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M8.2 now £2955/€3380/$4327 at Robert White


marknorton

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Ignoring the possibility of an error on their site, Robert White in the UK are now listing the M8.2 as shown, significantly down from before. Price excludes UK VAT.

 

By comparison, Leica Berlin are showing it at €4197 + tax, B&H $5995 + tax...

 

Robert White - Specialist Camera and Photographic Suppliers of Nikon, Canon, Leica, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Zeiss Ikon, Voigtlander, Quantum etc.

 

It's still bloody expensive compared to the M8.

I just bought an M8 from Ffordes for £2790 less £650 rebate = £2140 (incl VAT).

I can also clain the VAT back as the purchase was over £2,000 (I'm flat rate VAT registered). So the total cost of my M8 was £1721.50.

 

The M8.2 is still £2,955 + VAT = £3398.00. So for me it would still be £2955.00 as I get the VAT back.

 

Making the M8.2 at Robert White still £1,233.50 more expensive than my M8.

 

I can't justify that for a slightly quieter shutter et al....

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Thanks for the news Mark. And I thought I was some sort of rocket scientist for getting my M8.2 two weeks ago from Richard Caplan for 3390GBP or at that point, about $4850 USD. Caplan and Harrison Camera in the UK, both major Leica dealers, haven't dropped their prices yet. Still, I can't imagine Robert White's price is an error, and I suspect everyone will follow suit in the coming day or two.

 

I know the global economy is rather spastic at the moment, and beyond wishing I'd waited a couple of weeks, I have to wonder where all this is heading. Will we see similar reductions in lens pricing? We're in for a rough ride, I'm afraid.

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It's still bloody expensive compared to the M8.

I just bought an M8 from Ffordes for £2790 less £650 rebate = £2140 (incl VAT).

I can also clain the VAT back as the purchase was over £2,000 (I'm flat rate VAT registered). So the total cost of my M8 was £1721.50.

 

The M8.2 is still £2,955 + VAT = £3398.00. So for me it would still be £2955.00 as I get the VAT back.

 

Making the M8.2 at Robert White still £1,233.50 more expensive than my M8.

 

I can't justify that for a slightly quieter shutter et al....

 

Just wait 6 months.

When gold will hit 1000 $ plus, the M8.2 will be cheaper. :rolleyes:

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I can also clain the VAT back as the purchase was over £2,000 (I'm flat rate VAT registered).

 

Well of course, whether you can legitimately claim the VAT back depends on your being able to justify the camera as a business expense...

 

The run-out stock of M8s will eventually be exhausted - it was said there were 1700-2000 floating around originally - and the M8.2 will be the only game in town, ignoring any possible future announcements. Many of us thought the original £3990 was a case of optimistic kite-flying and it's good that the M8.2 is now available for the same sort of reduction, £650 give or take, that the run-out M8 is.

 

As for whether the M8.2 is worth the difference, that's pretty much what it costs to upgrade the M8 to as close as the M8.2 as Leica will allow.

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The price definitely has my attention. I wish to query any other U.S. customers on what their experience has been ordering from White. Did you have to pay the VAT (I don't think so)? How about import duties (how much if yes)? How long to arrive?

 

Thanks.

 

Eric

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Will we see similar reductions in lens pricing? We're in for a rough ride, I'm afraid.

 

The 15% lens rebate here in the UK has been extended. It excludes the 5 new lenses. It's impossible to know what Leica's inventories of the older lenses are but if they can turn those into cash, preferably without actually losing money, that will help the business cash flow and reduce their borrowing costs.

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Did you have to pay the VAT (I don't think so)? How about import duties (how much if yes)? How long to arrive?

 

There'll be no VAT - so the price on the web page is what you'll pay. Shouldn't take more than a couple of days to arrive unless it gets held up in US customs. No idea about import duty I'm afraid.

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More "whiffs" in the air -- A dealer in the US that I've talked to from time to time suggested around year end that there would be further reductions in M8 and M8.2 prices. I noticed recently that he hasn't carried either type of body this year. And he has also stopped dropping hints at all.

 

Does anyone understand how Robert White can consistently price Leica products 10% below other UK Leica dealers? In the US I see very strict price controls.

 

scott

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There'll be no VAT - so the price on the web page is what you'll pay. Shouldn't take more than a couple of days to arrive unless it gets held up in US customs. No idea about import duty I'm afraid.

 

I believe no import duty on the camera (to US). Not sure here or at work we discussed this.

 

It feels weired. Digital and film M prices are pretty much the same price now. Or are they reducing M7/MP price, also?

 

Leica might be keeping very tight zip on next M. Maybe, they will release one with cocking lever. Just a wishful thinking.

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Leica is going to have a very, very hard time selling M8s for anything close to their standard prices for years. Even when economic conditions begin to recover in 2010 or 2011 (by earliest forecasts) people won't resume their days-of-wine-and-roses styles until long afterward.

 

I think you are correct. I hate to sound pessimistic, but I don't think this is a V or U shaped slumped on a graph. This feels like an L shaped drop...

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I think you are correct. I hate to sound pessimistic, but I don't think this is a V or U shaped slumped on a graph. This feels like an L shaped drop...

 

Of course it is.

I receive Marc Faber letter since 3 years, and I met him yesterday.

He's been very insightful since a lot.

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Leica is obviously trying to find its way through this economy, but my guess is that lens prices won't drop much.

 

You sell the body to sell the lenses. Problem on that front is CV & Zeiss.

 

The new Summiluxes came in quite high, so they might see a short-term reduction. And the lens rebates show there's some price wiggle-room there.

 

I may be wrong, but I think the lenses are high to support the bodies; and I'm not sure that posture can hold in the long run.

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