currency and rf prices

[clicker]

Any thoughts on the rangefinder prices and world currency markets ?

 

[btgc]

RF market shrinks.

 

[magicianhisoka]

Prices will only soar!

 

[benmacphoto]

I feel it's kind of like the price of gold.
The more people talk about it, a higher interest/demand, the higher the price will go.

 

[Red Robin]

Rangefinders are like world currencies: Those that have are happy and content. those without aren't.

 

[Frontman]

I sell from Japan, but get paid in dollars. 4 years ago the exchange rate was 125 yen per dollar, whereas now the rate is 74 yen per dollar. I would have to raise my prices 40% to maintain my profit margin (which was not necessarily big to begin with). Where I work many believe that the US is going to move forward with QE3, and this will bring the dollar down even further.

Things in America are not getting more expensive, stupid policies are merely destroying the value of the dollar. QE1 and 2 did not work, I wonder why anyone thinks that more quantative easing (printing more money) can possibly help.

 

[Snacks]

I can no longer take advantage of the great exchange rate to get bargins in the US.

I'm from the UK but I'm studying in the US. My wages here are worth a little more at home these days, so that's good news for my student loans. I have bought a lot of my photographic kit from savings in the UK, though, so that will stop.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Depends on whether you're dealing with a hard currency or not.

Increasingly, Swiss Franc against the rest.

Cheers,

R.

 

[splitimageview]

stupid policies are merely destroying the value of the dollar.

Indeed....

 

[Maiku]

I also sell cameras from Japan from time to time. I also sell in USD because it has been the trend for so long everyone can grasp the conversion to their own currency quickly. I just have to me more prudent what I buy to resell. In the end, I take everything in stride. People in Japan complain about the yen to US dollar imbalance, but the reality is that Japan had it good for a long time. The Japan took full advantage of a weak yen against the dollar in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Now, I think they have nothing to really complain about. What goes around comes around. Do not feel to bad though because Japanese companies can buy overseas companies or commodities like oil and iron ore due to the high yen at cut rate prices. The real sad thing that American companies have not been able to gain a competitive edge exporting American goods even though their dollar is at all time low. The lower the dollar goes I think it better for American businesses! American exports are cheaper, if they have a competitive product to sell. Also, more tourism from foreigners. Do not discount the power of tourism dollars.

The reality, I think, is that world is re-aligning itself. American is not what is once once and China and India are finding their true place in the new world order.

 

[Thardy]

Any thoughts on the rangefinder prices and world currency markets ?

What does it matter? Rich Leica users will buy the M9, 10 at any price. 😎

 

[Maiku]

I think the camera buyer who suffers the most are American buyers looking for used cameras on eBay. Other currencies have appreicated against the USD. The result is that Japanese, Australians, Canadians, Thai, Singaporeans, Russians etc bid more on eBay in USD and drive the price up.

Everyone suffers when it comes to Japanese digital cameras and new lenses. The strong yen is cutting into profits, so Japanese manufacturers are obviously going to have to increase prices to make a decent profit.