View Full Version : B&H not stocking M8 any longer
Anyone know why B&H isn't stocking the M8 and has it up as a special order item? Sounds ominous.
Chrome is showing "Out of Stock" and black "Accepting Orders"
Maybe they just can't keep what they do get in stock.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&Q=&b=14&mnp=0.0&mxp=0.0&cmpsrch=&cltp=&clsgr=&shs=&ci=8613&ac=&Submit.x=15&Submit.y=10
Joe Mondello
04-11-2007, 16:58
Nothing new. It's been like that since the announcement. I think that Accepting Orders means that it is back-ordered more than the Out Of Stock item, but hey they use all three phrases and it's hard to know why!
But in any event, there is no real change in status. So rest easy.
They are back-ordered - when they get them in stock, they move them very quickly.
When they're back ordered they say, "Back Ordered." When they're out of stock they say, "Out of Stock," just as they're saying right now regarding the chrome version. If you click the "Accepting Orders" hyperlink associated with the black version, this is what you get: "This is not a regular stocking item. Estimated arrival at B&H 7-14 business days. You will be charged upon placing your order." I have to take them at their word that it's not a regular stocking item any more and that they'll order one from Leica if you order and pay up front. Again, I say: ominous.
shutterflower
04-11-2007, 17:45
They are back-ordered - when they get them in stock, they move them very quickly.
this is surprising to me. Considering how pricey it is. Man, there's lots of cash in the world.
Sailor Ted
04-11-2007, 17:48
RSL,
Sometimes you read like the Watch Tower predicting the end of the world (and just as I hear that old song and dance I smile and laugh to myself).
One day your reporting they have had them in stock for X numher of hours as if this is a sign of pending doom and the next it's out of stock and this is a pending sign of doom- ROFL.
Carry on : )
this is surprising to me. Considering how pricey it is. Man, there's lots of cash in the world.
Probably a lot more credit than cash :D
Al Patterson
04-11-2007, 18:11
It seems to me they are selling them faster than they can get them.
It also appears somebody here needs to get a life...
Calumet has same day shipping.
http://www.calumetphoto.com/ctl?ac.ui.pn=search.Search&query=leica+m8&x=0&y=0
+ 90 days w/o interest.
Yo Jo, just call them and ask. Whaddaya think?
RSL,
Sometimes you read like the Watch Tower predicting the end of the world (and just as I hear that old song and dance I smile and laugh to myself).
One day your reporting they have had them in stock for X numher of hours as if this is a sign of pending doom and the next it's out of stock and this is a pending sign of doom- ROFL.
Carry on : )
Gotcha, didn't I. When you leaving for your trip? And is your new M8 performing up to standard?
Gotta call B&H today and find out why they aren't stocking the M8 any more. Not stocking is different from out of stock.
haagen_dazs
04-12-2007, 07:12
this is surprising to me. Considering how pricey it is. Man, there's lots of cash in the world.
thats the same feeling i have too
alot of people seem to be able to "afford" this M8:confused:
i dont see the Canon 1Ds Mark II on backorder very often (No doubt canon has a large market share but they also dont make excessive numbers of their super expensive top end model)
:eek:
B&H writes this a lot for expensive items. The whole "estimated delivery in 7-14 days" is an automatic statement from the computer. If you actually want to buy a camera from them, then give them a call, ask for someone who works at the Leica counter and talk to them. B&H does not always stock the really expensive stuff, because there are two groups -- those who buy stuff from B&H when they have it, but prefer boutique sellers (like Tony Rose, Photovillage, Kurland etc) for big purchases, and those who buy from B&H no matter what. The first group won't buy an M8 from B&H and the second will wait for them to order it. Anyway, that's just my take. They make so much money from less expensive items and high volume that it does not make a lot of sense for them to have a ton of slower moving high priced inventory in stock. Boutiques on the other hand do fairly low volume and generate sales by having the expensive stuff on hand for demonstration. Granted, the M8 is still a hot seller, so I assume they just have that up because they don't have any at the moment. People are much more willing to buy from someone that says "accepting orders" than "out of stock". Out of stock implies that there aren't any...period. Accepting orders sounds like, "we don't have one at the moment, but we can get you one quickly". Or at least that is my rambling take on the situation. It is certainly not something to lose sleep over.
