hasselblad Fri, 8 Sep 2000 Volume 1 : Number 982 In this issue: Re: Sekonic meter F/S Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H SV: Hasselblad Day @ B&H lens guide RE: Hasselblad Day @ B&H Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H The Spirit of the Company HUG: 150mm CF T* for sale - US$1200 Re: The Spirit of the Company Re: Fifteen year old SWC Re: The Spirit of the Company Fw: Oils & Grease Re: Fw: Oils & Grease Re: The Spirit of the Company Re: The Spirit of the Company ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2000 09:32:27 -0400 From: Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video To: Subject: Re: Sekonic meter F/S Message-ID: <4.3.2.7.2.20000907093159.00b72ee0@bnhpop1.bhphotovideo.com> At 03:35 AM 09/07/2000, you wrote: >for reference the B&H price = US$749.95 + shipping The current price of the Sekonic L778 meter at B&H = 669.00 + s&h. -- regards, Henry Posner Director of Sales and Training B&H Photo-Video, and Pro-Audio Inc. http://www.bhphotovideo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2000 09:37:55 -0400 From: Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video To: Subject: Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H Message-ID: <4.3.2.7.2.20000907093332.00b73d00@bnhpop1.bhphotovideo.com> At 03:35 AM 09/07/2000, you wrote: >Henry... what about us non-lacals? Can you extend the "deals" to us as well? >Is there a posting of the deals? Regrettably, Hasselblad USA will not permit posting of specials nor will they permit extending any to customers other than store sales. On a personal note I feel obliged to share with the group this: We do customer event days all the time and have co-sponsored them with every med format camera company and with several 35mm companies also. We also have co-sponsored days with manufacturers and suppliers in digital, video & audio. To date (and we've been doing these for three years) Hasselblad has been the least cooperative, most intransigent, inflexible & unyielding company with whom I have ever had to work on such a project. -- regards, Henry Posner Director of Sales and Training B&H Photo-Video, and Pro-Audio Inc. http://www.bhphotovideo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 10:37:42 -0400 From: "LEO WOLK" To: Subject: Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H Message-ID: <01c018d9$2e33f220$f745570c@fofyplfq> Why is this not surprising? -----Original Message----- From: Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video To: hasselblad@kelvin.net Date: Thursday, September 07, 2000 9:39 AM Subject: Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H >.... To date (and we've been doing these for three years) >Hasselblad has been the least cooperative, most intransigent, inflexible & >unyielding company with whom I have ever had to work on such a project. > >regards, >Henry Posner >Director of Sales and Training >B&H Photo-Video, and Pro-Audio Inc. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 19:04:03 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?ULF_SJ=D6GREN?= To: "LEO WOLK" , Subject: SV: Hasselblad Day @ B&H Message-ID: <001201c018ed$a0b4e7a0$aa7597d4@s101194> ----- Ursprungligt meddelande -----=20 Fr=E5n: "LEO WOLK" Till: Skickat: den 7 september 2000 16:37 =C4mne: Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H > Why is this not surprising? < > My thoughts about this is that the Hasselblad company, once run by = the inventor (and very good amateur photographer) Victor Hasselblad is = dead since long. The "spirit" of the company from those days is lost as = the company is now run by beancounters with no feeling for the product. = There still are extremely good technicians and constructers there but = for how long? Am I right or.......? Ulf >=20 > -----Original Message----- > From: Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video > To: hasselblad@kelvin.net > Date: Thursday, September 07, 2000 9:39 AM > Subject: Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H >=20 >=20 > >.... To date (and we've been doing these for three years) > >Hasselblad has been the least cooperative, most intransigent, = inflexible & > >unyielding company with whom I have ever had to work on such a = project. > > > >regards, > >Henry Posner > >Director of Sales and Training > >B&H Photo-Video, and Pro-Audio Inc. >=20 >=20 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >=20 > The Hasselblad Users Group Listserv is a public service of Absolute = Internet, Inc., which is not responsible for its content. This mailing = list is in no way affiliated with Victor Hasselblad AB, it's = subsidiaries, or affiliates. >=20 > To change your subscription status, go to: = http://mail.kelvin.net/guest/RemoteListSummary/Hasselblad > Digest archives are stored at = http://www.kelvin.net/hasselblad/hassy.htm > Searchable archives can be found at = http://www.listquest.com/arts/index.html >=20 >=20 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2000 12:27:51 -0500 From: Bill Grimwood To: hasselblad@kelvin.net Subject: lens guide Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.20000907122751.007f13d0@mail.grimwood.net> Can anyone tell me where to find D. A. Munroe's Hasselblad Lens Guide on the net? [answer: check out the link to the archives that is provided at the bottom of each post: http://www.kelvin.net/hasselblad/hassy.htm - you will find the lens guide there - dan c.] Thanks Bill Grimwood ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 10:30:05 -0400 From: "Paolo Pignatelli" To: Subject: RE: Hasselblad Day @ B&H Message-ID: <000901c018d8$21a2bdd0$0100a8c0@paolopent> Was it a Hassle-blad? Paolo Paolo Pignatelli -----Original Message----- From: Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video [mailto:henryp@bhphotovideo.com] Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2000 9:38 AM To: hasselblad@kelvin.net Subject: Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H At 03:35 AM 09/07/2000, you wrote: >Henry... what about us non-lacals? Can you extend the "deals" to us as well? >Is there a posting of the deals? Regrettably, Hasselblad USA will not permit posting of specials nor will they permit extending any to customers other than store sales. On a personal note I feel obliged to share with the group this: We do customer event days all the time and have co-sponsored them with every med format camera company and with several 35mm companies also. We also have co-sponsored days with manufacturers and suppliers in digital, video & audio. To date (and we've been doing these for three years) Hasselblad has been the least cooperative, most intransigent, inflexible & unyielding company with whom I have ever had to work on such a project. -- regards, Henry Posner Director of Sales and Training B&H Photo-Video, and Pro-Audio Inc. http://www.bhphotovideo.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Hasselblad Users Group Listserv is a public service of Absolute Internet, Inc., which is not responsible for its content. This mailing list is in no way affiliated with Victor Hasselblad AB, it's subsidiaries, or affiliates. To change your subscription status, go to: http://mail.kelvin.net/guest/RemoteListSummary/Hasselblad Digest archives are stored at http://www.kelvin.net/hasselblad/hassy.htm Searchable archives can be found at http://www.listquest.com/arts/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 20:37:14 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?ULF_SJ=D6GREN?= To: , Subject: Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H Message-ID: <001301c018fa$a57b8480$8c9997d4@s101194> OK, for newcomers I'll take it again: A Hasselblad is a leaf of a hazel. = A hazel-leaf. (Hassel=3D hazel, blad=3Dleaf) Swedish family names are = often "constructed" that way....... (mine for ex.) And Viktor was = adviced to give the camera his family name Kindest regards Ulf Sj=F6gren Sweden ----- Original Message -----=20 From: "Paolo Pignatelli" To: Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2000 4:30 PM Subject: RE: Hasselblad Day @ B&H > Was it a Hassle-blad? >=20 > Paolo >=20 > Paolo Pignatelli >=20 >=20 > -----Original Message----- > From: Henry Posner/B&H Photo-Video [mailto:henryp@bhphotovideo.com] > Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2000 9:38 AM > To: hasselblad@kelvin.net > Subject: Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H >=20 >=20 > At 03:35 AM 09/07/2000, you wrote: > >Henry... what about us non-lacals? Can you extend the "deals" to us = as > well? > >Is there a posting of the deals? >=20 > Regrettably, Hasselblad USA will not permit posting of specials nor = will > they permit extending any to customers other than store sales. >=20 > On a personal note I feel obliged to share with the group this: > We do customer event days all the time and have co-sponsored them with > every med format camera company and with several 35mm companies also. = We > also have co-sponsored days with manufacturers and suppliers in = digital, > video & audio. To date (and we've been doing these for three years) > Hasselblad has been the least cooperative, most intransigent, = inflexible & > unyielding company with whom I have ever had to work on such a = project. >=20 >=20 > -- > regards, > Henry Posner > Director of Sales and Training > B&H Photo-Video, and Pro-Audio Inc. > http://www.bhphotovideo.com >=20 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >=20 > The Hasselblad Users Group Listserv is a public