What about Zeiss.... how should they spend their ad dollars

[Rob Skeoch]

Now that we've figured out how Leica should spend it's advertising dollars.... how about Zeiss Ikon.

What would be the best strategy for Zeiss to gain market share in the rangefinder game.

Rob Skeoch
www.bigcameraworkshops.com

 

[erikhaugsby]

Wait, how should Leica spend their advertising dollars? What discussion did I miss?

 

[back alley]

i'm thinking lots of free samples...🙂

 

[ferider]

Use the marketing budget to buy Leica.

🙂

 

[Rob Skeoch]

There was a thread a few days back about how Leitz should spend their ad bucks.
-rob

 

[mbisc]

Now that we've figured out how Leica should spend it's advertising dollars.... how about Zeiss Ikon.

What would be the best strategy for Zeiss to gain market share in the rangefinder game.

How about actually having an ad budget? Other than looking at their website and discussions of various internet forums, I don't think I have ever seen any/much advertising from Zeiss (other than from their eyeglass division or sports optics)...

 

[RML]

Buying Leica sound slike a good idea. Than hack it up and sell of the individual parts, keeping the patents. 😛

 

[Bill58]

Maybe Zeiss should coin a new slogan saying "We're marginally more reliable than our overpriced, digital competitor."

 

[clintock]

They could bring back the Contax brand..
Lately in the US anyway, if you ask most people on the street what is Ikon, it's either a thing to click on a computer screen or a brand of office photocopier.

 

[jaapv]

Spend it on R&D to produce an M8 competitor. It is sad that they are lagging behind.

 

[Nachkebia]

They should spend more money on testing cameras in hard conditions.

 

[rover]

OK, this is worst than an M8 thread.

Let's see, who else can we bash?

 

[Nachkebia]

Putting pressure for better future is not bashing, rover 😀

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Wasn't it Nachkebia's Zeiss Ikon that looked pretty beat up after a few weeks in India?

If I am correct then Zeiss ought to give him a new exchange camera and use that beat up one in their ads like Leica use brassed cameras in their ads from time to time.

 

[40oz]

put ads in National Geographic? (I haven't actually looked through one in years, meybe they are already there 🙂 )

I wouldn't think it would be such a bad idea to buy me a Zeiss blue 911 Turbo (perhaps with a big logo on the roof) and have me drive it all year all over the continent taking pictures with a ZI. It sure would get the name out, and sell a ton of equipment and make everyone know and respect the name. In fact, I can't find a single flaw with the plan.

 

[Nachkebia]

I am still thinking should I send it to them for a fix or leave it as it is 😀

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I am just back from trip to the post office with a Leica sent away for repair. If your Zeiss Ikon still works keep it but perhaps they'll photograph it to show how tough their cameras are.

 

[Nachkebia]

I hope you`v been sarcastic 😀

 

[PaulDalex]

I second Clintock. Resurrect Contax. Their story on Kyocera (on Zeiss site) leave me skeptical. Why Kyocera should mind, given that they quitted? People like me who own nice bodies to uses Zeiss are forced to embark in yet another mount (Nikon F) and buy yet another 50 f/1,4, and 85 f/1,4 etc. They are not loyal to customer that invested fortunes on the various Contaxes, that already bothered customers with 4 (!) mounts

 

[Huck Finn]

Zeiss is developing & expanding their dealer network. They should spend money to have each dealer check the ZI rangefinder alignment when the camera is received & to train each dealer to be able to adjust the alignment if it has been thrown off in shipping. This may not be "ad dollars" but it would certainly prevent a lot of negative word-of-mouth from dissatisfied customers.