rob_w Posted February 18, 2010 Share #1 Posted February 18, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ha! After telling a friend I thought that Leica delivery problems were only due to unprecedented demand, I have just got off the phone to my London dealer who is feeling very miserable. Leica have just told him that the delivery they expected to provide in February now wont happen and that the next delivery will be in March, black models only. Since I ordered a grey model my dealer wanted to know if I would be flexible and accept a black one if that came in first. (My answer was 'yes' -- I am not that fussed really). He went on to say he thought that Leica must be having some problem with parts because his shop has not received nearly the expected number of units over the last month/six weeks. He cannot get batteries, he cannot get lenses. He said: "we feel like the pub with no beer -- if we could get 50 units we could sell them all tomorrow". I think I ended up consoling for the sorrows of being a Leica dealer! Since my M8 is chuffing along just fine I am not overly worried, but I wonder if indeed there is an underlying problem. Has anyone else waiting for an M9 heard that there are production delays? Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 18, 2010 Posted February 18, 2010 Hi rob_w, Take a look here M9 deliveries slowed by parts problems?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
250swb Posted February 18, 2010 Share #2 Posted February 18, 2010 From all the reports of back orders with batteries around the world they obviously don't have enough to sell to dealers, so maybe they don't have enough to put in the cameras? Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 18, 2010 Share #3 Posted February 18, 2010 As long as Leica doesn't tell, there is no way to know. Everything is speculation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Valdemar Posted February 18, 2010 Share #4 Posted February 18, 2010 The Chinese have no problem producing tens of thousands of clone batteries. Buy some of those on eBay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
autillo Posted February 18, 2010 Share #5 Posted February 18, 2010 I'm waiting for a black m9 + 28/2,8 ASPH three and a half months. I was not in a hurry three months ago, but in two months I'm going to need a second body (along with my d700). I'm based in Valencia (Spain), the distributor here has clearly no interest in the brand, the service is awful... and I don't know who is the guilty: LEICA or DISEFOTO. Anyway, they're quickly loosing lots of customers because of this interminable deliveries. How can a professional photographer trust in such a company? only beacuse there's only a real digital rangefinder on the market. Regards Daniel Belenguer daniel belenguer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_w Posted February 18, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted February 18, 2010 As long as Leica doesn't tell, there is no way to know. Everything is speculation. I agree, of course. And I don't want to start yet another 'gripe' thread about Leica's deliveries. The topic is exhausted. I just wondered whether, pooling our intelligence, we could see whether there is a possible source of blockage or whether it is in fact just high demand. R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pascal_meheut Posted February 18, 2010 Share #7 Posted February 18, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) How can a professional photographer trust in such a company? only beacuse there's only a real digital rangefinder on the market. Nikon took ages to deliver the 24-70/2.8 and there are other examples. If you really need a digital rangefinder to do your work, you can buy an used M8 or you should already have one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eritho Posted February 18, 2010 Share #8 Posted February 18, 2010 The Chinese have no problem producing tens of thousands of clone batteries. Buy some of those on eBay. Like Leica does Anybody thinks Leica is manufacturing batteries Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumu Posted February 18, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 18, 2010 Like Leica does Anybody thinks Leica is manufacturing batteries no, not Leica, but Ansmann..: ANSMANN AG: Batterien, Akkus, Akkupacks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dong_allen Posted February 18, 2010 Share #10 Posted February 18, 2010 I'm also waiting a black m9, my dealer in London said leica is re-organising their distribution system, they have no idea when will next m9 arrive. Whatever leica is doing now, one thing can be sure, they are not producing enough m9s Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_w Posted February 18, 2010 Author Share #11 Posted February 18, 2010 I like the idea that Leica don't have enough batteries themselves. :D:D But if mainstream dealers cannot get enough product to sell, the problem is not just caused by demand. If he had said to me "Phew! we're shifting them like never before, and still more customers are coming through the door ... " that would have conveyed a different impression. