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Leica Dealer Experience

Winged Eel

By Winged Eel
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Winged Eel

Winged Eel

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I had an interesting exoerience recently at my local Leica dealer. I will shortly be changing my current camera and J am considering either an M240 or Sony A7Rii. I visited my local dealer who supplies both makes. I was free to handle a Sony (the A7ii as the R model is not yet released). However, when I asked to do the same with the M240 on display I was rold that Leica forbids the handling of any of their cameras on display.

 

This seems avery strange way for Leica to treat potential customers, since without trying the camera in hand i wouldn't buy it.

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Winged Eel

Winged Eel

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No, I'm not a troll, just a keen photographer reporting a surprising experience. I'm also a Leica fan having owned an M9 a few years ago. The dealer in question was Jessops in the UK and the salesman was quite adamant that it was Leica policy not to let customers handle the display models. Of course it may have been the way I looked, (although I had left my balaclava at home), but I was able to handle other camera bodies. I've emailed Leica about this but so far no reply.  

 

Perhaps this particular dealer has  strange ideas about exclusivity...

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I have found that the when buying a piece of Leica equipment the cost of a return ticket to London is well worth the trouble. Red Dot and the Leica store in Mayfair give great service. I will buy the new monocrom later this year and a trip to London is well worth the trouble and little cost if you do a bit of research for a cheap ticket .

BrianP

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Robert M Poole

Robert M Poole

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I have found that the when buying a piece of Leica equipment the cost of a return ticket to London is well worth the trouble. Red Dot and the Leica store in Mayfair give great service. I will buy the new monocrom later this year and a trip to London is well worth the trouble and little cost if you do a bit of research for a cheap ticket .

BrianP

Have you been to the Leica Store Manchester? It used to be Stephens Premier. Good range and fantastic service.
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BjarniM

BjarniM

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However, when I asked to do the same with the M240 on display I was rold that Leica forbids the handling of any of their cameras on display.

 

This seems avery strange way for Leica to treat potential customers, since without trying the camera in hand i wouldn't buy it.

 

I don't know the specific details, more than you describe, but that does sound a bit too strange. Could it be you did misunderstand each other, meaning; could it be he/she meant that Leica forbids selling a demo model, and not handling a demo model, because i think it makes a little bit more sense, that they do not sell demo models?

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Have you been to the Leica Store Manchester? It used to be Stephens Premier. Good range and fantastic service.

Yes many times and bought lots of kit over about 35 years from David. However the advice I was given about the corrosion on M9 sensors and the initial checking to see if their was a problem was carried out at the Mayfair store and I was very impressed by the service I received . The outcome was I had 3 M  camera sensors cleaned "FOC" and give a clean bill of health.I bought a leather case for my Leica binoculars for £20 less than I could get elsewhere  . The net cost of my day in London was £8.00 plus some food and drink.Personally I much prefer to spend a day in London than one in Manchester. Leica Store Manchester is very good as are many other Leica dealers. Incidentally the average cost of having a sensor cleaned is about £60 in many places. Jimmy Hughes the technician at Mayfair is first class and very helpfull. I have found the rest of the staff just a helpful. I personally have never had better service.

BrianP

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Bill W

Bill W

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Leica WANTS you to handle their camreas because if you do, you will most likely want to purchase it. True it is a lot different than the Sony but a really good sales person could point out the advantages of each and probably make a sale. No way if you do not let the customer handle the merchandise.

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IkarusJohn

IkarusJohn

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Interesting thing I have just recalled - the Leica Boutique had an M Edition 60 on display.  As it was out of its rather extravagant box, that would tend to suggest that a true collector probably wouldn't touch it (I'm not a true collector, so I have no idea about these things).

 

When I asked if I could try a WATE on my M Edition 60, he was very obliging, and commented that many of the customers of their boutique use their M Edition 60s, rather than storing them.  It was a very pleasant experience.

 

I guess the real position is that you can find a dickhead anywhere in the World ...

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