30% Discount on 28 ASPH elmarit

[jamriman]

I got the Solms letter. I am totally confused about the 19% value added tax for deliveries on 1/01/07 or later. Delivery to a non-EU country the given prices include the respective import turnover tax. Fine, can someone tell me if this makes sence?
28 asph elmarit is 945 euros converted to US is $1238.30 Is this the discounted price? Many thanks!

 

[herbkell@shaw.c]

Popflash prices are $1495 for a new USA one and $1287 for a "used" one although both are out of stock at the moment.

This does not work out to be anything like a real 30% discount which is really disappointing and maybe a bit misleading on Leica's part

 

[Leicabug]

In US, it's more like 10% saving if you take into acccont overseas shipping and import tax.

 

[Grober]

I got the Solms letter. I am totally confused about the 19% value added tax for deliveries on 1/01/07 or later. Delivery to a non-EU country the given prices include the respective import turnover tax. Fine, can someone tell me if this makes sence?
28 asph elmarit is 945 euros converted to US is $1238.30 Is this the discounted price? Many thanks!

Do you live in the U.S.?

If so, I'm encouraged that you got the letter but also VERY discouraged that Mr. Lee didn't make things clearer and easier for the company's U. S. customers. I might need to keep my Zeiss lens in this focal length range after all if your calculation is the final price for a new 28/2.8.

-g

 

[AusDLK]

I just bought my 2nd Zeiss lens. Now I have the 35mm Biogon and the 50mm Sonnar.

These are beautifully made. I doubt that the extra $$$ for Leica lenses is worth it except maybe for bragging rights. In practice I doubt that I (or most anyone else) could see differences in image quality.

In some of the objective tests I've read, the ZI lenses do very well.

Even with the (questionable) 30% discount, the ZI 28mm would be a great alternative buy in my book.

 

[sergio lovisolo]

I got the Solms letter. I am totally confused about the 19% value added tax for deliveries on 1/01/07 or later. Delivery to a non-EU country the given prices include the respective import turnover tax. Fine, can someone tell me if this makes sence?
28 asph elmarit is 945 euros converted to US is $1238.30 Is this the discounted price? Many thanks!

The offer from Leica clearly states that prices include 19% VAT. So to have US prices, you must subtract VAT that is not due for export, and add import taxes.This means that the price FOB Solms is 745 Euro, or approx 970 USD + import taxes, if any. Better ask Leica USA to confirm.
Sergio

 

[dspeltz]

The question really comes down to what do we pay for a lens from Leica, vs what do we pay from our favorite dealer in the USA. I also just received the letter and a very careful review of their price list shows that there is no single discount factor. For example, The price for the Noctilux is 3,495 Euros. In dollars (using Google for exchange rate) showing $1.32 this afternoon) that is $4600. B&H price today was $3895. Guess we will pass on that one. OK, the Leica factory price (these are all listed on the order form) for the Tri-Elmar-M 16/18/21 is 2170 Euro or $2864. The B&H price today is $3495 (that is better) for a 18% discount). The 21 Elmarit-M is listed by Leica at 2205 Euro or $2910. B&H price is $3495. OK on that one. The 50mm Lux 1.4 is 1817 Euro or or $2400. B&H price is $2795. The 75mm Sum-M f2 ASPH is 1677 Euro or $2213. B&H is $2795. So there is money to be saved, but price compare for sure. The discounts may not be the same.

 

[dspeltz]

The question really comes down to what do we pay for a lens from Leica, vs what do we pay from our favorite dealer in the USA. I also just received the letter and a very careful review of their price list shows that there is no single discount factor. For example, The price for the Noctilux is 3,495 Euros. In dollars (using Google for exchange rate) showing $1.32 this afternoon) that is $4600. B&H price today was $3895. Guess we will pass on that one. OK, the Leica factory price (these are all listed on the order form) for the Tri-Elmar-M 16/18/21 is 2170 Euro or $2864. The B&H price today is $3495 (that is better) for a 18% discount). The 21 Elmarit-M is listed by Leica at 2205 Euro or $2910. B&H price is $3495. OK on that one. The 50mm Lux 1.4 is 1817 Euro or or $2400. B&H price is $2795. The 75mm Sum-M f2 ASPH is 1677 Euro or $2213. B&H is $2795. So there is money to be saved, but price compare for sure. The discounts may not be the same.

