Online Leica shop

[jrethorst]

I have no affilation with them except as a satisfied customer, but
West Coast Cameras has good knowledge, prices and service.

[fingerprinz]

Well, my experience with West Coast Cameras is not that good - at least so far.

Purchased a Summilux-R 50/1.4 DEMO through eBay with them. After several unanswered emails trying to get their bank details for submitting the money, I get the following message on June 4th, 2008:

Markus, upon closer inspection of the 50mm F1.4 Summilux R ROM Lens we found a mark on the coatings of the lens. We are sending the lens back to Leica. Leica said that they will have another lens soon. When we get that lens in from Leica I will e-mail you and then we can complete the transaction.

A few days later, after I send them again a reminder, I received the following message:

Leica is looking for another lens now. Roger (President of Leica USA) will beback Monday from Germany. I will talk with him at then and explain the situation and see what he comes up with. I will keep you updated.

Today, six weeks and a few more reminders later, I still don't have the lense nor a date when I will receive it.

What's more, yesterday I received a message from eBay informing me, that West Coast Cameras informed eBay that the transaction was cancelled in mutual agreement with the seller (which is absolutely not true) and therefore are not prepared to pay eBay's transaction fees.

Looks very much like West Coast Cameras would like to sneak out of the deal. To bad I want the lense.

Let's assume that whole "mark on the lense" story is true, the least they could do, is to proactively inform my of the status of the replacement. And definitely the last thing they should do, is trying to cancel the transaction with eBay without taking to their customer first.

Well, let's see what happens next - will keep you posted.

[alessandro]

Forgive me but I can't stand EBay.

You can always find some web site more specific and less known to bad people, for any transaction.

[thompsonkirk]

Here's something that surprised me on the West Coast Cameras website, under the tab for customizing your M system:

"2 Year Extended Warranty on R & M Cameras from Leica [10999] $99.00"

Does this really exist? If so, then presumably for analog cameras only?

--Kirk the Doubter

[jrethorst]

Originally Posted by fingerprinz

Well, my experience with West Coast Cameras is not that good - at least so far.

So despite Leica's vaunted quality control, West Coast inspected it themselves before sending it to you, found a mark on it, and sent it back to Leica? They followed up with Leica USA for a replacement, but after not receiving one in six weeks, gave you a refund?

[jrethorst]

Originally Posted by alessandro

Forgive me but I can't stand EBay.

The post has to do with Paypal, which is owned by eBay. West Coast is not an eBay store. Paypal is just a way to send money to whomever. It's safe, and free for the buyer, but costs the seller more than I think it should.

[fingerprinz]

So despite Leica's vaunted quality control, West Coast inspected it themselves before sending it to you, found a mark on it, and sent it back to Leica? They followed up with Leica USA for a replacement, but after not receiving one in six weeks, gave you a refund?

No, I did not pay yet. West Coast Cameras told me to stop the wire-transfer once they realized, the lense was not in proper shape. No money lost yet.