do not arrive prior to the deadline. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter12 Posted May 2 Share #11 Posted May 2 I stand corrected. But Leica buyers will just bite their lip and ante up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helge Posted May 2 Share #12 Posted May 2 (edited) Sorry, some misunderstanding on my side😏 However, IMHO main reason for price increases in the US are (customs) tariffs and exchange rates, thanks to the „new economy“ Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited May 2 by Helge Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/420930-tariff-pricing-kicked-in/?do=findComment&comment=5795433'>More sharing options...
abb-strack Posted May 2 Author Share #13 Posted May 2 I think there will be a variety of factors that influence how US Leica buyers will behave given the broader economic picture and outlook here (trying to shy away from this turning into a political discussion tho). I'm still curious why Leica launched at $5295 at the end of 2022 and then jumped shortly after to $5,995 sometime in either 2023 or 2024. Aside from the idea that Leica adjusts pricing all the time, curious if there was ever any stated reasoning? Seems almost like an unannounced launch-pricing promo that they did, though I'm sure that wasn't the case. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwidad Posted May 8 Share #14 Posted May 8 On 5/1/2025 at 4:30 PM, abb-strack said: Leica (or at least one of their boutique stores here in the US) have been messaging via email that prices will be going up as a result of tariffs on all new non-current inventory. That's not to say there also isn't a bit of opportunism taking place too. Would be interesting to see if you walked into a Leica store today and wanted to purchase a new camera that they have on hand, if you would pay the new 'tariff' pricing or yesterday's price. Astonishing how Leica dealers in US appeared to receive tariffed batteries the next day after the tariffs went into effect! The camera prices went up less that 10% didn’t they? The d-lux 8 took a huge hike as it’s also made in China Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Flynn Posted May 9 Share #15 Posted May 9 It's also affecting the used market. I look at KEH every day for a 2nd used M5 and noticed the prices on every used Leica in stock has gone up in price. Same with lens, I've been building my stock of M mount lens at KEH and there are a couple Zeiss lens I'm interested in that have gone up in price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helge Posted May 10 Share #16 Posted May 10 It would be just logical, that an increase in new stock prices is pulling-up used prices. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansvons Posted May 10 Share #17 Posted May 10 Tariffs are kicking in, rasing prices and emptening shelfs in the US, and expected to be on full throttle by August. Because the US government wants to put the burden of the announced tax cuts on the US consumer by imposing sales tax (AKA tariffs) on importers, most of the goods in the US will experience a price hike. And because the non-US competition will be less competitive, US companies will raise their prices too, which will, in the short term, lead to higher profits that won’t be invested into R&D, etc., but pocketed because the economic climate is highly volatile. Europe, without increased taxes on importers, will see more competition because manufacturers are set up for a market that is now shrinking on a global scale but not in Europe. The same can be said about Asia, whose economy, by and large, is more competitive than Europe’s. For a short period of time price might stay at their current level or even decrease there. Leica will feel that disruption as anyone else. But as a luxury brand producing products nobody needs, their customers are pretty immune against price hikes and the subsequent increase of inflation because they don’t have to decide between bread, school fees for their kids, health insurance and a Leica camera. We might bemoan Leica prices here on the forum because people are invested into the brand and not everyone is filthy rich. But on the larger picture Leica is only taking part in a market that is now more than ever rigged against families, the middle class, people who earn their money with work. The next M camera will touch the 10k ceiling. Totally ridiculous but inevitable and with a fitting marketing absolutely successful. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helge Posted May 10 Share #18 Posted May 10 From my point of view the 2 major drivers for Leica price hikes are customs (tariffs) and exchange rate. I don’t see sales tax changes right now coming up, but you never know… Leica will be hit by those changes in the US, however only or mainly related to their US business. They will probably face some drops in total sales volume in the US due to the unavoidable and major price increases their. I don‘t see any major reason besides that for any other countries, at least not for Europe or Asia, since Leica is probably not importing a significant amount of components or materials from the US (if any) where counter tariffs may hit. If this continues, we might even see a doubling of prices in the US at the end. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwidad Posted May 10 Share #19 Posted May 10 (edited) On 5/1/2025 at 12:41 PM, abb-strack said: I see that the M's are all now reflecting new tariff pricing - A whopping $6415 for a new M6 or MP. Makes me really glad I purchased my M6 relaunch at the original price of $5295. I am curious though, does anyone know why the pricing for the M6 had increased from $5295 to $5,995 even before this round of tariffs? Don't think I've ever read/seen any justification or mention of why that happened? The importer is happy tho! Tarrifs increase his and the resellers cut! Rememerbar tarif only applies to the importers price! Some opportunistic money making going on! A 10% tarif doesn’t raise the price 10% at retail! Edited May 10 by kiwidad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwidad Posted May 10 Share #20 Posted May 10 6 hours ago, Helge said: From my point of view the 2 major drivers for Leica price hikes are customs (tariffs) and exchange rate. I don’t see sales tax changes right now coming up, but you never know… Leica will be hit by those changes in the US, however only or mainly related to their US business. They will probably face some drops in total sales volume in the US due to the unavoidable and major price increases their. I don‘t see any major reason besides that for any other countries, at least not for Europe or Asia, since Leica is probably not importing a significant amount of components or materials from the US (if any) where counter tariffs may hit. If this continues, we might even see a doubling of prices in the US at the end. It’s not really a major price increase on an m body. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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