Leica Dealer Experience

[Bill W]

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

 

[Manoleica]

If you are referring to the salesman, he may well have been under orders..

You or I (as the salesman) might have asked a manager for permission to show the Leica..

But to assume he's a dickhead" -- not right..

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[250swb]

One other thing is that Leica display models seem to get a lot of shutter clicks so I guess it must be the store employees after hours since customers are not allowed to touch them.

 

With the M240 onwards there is no way to know how many shutter clicks it has, so one may assume a good clean display model could be put back in the box.................

 

OK, that is a cynical way to look at the reasons they don't want damage or fingerprints all over a camera. But Jessops are a very new dealer and they simply may not get 1) enough cameras to have demonstration models, or 2) have enough loyal Leica customers to justify the write-down on demonstration models.

 

For everybody who 'just wants to try' a lens or camera, well if the shop opens a new box to do it that's a lens or camera I don't want to buy later in the day.

 

 

Steve

Edited July 29, 2015 by 250swb

[terrycym]

Which Jessops?

i went into the one in Reading and had no problems handling any Leica I wished too.

Very odd!

[Guest]

With the M240 onwards there is no way to know how many shutter clicks it has, so one may assume a good clean display model could be put back in the box.................

 

OK, that is a cynical way to look at the reasons they don't want damage or fingerprints all over a camera. But Jessops are a very new dealer and they simply may not get 1) enough cameras to have demonstration models, or 2) have enough loyal Leica customers to justify the write-down on demonstration models.

 

For everybody who 'just wants to try' a lens or camera, well if the shop opens a new box to do it that's a lens or camera I don't want to buy later in the day.

 

 

Steve

Jessops have been a Leica dealer for at least 45 years and pos a lot longer.

it is possible that after a couple of questions the salesman decided that he was unlikely to close any business and did not want to waste any of his time ie concentrate on someone who is buying. Selling time is valuable. A salesman can spend lots of time talking and demoing equipment but not closing any business. 

BrianP

[Robert M Poole]

My father was a salesman, furniture and carpets, and he always told a story which I suppose is a "don't judge a book by its cover" lesson. A man came into the shop, bit strange looking, bit scruffy. No one wanted to serve him the salesmen all thought that should not waste any of their time; they thought that that were unlikely to close. My Dad went up to him, got taking. It turned out that the guy lived with his mother and had a falling out and so had moved out and needed to furnish his whole house ... Big sale, easiest sale of my Dad's life. As a manger in retail I used to tell my staff that story when they didn't want to waste time with a customer.

[earleygallery]

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Jessops have been a Leica dealer for at least 45 years and pos a lot longer.

it is possible that after a couple of questions the salesman decided that he was unlikely to close any business and did not want to waste any of his time ie concentrate on someone who is buying. Selling time is valuable. A salesman can spend lots of time talking and demoing equipment but not closing any business. 

BrianP

 

Not true. Jessops lost a lot of manufacturers in the years before they went bust. They were effectively being kept in business with the support of a couple of the big names, who were keen to keep their product in High Street shop windows around the country. 

 

Leica and many others had long withdrawn from dealing with them. 

 

After they went bust Peter Jones bought the group and now there are only a handful of stores left. I think they got Leica back last year. 

 

I visted the Oxford Street store soon after it reopened wondering what kind of vision Peter Jones had for the business. I was expecting to see change but it actually felt like walking into Jessops in the days before their demise. 

 

I would say any problems are likely to be around staff knowledge and training issues. 

[Guest]

My father was a salesman, furniture and carpets, and he always told a story which I suppose is a "don't judge a book by its cover" lesson. A man came into the shop, bit strange looking, bit scruffy. No one wanted to serve him the salesmen all thought that should not waste any of their time; they thought that that were unlikely to close. My Dad went up to him, got taking. It turned out that the guy lived with his mother and had a falling out and so had moved out and needed to furnish his whole house ... Big sale, easiest sale of my Dad's life. As a manger in retail I used to tell my staff that story when they didn't want to waste time with a customer.

Exactly, your father asked a few qualifying questions where some of the other staff could not be bothered .He quickly established that the man was a potential customer and wasted little time in closing the business.The key to it is the qualification.A question a friend of mine always asks is ,"Have you come far". He is not the slightest bit interested how far they have come, just how much trouble they have taken to visit his establishment. He must be doing something right ,his annual pay is over £80.000 and has been for a long time. Does anyone know if the person who started the thread has bought a camera.

BrianP

Edited September 21, 2015 by Guest

[earleygallery]

I worked in a camera shop for a while - the owners mantra was 'get the product in their hands'. 