service of Absolute > Internet, Inc., which is not responsible for its content. This = mailing list > is in no way affiliated with Victor Hasselblad AB, it's subsidiaries, = or > affiliates. >=20 > To change your subscription status, go to: > http://mail.kelvin.net/guest/RemoteListSummary/Hasselblad > Digest archives are stored at = http://www.kelvin.net/hasselblad/hassy.htm > Searchable archives can be found at = http://www.listquest.com/arts/index.html >=20 >=20 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >=20 > The Hasselblad Users Group Listserv is a public service of Absolute = Internet, Inc., which is not responsible for its content. This mailing = list is in no way affiliated with Victor Hasselblad AB, it's = subsidiaries, or affiliates. >=20 > To change your subscription status, go to: = http://mail.kelvin.net/guest/RemoteListSummary/Hasselblad > Digest archives are stored at = http://www.kelvin.net/hasselblad/hassy.htm > Searchable archives can be found at = http://www.listquest.com/arts/index.html >=20 >=20 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 22:54:17 +0200 From: "Q.G. de Bakker" To: Subject: Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H Message-ID: <001001c0190e$0fc9e4e0$a3dcf1c3@qnu99> ULF SJÖGREN wrote: > My thoughts about this is that the Hasselblad company, once run by the inventor (and very good amateur photographer) Victor Hasselblad is dead since long. The "spirit" of the company from those days is lost as the company is now run by beancounters with no feeling for the product. There still are extremely good technicians and constructers there but for how long? > Am I right or.......? I really think you're very right indeed. Sad, isn't it? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 14:02:49 -0700 (PDT) From: "Chris J. DiBona" To: hasselblad@kelvin.net Subject: Re: Hasselblad Day @ B&H Message-ID: I'm not sure I agree with that. In may case, I'm very new to to Hasselblad and have been very happy with the engineering, optics and quality. So I don't know if the spirit is gone from the company, but if you judge the spirit from the quality of the product, which I do, I can't say that I see it. Chris -- =20 Linux Community Evangelist, VA Linux Systems | http://www.valinux.com President, Silicon Valley Linux Users Group | http://www.svlug.org Grant Chair, Linux International. | http://www.li.org Co-editor, Open Sources=09 | http://www.dibona.com On Thu, 7 Sep 2000, Q.G. de Bakker wrote: > ULF SJ=D6GREN wrote: >=20 > > My thoughts about this is that the Hasselblad company, once run by th= e > inventor (and very good amateur photographer) Victor Hasselblad is dead > since long. The "spirit" of the company from those days is lost as the > company is now run by beancounters with no feeling for the product. There > still are extremely good technicians and constructers there but for how > long? > > Am I right or.......? >=20 > I really think you're very right indeed. Sad, isn't it? >=20 >=20 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >=20 > The Hasselblad Users Group Listserv is a public service of Absolute Inter= net, Inc., which is not responsible for its content. This mailing list is = in no way affiliated with Victor Hasselblad AB, it's subsidiaries, or affil= iates. >=20 > To change your subscription status, go to: http://mail.kelvin.net/guest/R= emoteListSummary/Hasselblad > Digest archives are stored at http://www.kelvin.net/hasselblad/hassy.htm > Searchable archives can be found at http://www.listquest.com/arts/index.h= tml >=20 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2000 18:32:24 -0400 From: Marc James Small To: hasselblad@kelvin.net Subject: The Spirit of the Company Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20000907183224.00a3b260@pop.roanoke.infi.net> I dissent strongly with these assaults on the "bean-counters". First, it is common for companies with a new idea to be started by a single entrepeneur and, once the market has shifted, for this sole ownership to shift to a corporate organization. Look at Andrew Carnegie and the development of the Steel Industry. Does anyone criticize US Steel for having been taken over by "bean-counters" in 1905? Second, even these sole entrepeneurs had accountants behind them. The role of Henry Dumur in the development of Leitz is not generally recognized but was vital. Third, let's be real about the cut-throat world of modern industries. There is damned little margin of error for a small company such as Hasselblad. They either make a profit, or they shut their doors. Look at the many travails the much larger Rollei company has had over the past forty years, the closing down of Zeiss Ikon, and the many turmoils of Leica. Bless those bean-counters! Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 16:32:19 -0700 (PDT) From: S Gardner To: hasselblad@kelvin.net Subject: HUG: 150mm CF T* for sale - US$1200 Message-ID: <20000907233219.5045.qmail@web701.mail.yahoo.com> This lens was cleaned, lubed and adjusted by Gil Ghitelman's repair folks earlier this year and is in excellent operating order. Glass is free of scratches and marks. Both caps included. Cosmetics: for some reason, a previous owner (no-one on this list I'm sure) engraved 'RP42' in two places on the barrel. There is brassing on the bayonet mount and shutter speed dial. Some of the numbers show wear. None of this detracts from optical performance, but it does allow you to buy that optical performance for a lower price than a cosmetically cleaner example. PayPal preferred, USPS m.o. OK. If it's not as described you can return it for a refund of the purchase price. References at photo.net and ebay. Please contact me via PRIVATE email at: scottgee1@yahoo.com Best regards/Scott Gardner __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 19:58:39 EDT From: InfinityDT@aol.com To: hasselblad@kelvin.net Subject: Re: The Spirit of the Company Message-ID: <9f.a658c2b.26e985af@aol.com> In a message dated 9/7/00 6:33:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time, msmall@roanoke.infi.net writes: << Third, let's be real about the cut-throat world of modern industries. There is damned little margin of error for a small company such as Hasselblad. They either make a profit, or they shut their doors. >> I strongly agree. And it would be naive to think that Hasselblad or any company today rides solely on the opinion of "bean counters". Decisions are made by committee, including inputs from Marketing, PR, and R&D. At all the business management seminars I have attended it has been stressed that the cost of engendering customer loyalty will result in much greater profits from increased sales volume and word-of-mouth (read: free) advertising than all but the most massive in-product cost-cutting measures. In fact, in-product or in-service cost-cutting, along with rebates, are two signs of a company in distress which even un-savvy consumers recognize intuitively. That negatively impacts sales, making those cost-cutting measures in fact counterproductive. Although it may be the "bean counters" job only to count beans, they too are aware of the foregoing. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2000 20:49:05 -0400 From: Marcober To: hasselblad@kelvin.net Cc: ARLYND@hutch.k12.mn.us, stuart.phillips@umb.edu Subject: Re: Fifteen year old SWC Message-ID: <39B83781.171A1F45@gate.net> Can anyone think of a reason not to purchase a "new" sealed SWC (if the price is right) from an authorize dealer who has had it in inventory since the 80"s? which reminds me that the serial number begins with 98... Any help would be appreciated like would the leather still be ok and would the lubrication likely be as it is supposed to be? Thanks MB "Owen P. Evans" wrote: > According to the manual I have for my 500 C/M; it says that the adjustment > for using the Acute Matte screen with the PME or PME-3 is as follows: > PME-3 - no adjustment is required > PME - reduce the ASA/ISO setting to half the film speed value as indicated > on the film package > OR; Increase the MAX lens aperture setting by one full stop > OR; Reduce the EV reading one full step when setting it on the lens EV > scale. > Hope this helps, > Owen > > Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 06:56:15 -0400 > From: "Stuart Phillips" > To: , > > Subject: Re: old hassy meter prism > Message-ID: <008e01c011a7$c135e800$3674799e@umb.edu> > > There is an adjustment to be made because these were built gor pre > acute-matte screens; I just got one too so don't have the details yet. > > stuart phillips > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Arlyn DeBruyckere > To: > Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2000 7:15 AM > Subject: Re: old hassy meter prism > > > > > > > Patrick San Agustin wrote: > > > > > I just got my hands on an old hassy meter prism. It is one of the > earlier > > > models with a 45 degree viewfinder. Unfortunately I really dont know how > to > > > use it. The dial on the left is to adjust ASA and the dial on the right > is > > > for aperture. Other than that, I dont know if it will work with my acute > > > matte screen, or if I have to correct for any differences. Does anybody > know > > > if this meters a certain angle of view in the viewfinder or does it just > > > meter the whole picture that comes through, or is it a centre type > meter? > > > Thanks > > > > > > > Set the ASA to your film speed. Set the apature dial to the maximum > (smallest