Forget everything that was said about pricing and distribution. The new rules are:

1. 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.

2. 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?).

3. 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)].

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.

[Cross-posted to CoffeeGeek here]

Marshall wrote:4. Pricing will not be the promised $4,500, but more like $7,500 to $8,000, including one year's parts and service.

The machine will do really well here in the States...

$7,500 - $8,000! Ay caramba! That's a major jump in price. I thought $4,500 was steep, but I can't see many people willing or able to pony up $8,000 for an espresso machine. I'm glad I'm not one of the people eagerly waiting for the GS3 to appear.

Marshall wrote:Pricing will not be the promised $4,500, but more like $7,500 to $8,000, including one year's parts and service.

Beezer wrote:I thought $4,500 was steep, but I can't see many people willing or able to pony up $8,000 for an espresso machine.

Not much surprise there. The price is finally aligned with reality given a one-group Linea goes for almost $7000.

Marshall wrote:La Marzocco GS3: New Rules

What?! No Ken Fox jab?

But seriously, I think the wait list just dropped to double digits.

I was starting to consider one with the better Canadian $ thinking some cost relief would result....but now it is not even a remote possibility.

The list-price (without sale-tax) here in Denmark is around $5800, so everything above 6K may end up in pockets of the American dealers

jesawdy wrote:What?! No Ken Fox jab?

He probably can't stop laughing his @ss off.

Grant wrote:I was starting to consider one with the better Canadian $ thinking some cost relief would result....but now it is not even a remote possibility.

Grant, I thought some Canadian dealers had sold GS/3's already.

Anyone got the number to Synesso?