 

I don't recall too many time wasters, although it was pre internet so we didn't have to deal with the sort of people who want to use a shop to get advice etc., and then go on line to find it a little cheaper! I do remember one guy who came in pretty much every lunchtime over the course of a couple of months, looking at pretty much every SLR available. We all got bored with serving him but he did buy one in the end. 

 

If you want to run - or work in - a retail store then you really should expect customers to want to look at the wares. Otherwise just stick to online retail. 

[cobbslane]

The fact of the matter is that there are fewer 'camera shops' in our high streets than ever before in the UK. The move to 'phone based' picture taking, internet sales and more specialist and expensive equipment has undoubtedly driven this move. If we are not careful those that remain will move to internet only positions too and so we will have precious little opportunity to get a hands on experience with what is a significant purchase. No doubt this is behind the move by Leica to brand/open more Leica boutiques cross the country.

 

I doubt that any of us would shell out for a car without a test drive or at the very least a showroom visit - and so it is with a £1k....£5k+ camera. To refuse a client such a hands on experience is naive and would certainly have the effect of driving the client elsewhere to purchase. To suggest that it is a directive from Leica could drive him to another brand altogether if these products were more run-of-the-mill which they are definitely not.

 

I too have been surprised by the lack of change in the renewed Jessops. I have found that their pricing is not as keen as others, their salesmen not as sharp and less experienced too (do beware of the Saturday salesman!) - at least in the branch I have used - the one in question. But they do provide a service for a more general public who are less likely to buy into higher spec items, I guess. As a result it would not be my first port of call for a Leica M for instance. On the other hand they too have specialist days when a manufacturers rep is in store and that can be useful.

 

I haven't used the specialist Leica store (formerly Stephens) in Manchester yet but I do have a general mistrust of such boutiques as they invariably sell at list prices, knowledgeable though that they are. But I have used specialist independent Leica dealers such as Wilkinsons in Preston who are price competitive and very knowledgeable too. They do allow you to handle all goods they sell - and when you buy you get a sealed box version so that the demo model remains just that. However, not all their sales people will handle the prospective sale as you are transferred to a more experienced/specialist trained Leica salesman. There's no difference if you wear jeans with patches or a three piece suit either. The know that photographers come in all shades.

 

So I guess they all have their place and their quirks but the bottom line must be that if we do not support them they will not be there for long. Just find the one you can trust - which starts with being able to handle the goods!

[Robert M Poole]

The fact of the matter is that there are fewer 'camera shops' in our high streets than ever before in the UK. The move to 'phone based' picture taking, internet sales and more specialist and expensive equipment has undoubtedly driven this move. If we are not careful those that remain will move to internet only positions too and so we will have precious little opportunity to get a hands on experience with what is a significant purchase. No doubt this is behind the move by Leica to brand/open more Leica boutiques cross the country.

 

I doubt that any of us would shell out for a car without a test drive or at the very least a showroom visit - and so it is with a £1k....£5k+ camera. To refuse a client such a hands on experience is naive and would certainly have the effect of driving the client elsewhere to purchase. To suggest that it is a directive from Leica could drive him to another brand altogether if these products were more run-of-the-mill which they are definitely not.

 

I too have been surprised by the lack of change in the renewed Jessops. I have found that their pricing is not as keen as others, their salesmen not as sharp and less experienced too (do beware of the Saturday salesman!) - at least in the branch I have used - the one in question. But they do provide a service for a more general public who are less likely to buy into higher spec items, I guess. As a result it would not be my first port of call for a Leica M for instance. On the other hand they too have specialist days when a manufacturers rep is in store and that can be useful.

 

I haven't used the specialist Leica store (formerly Stephens) in Manchester yet but I do have a general mistrust of such boutiques as they invariably sell at list prices, knowledgeable though that they are. But I have used specialist independent Leica dealers such as Wilkinsons in Preston who are price competitive and very knowledgeable too. They do allow you to handle all goods they sell - and when you buy you get a sealed box version so that the demo model remains just that. However, not all their sales people will handle the prospective sale as you are transferred to a more experienced/specialist trained Leica salesman. There's no difference if you wear jeans with patches or a three piece suit either. The know that photographers come in all shades.

 

So I guess they all have their place and their quirks but the bottom line must be that if we do not support them they will not be there for long. Just find the one you can trust - which starts with being able to handle the goods!

Stephen's in Manchester are fantastic. I picked up an m9, refurbished, new sensor by Leica with a 50mm lens for well below what most other shops were selling it for.

