steinzeug Posted June 6, 2011 Share #1 Posted June 6, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes, i know what a lot of people are going to say: don´t do it, go to a shop, pay a few hundred more and get a warranty. And I do appreciate it as I myself had problems with my first M8. However my question is if there is anyone out there who has had positive experiences with buying privately? Does one really need to be that careful? I have looked at several cameras from good sellers and which function perfectly. Or should one take for granted that all/most M8:s will need hundreds of dollars spent on repairs and adjustments? The one i am looking at now (a 2007 verison serial 319xxxx) has never even been to Solms according to its number. Is that good or bad i wonder? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 6, 2011 Posted June 6, 2011 Hi steinzeug, Take a look here Has anyone bought privately without warranty?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Gerard Posted June 6, 2011 Share #2 Posted June 6, 2011 You pays your money and you takes your chances... Going through a dealer does not necessarily assure used products of perfect working order or items guaranteed not to fail in the short term. It does, however, mean you will have some buyer protection and some limited form of warranty to protect your investment (plus, by going to a reputable retailer or specialist, a high level of after sales service). Going open market does not mean you'll be buying a product that will require adjustment or one that is just about to fail. But if it does... you'll be paying for adjustments or repairs out of your own pocket. From the only experience I have buying open market, the total cost I paid for the item including having the item adjusted by a specialist post purchase was nothing compared to the cost I would have been expected to pay from a main dealer. I saved about £500 on the lens all said and done; and would probably risk open market again. But that’s what it is; a risk. One only you can decide if it’s one worth taking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steinzeug Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted June 6, 2011 Thanks for your reply! i suppose the risk of buying a used Lens is much less than an M8 with all its "parts". Its a difficult call, either spend a sum on an M8 at a dealer and get a warranty for 3-6 months or pay 75% of the dealers price privately and take a risk. If nothing goes wrong then i´m up, if something (not too serious) breaks down then i end up having paid the same amount. The question remains, does one have to expect that most M8´s will need repairs? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roylance Posted June 6, 2011 Share #4 Posted June 6, 2011 Always a consideration, I bought my M8 about 18 months ago through eBay no warranty. It is at Leica NJ for a failed bad circuit board. Even if there were a warranty it may have been only a year and my repair would have been 6 months out. I read the shutter was the most common failure early on. By the time I bought mine I thought either the shutter failed and was repaired or most likely was not going to for a while. When I bought I figured there would be some maintenance down the road even if it was CLA. Would I buy privately/eBay again, yes. Before I would enquiry about repair, service and if there is a warranty is it transferable. good luck... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominum Posted June 6, 2011 Share #5 Posted June 6, 2011 I bought a black M8.2 7 months ago for 2.4k USD.. totally worth it. only thing was that the shutter failed about 2 months ago. got it repaired for free from Leica even though there was no warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaMSeattle Posted June 6, 2011 Share #6 Posted June 6, 2011 Buying used on the open market can be risky be but with careful evaluation, those risks diminish rather quickly along with a savings from the retail price. I bought my M8 via EBay from an owner that used the camera lightly but didn't abuse it. I bought it with the understanding that I would eventually have it upgraded after really using it. After any service at a Leica service facility, the camera or lens is given an additional 12 month warranty. Items like lenses are pretty easy to evaluate in their condition and are free from any electronic issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 6, 2011 Share #7 Posted June 6, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The problem is you're buying what amounts to a piece of computer equipment. They are generally reliable BUT can fail at any time and if they do fail, will cost a substantial amount of money to repair. You might buy privately from a genuine seller, camera 100% fine at point of sale, then two days later it packs up. You'd probably feel you had been 'done'. Unless the price is significantly lower than from a dealer I would say it's worth paying extra to buy from a dealer who gives a decent warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steinzeug Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted June 6, 2011 Its a nice looking chrome M8 (serial 319xxxx) which has according to Leica never even been to Solms. Only 6800 acc. Trustworthy seller, price is 1400 Pounds. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBatemanJ Posted June 6, 2011 Share #9 Posted June 6, 2011 It may be off topic but how about getting third party warranty for eBay items such as Square trade (in US)? Looks like we can get insurance for eBay purchased used M8 from Square trade. SATOKI Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steinzeug Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted June 6, 2011 Hi, thanks very much thats an interessting possibility. Do you know how it works? does it cover all repairs? how expensive? Also, does anyone know if there is one in Europe? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBatemanJ Posted June 6, 2011 Share #11 Posted June 6, 2011 Hi, thanks very much thats an interessting possibility. Do you know how it works? does it cover all repairs? how expensive? Also, does anyone know if there is one in Europe? I checked their website and there is in UK, too. You can contact and ask their policy. Good luck! SATOKI Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steinzeug Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted June 6, 2011 Thankyou so much Satoki! however unfortunately according to their policy seems their insurance does not cover 2nd hand equipt. This insurance only applies to items purchased as new. There is no cover for items described as ‘used’ or ‘second-hand’ and SquareTrade Warranties are currently not available from our website in the UK. Does anyone else know of other ways to "insure" possible M8 failures? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramosa Posted June 7, 2011 Share #13 Posted June 7, 2011 I think this is moving in the direction of insurance. Get a good rider from your insurance company specific to this camera. That will cover you no matter what happens ... theft, loss, breakage, failure, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBatemanJ Posted June 7, 2011 Share #14 Posted June 7, 2011 Thankyou so much Satoki! however unfortunately according to their policy seems their insurance does not cover 2nd hand equipt. This insurance only applies to items purchased as new. There is no cover for items described as ‘used’ or ‘second-hand’ and SquareTrade Warranties are currently not available from our website in the UK. Does anyone else know of other ways to "insure" possible M8 failures? Sorry to hear that:(. When I purchased M8 from eBay two years ago, I contacted this company and said new as well as used item purchased from eBay will be insured. The policy might be changed, or only for item in eBay US with US resident. SATOKI Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steinzeug Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share #15 Posted June 7, 2011 I think this is moving in the direction of insurance. Get a good rider from your insurance company specific to this camera. That will cover you no matter what happens ... theft, loss, breakage, failure, etc. What is a good rider? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 7, 2011 Share #16 Posted June 7, 2011 I would always buy through a "Leica" dealer.Preferably one who is reasonably close.My local dealer is David Stevens in Manchester.David would allow you to try the camera ie take it for a walk round the locality and take some pictures.Warrenty is usually min 6 months .After taking some pictures you can then check number of actuations etc and decide / discuss the deal.My experiance over 25 years with this dealer is that I have always been satisfied or I would never have gone back.Generaly speaking Leica dealers are pretty good.I would not buy via mail order for used equipment but I am sure many people have done so and are happy.Many people use ebay and are happy.I prefer the piece of mind from using an established dealer. Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstotler Posted June 7, 2011 Share #17 Posted June 7, 2011 Does anyone else know of other ways to "insure" possible M8 failures? An M8 *will* break--whether it is used or new--sooner or later. I *always* recommend that the used M8 buyer set aside an additional $1000 for eventual repair. This $1000 goes into an account somewhere and is just held until needed. Consider the $1000 as part of the cost of the M8. It will be needed--hopefully later rather than sooner. In terms of the "it was broken, out of the box" issue, as others have suggested only purchasing through a dealer will protect you, provided the dealer is decent about their return policy. This will not mitigate your $$$ risk against a failure 14 months from purchase--the $1000 held in reserve will. Thanks, Will Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steinzeug Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted June 7, 2011 An M8 *will* break--whether it is used or new--sooner or later. I *always* recommend that the used M8 buyer set aside an additional $1000 for eventual repair. This $1000 goes into an account somewhere and is just held until needed. Consider the $1000 as part of the cost of the M8. It will be needed--hopefully later rather than sooner. In terms of the "it was broken, out of the box" issue, as others have suggested only purchasing through a dealer will protect you, provided the dealer is decent about their return policy. This will not mitigate your $$$ risk against a failure 14 months from purchase--the $1000 held in reserve will. Thanks, Will Bleak, but probably very true, from my experience too. So basically a second hand M8 is going to cost approx 1500 EUR + 1000 EUR = 25.000 EUR ..... hmmmm..... is the pleasure going to be worth it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted June 7, 2011 Share #19 Posted June 7, 2011 Are you a risk taker? I am.. went for a ebay minty M8.. Couldn't be happier. The thing is if I pay $500-800 more to buy from a dealer with a short warranty it would break the day after the warranty runs out. I think one key is to ask a lot of questions and look for one that is barely used. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyril Jayant Posted June 7, 2011 Share #20 Posted June 7, 2011 I bought a black M8.2 7 months ago for 2.4k USD.. totally worth it. only thing was that the shutter failed about 2 months ago. got it repaired for free from Leica even though there was no warranty. Mine >>>>was very MINTY In the box ...immaculate. It failed the second day with the shutter fail. I was almost ruined with all my plan on a trip to Paris with the M8. My retail Camera seller took every thing in to his hand and after being 3weeks on Solms repair desk came back with an extra guaranty. If it was in the other way round ,where do you think I am standing:rolleyes: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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