B&H not stocking M8 any longer

[Ben Z]

Sounds like Henry confirms what I said before, as told to me by my dealer, who also will only sell an M8 if someone pays for it in advance. (He had 178 pre-orders in November, of which 113 cancelled in the first few weeks, and has sold 91 total as of yesterday, the last one he sold was in February. )

It's not a condemnation of the M8, just reflects fiscal responsibility on the part of camera shops. If you look through B&H's website you'll find hundreds if not thousands of items available only on a special-order basis.

 

[Sailor Ted]

(He had 178 pre-orders in November, of which 113 cancelled in the first few weeks, and has sold 91 total as of yesterday, the last one he sold was in February. )

Ben I wonder if those "pre-orders" had deposits on them? I also wonder how many people put their names on "dealer's lists" hoping for one to pop first and then to cancel or ignore their other bids with dealers who did not require a deposit to get their name on their list in the first place? I would also say your dealer did exceptionally well if he sold 91 units. That is a gross of $436,345! Assuming he made a grand on each unit sold he netted 91 grand- not bad for clerking orders ; )

 

[rsl]

Thanks for your curiosity. Our buyers determine what will be regularly stocked and what won't by a variety of factors including demand, availability from our supplier and so on. If a big-ticket item is in relatively low demand and is at the same time available from the supplier, availability to the end-customer is practically the same.

There's nothing "ominous," about it, now is there?

Well, maybe ominous is too strong a word. But the explanation doesn't exactly explain why B&H stocked the M8 for months, listed as in stock and out of stock as shipments came in and sold out, and now it's a special order item. The buyers may have made the decision, but on what basis? I sort of hang up on, "If a big-ticket item is in relatively low demand..." Certainly, as Ben puts it, not stocking an item if it's not selling regularly reflects fiscal responsibility, but does this mean that the formerly brisk market for the M8 has, well, "slumped?"

 

[rover]

Thanks for your curiosity. Our buyers determine what will be regularly stocked and what won't by a variety of factors including demand, availability from our supplier and so on. If a big-ticket item is in relatively low demand and is at the same time available from the supplier, availability to the end-customer is practically the same.

There's nothing "ominous," about it, now is there?

Thank you for joining us Henry. As a very good friend of the COO of one of B&H's suppliers I can say that what Henry says makes very much sense. Though I know my friend's firm does not deal in Leicas, I am sure the product's in their warehouses in the tri-state area are as readily available to B&H customers as they would be if they were in B&H's possession. Just a part of doing business.

 

[rsl]

I am sure the product's in their warehouses in the tri-state area are as readily available to B&H customers as they would be if they were in B&H's possession. Just a part of doing business.

Doesn't exactly answer the question, though, does it?

 

[Joe Mondello]

Doesn't exactly answer the question, though, does it?

Why not?

I guess I just don't know what your concern is . . . 😕

 

[rsl]

Why not?

I guess I just don't know what your concern is . . . 😕

Joe, Thanks for chiming in. If you read the posts carefully from the very beginning you'll see that I've been asking the question: "Is the big rush to buy the M8 over?" A lot of people have been asking that question on other posts, and the related question: "How big is the ultimate M8 market after the initial rush is over?" I tend to think it's not all that big, but I also tend to think it's loyal. In any case, it's clear that B&H has changed their approach to the M8 since their early rush of sales. That's not a big deal. I know I can get an M8 without delay now that the rush is over, and I'll probably get it from B&H. I've bought about twelve grand worth of equipment from them over the past couple years and they've been very dependable and easy to work with.

 

[Joe Mondello]

I've been asking the question: "Is the big rush to buy the M8 over?"

Ah, OK, got it now. Nothing ominous, just a shift in availability.

 

[rover]

Oh, so you want to know if the obvious is happening.

That happened to tickle me elmo too.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I ran out of milk again. I'll keep you updated...

 

[John Camp]

thats the same feeling i have too
alot of people seem to be able to "afford" this M8😕
i dont see the Canon 1Ds Mark II on backorder very often (No doubt canon has a large market share but they also dont make excessive numbers of their super expensive top end model)
😱

And, some people just go out of their way to buy it. Given the prices of cars (on four-year time payments) these days, you can afford an M8 if you simply put off buying a new car for one year...


JC

 

[DaveB]

I see that Calumet is also offering the M8 as available for lease as well as for sale.

I suppose that means I could now afford a black M8 along with a silver Lexus.

Seriously, I also note that Amazon lists the M8 as available with same-day shipping.

 

[rsl]

Well, the M8 is back in stock at B&H this morning, so I guess that terminates this thread.

 

[Ben Z]

And it also appears to contradict Henry's explanation 😕 . Either the folks in that department don't cc Henry with their every decision and reason behind it, or else perhaps it has been decided that it's better to have at least a little inventory in stock to head off the rumor-mill and further hamper future sales 😉 Either way, the M8 is available for those who want one. ..which includes me, as soon as they've fully resolved the sudden-death problem and I can be assured of getting one manufactured after "the fix".

 

[Joe Mondello]

Seriously, I also note that Amazon lists the M8 as available with same-day shipping.

Yup. I had a bad experience with them a month ago, bit tried again (hey 30 day MBG is a big deal) and got it the next morning for $25 overnite ship to NYC.

 

[rsl]

And it also appears to contradict Henry's explanation 😕 . Either the folks in that department don't cc Henry with their every decision and reason behind it, or else perhaps it has been decided that it's better to have at least a little inventory in stock to head off the rumor-mill and further hamper future sales 😉 Either way, the M8 is available for those who want one. ..which includes me, as soon as they've fully resolved the sudden-death problem and I can be assured of getting one manufactured after "the fix".

Hear, hear! That's what I'm waiting for too.

 

[HAnkg]

"How big is the ultimate M8 market after the initial rush is over?" I tend to think it's not all that big, but I also tend to think it's loyal.

The fact is that the total RF market is small. So it won't be a big surprise if Leica is not turning over Canon like numbers. However relative to Leica's recent sales the impact of the M8 on Leica's sales volume has been huge. Enough so that they are considering a move to larger quarters in Wetzlar. Not bad for a company that was on life support not to long ago.

 

[DaveB]

Well, the M8 is back in stock at B&H this morning....

Hmm.

Someone probably returned a prefix firmware 1.0 model.

Ominous...

🙂