photina Posted April 23, 2010 Share #1 Posted April 23, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Heads up! Leica Germany are pulling the plug on Milton Keynes very shortly. A Dealer source of mine says that the staff are under the impression that they are moving but in fact the offices are closing for good (poor beggers!) All sales will have to go through the Leica London showrooms. Camera and binocular repairs will all have to go back to Germany. What about the dealers? I spoke to 2 today and they are not happy.So what do you all think about that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 23, 2010 Posted April 23, 2010 Hi photina, Take a look here Leica Camera Milton Keynes - Goodbye!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
tobey bilek Posted April 23, 2010 Share #2 Posted April 23, 2010 Is this the first step to eliminate dealers? I know zero about Leica distribution and service in UK, however if there is a Leica owned and operated sales facility closeby, why would they not want to eliminate competition? Maybe this a view of the future worldwide. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted April 23, 2010 Share #3 Posted April 23, 2010 A shame - but I've often found I've had to send things directly to Solms to get repairs dealt with quickly (especially since the M8 and M9 were introduced). Milton Keynes just didn't have the kit to handle the work. Given quick and efficient courier services in Europe I can see the business argument for having one centre of excellence for Leica service. Now the dealer network's another issue... In the UK people like RG Lewis, Red Dot, Stephens in Manchester and the rest are an invaluable link between new and established Leica users and the Leica company. Destroy that network and you rip the heart out of Leica's service system in the UK. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted April 23, 2010 Share #4 Posted April 23, 2010 Interesting scoop. If true, it doesn't surprise me. The London shop was essentially acting as the retail front of the UK outfit - I guess Solms wondered what added value the office in MK provides. What's Noddy going to do now? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted April 23, 2010 Share #5 Posted April 23, 2010 One post, one rumour... Hmmm... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted April 23, 2010 Share #6 Posted April 23, 2010 (edited) Pass that big pinch of Saxa, will you? Completely unsubstantiated rumour as a first post? Which has instantly evolved into Leica UK shutting the dealer network, even though they are all independent shops? Come on guys. Reality check? Edited April 23, 2010 by andybarton Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 23, 2010 Share #7 Posted April 23, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Andy, it's true, a bloke down the pub said so! Actually I also heard from another bloke in another pub that Leica are going to withdraw all franchises and link up with starbucks - pop in for a grande skinny hot double shot cinnamon decaf smooth latte and walk out with a new M9 and Nocti! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted April 23, 2010 Share #8 Posted April 23, 2010 If it is true I can't really say I'm bothered, other than feeling for those losing a job. My dealer sent everything to Solms anyway because it was quicker and better. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 23, 2010 Share #9 Posted April 23, 2010 How big is the warehouse in Mayfair? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted April 23, 2010 Share #10 Posted April 23, 2010 (edited) ... A Dealer source of mine says that the staff are under the impression that they are moving but in fact the offices are closing for good ... I love the invocation of the "big lie." Particularly apropos in dealing with a German company, no? At Yad Vashem there's a citation from a camp officer: "The camp's law is that those going to their death should be deceived until the end." Seriously, isn't this the second recent forum mention that MK would be eliminated? Still obviously a rumor; maybe both mentions started with the same source. To the other point, eliminating a distributor doesn't necessarily imply eliminating all dealerships. ... I spoke to 2 today and they are not happy.... Curious--why are they not happy? How do they perceive the loss? Had they already heard the rumor, or did you relay it to them? ... So what do you all think about that? Grammatically curious: Is "you all" a common usage in UK? I had thought it was restricted to a certain (my) area of US. Edited April 23, 2010 by ho_co Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted April 23, 2010 Share #11 Posted April 23, 2010 How big is the warehouse in Mayfair? How big is the warehouse at Milton Keynes? Does it need to be bigger than a broom cupboard? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted April 23, 2010 Share #12 Posted April 23, 2010 Hmmm... Milton Keynes also houses Leica Microsystems and Leica Geosystems. Rather different market/support needs than the camera business. Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted April 23, 2010 Share #13 Posted April 23, 2010 They are completely different companies from Leica Camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted April 23, 2010 Share #14 Posted April 23, 2010 Heads up! Leica Germany are pulling the plug on Milton Keynes very shortly. A Dealer source of mine says that the staff are under the impression that they are moving but in fact the offices are closing for good (poor beggers!) All sales will have to go through the Leica London showrooms. Camera and binocular repairs will all have to go back to Germany. What about the dealers? I spoke to 2 today and they are not happy.So what do you all think about that? If you mean, 'what do you think about this' - after reading it carefully, and noticing the upper case 'D' , the numeric '2' , and the total lack of substantiation - it is a second-rate piece of malicious tripe totally lacking credibility. dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted April 23, 2010 Share #15 Posted April 23, 2010 Wattsy have you checked the going rates for broom cupboards in Mayfair lately? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted April 24, 2010 Share #16 Posted April 24, 2010 (edited) Wattsy have you checked the going rates for broom cupboards in Mayfair lately? Gracious me! One doesn't have a broom cupboard in Mayfair; one has a man for such things. Pete. Edited April 24, 2010 by farnz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted April 24, 2010 Share #17 Posted April 24, 2010 Gracious me! One doesn't have a broom cupboard in Mayfair; one has a man for such things. Pete. Broom cupboards are obligatory in Mayfair ... so the 'man' has the tools to sweep up the dead cockroaches. dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9 Pete Posted April 24, 2010 Share #18 Posted April 24, 2010 Hi, After a recent issue with my M9 I can only hope that this is indeed an unsubstantiated rumour. The help and assistance that I've recently received from Leica staff at Milton Keynes has been outstanding. Thanks Leica 'MK'. Very impressive support. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian Posted April 24, 2010 Share #19 Posted April 24, 2010 I have dealt with Milon Keynes and visited Leica Milton Keynes many times and I must admit it is a loss to Leica users if the rumour is true. They were a great crowd and for all Leica enthusiasts in England they have been a treasured source. Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted April 26, 2010 Share #20 Posted April 26, 2010 Andy, it's true, a bloke down the pub said so! Actually I also heard from another bloke in another pub that Leica are going to withdraw all franchises and link up with starbucks - pop in for a grande skinny hot double shot cinnamon decaf smooth latte and walk out with a new M9 and Nocti! So it'll be vente, grande, and nocti? Gimme a double shot, please with a red dot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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