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted February 18, 2010 Share #12 Posted February 18, 2010 I agree, of course. And I don't want to start yet another 'gripe' thread about Leica's deliveries. The topic is exhausted. I just wondered whether, pooling our intelligence, we could see whether there is a possible source of blockage or whether it is in fact just high demand. R Modern manufacturing processes, that probably Leica has implemented for the M line, can bring to delivery shortages that may depend on several kinds of small events within the supply chain and on the details of the contracts with suppliers : a customer of my company, owing to its financial issues, is suffering problems to have delivered to him some special alloys he has to machine and to deliver to another company which manufactures and deliver brake parts for Ferrari... at the end of the line, some rich customer probably is suffering delays to have his new red toy... So, any kind if hipotesis can be made: a reasonable speculation can be that M9 demand is in the "high" range compared to which was budgeted by Leica... they can re-tune PART of their manufacturing process to respond to this, but some suppliers cannot do this, and/or their contracts don't provide "room to maneuver" to respond to such a situation... "lean manufacturing" is the present wave in the industries, nowadays, but it's REALLY a complex world... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigSplash Posted February 18, 2010 Share #13 Posted February 18, 2010 Honestly I find it really refreshing to see a client base as loyal and forgiving as the one Leica clearly has. Leica developed over a period of 3 years the M9 which they launched with great fanfare in Sept 2009 together with new lenses some of which such as the Noctilux was launched already in early 2009. Today we read: Noctilux fnally went into production in January 2010 (see LFI) but my dealer still has backorders, There maybe shortages of parts ...and that is somehow OK and not Leica's fault Quality of some new Leica products is poor (Lenses that have focus issues, M9 with shutter' RF callibration issues etc) After Sales support is seen as shocking and expensive by some who give examples of what they have suffered. People here explain that you can get Leica screw cameras fixed so suffering a few months of pain is OK. Firmware Upgrades for M8 and M9 that was anticipated (not announced) for November is still not there to fix for example a shutter problem on M8 that has been around for 3 years. Again people here say it is better that they thoroughly test the firmware before they release it...who can disagree with that logic, but is the point being missed? Actually the list of Leica support issues is a much longer one and for a product of this price it is amasing how some people excuse this sort of support. I am still waiting for a lenshood (£165) and a UV/IR filter since October 2009 and my dealer has been told repeatedly that it is in the next shipment but it never is. I have a Chinese M8 battery and am currently unable to source an original one as these are in very short supply...again this is explained as NOT leica's problem. I am not sure what the solution is but it sure is good to see such forgiving Leica enthusiasts that seemingly will accept any level of service thrown at them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreaffm Posted February 18, 2010 Share #14 Posted February 18, 2010 Robert, this is what I also heard from my dealer in Frankfurt. I am waiting for a black M9 for 3 months now, and it will be another three or four weeks. Leica has shortage of sensors and metal parts, because sub contractors seem to work on short-time. (Black models next? Goood for me!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 18, 2010 Share #15 Posted February 18, 2010 Well, there is an M9 in the B&S right now... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muscardino Posted February 18, 2010 Share #16 Posted February 18, 2010 Afer decades de decadence, Leica may surmount in sales. This is a good news. Now is suffering a grow crisis. The patience is the only way to solve this current problem. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
too old to care Posted February 18, 2010 Share #17 Posted February 18, 2010 Good news, my local dealer got an M9 recently for a customer that had ordered it in October. Bad news, he said less than one per month is coming in. I am number 4 on the list of 4 that are still waiting. I was number 5 of 5 in early January when I ordered it, and the one they just sold moved me to number 4. No one else has ordered once since I ordered mine, does this mean the demand dropping off? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted February 18, 2010 Share #18 Posted February 18, 2010 Yes the demand has dropped from 5 to 0 or maybe 4 depending on your definition of demand How this works out on a global scale is another matter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtZ Posted February 18, 2010 Share #19 Posted February 18, 2010 STOP ! Stop saying non sense like: "Leica is suffering of high demand for the M9", "Leica is having problems with providers to get sensors or metal parts" or "Leica is swapping logistics company"... Rubish! In fact, the M9 is just a beta full frame digital rangefinder offered to testers for just only $7000 (a bargain, because it's a Leica) and a new version M9.2 or M10 will show up at PMA 2010. C'mon guys, stop moaning beta testing is finished! The King is dead, long live the King! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 18, 2010 Share #20 Posted February 18, 2010 The King is dead, long live the King! Yeah - the French lopped off his head.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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