Or just general hate and blame...sad.
willie_901
Veteran
At This Moment - Preserve Liquidity
At This Moment - Preserve Liquidity
I am preserving cash assets. Right now cash is king because you need cash to buy things (including reinvestments when things stabilize). Other assets are still depreciating as I write this response.
So, no new gear purchases and no selling gear.
My plans have changed because local stay-in-place restrictions mean increased opportunity for image editing (selection and staging).
My personal opinion it is too soon to look for bargains (such as a M10). The credit crunch for vendors has not reached its peak. When vendors have debt payments due, some will be forced lower prices. This could affect private sellers as well. In other words, while I hope the bottom is near, in the US we won't know when the worst is over for at least 2-4 weeks.
If one wants to track price drops I would visit the KEH web site from time to time. KEH has a lot of inventory. Of course we can't know how much of KEH's inventory is leveraged (paid for with business loans). But they will have to match on-line sellers of used gear who do have high leveraged inventories. The used gear price trends should generally reflect sellers of new gear. Camera companies may have price drops for new gear in the future as well in order to increase cash flow.
At This Moment - Preserve Liquidity
I am preserving cash assets. Right now cash is king because you need cash to buy things (including reinvestments when things stabilize). Other assets are still depreciating as I write this response.
So, no new gear purchases and no selling gear.
My plans have changed because local stay-in-place restrictions mean increased opportunity for image editing (selection and staging).
My personal opinion it is too soon to look for bargains (such as a M10). The credit crunch for vendors has not reached its peak. When vendors have debt payments due, some will be forced lower prices. This could affect private sellers as well. In other words, while I hope the bottom is near, in the US we won't know when the worst is over for at least 2-4 weeks.
If one wants to track price drops I would visit the KEH web site from time to time. KEH has a lot of inventory. Of course we can't know how much of KEH's inventory is leveraged (paid for with business loans). But they will have to match on-line sellers of used gear who do have high leveraged inventories. The used gear price trends should generally reflect sellers of new gear. Camera companies may have price drops for new gear in the future as well in order to increase cash flow.
willie_901
Veteran
I hope you are correct. At the same time all our prior experience with viral infections indicates an exponential growth in cases.
The mortality rate is approximately 10 X higher than seasonal flu epidemics.
Worst of all is hospital resources are insufficient to treat a large number of people simultaneously.
These are facts. Viral epidemics are unaware of media or political influence.
At any rate the issue of hysteria will be resolved in 2-4 weeks. I hope the hysteria level turns out to be "insane" because this means human suffering will be minimal.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
I'm afraid for the future of the representative republic of the USA. The only GAS I have right now is for diesel fuel, food, water purification means and I really need a tent.
Phil Forrest
Phil Forrest
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I use and can recommend MREs (Meals Ready To Eat), MSR (Mountain Safety Research) water filter with pump, and a Timberline tent.
retinax
Well-known
Don't forget a good axe! Then you can be a lumberjack for the underground toilet paper making that will soon emerge.
Greg Maslak
Well-known
Having come late to this thread, I've read through many of the posts and not seen anyone comment on currency revaluations as a result of economic turmoil and their effect on GAS, so I thought I should. Where I am in Canada, oil price wars and the pandemic have been a deadly mix for our currency. Our dollar has fallen to historic lows. Similar devaluations are happening in other countries for different reasons, but all exaggerated by a "flight to quality" to the US dollar at this time.
While photography gear doesn't necessarily originate in the US (though used gear often does), prices are regularly quoted or based on USD. They are now all more expensive for me and, I suspect, many others. So are services and CLAs, that often require shipping old cameras to the States.
Of course, I can always buy locally before prices change or falling demand may drop US prices faster than currency devaluations raise them. Who knows. There is so much uncertainty, but I think people will suppress GAS. I know I will.
While photography gear doesn't necessarily originate in the US (though used gear often does), prices are regularly quoted or based on USD. They are now all more expensive for me and, I suspect, many others. So are services and CLAs, that often require shipping old cameras to the States.
Of course, I can always buy locally before prices change or falling demand may drop US prices faster than currency devaluations raise them. Who knows. There is so much uncertainty, but I think people will suppress GAS. I know I will.
Solinar
Analog Preferred
Our choices will be different and we will definitely be poorer due to the loss of small family owned shops.
I could go on, but I choose not to.
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
I won't be acquiring anything anytime soon. I have enough film in the 'fridge and more than enough cameras.
Although, in the past few months, I went through a pre-pandemic GAS spree acquiring a fully functioning:
Best wishes to all out there and hoping you are all well and out of harm's way.
We'll get through this.
Although, in the past few months, I went through a pre-pandemic GAS spree acquiring a fully functioning:
- Kodak Retina IIa (w/Schneider Retina-Xenon 50/f.2)
- Voightlander Vitessa-N (Color-Skopar 50/f3.5)
- Ihagee-Dresden Exa 0 (Zeiss Flektogon 35/f2.8)
- Ihagee-Dresden Exa 1a (Zeiss Jenna Tessar Zebra 50/f2.8)
Best wishes to all out there and hoping you are all well and out of harm's way.
We'll get through this.
Huss
Veteran
On the radio the morning hosts were suggesting to support local restaurants etc by buying gift certificates for when they reopen.
While the idea is admirable, they may never be 'honored' in the future depending on how things play out.
I hope the best for everyone, no matter.
While the idea is admirable, they may never be 'honored' in the future depending on how things play out.