 

[furcafe]

Actually, the letter I received provides that the prices include "shipping the lens to your address & all additional costs for possible import customs duty . . .," but says nothing about subtracting the 19% VAT for shipments outside Germany (though the prices do include the VAT of the "respective [EU] member state" for deliveries to EU countries, which could be a significant discount if that member state has a VAT over 19%). So, my minimalist reading of the letter is that the price for delivery to the U.S. is simply the prices listed, converted to U.S. dollars w/no extra charge for customs duty or shipping, so the price of the 28/2.8 Elmarit shipped to the U.S. = 945 Euros (converted to U.S.$ @ the rate the order is recorded). Now if Leica does subtract the VAT from the price 1st & then simply charges the buyer U.S. customs, then the savings can be very significant as U.S. duties on camera lenses is much less < 19% IIRC. But you are correct, best to contact Leica to confirm.

The offer from Leica clearly states that prices include 19% VAT. So to have US prices, you must subtract VAT that is not due for export, and add import taxes.This means that the price FOB Solms is 745 Euro, or approx 970 USD + import taxes, if any. Better ask Leica USA to confirm.
Sergio

 

[pass]

I got the Solms letter. I am totally confused about the 19% value added tax for deliveries on 1/01/07 or later. Delivery to a non-EU country the given prices include the respective import turnover tax. Fine, can someone tell me if this makes sence?
28 asph elmarit is 945 euros converted to US is $1238.30 Is this the discounted price? Many thanks!

I am totally confused by the VAT paragraph.

Did anyone else notice that the Noctlux discounted price is way higher than the US MSRP? Below is a spreadsheet I just finished. E is elmarit/elmar, SM is summicron, etc. It assumes 1 EUR = 1.33 USD (it should be 1.31x based on today's forex but most credit card companies charge a bit for foreign currency transactions.)

Lens EUR USD BH Price Discount
TEM16 2170 2886.1 3495 0.174220315
E21 2205 2932.65 3495 0.160901288
E24 1817 2416.61 2895 0.165246978
TEM28 2170 2886.1 3495 0.174220315
SM28 2027 2695.91 3195 0.156209703
E28 945 1256.85 1495 0.159297659
SL35 2167 2882.11 3395 0.151072165
SM35 1505 2001.65 2195 0.08808656
SM35 1505 2001.65 2195 0.08808656
N50 3495 4648.35 3895 -0.193414634
SL50 1817 2416.61 2795 0.135381038
SL50 1817 2416.61 2795 0.135381038
SM50 1015 1349.95 1595 0.153636364
SM50 1015 1349.95 1595 0.153636364
E50 630 837.9 995 0.157889447
E50 630 837.9 995 0.157889447
SL75 2307 3068.31 3595 0.146506259
SM75 1677 2230.41 2795 0.202
MEM90 1015 1349.95 1595 0.153636364
MEM90 1015 1349.95 1595 0.153636364
SM90 1817 2416.61 2795 0.135381038
E90 1190 1582.7 1795 0.118272981
A135 1645 2187.85 2595 0.156897881
MEM90Set 1750 2327.5 2395 0.028183716
MEM90Set 1750 2327.5 2395 0.028183716
TEM16Set 2450 3258.5 3895 0.163414634

 

[dspeltz]

I noticed the Noctilux. See my prior message. I think the message is quite clear. The price in Euros, including shipping, is on the term sheet they sent. The Noctilux cost is far beyond the price we pay in the US. There are "bargains" with 10-17 percent savings. But you really have to do your math by lens to figure out if it makes sense to you. I have already picked my lens, but I will complain that I am getting 17% deal rather than 30% deal. I assume it will fall on deaf ears though. Maybe they will put a filter on it for me.

 

[furcafe]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=451222#post451222

 

[Socke]

Leica is significantly more expensive in germany than in the US. So a 30% rebate might not be interesting to you on the other side of the pond.