Posted Thu Dec 6, 2007, 11:04am Subject: GS3: New Rules
Forget everything that was said about pricing and distribution. The new rules are:
Distribution will be through regional resellers who will be chosen for their familiarity with LM products and ability (and willingness) to provide installation, training and support to consumers. The distributors have not yet been chosen.
Franke will use the first 30 or so machines to obtain feedback on the service and support needs for the machines (and possibly for further tweaking?).
Roughly 15-20 machines a month will be imported from Italy, with the current waiting list standing at about 250. [This number is sure to drop quickly (see #4)].
Pricing will not be the promised $4,500, but more like $7,500 to $8,000, including one year's parts and service.
This is not rumor. I spoke with the man in charge, who gave me permission to relay this information.
I think my Zaffiro looked a little brighter this morning, because it knew it wasn't going anywhere in the foreseeable future. :(
MatthewBrinski Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 136 Location: Woodland Park, Colorado Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Dec 6, 2007, 11:59am Subject: Re: GS3: New Rules
MarshallF Said:
Forget everything that was said about pricing and distribution. The new rules are:
Distribution will be through regional resellers who will be chosen for their familiarity with LM products and ability (and willingness) to provide installation, training and support to consumers. The distributors have not yet been chosen.
This machine has been in the works for years with the most recent "hold up" being explained as a wait on UL listing while the consumers are being assured that the machine is otherwise ready to go. How much more time is needed to make sure the machine is "tweaked"?
MarshallF Said:
Roughly 15-20 machines a month will be imported from Italy, with the current waiting list standing at about 250. [This number is sure to drop quickly (see #4)].
Pricing will not be the promised $4,500, but more like $7,500 to $8,000, including one year's parts and service.
If this ends up being the case, my name is going to get dropped from the list. I don't know who to be more upset with: LM for lack of price control, US distributors for gouging the price, or the Bush administration for f*!king up the dollar.
MarshallF Said:
This is not rumor. I spoke with the man in charge, who gave me permission to relay this information.
Sorry, but this machine has been nothing but rumors for so long (I'm not doubting what you are saying Marshal, just whatever the ultimate reality will be). This reflects the continued lack of communication by the distributor regarding this machine. Getting this information via third party without any notification from the distributor to those of us on the waiting list is unprofessional.
LM's overhead must have increased dramatically when they decided to put plastic sides on the machine.
Are you sure the price in the US is as high as $7 - $8K ? The UK agent is taking orders at £2,699 ($5,469) http://tinyurl.com/3b2g6v It's quite normal for us to pay 30% more in the UK for our shiny Italian toys, than you do in the USA, despite the much shorter shipping distance. Lower volume discounts I guess. Edit : On the same page, the uk agent is 30% dearer than ChrisC, for the La Spaz Vivaldi 11. :-( Bertie
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,427 Location: Vancouver, BC Expertise: Professional
Espresso: KvdW Speedster Grinder: Compak K10 WBC Vac Pot: A bit too many Drip: Clive Coffee Drip Stand Roaster: Hario Glass Retro Roaster
Posted Thu Dec 6, 2007, 2:37pm Subject: Re: GS3: New Rules
I can confirm most of what Marshall wrote.
The lustre has gone away from this machine at that price point. A 1 group Synesso (with hot water ability) is in the same price range. And bonus points for Canadians at least - there's no duties on the Synesso, just GST / PST if you buy one. Given that th Synesso has a recently upgraded electronics package, new probes, all that stainless steel, and a nice, workable paddle group design of their own already on the machine (instead of on the drawing board, with only a few prototypes to tempt out there), I know where I'd lean if I was in the market.
I think back and remember the initial meetings with LM and the price point of $2,500-$3,000 retail being the "market sweet spot". $4,500 was a surprise and shock to me in early 2005 when first learning that number. The $7,500 was a long way coming too, just that I couldn't get the exact $ amount nailed down, but when Franke / ESI started asking for any references to $4,500 to be removed from online mentions, that's not a good sign.
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,427 Location: Vancouver, BC Expertise: Professional
Espresso: KvdW Speedster Grinder: Compak K10 WBC Vac Pot: A bit too many Drip: Clive Coffee Drip Stand Roaster: Hario Glass Retro Roaster
Posted Thu Dec 6, 2007, 4:32pm Subject: Re: GS3: New Rules
At $4,500, and the fact that it was for sale in Europe for some time now, it's still my pick.
At $8,000. It's not. At the time, LM was claiming rollout fully in 2007, and they had already built a sizable amount of the machines for distribution, which is why it made my pick.
laservet Senior Member Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 229 Location: Williamsburg Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Marzocco GS/3 Grinder: Versalab M3, Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: Zojirushi Drip: Bunn SmartWave APS, Bodum...
Posted Thu Dec 6, 2007, 4:33pm Subject: Re: GS3: New Rules
MarkPrince Said:
I can confirm most of what Marshall wrote.
The lustre has gone away from this machine at that price point. A 1 group Synesso (with hot water ability) is in the same price range. And bonus points for Canadians at least - there's no duties on the Synesso, just GST / PST if you buy one. Given that th Synesso has a recently upgraded electronics package, new probes, all that stainless steel, and a nice, workable paddle group design of their own already on the machine (instead of on the drawing board, with only a few prototypes to tempt out there), I know where I'd lean if I was in the market.Mark
The change from aluminum side panels to plastic was not very palatable to me at $4500, worse at $7500. The Cyncra looks the better choice to me at this time assuming it will fit on the right side of the sink. That area is 28" wide, 24.5" deep, undercabinet clearance is 21.5". I can get 220v to the outlets on the backsplash or under the sink.
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