Rupert Greenwell Posted January 26, 2011 Share #1 Posted January 26, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) THis is my first post, and I am afraid that it is not a happy one. I had ordered a new M 35m f2 from a UK dealer. I was told that there was a waiting list.The dealer emailed me yesterday afternoon to say that the lens had come in and did I want it.I read the email this morning and replied that I did want it. The dealer returned my email this afternoon to say that they have sold the lens as I did not return their email fast enough!! I am furious. I have returned their email stating that I do not sit in front of a computer all day and to have given me less than a day in which to reply was totally unacceptable. I also have a 50m f1.4, 75m f2 and a M7 a la carte on order. I have asked them what hope have I in securing the lenses if they are going to give me such short notice. I have told them that if they cannot give me assurance that they will hold the lens that I have ordered, I will cancel everything. I have been a good customer,purchasing in the last year,a new Leica MP,used R9, two R6.2, lenses etc. Am I being reasonable? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 26, 2011 Posted January 26, 2011 Hi Rupert Greenwell, Take a look here Leica dealer woe!!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
alun Posted January 26, 2011 Share #2 Posted January 26, 2011 Well, given that you have -- or are planning -- to spend something in the region of £10K to £12K (by my rough estimates), I would have thought they might have exercised some common sense and checked with you first regarding the 35mm lens. Unless, of course, they have a more lucrative customer they decided to give preference to. But no, being furious doesn't sound unreasonable in the circumstances. JUst out of interest, that is an awful lot of Leica gear. What do you do with it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krauklis Posted January 26, 2011 Share #3 Posted January 26, 2011 Give them hell, they live on us, the customers! There should be more than just one dealer in the UK. The problem is not the non-availability of this lens, the problem, a wide-spread one, is the way they treat us, the customers. I'm glad that the two or three dealers who "supply" me, (Leica and Olympus gear), are offering a really good service. Best wishes krauklis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 26, 2011 Share #4 Posted January 26, 2011 On the face of it, you are being completely reasonable. As an existing customer, they should have waited a reasonable time for you to respond to their email. Obviously, we do not have the dealer's view of you as a customer. I recently had an internet retailer cancel an order because "I sounded like trouble" (now there's a thing). Without jumping to conclusions, it is something which happens when demand exceeds supply. Whether it's cars, cameras or restaurant tables, there can be an attitude problem. If I were you, I'd place your business with Ivor at Red Dot who consistently provides me with the best service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicoleica Posted January 26, 2011 Share #5 Posted January 26, 2011 I can understand your frustration. Similar things have happened to me, and I suspect to many others too. What seems to happen these days, is that when a 'waiting list', as a against a firm back-ordered, item becomes available, the dealer will call or email those on the list, and those who are first to reply become the lucky ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 26, 2011 Share #6 Posted January 26, 2011 ... If I were you, I'd place your business with Ivor at Red Dot who consistently provides me with the best service. I'll second that. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 26, 2011 Share #7 Posted January 26, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) ... I had ordered a new M 35m f2 from a UK dealer. I was told that there was a waiting list.The dealer emailed me yesterday afternoon to say that the lens had come in and did I want it.I read the email this morning and replied that I did want it. The dealer returned my email this afternoon to say that they have sold the lens as I did not return their email fast enough!! I am furious. ... Had you put down a deposit when you were added to the waiting list? Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 26, 2011 Share #8 Posted January 26, 2011 I recently had an internet retailer cancel an order because "I sounded like trouble" (now there's a thing). Heavens, surely not?! I'm with Mark on this. On the face of it, this sounds unreasonable. However, there are two sides to every story. Had you given them a mobile number upon which they could contact you? Had they given you a, for want of a better word, service level agreement or indication that they would not hold the lens for long, or that it was first respond, first served? I'm not doubting your tale, but I would like to understand just a little more context. