Jerevan
Recycled User
On the online order page Zeiss Ikon lists at €1,257.76 ex. VAT. So given the prices CQ and Robert White has had it's a bit more expensive, but about half the price of a new Leica (here in Sweden at least). But hey, I've probably bought too many cameras this year already, so... 
Captain
Well-known
Maybe a bit of people power is in order. An email to Zeiss letting them know how valuable Stephen has been in promoting rangefinders including there own perhaps?
dogless
Member
I was recently in the market for a ZI but after considering the service issues and the re-sale value, I decided to buy a mint- M6 classic for $1000.00 USD. Buying direct from Zeiss now means paying $1600.00 plus for the camera while mint- M7’s sell for 1900-2000 USD. Perhaps controlling the sales of the ZI though Zeiss direct the company projects an image of a product that has greater exclusivity and quality rather then through grey market re-sellers that are selling the product next to the Cosina product line.
PRJ
Another Day in Paradise
I wonder if anyone is considering that by cutting out the middle man (Hasselblad) they might be able to lower the price because they are lowering their costs. We might get a surprise out of this in several months. We all know that they are not going away.
Jerevan
Recycled User
It says on their distributor page that "Cosina will remain our distribution partner in Japan."
troym
Established
MacDaddy said:
Zeiss has been "strongly encouraging" non-direct sellers to bail out of the market? I hope Gandy doesn't own a racehorse!
Basically, this is Zeiss's attempt to dry up the (cheaper) grey market product availability, right--effectively a price hike for the average buyer?
sdai
Established
Flyfisher Tom said:
A parallel importer being the friend of the "official" distributor, come on ... then why do people bother signing up contract securing their "exclusive rights" ?
That being said, CameraQuest may not be interested in signing up the "official dealership at all ... guess what, he probably has to stock up at a higher than warehouse/factory price with guaranteed annual sales volume, burn his profit on advertising, hiring service people ... and end up with making no money at all.
S
Socke
Guest
jaapv said:
I'm pretty sure Zeiss was not happy with Hasselblad as a distributor. The Hasselblad dealer here has no ZI body or lenses and is not willing to order them anywhere.
S
Socke
Guest
sdai said:A parallel importer being the friend of the "official" distributor, come on ... then why do people bother signing up contract securing their "exclusive rights" ?
I had one of those contracts with Tektronix, once. We had four of their printers as demo equipment and got 20% on list.
Three weeks later Tektronix made deal with Ingram Micro and any dealer could get the printers 25% under list. So we had the cost and others the sales :-(
Mazurka
Well-known
patrickjames said:
"Able" and "willing" are two different things, I'm afraid. :bang: Zeiss probably figures the "full price" still undercuts Leica by a large margin and decides that there is no need to lower it. Moreover, the ZI will only become more attractive with time, considering Leica's semi-annual price increases.
socke said:
So true. And that's not the only Hassey dealer who refused to order or even mention the ZI line.
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S
Socke
Guest
Just had a look at the ZI webshop, they have to list prices incl. VaT in germany!
This can be a reason for a nasty and expensive letter by a dealers lawyer, with the webshop for endusers they are competing with every photo dealer who has a webshop.
This can be a reason for a nasty and expensive letter by a dealers lawyer, with the webshop for endusers they are competing with every photo dealer who has a webshop.
MacDaddy
Certified Machead
See Jorge's thread on Getting a ZI before they disappear
See Jorge's thread on Getting a ZI before they disappear
The bottom line, folks is this: if you want to save money on a ZI or the ZM lenses, e-mail Stephen and/or others and get a listing of what they have available before they sell through! There are MANY reasons why a company might want to "kill" the gray market and one of the main ones none of you has talked about is the possible legal liability from a purchaser who believes they have gotten a defective product that isn't being backed up by the gray market seller. (Which does NOT apply to Stephen, Popflash and others who sponsor this site)
Under US law and those of many states, plus many EU contries, that purchaser is entitled to legal redress and financial compensation against the manufacturer in the event of a defective product. This may not be (and probably isn't) the ONLY reason Zeiss is pressuring the unofficial sellers to cease, but in a country as litigious as the US, it's certainly a very good one! Just some food for thought before this discussion gets out-of-hand.
See Jorge's thread on Getting a ZI before they disappear
The bottom line, folks is this: if you want to save money on a ZI or the ZM lenses, e-mail Stephen and/or others and get a listing of what they have available before they sell through! There are MANY reasons why a company might want to "kill" the gray market and one of the main ones none of you has talked about is the possible legal liability from a purchaser who believes they have gotten a defective product that isn't being backed up by the gray market seller. (Which does NOT apply to Stephen, Popflash and others who sponsor this site)
Under US law and those of many states, plus many EU contries, that purchaser is entitled to legal redress and financial compensation against the manufacturer in the event of a defective product. This may not be (and probably isn't) the ONLY reason Zeiss is pressuring the unofficial sellers to cease, but in a country as litigious as the US, it's certainly a very good one! Just some food for thought before this discussion gets out-of-hand.
back alley
IMAGES
i believe that both nikon & canon refuse warranty service on any grey market purchases.
frankily, i'm waiting to hear directly from someone in the know, like stephen or tony before even getting close to a judgement on any of it.
joe
frankily, i'm waiting to hear directly from someone in the know, like stephen or tony before even getting close to a judgement on any of it.
joe
jano
Evil Bokeh
back alley said:
It's funny how neither has responded to this. I know they've occasionally posted here. Either they are sitting back, reading this thread and laughing, or what? *shrug*
back alley
IMAGES
your guess is as good as mine.
back alley
IMAGES
excellent news!
many thanks tony!!!
many thanks tony!!!
Flyfisher Tom
Well-known
patrickjames said:
Zeiss cuts out the middle man (Hasselblad) so that Zeiss can pass on that saving to us ... yes, that would be a 'surprise' indeed
I hope you're right Patrick
Flyfisher Tom
Well-known
Tony Rose said:
Tony,
If I weren't married already, I'd give you a kiss ... hell, I still might
Thanks for the great news.MacDaddy
Certified Machead
So ask Stephen like I did!
So ask Stephen like I did!
The simple solution is to e-mail Stephen and ask him like I did! He may not tell you any more than he did me, and I'm CERTAINLY not at the top of his list of confidants! If he chooses to enlighten any of us further, so be it! If not, well, we can all speculate until you-know-what freezes over. Whatever is or has happened between Stephen and Cosina and/or Zeiss (IF ANYTHING!) is his business and I believe he'll tell us more if he wants; right?
So ask Stephen like I did!
Huck Finn said:
The simple solution is to e-mail Stephen and ask him like I did! He may not tell you any more than he did me, and I'm CERTAINLY not at the top of his list of confidants! If he chooses to enlighten any of us further, so be it! If not, well, we can all speculate until you-know-what freezes over. Whatever is or has happened between Stephen and Cosina and/or Zeiss (IF ANYTHING!) is his business and I believe he'll tell us more if he wants; right?
David Murphy
Veteran
Carl Zeiss was founded in 1846 and has managed to sell a little glass since then. Despite our buring desire here for bargains, this longevity probably indicates pretty good business sense when it comes to them deciding how best to sell their products.
With all due respect to Camera Quest (and plenty is genuinely due), I think Zeiss will fare just fine.
With all due respect to Camera Quest (and plenty is genuinely due), I think Zeiss will fare just fine.
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