New Leica Lens 25% Tariff for USA?

Unklear whether this is akkurate, but PhotoRumors said that there'll be a 25% price increase on Leica lenses (!!!!), come 1 November.

Happily have all the current M glass I'll ever need.
 
james.liam said:
Unklear whether this is akkurate, but PhotoRumors said that there'll be a 25% price increase on Leica lenses (!!!!), come 1 November.

Happily have all the current M glass I'll ever need.
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James,

Recently I used the plastic card with the "magic numbers" to purchase an APO 35 Cron-L that cost $4595.00 (free shipping). The 25% tariff, if the November 1st rumor is true, means $1148.75 premium on $4595.00 for a total of $5743.75.

My APO 35 Cron is still in the phase where availability is limited and there are still waiting lists. I imagine now a race for buyers and a rush/scramble for the remaining limited supply.

I feel I'm a lucky guy at this point.

Cal
 
raid said:
If you buy a Leica new in Germany and then return to the USA, will there be next a customs checking to pay the 25% tariff? Just a curious question ....
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If you take a look at the Customs declaration that you have to fill out when arriving in the US (regardless of nationality), you're obliged to declare goods purchased abroad totaling more than a standard exemption (I think that amount is currently $800). Same applies if you're in Global Entry. So, the answer to your question is yes.

Last year, I brought back a batt grip and a spare batt for the SL, which added up to more than $800, and declared the lot - they just waved me through. I think the duty at the time on the amount above the exemption probably wasn't worth the bother. I doubt that would happen if I turned up today with an SL lens that I bought in the EU or elsewhere.
 
No! Do as we Europeans have done for ages: Buy expensive camera equipment (watches, jewlery etc.) at tax havens. Like Hong Kong, Singapore, Abu Dhabi etc.
 
semi-ambivalent said:
The retail price will not go up 25% because Leica will lower the wholesale cost to offset some of the increase. In the 1980s the Mark soared against the US Dollar but the price of a Mercedes in the U.S. barely budged. MB was able to just eat a lot of the cost increase because their markup was so high to begin with.

This is how it works out when you've given away your country's production to other countries; America's biggest export product is now our consumption. That's valuable and the idea is to make other countries pay a higher price for that product, just like the price going up for any desirable product. Market demand. Companies can eat some or all of that increase or pass some or all of it on to their customers. Customers do have a say in this you know.

The issue here is talking Leica when the real problem was thousands of, for example, well-paying textile jobs in North Carolina, being sent to horrific sweatshops in China (then Malaysia, then Cambodia, then Viet Nam, always chasing lower costs), because Joe Blow wants to save $3.00 on a pair of $50.00 trousers. Other countries do this too and you'd admit it if you were being honest with yourself, but the US is big and "wealthy" so it's more visible with us. Things like German cameras made in Portugal, and whisky made in Scotland are marquee items so they make for good headlines in less than objective news rags.

It's what you get with Keynesian economics and it's sad that so many people in lots of countries just don't understand things unless they're really simple concepts. People could boycott those products but consumers everywhere are so spoiled they just can't say no. Brats. The higher prices are also a reflection of your ever more worthless currencies. Dollars, Euros, Francs. It doesn't matter which anymore. Every government wants their currency to be the cheapest because it helps their exports. Think about the logic of that...

"...and all the children are above average."
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It was much easier for Mercedes to compensate for a fall of the US Dollar, which happens every so often. Because Mercedes already paid much of their suppliers (steel, electronics, rubber etc.) in US Dollars. To 'hedge' for a tariff of 25% is impossible for a small company as Leica. Sales prices have to be increased accordingly - or very close.

It was you, the US, who started it. The European Union (my country, Norway is not an EU member, thanks God) retaliated by imposing tariffs on Harley Davidson motor cycles. Tit fot tat. This is not the end of it.
 
raid said:
If you buy a Leica new in Germany and then return to the USA, will there be next a customs checking to pay the 25% tariff? Just a curious question ....
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You'll pay customs duty unless you can show that you registered your Leica with US Customs on the way out of the country. You can do that at any customs office. If you buy it in Germany, you'll need to list it on the customs form passed out on the plane on the way home.
 
As a retired Customs pilot and frequent international traveler, I must say that the chances of US Customs collecting duty on an undeclared camera are pretty slim. Of course, I am not saying break the law but ???. In the last ten years I have traveled frequently beyond the borders of the US and I have NEVER been inspected upon returning to the US.
 
ChipMcD said:
You'll pay customs duty unless you can show that you registered your Leica with US Customs on the way out of the country. You can do that at any customs office. If you buy it in Germany, you'll need to list it on the customs form passed out on the plane on the way home.
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They don't pass out customs forms anymore.
 
Huss: That is because you fill out the form electronically at the airport upon arrival. And for those that do not know, the Global Entry Program is just an expedited way to get through the lines. However, it also gives you pre-clearance with TSA so it may be worth the initial fees.
 
Update

Update

Leica USA did increase wholesale prices on most lenses about 20%

Generally dealers are doing the best they can to delay passing on these increases to the customer.

It remains to be seen how long the tariff will remain in place.

However if the tariff remains in place, its only a matter of time until dealers run out out of pre-tariff lenses and are forced to pass on the increase.

Stephen
 
I believe anything made or sold by a European company is subject to the tariffs.

Of course, if the president gets impeached or voted out of office in 2020, free trade would go back to normal. I am really glad he is protecting the US camera and lens manufacturers from insidious Asian and European competition.
 
raid said:
Are cameras "safe" from such a tariff?
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Nothing is safe!!!

I often wonder if you declare lenses by their length and aperture without the mfg, gave the older ones away to a GoodWill sort of organization and brought home new glass (say Leica) my guess is that you would get waved through.

Just a thought.

Not B2 (;-????
 
CameraQuest said:
Leica USA did increase wholesale prices on most lenses about 20%

Generally dealers are doing the best they can do delay passing on these increases to the customer.

It remains to be seen how long the tariff will remain in place.

However if the tariff remains in place, its only a matter of time until dealers run out out of pre-tariff lenses and are forced to pass on the increase.

Stephen
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I read on the Leica Forum about a guy who "locked-in" the pre tariff price on an APO 35 Cron like mine at $4495.00 from Adorama. They say they will honor that price since it was "backordered" and is not in stock.

The new price is $5695.00, a difference of $1.2K. Ouch.

Mucho glad I bought mine at the "old" price.

I wonder if I need to "Preorder" a SL2 now to lock-down the pre tarrif pricing. Would hate to pay an extra $1.5K. I think I will call my dealer today.

Cal
 
ktmrider said:
I believe anything made or sold by a European company is subject to the tariffs.

Of course, if the president gets impeached or voted out of office in 2020, free trade would go back to normal. I am really glad he is protecting the US camera and lens manufacturers from insidious Asian and European competition.
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Good one. Is the Donald still insisting the manufacturers are footing the bill? I am out of touch, resolutely ignoring most of the inflamed U.S. press. Should I send a bill to the Oval Office to recover the increased cost of my tariffed gear?
 
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