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Greenwell Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks for your replies, I had not been asked for a deposit but when I ordered the lens I also bought a new M7, but this had two faults and I returned it, I decided to reorder a .85 M7 a la carte and so the dealer held onto the money. I have always had very good service from this dealer up to now and have not cancelled anything or timewasted. I used to deal with Frank Foster at Photo Design up till when he retired, he was always excellent and I now miss his service. The current dealer has provided me with some good secondhand equipment and sold equipment on my behalf. I will wait for the dealer's reply as to whether they will hold lenses for me. if there is any doubt at all I will cancel and start again with Red Dot. I have plenty of cameras to be getting on with! and I am in no rush. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Greenwell Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted January 26, 2011 Where I live there is no mobile coverage at all, so I do not carry one. I was given no indication at all that there was a time limit in which to confirm that I would buy the lens. Their first email stated that the lens had come in and as I was the next on the list would I let them know if I still wanted it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted January 26, 2011 Share #11 Posted January 26, 2011 Always a possibility that your lens facilitated the fortuitous sale of a body in these times of glass in short supply... "I'll take the M9 if you can sell me the Summicron right there." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 26, 2011 Share #12 Posted January 26, 2011 Always a possibility that your lens facilitated the fortuitous sale of a body in these times of glass in short supply... "I'll take the M9 if you can sell me the Summicron right there." It'd be an expensive lens if it costs them orders for an a la carte M7, a 50 Summilux asph, and a 75 APO Summicron asph from a customer who's already bought an R9, MP, R6.2 and lenses ... Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacarape Posted January 26, 2011 Share #13 Posted January 26, 2011 I would take my business elsewhere. Disregarding the fact that their waiting list is actually a waiting pool, do you even want to deal with them again? Having a a relationship with people is important, but not to them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted January 26, 2011 Share #14 Posted January 26, 2011 ... Am I being reasonable? Yes. Can you imagine that the other customer who got the lens had reasons as well to exspect to be the first to be serviced? Do you know his reasons? Would you call his exspectances unreasonable? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted January 26, 2011 Share #15 Posted January 26, 2011 I'd certainly get clarification from the dealer as to what the hell happened, and what their actual policy is regarding waiting lists and notification and response time. And whether you can expect better coordination (or the same treatment) in the future. Screwups happen. I've had a dealer call me apologetically and ask if I could possibly bring back a camera I'd purchased used, because another salesman had put it on hold for someone else (but forgot to put a "Hold" tag on it) - as it happened, I possibly could. The same dealer is also very helpful in letting me borrow used equipment over weekends and such, so we cut each other slack and have a good relationship overall. And they CALLED (not emailed) when they got in an ASPH 35 at a big discount (Leica demo stock). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted January 26, 2011 Share #16 Posted January 26, 2011 It'd be an expensive lens if it costs them orders for an a la carte M7, a 50 Summilux asph, and a 75 APO Summicron asph from a customer who's already bought an R9, MP, R6.2 and lenses ... Pete. Yep, short sightedness. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Greenwell Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share #17 Posted January 26, 2011 Again thanks for your replies. Good news, the dealer has emailed me (out of office hours) with a full apology,there had been a mix up etc. I have accepted their apology and hope that normal service will now resume. I am next in line for the 35m f2, next for the 50m f1.4 and they just happen to have a 75m f2 available for immediate despatch. I just wonder if someone may have been following this post! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted January 26, 2011 Share #18 Posted January 26, 2011 Yep, short sightedness. Without a deposit the dealer is in a cleft stick, I'd give Ivor some money, he will confirm his deposits are transferrable... When he did not have what I wanted he got one for me... Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falstaff Posted January 26, 2011 Share #19 Posted January 26, 2011 Who was the dealer you contacted? I'd second contacting Ivor at Red Dot, excellent in all ways. Falstaff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topoxforddoc Posted January 26, 2011 Share #20 Posted January 26, 2011 Just a real shame that Frank Foster and Jenny retired from Photo Design. What a lovely couple and wonderful old fashioned service and realistic pricing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.