number) for your lens. Turn the meter on, the meter will read the > correct EV. Match this with the arrow across from the EV numbers on your > lens. > > > > > > > > -- > > Arlyn DeBruyckere > > Hutchinson High School > > 1200 Roberts Road SW > > Hutchinson, MN 55350 > > http://www.hutch.k12.mn.us/ > Owen P. Evans > Osgoode, Ontario. Canada. > (near our nation's capital; Ottawa) > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > The Hasselblad Users Group Listserv is a public service of Absolute Internet, Inc., which is not responsible for its content. This mailing list is in no way affiliated with Victor Hasselblad AB, it's subsidiaries, or affiliates. > > To change your subscription status, go to: http://mail.kelvin.net/guest/RemoteListSummary/Hasselblad > Digest archives are stored at http://www.kelvin.net/hasselblad/hassy.htm > Searchable archives can be found at http://www.listquest.com/arts/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 21:08:49 -0400 From: "LEO WOLK" To: Subject: Re: The Spirit of the Company Message-ID: <01c01931$586ffcc0$1145570c@fofyplfq> Something which Hasselblad resorts to on a regular basis. -----Original Message----- From: InfinityDT@aol.com To: hasselblad@kelvin.net Date: Thursday, September 07, 2000 7:58 PM Subject: Re: The Spirit of the Company >.... In fact, in-product >or in-service cost-cutting, along with rebates, are two signs of a company in >distress which even un-savvy consumers recognize intuitively. That >negatively impacts sales, making those cost-cutting measures in fact >counterproductive. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 21:22:48 -0400 From: "Owen P. Evans" To: "Hasselblad" Subject: Fw: Oils & Grease Message-ID: <000501c01933$4d9c4f90$7515d986@beckman.com> Relative to Dick Werner's suggestion, I tried to obtain the oil & grease. Here' the reply and no I didn't order the products because I could never use all of this. I sent this on to Dick to see if he was interested in buying bulk, repackaging and selling to us; no reply yet. Owen ----- Original Message ----- From: "J.Magunna" To: "Owen P. Evans" Sent: September 7, 2000 4:57 AM Subject: Re: Oils & Grease > Dear Mr. Evans, > > thanks for your Email and your interest abt. our greases and oils. You > can purchase our Tempra Oil and LOSOID 3340 by our company directly. The > price abt. 1 ltr. Tempra is DM 91,65, and for 1kg-can LOSOID 3340 is DM > 166,50. Please remark that these prices don't included packing and > airparcel postage. Thisone will be DM 64,50 by an order of 1kg each > type. > > Hope hearing from you soon. > > Best regards = Jochen Magunna > > "Owen P. Evans" schrieb: > > > > Greetings, > > I wish to purchase a small quantity of your products called: [1] Tempra Oil > > and [2] Losoid 3340 grease. > > Would you be so kind as to tell me how I might obtain these products. > > Thankyou, > > > > Owen P. Evans > > 3348 Bramble Lane > > Osgoode, Ontario. K0A2W0 > > Canada. > > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2000 19:46:46 -0700 From: helenadick@worldnet.att.net To: hasselblad@kelvin.net Subject: Re: Fw: Oils & Grease Message-ID: <39B85316.C90AD3EF@worldnet.att.net> No, I just have too much to do as it is now, let alone getting large quantities of the oil and grease. For the oils, you can use a very light clock oil which can be purchased in a lot of different places. I used this type of oil for many years with no problems. For the grease, I would contact Fargo, and get their lightest grease that they sell. If you use something to heavy, it will make your lens focus to tightly. I am sure Fargo will have something you can use. Just make sure it is the lightest grease that they have. -- _______________________________ Dick Werner 112 South Brighton St. Burbank, Ca., 91506 (818) 845-4667 helenadick@worldnet.att.net _______________________________ "Owen P. Evans" wrote: > > Relative to Dick Werner's suggestion, I tried to obtain the oil & grease. > Here' the reply and no I didn't order the products because I could never use > all of this. I sent this on to Dick to see if he was interested in buying > bulk, repackaging and selling to us; no reply yet. > Owen > > Dear Mr. Evans, > > > > thanks for your Email and your interest abt. our greases and oils. You > > can purchase our Tempra Oil and LOSOID 3340 by our company directly. The > > price abt. 1 ltr. Tempra is DM 91,65, and for 1kg-can LOSOID 3340 is DM > > 166,50. Please remark that these prices don't included packing and > > airparcel postage. Thisone will be DM 64,50 by an order of 1kg each > > type. > > > > Hope hearing from you soon. > > > > Best regards = Jochen Magunna > > > > "Owen P. Evans" schrieb: > > > > > > Greetings, > > > I wish to purchase a small quantity