AlanJW Posted September 17, 2009 Share #21 Posted September 17, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Here's one perspective. Loyalty rewards are not unheard of with certain products. The example I have in mind is if you are a member of the Mercedes Owners club for more than a year and you buy a new Mercedes, you get a card with $1500 of credit on it, usable at a dealership for parts , service, etc. BMW has a similar program in conjunction with the BMW Club. The last MB I bought cost $48,000, so the loyalty reward is about 3%. There is some precedent for Leica recognizing customer issues -- the lens discounts to early adopters of M8s and the 2 free IR filters. There was also a $150 discount certificate issued when my M8 was upgraded. If Leica were to do the same as MB for "loyal" M owners, it would be worth a little more than $200 which for Leica gear doesn't get you very far. By the same token, if the loyalty reward was redeemable only for other Leica gear, it wouldn't cost Leica very much, if anything, and the fact that something was provided would be a nice symbolic gesture. As for absolutely free or heavily discounted upgrades, the only situation I can think of is software and in those circumstances, the seller (or technically licensor) can provide the new version at close to zero marginal cost, so that really doesn't translate and I know of no camera manufacturer who has ever done such a thing. The bad luck is to buy a product towards the end of its marketing life cycle. (Or at the very beginning when you could be on the "bleeding edge". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 Hi AlanJW, Take a look here Leica should rebate M8/8.2 owners for an M9. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
johnbuckley Posted September 17, 2009 Share #22 Posted September 17, 2009 There is a rebate on the M9 for M8 owners. It's called a trade-in. Many are doing so. Leica's obligation is the following: to keep repairing M8s for the indefinite future to maintain their trade-in value. Leica doesn't actually owe us any money for the ignominy of our having gotten such benefit out our lovely M8s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
microview Posted September 17, 2009 Share #23 Posted September 17, 2009 Can you imagine Apple giving you a whacking discount on a new Mac when the old one fails and it's totally unviable to have repaired? Leica's periodic cashbacks are a two-edged sword: I am just one of many who bought a costly new lens only to find a week after there was a generous cashback on the very same item. Grrrr! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljclark Posted September 17, 2009 Share #24 Posted September 17, 2009 How really gullible some people are on this thread... <snip> . I too have been made a fool of by Leica, <snip>> It's not necessarily about the money, but the lack of truth and integrity of the current Leica management that doesn't mind treating it's previous customers with contempt. Hi. Welcome to the forum. Interesting observations for your second post -- I certainly look forward to more of your analysis, wisdom, and insight. And it's a real shame that your Leica stopped working...Or is it that Leica service centers have just refused to take in your camera for work? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
microview Posted September 17, 2009 Share #25 Posted September 17, 2009 There is a rebate on the M9 for M8 owners. It's called a trade-in. A guy at RG Lewis (London) said he thought they'd offer 'about £1k' for an M8; You should get at least £1400-£1500 as a commission sale. (I acknowledge that a dealer has to offer the next purchaser some sort of guarantee.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted September 17, 2009 Share #26 Posted September 17, 2009 I too have been made a fool of by Leica, with the purchase of an M8.2 in June, and it's now obvious that Leica don't care about me or my camera as a previous customer For heavens sake stop the whinging. All manufacturers release new models and there's always going to be someone who bought towards the end of the life cycle of the previous product. It happens with cameras, it happens with cars, and it happens with microwaves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adli Posted September 17, 2009 Share #27 Posted September 17, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Actually, I can understand that people are a bit disapointed when they buy an expensice camera and three months later a better camera is launched at the same price they paid. But this is part of the game when dealing with comsumer products... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter46 Posted September 17, 2009 Share #28 Posted September 17, 2009 I'm sorry to hear that your M8 died the moment the M9 came out.You spent money on a d*mn fine camera, presumably because it is the camera you wanted. Nothing has changed for that camera. It still takes the same images, has the same ergonomics, takes the same lenses etc. Leica will support it for at least ten, possibly twenty years. I don't know your age, but that is a camera for a fair slice of your life. The fact that a new model has come out has not diminished it in any sense. If you feel you want that new camera, fine. Sell your M8, buy an M9. It wil probably cost you less than such a major upgrade -if it even had been possible, which not- would cost. It's not only about the money or the quality of the M8.2. I would not have purchased it had I suspected that the M9 was going to be on the shelves just two and a half months after my purchase. Now I feel that Leica has duped me in order to sell M8.2s and I would have preferred a camera without a sensor crop as that's what I am used to (film) If these are the tactics Leica management are using to 'save' the company, in my opinion as a 45 year old customer, it's not worth saving. Maybe they should sell out to Panasonic from whom I wouldn't expect consideration to existing customers - or maybe they already have - in spirit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted September 17, 2009 Share #29 Posted September 17, 2009 Peter, Sorry to hear about your problems, but don't bag on leica for not announcing the camera before it was released, that's just not reasonable. Im a 45 year old customer, and keeping my 8 hoping my 9 will arrive soon, but I do understand your point about the timing, I have had more time to amortize the M8. Either, sell the camera for 2500 or keep it and enjoy it, that camera is a fantastic picture taking machine. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter46 Posted September 17, 2009 Share #30 Posted September 17, 2009 Hi. Welcome to the forum. Interesting observations for your second post -- I certainly look forward to more of your analysis, wisdom, and insight. And it's a real shame that your Leica stopped working...Or is it that Leica service centers have just refused to take in your camera for work? Don't understand your comments as a reply, maybe you're just not thinking straight, I suspect that it's a feeble attempt at sarcasm, which hasn't worked,but don't worry I won't be here very often, I have a real life Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 17, 2009 Share #31 Posted September 17, 2009 It's not only about the money or the quality of the M8.2. I would not have purchased it had I suspected that the M9 was going to be on the shelves just two and a half months after my purchase. Now I feel that Leica has duped me in order to sell M8.2s and I would have preferred a camera without a sensor crop as that's what I am used to (film) If these are the tactics Leica management are using to 'save' the company, in my opinion as a 45 year old customer, it's not worth saving. Maybe they should sell out to Panasonic from whom I wouldn't expect consideration to existing customers - or maybe they already have - in spirit I cannot recall any other camera company killing off sales by announcing a new model far ahead of time. Having said that, it was not that much of a secret. There have been many posts in this forum by seasoned members in the last three months in reply to inquiries about buying an M8.2. saying basically "unless you get a super deal now, I would wait a bit". And M8.2 prices were dropping, there were cashback deals, all indications that the end of the production run was near. The M9 was essentially announced by Leica on June 16th, without mentioning a date. Since then the rumours got firmer and firmer that it would come out on September 9th. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter46 Posted September 17, 2009 Share #32 Posted September 17, 2009 For heavens sake stop the whinging. All manufacturers release new models and there's always going to be someone who bought towards the end of the life cycle of the previous product. It happens with cameras, it happens with cars, and it happens with microwaves. So you are suggesting that Leica AG is the same as Nikon, Canon, and all the other Camera manufacturers, and I thought that they were a small personal company of high integrity who thought of their customers more like a family. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted September 17, 2009 Share #33 Posted September 17, 2009 It's not only about the money or the quality of the M8.2. I would not have purchased it had I suspected that the M9 was going to be on the shelves just two and a half months after my purchase. Now I feel that Leica has duped me in order to sell M8.2s and I would have preferred a camera without a sensor crop as that's what I am used to (film) If these are the tactics Leica management are using to 'save' the company, in my opinion as a 45 year old customer, it's not worth saving. Maybe they should sell out to Panasonic from whom I wouldn't expect consideration to existing customers - or maybe they already have - in spirit If you think you have a grievance then by all means go and consult a lawyer. Take Leica to court. Otherwise stop the whining, eh? As a "45 year old customer" you should have a fair idea of how the world works by now, I would have thought. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 17, 2009 Share #34 Posted September 17, 2009 No - but they are still a company and as such cannot afford to tell customers: "Please go away, I won't sell you my product because we are going to announce a new model in half a year" If you had a good relationship with your dealer, and if he followed the market, he might have told you two and a half months ago to wait a bit. My dealer told me. It is just that I already knew So you are suggesting that Leica AG is the same as Nikon, Canon, and all the other Camera manufacturers, and I thought that they were a small personal company of high integrity who thought of their customers more like a family. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter46 Posted September 17, 2009 Share #35 Posted September 17, 2009 Peter, Sorry to hear about your problems, but don't bag on leica for not announcing the camera before it was released, that's just not reasonable. Im a 45 year old customer, and keeping my 8 hoping my 9 will arrive soon, but I do understand your point about the timing, I have had more time to amortize the M8. Either, sell the camera for 2500 or keep it and enjoy it, that camera is a fantastic picture taking machine. . I don't have any problems, and naturally I don't expect "my point of view" to be agreed to in the Leica forum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 17, 2009 Share #36 Posted September 17, 2009 I don't have any problems, and naturally I don't expect "my point of view" to be agreed toin the Leica forum. Well, as I pointed out, if you had followed the forum you would have known about the M9, or at the very least suspected. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter46 Posted September 17, 2009 Share #37 Posted September 17, 2009 If you think you have a grievance then by all means go and consult a lawyer. Take Leica to court. Otherwise stop the whining, eh? As a "45 year old customer" you should have a fair idea of how the world works by now, I would have thought. Regards, Bill I didn't suggest a legal grievance against Leica, and I don't consider that I am whining. That's just how you are reading this. I also own a very successful business and I have an extremely clear understanding how the world works, and what customer loyalty means. How about you? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter46 Posted September 17, 2009 Share #38 Posted September 17, 2009 No - but they are still a company and as such cannot afford to tell customers: "Please go away, I won't sell you my product because we are going to announce a new model in half a year" If you had a good relationship with your dealer, and if he followed the market, he might have told you two and a half months ago to wait a bit. My dealer told me. It is just that I already knew I can't argue with that, My dealer maintains that he only knew a week before the release, and he is one of the main Leica dealers in Sydney.... can you believe that ??? Good Buy Leica Forum Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 17, 2009 Share #39 Posted September 17, 2009 Well, anyway, enjoy your M8. and don't let this sour the experience - it is a great camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted September 17, 2009 Share #40 Posted September 17, 2009 I can't argue with that, My dealer maintains that he only knew a week before the release, The dealers were only told officially by Leica a few days before the launch, but I suspect every dealer with an internet connection and even the slightest inclination to glance at internet forums would have realised well before then that there was a new model coming. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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