Previously when they had M8's "In Stock" and sold out, the message changed to "Out of Stock", and then in a day or two, to "Back Ordered". The silver ones have remained at "Out of Stock" since the last sell-out, and this time after selling out their latest batch of black ones they've put "Accepting Orders". I don't know if it represents a change in B&H's policy or not. It could be that they rather get them from Allendale quickly and not invest tens of thousands of dollars in inventory. According to my dealer, Leica's new products have historically reached market saturation much sooner than other brands, and now with digital's short product life the stores are trying to be very careful about not overstocking.
Stuart's right on this. There are plenty of items at B&H that state 'Accepting Orders'. And despite the fact that the M8 is selling quickly for Leica (and new lenses as well) that volume is nothing compared to the volume does B&H does in P&S and low-end SLRs. The Leica counter in the B&H store is tiny and gets very little attention compared to everything else.
charjohncarter
04-12-2007, 08:05
There is a place on the B&H site, it is when you blow up the product, I think where they will email you when it is in stock. But from experience you better act fast.
Joe Mondello
04-13-2007, 06:27
I wonder if the reason for the "not a regularly stocked item" status is to disallow returns for other than product defect? :confused:
Henry Posner of B&H chimes in on DP Review from time to time to clarify issues raised there, so perhaps this thread should be directed his way.
So I emailed it to him. :angel:
Thanks for your curiosity. Our buyers determine what will be regularly stocked and what won't by a variety of factors including demand, availability from our supplier and so on. If a big-ticket item is in relatively low demand and is at the same time available from the supplier, availability to the end-customer is practically the same.
There's nothing "ominous," about it, now is there? http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/images/icons/icon6.gif
Now, we just heard it from the horse's mouth.... Thanks, Henry.
Joe Mondello
04-13-2007, 07:31
Thanks for clarifying this Henry! :-)
Sounds like Henry confirms what I said before, as told to me by my dealer, who also will only sell an M8 if someone pays for it in advance. (He had 178 pre-orders in November, of which 113 cancelled in the first few weeks, and has sold 91 total as of yesterday, the last one he sold was in February. )
It's not a condemnation of the M8, just reflects fiscal responsibility on the part of camera shops. If you look through B&H's website you'll find hundreds if not thousands of items available only on a special-order basis.
Sailor Ted
04-13-2007, 08:43
(He had 178 pre-orders in November, of which 113 cancelled in the first few weeks, and has sold 91 total as of yesterday, the last one he sold was in February. )
Ben I wonder if those "pre-orders" had deposits on them? I also wonder how many people put their names on "dealer's lists" hoping for one to pop first and then to cancel or ignore their other bids with dealers who did not require a deposit to get their name on their list in the first place? I would also say your dealer did exceptionally well if he sold 91 units. That is a gross of $436,345! Assuming he made a grand on each unit sold he netted 91 grand- not bad for clerking orders ; )
Thanks for your curiosity. Our buyers determine what will be regularly stocked and what won't by a variety of factors including demand, availability from our supplier and so on. If a big-ticket item is in relatively low demand and is at the same time available from the supplier, availability to the end-customer is practically the same.
There's nothing "ominous," about it, now is there? http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/images/icons/icon6.gif
Well, maybe ominous is too strong a word. But the explanation doesn't exactly explain why B&H stocked the M8 for months, listed as in stock and out of stock as shipments came in and sold out, and now it's a special order item. The buyers may have made the decision, but on what basis? I sort of hang up on, "If a big-ticket item is in relatively low demand..." Certainly, as Ben puts it, not stocking an item if it's not selling regularly reflects fiscal responsibility, but does this mean that the formerly brisk market for the M8 has, well, "slumped?"
Thanks for your curiosity. Our buyers determine what will be regularly stocked and what won't by a variety of factors including demand, availability from our supplier and so on. If a big-ticket item is in relatively low demand and is at the same time available from the supplier, availability to the end-customer is practically the same.