of your products called: [1] Tempra > Oil > > > and [2] Losoid 3340 grease. > > > Would you be so kind as to tell me how I might obtain these products. > > > Thankyou, > > > > > > Owen P. Evans > > > 3348 Bramble Lane > > > Osgoode, Ontario. K0A2W0 > > > Canada. -- _______________________________ Dick Werner 112 South Brighton St. Burbank, Ca., 91506 (818) 845-4667 helenadick@worldnet.att.net _______________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2000 00:07:34 EDT From: DavidG6028@aol.com To: hasselblad@kelvin.net Subject: Re: The Spirit of the Company Message-ID: <27.aab0b78.26e9c006@aol.com> In a message dated 9/7/00 3:33:43 PM, msmall@roanoke.infi.net writes: >Third, let's be real about the cut-throat world of modern industries. >There is damned little margin of error for a small company such as >Hasselblad. I have to agree. Sure, I'd like to see a return to the days when Hasselblad published (& distributed) free booklets on their cameras, applications, etc. And I'd also like to see more affordable lenses. BUT... at least Hasselblad is (as far as I can see) alive, well, and regularly turning out new products. There is a robust used market, you can rent equipment almost anywhere, and I haven't seen any change in their attitude towards quality control (and I've owned all types of their equipment over the last 25 years). How many of us have watched our $3,000 Personal Computers turn worthless over 3 years time? I sold my 25 year old 500c/m for more than I paid for it. Yes, Hasselblad needs to always keep watching behind itself, and should never quit striving for better product; but if we want to be able to buy replacement equipment 5 or 10 years from now, the company has to SURVIVE as well. -David ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2000 06:59:41 +0200 From: "Q.G. de Bakker" To: Subject: Re: The Spirit of the Company Message-ID: <001e01c01951$9d4a1fe0$14c7f1c3@qnu99> InfinityDT@aol.com wrote: > I strongly agree. And it would be naive to think that Hasselblad or any > company today rides solely on the opinion of "bean counters". Decisions are > made by committee, including inputs from Marketing, PR, and R&D. At all the > business management seminars I have attended it has been stressed that the > cost of engendering customer loyalty will result in much greater profits from > increased sales volume and word-of-mouth (read: free) advertising than all > but the most massive in-product cost-cutting measures. In fact, in-product > or in-service cost-cutting, along with rebates, are two signs of a company in > distress which even un-savvy consumers recognize intuitively. That > negatively impacts sales, making those cost-cutting measures in fact > counterproductive. Although it may be the "bean counters" job only to count > beans, they too are aware of the foregoing. Yet there is a very clear difference between: "Those of us who took over from the founding generation had and still have the guiding objective of developing the company and its products, with our actions based upon an unaltered set of basic principles - with focus on the customer and with the maximum possible quality down to the most minute details. This is an element in the explanation of our success. Another important element is niche strategy. What is then meant by a niche strategy? Well, it means that we at Hasselblad have concentrated upon a small niche of the market and have not leered after the large mass market. Our products are directed towards those customers who, for quality reasons, require a larger picture format than that given by 35mm film and who wish to have a camera of the absolute highest quality. [...]" Jerry Öster, President and C.E.O. of Victor Hasselblad AB in 1991. And: "Hasselblad is one of Sweden's most well-known companies with a great potential in its trademark. The primary goal for the company will be to develop this potential into further volume growth through intensified product development and marketing." President and C.E.O, Göran Bernhoff in 1997. Not a word about photography, customers, building quality products, etc., etc. Only marketing goals. ------------------------------ End of hasselblad V1 #982 ************************* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Hasselblad Users Group Listserv is a public service of Absolute Internet, Inc., which is not responsible for its content. This mailing list is in no way affiliated with Victor Hasselblad AB, it's subsidiaries, or affiliates. To change your subscription status, go to: http://mail.kelvin.net/guest/RemoteListSummary/Hasselblad Digest archives are stored at http://www.kelvin.net/hasselblad/hassy.htm Searchable archives can be found at http://www.listquest.com/arts/index.html