thehouseflogger Posted August 23, 2009 Share #1 Posted August 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello folks, Rather than find an old thread of mine I am pleased to say that Morgan has responded now to my email(s) and a grey lizard skin is on its way to replace the pink one that has graced my M8 for a year or so now. I am contemplating letting the M8 go so determined to make it unique and therefore very desirable to buyers it's (yes it is an it sic.) chrome so will look cool in grey. Now back to the original point of this post, while I watch Top Gear (sorry America I have lost you) - at the end of a Wedding yesterday, when I had the M8 out, I was asked how much it was worth by a guest wearing a very chunky Breitling watch thingey. I responded with the replacement value of an M8 with 24mm Elamarit, and the response was " Why does it cost so much?" I actually for once was stumped. Why does it cost so much? Best wishes, Guy PS WE WON THE ASHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 23, 2009 Posted August 23, 2009 Hi thehouseflogger, Take a look here Why does that cost so much?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted August 23, 2009 Share #2 Posted August 23, 2009 Hand made precision engineering costs money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted August 23, 2009 Share #3 Posted August 23, 2009 Hello folks, Rather than find an old thread of mine I am pleased to say that Morgan has responded now to my email(s) and a grey lizard skin is on its way to replace the pink one that has graced my M8 for a year or so now. I am contemplating letting the M8 go so determined to make it unique and therefore very desirable to buyers it's (yes it is an it sic.) chrome so will look cool in grey. I'd have thought pink more likely to be unique - if only in the sense of uniquely undesirable to buyers:D Now back to the original point of this post, while I watch Top Gear (sorry America I have lost you) - at the end of a Wedding yesterday, when I had the M8 out, I was asked how much it was worth by a guest wearing a very chunky Breitling watch thingey. I responded with the replacement value of an M8 with 24mm Elamarit, and the response was " Why does it cost so much?" I actually for once was stumped. Why does it cost so much? Same reason anything costs that much: there are people willing to buy it at that price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehouseflogger Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted August 23, 2009 Morgan did say a year ago that only other pink leather he has supplied went to a colourful character in LA. The change of colour is to make it more desirable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted August 23, 2009 Share #5 Posted August 23, 2009 Same reason anything costs that much: there are people willing to buy it at that price. Bzzt, wrong. It costs that much because it is so expensive to make in Germany, plus a little extra to keep Leica afloat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehouseflogger Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted August 23, 2009 Labour costs or materials? What would happen if made in China with European components? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefflaurent Posted August 23, 2009 Share #7 Posted August 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I do not pretend I have the answer to this question. But there is an impressive raise of the price in Leica lenses. Ten years ago 3000€ was the top priced leica lens, today the Noctilux is 8000€, the new Lux culminate at more than 4000... what happened ? One of the explanation is maybe in the complex designs developped to reach the performance in IQ provided by the glass itself wide open, the aspheric lens cost a lot too and new glass formulas...Ok but in this case do we really nead this extrastop with this contrast, and sharpness ; I don't think so , although such lenses are marvellous piece of engenery, I find it more clever to use the derawtiser software, or in-camera software to help with optical default of lenses...maybe this can reduce te cost. For the camera itself, well Leica has never been cheap, as all precision handmade mechanical gear as allready said. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 23, 2009 Share #8 Posted August 23, 2009 It costs a lot, but it is not expensive;) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peyton Hoge Posted August 23, 2009 Share #9 Posted August 23, 2009 A guy wearing a "Breitling Watch" wants to know why your camera costs so much???? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehouseflogger Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share #10 Posted August 23, 2009 Good Evening Jaap, You pays your money, I agree, otherwise you don't have the camera. Simple. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted August 23, 2009 Share #11 Posted August 23, 2009 BTW - pink leather will not make your M8 more desirable... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 23, 2009 Share #12 Posted August 23, 2009 *sigh* I miss the good old days, when discussing prices openly like this at a social gathering was ineffably vulgar. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted August 23, 2009 Share #13 Posted August 23, 2009 *sigh* I miss the good old days, when discussing prices openly like this at a social gathering was ineffably vulgar. Bill In some quarters it still is, DG. Like pink leather cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted August 23, 2009 Share #14 Posted August 23, 2009 Bzzt, wrong. It costs that much because it is so expensive to make in Germany, plus a little extra to keep Leica afloat. If people refuse to buy it at the present price, either the price will be lowered or production will cease. Remember the M5? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
beoon Posted August 23, 2009 Share #15 Posted August 23, 2009 It was a strange question from someone who has purchased a Brietling watch, having said that I have seen numerous fake Brietling watches. Some of which were very good fakes. The one thing I have never seen though is a fake M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicoleica Posted August 23, 2009 Share #16 Posted August 23, 2009 *sigh* I miss the good old days, when discussing prices openly like this at a social gathering was ineffably vulgar. Regards, Bill I thought that it still was. If ever I am asked the cost of my equipment, I simply give the questioner 'that look' and reply 'Enough'. I was brought up to believe that if you needed to ask the cost of something, then you probably could not afford it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adli Posted August 23, 2009 Share #17 Posted August 23, 2009 I thought that it still was. If ever I am asked the cost of my equipment, I simply give the questioner 'that look' and reply 'Enough'. I was brought up to believe that if you needed to ask the cost of something, then you probably could not afford it. That trick doesn't work on my wife... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted August 23, 2009 Share #18 Posted August 23, 2009 The best answer would be that Leica stuff in fact is relatively cheap for a hand made, small series, specialty, niche etc. product. If I go to the university or external workshop to get a simple thing built to my specification (i.e. they do not need to design anything, just the machining and assembly) then anything costing less than 5000 euro is rather unusual. A decent voltmeter or oscilloscope can easly cost 3000 euro or more. Two tyres for the motorbike cost about 600 euro, that is nothing more than classic rubber vulcanisation, but he rubber compound is expensive, and the turnover is small. A Linn Sonndek LP12 turntable (Note I don't have one, nor plan to.) with all the trappings is over 10.000 euro. That I call expensive others would call it cheap. Small series, small turnover, specialty products cost money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted August 23, 2009 Share #19 Posted August 23, 2009 I actually for once was stumped. Why does it cost so much? Wait till you see the price of the M9, I suspect it will make the M8 look like such good value for money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted August 23, 2009 Share #20 Posted August 23, 2009 Wait till you see the price of the M9, I suspect it will make the M8 look like such good value for money. If the prices posted by a French Leica dealer are to be believed the M9 will be 500 Euros more expensive that the current M8.2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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