There's nothing "ominous," about it, now is there? http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/images/icons/icon6.gif
Thank you for joining us Henry. As a very good friend of the COO of one of B&H's suppliers I can say that what Henry says makes very much sense. Though I know my friend's firm does not deal in Leicas, I am sure the product's in their warehouses in the tri-state area are as readily available to B&H customers as they would be if they were in B&H's possession. Just a part of doing business.
I am sure the product's in their warehouses in the tri-state area are as readily available to B&H customers as they would be if they were in B&H's possession. Just a part of doing business.
Doesn't exactly answer the question, though, does it?
Joe Mondello
04-13-2007, 15:40
Doesn't exactly answer the question, though, does it?
Why not?
I guess I just don't know what your concern is . . . :confused:
Why not?
I guess I just don't know what your concern is . . . :confused:
Joe, Thanks for chiming in. If you read the posts carefully from the very beginning you'll see that I've been asking the question: "Is the big rush to buy the M8 over?" A lot of people have been asking that question on other posts, and the related question: "How big is the ultimate M8 market after the initial rush is over?" I tend to think it's not all that big, but I also tend to think it's loyal. In any case, it's clear that B&H has changed their approach to the M8 since their early rush of sales. That's not a big deal. I know I can get an M8 without delay now that the rush is over, and I'll probably get it from B&H. I've bought about twelve grand worth of equipment from them over the past couple years and they've been very dependable and easy to work with.
Joe Mondello
04-13-2007, 17:12
I've been asking the question: "Is the big rush to buy the M8 over?"
Ah, OK, got it now. Nothing ominous, just a shift in availability.
Oh, so you want to know if the obvious is happening.
That happened to tickle me elmo too.
Gabriel M.A.
04-13-2007, 18:14
I ran out of milk again. I'll keep you updated...
John Camp
04-13-2007, 18:33
thats the same feeling i have too
alot of people seem to be able to "afford" this M8:confused:
i dont see the Canon 1Ds Mark II on backorder very often (No doubt canon has a large market share but they also dont make excessive numbers of their super expensive top end model)
:eek:
And, some people just go out of their way to buy it. Given the prices of cars (on four-year time payments) these days, you can afford an M8 if you simply put off buying a new car for one year...
JC
I see that Calumet is also offering the M8 as available for lease as well as for sale.
I suppose that means I could now afford a black M8 along with a silver Lexus.
Seriously, I also note that Amazon lists the M8 as available with same-day shipping.
Well, the M8 is back in stock at B&H this morning, so I guess that terminates this thread.
And it also appears to contradict Henry's explanation :confused: . Either the folks in that department don't cc Henry with their every decision and reason behind it, or else perhaps it has been decided that it's better to have at least a little inventory in stock to head off the rumor-mill and further hamper future sales ;) Either way, the M8 is available for those who want one. ..which includes me, as soon as they've fully resolved the sudden-death problem and I can be assured of getting one manufactured after "the fix".
Joe Mondello
04-14-2007, 07:56
Seriously, I also note that Amazon lists the M8 as available with same-day shipping.
Yup. I had a bad experience with them a month ago, bit tried again (hey 30 day MBG is a big deal) and got it the next morning for $25 overnite ship to NYC.
And it also appears to contradict Henry's explanation :confused: . Either the folks in that department don't cc Henry with their every decision and reason behind it, or else perhaps it has been decided that it's better to have at least a little inventory in stock to head off the rumor-mill and further hamper future sales ;) Either way, the M8 is available for those who want one. ..which includes me, as soon as they've fully resolved the sudden-death problem and I can be assured of getting one manufactured after "the fix".
Hear, hear! That's what I'm waiting for too.
"How big is the ultimate M8 market after the initial rush is over?" I tend to think it's not all that big, but I also tend to think it's loyal.
The fact is that the total RF market is small. So it won't be a big surprise if Leica is not turning over Canon like numbers. However relative to Leica's recent sales the impact of the M8 on Leica's sales volume has been huge. Enough so that they are considering a move to larger quarters in Wetzlar. Not bad for a company that was on life support not to long ago.
Well, the M8 is back in stock at B&H this morning....
Hmm.
Someone probably returned a prefix firmware 1.0 model.
Ominous...
:)
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.