I hope the best for everyone, no matter.
Brian Atherton
Well-known
Quite possibly.
I remember my parents talking (during WWII my father served in the RAF and my mother did war work and she and her family went through the Blitz etc) when I was growing up, saying their experiences during those six years marked them for life with regard to how they viewed and conducted their lives afterwards.
For example they always made do and mended rather than bought new, unless they really had to, they lived simply and had a real sense of community, there was a regular flow of neighbours in the house etc.
No doubt this pandemic will mark people and their future lives in similar ways or ways we have yet to see.
mpaniagua
Newby photographer
Well, bought a 4x5 monorail camera (about $100), a nice 90mm Large format lens (less that $100) and a bunch of 4x5 film magazines (about 15 of them for less than $20). This was days before WHO declared pandemic. Was thinking about moving to LF but since I still lack development tanks and film,putting this on pause for the time being.
Got enough film for a while and enough 35mm/120 cameras/lens so will stop looking at ebay and classified for a while now. Most of my cash will go to food that can be stored and to saving.
To all the forum people, please take care, have good sanitation habits and don't go to crowded places.
Kind regards and the best to you guys.
Marcelo
Got enough film for a while and enough 35mm/120 cameras/lens so will stop looking at ebay and classified for a while now. Most of my cash will go to food that can be stored and to saving.
To all the forum people, please take care, have good sanitation habits and don't go to crowded places.
Kind regards and the best to you guys.
Marcelo
Jamie123
Veteran
For a second I thought you were talking about the Red Army Fraction but then I remembered that that was much later
oldwino
Well-known
Yes, that's a short term way to show your appreciation for the service industry workers, and maybe they'd get (part of) one last paycheck. Soon, they will all be unemployed. The restaurant and bar industry (and many of those who work around the periphery - wineries, distilleries, breweries, farmers, etc) will be completely decimated by this, and most will not survive it. The margins a restaurant works under is slim in the best of times.
Considering that this sector generates over $860 billion in the U.S. economy and employs over 15 million people, the long term impact to the U.S. will felt for decades.
If there ever was an industry that needed a bailout, this is it. Not the airlines who squandered all their profits and Wall Street who gambled all our pensions away.
Ok, rant over. Stay safe everyone!
Archlich
Well-known
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...r&utm_term=200319&utm_campaign=bloombergdaily
I like this one: "This time is different. It's a life-and-death struggle."
As more testing being done and the number goes up, soon the GAS will have to step aside for quite a while.
Safety first!
I like this one: "This time is different. It's a life-and-death struggle."
As more testing being done and the number goes up, soon the GAS will have to step aside for quite a while.
Safety first!
steveyork
Well-known
The economy just can't stay idle for 18 months as they wait for a vaccine. From a strictly utilitarian point of view, the cure would be worse then the disease. If that's the case they should just isolate the vulnerable, and require everyone else to wear a sufficient mask when interacting with others, but get back to working and spending. Bars and restaurants are pretty much toast either way; maybe takes outs and deliveries are the new thing.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
That is a good price! I have one and can recommend it! Bitingly sharp, and great color!
ornate_wrasse
Moderator
I just got back late Saturday night from a photography workshop Ghost Towns of the Mojave. When I flew to Las Vegas the previous Saturday, the plane was full and things seemed somewhat normal. However, during the course of the workshop, things changed dramatically. At the front desks of the motels we stayed at, there were large bottles of hand sanitizer that the guests could use. This past Friday night we arrived back in Las Vegas and had dinner at an Indian restaurant that the workshop leader had been to before and said was usually full of people. We were the only people in the entire restaurant. Similarly, on Saturday I went to Las Vegas' #1 Mediterranean restaurant. It was nearly empty and would usually have been full on a Saturday. The flight home that night was half empty.
I have no plans to buy any equipment in the near future as a few months ago I purchased an expensive Nikon telephoto lens which I used while on the workshop.
I am fortunate in that I am retired and do not have to worry about my workplace being shut down. However, I have a friend who works for a large catering business here in Portland. She has been laid off, as large group gatherings have ceased here in Oregon. Her business specifically caters to large group gatherings.
Of note, my 42 year old daughter who lives in Denver, and whose husband works for Kaiser, could not even be tested last week when she showed symptoms of the coronavirus. Apparently, she would have had to be hospitalized before she could even be tested. Fortunately, she recovered and is fine now.
Finally, kudos to you Helen, for your classy reply to the clueless poster who was not very nice.
I have no plans to buy any equipment in the near future as a few months ago I purchased an expensive Nikon telephoto lens which I used while on the workshop.
I am fortunate in that I am retired and do not have to worry about my workplace being shut down. However, I have a friend who works for a large catering business here in Portland. She has been laid off, as large group gatherings have ceased here in Oregon. Her business specifically caters to large group gatherings.
Of note, my 42 year old daughter who lives in Denver, and whose husband works for Kaiser, could not even be tested last week when she showed symptoms of the coronavirus. Apparently, she would have had to be hospitalized before she could even be tested. Fortunately, she recovered and is fine now.
Finally, kudos to you Helen, for your classy reply to the clueless poster who was not very nice.
pluton
Well-known
Per phone convo with Fujifilm USA New Jersey service center, they're sending employees to "work from home" IMO, that means expect no service for months... at best.
OT: Where do darkroom enthusiasts dump the poison chemicals these days, anyway?
farlymac
PF McFarland
It's been so long since I last visited my eBay page, I had to look up my password.
PF
PF