 

They let me 'test drive' the camera first no questions asked, no chaperone just me and the camera let loose in Manchester! They've offered me free 'lessons' on street photography on a Saturday morning with one of their staff. Gave me a free book.

 

I couldn't speak higher of them.

[andybarton]

 

I haven't used the specialist Leica store (formerly Stephens) in Manchester yet but I do have a general mistrust of such boutiques as they invariably sell at list prices, knowledgeable though that they are. 

 

The Leica Store in Manchester IS Stephens. David Stephens is still there and still in charge. He has worked tirelessly in the 12 years that I have been dealing with him, to develop his store such that Leica wanted to invest in it themselves. In sometimes difficult circumstances with Leica UK, it has to be said, but David always kept the faith and his sense of humour.

 

The quality of service is still second to none.

[terrycym]

I was looking for a 90mm and David Stephens let me put one of his onto my ME at the time and walk around Manchester without a second thought.

Well recommended!

 

The Jessops in Reading has a 20 foot Leica sign outside the shop, a M240 camera on display inside but no lenses. I presume you bring your own if you want a demo?

There again, it is a deterrent to "tyre kickers"

:-)

Edited October 6, 2015 by terrycym

[cobbslane]

The Leica Store in Manchester IS Stephens. David Stephens is still there and still in charge. He has worked tirelessly in the 12 years that I have been dealing with him, to develop his store such that Leica wanted to invest in it themselves. In sometimes difficult circumstances with Leica UK, it has to be said, but David always kept the faith and his sense of humour.

 

The quality of service is still second to none.

That Stephens is the new Leica Manchester I know all too well thank you - after all it was mentioned in one of the earlier replies. But one look at the new web site shows zero differentiation from any other Leica boutique such as Mayfair etc which hides the excellent reputation that he specifically has. Not only that of course but all the prices are rrp. in a market that does not expect to pay rrp at all. Much better to have retained his identity and bolstered it with Leica help in my view.

[Robert M Poole]

That Stephens is the new Leica Manchester I know all too well thank you - after all it was mentioned in one of the earlier replies. But one look at the new web site shows zero differentiation from any other Leica boutique such as Mayfair etc which hides the excellent reputation that he specifically has. Not only that of course but all the prices are rrp. in a market that does not expect to pay rrp at all. Much better to have retained his identity and bolstered it with Leica help in my view.

When I bought my m9 the prices were pretty much the same add everywhere else and they price matched where needed.

[andybarton]

That Stephens is the new Leica Manchester I know all too well thank you - after all it was mentioned in one of the earlier replies. But one look at the new web site shows zero differentiation from any other Leica boutique such as Mayfair etc which hides the excellent reputation that he specifically has. Not only that of course but all the prices are rrp. in a market that does not expect to pay rrp at all. Much better to have retained his identity and bolstered it with Leica help in my view.

 

 In my experience, most Leica dealers, whether they be Leica Stores or independents or something in-between like Stephens, list the same or very similar prices.This just goes to show how beneficial it is to develop a rapport and a good relationship with your dealer and not to constantly chase the cheapest price, IMO.

 

Not only will you find that RRP is often a starting position, but, should anything untoward happen, he will be there for you and go the extra mile. David has done this for me (and others, I know) on more than one occasion. 

 

The fact that his website has had a Leica-warmover in the last few months has not affected either his service or his focus on his customers.

 

If you don't like shopping there, that's perfectly fine, of course.

[sblitz]

Living in NYC the one thing I can add to this conversation is that Leica prices for new items are the same everywhere -- you shop where you feel comfortable not price. Some stores are better and more oriented to swapping used for new and therein lies some differentiation in terms of how much the store pays for your equipment. Retail price is the same. Word is, if Leica sees you discounting you are cut out of distribution.

[terrycym]

There is a little variation of prices in the UK market...

 

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Leica/Leica-M-System-Cameras/Leica-M-Typ-240-Digital-Camera-Body

[Guest]

The way that dealers can get around RRP is when a Part exchange is involved. Also factor in the dealer margin of 20 to 22 % . There can be a very big difference not between the list price but the all important figure of how much £ ? And my PX ,ie the price to change. Dealers whether it is cameras / cars / watches or whatever rely on joe public not having a clue about how a deal is constructed or a px value.I recently traded a 20 year old Rolex for an IWC watch which was brand new. The price to change in 3 very well established jewellers in Manchester was £3100 / £2600 and £595. This was for exactly the same deal. Don't be taken in by the friendly salesman wherever they are. Always shop around and in the case of a Leica if there was a problem it is very easy to deal through Mayfair.Also remember that customers are always in short supply. 

Brianp

Edited October 9, 2015 by Guest

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