bpalme Posted July 5, 2011 Share #1 Posted July 5, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Looks several Leica stores have opened recently. I've never been in a Leica store so I'm wandering what they have on the shelves? Is it an empty store with some Leica Tshirts, cases, hats and a summarit or two? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 5, 2011 Posted July 5, 2011 Hi bpalme, Take a look here New Leica store in D.C.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
theno23 Posted July 5, 2011 Share #2 Posted July 5, 2011 I've only been the the London one, but it is pretty much an empty store. O hoped they might get priority on lenses, but they said not, and it seems to be true. As far as I know they don't even sell Leica branded tat, but you can get a sensor cleaning (during the week), and they have a training room upstairs. I've not gone for the training, not really sure what it's like. While I'm no photographic genious, one of the things I like about te M9 is I pretty much knew my way round it in about 20 mins. If anyone has done it, I'd like to know of it's a good use of time, and if you learned anything. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted July 5, 2011 Share #3 Posted July 5, 2011 The training offered by Leica Mayfair is done by one of our Forum members, Bybrett and it seems to have been extemely well received. I attended a film workshop there a couple of months ago and that was very well run. The store is far from empty - it has the full range of Leica products on display (from X1s to S2s) and, if not in stock, will obviously order items for you. Whether they get preferential treatment I don't know, but you are pretty much guaranteed being able to see and handle any Leica item there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Bill Posted July 5, 2011 Share #4 Posted July 5, 2011 Where is is this new Leica store in D. C.? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted July 6, 2011 Not sure it just says W. D.C.. Leica Rumors Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted July 6, 2011 Share #6 Posted July 6, 2011 The training offered by Leica Mayfair is done by one of our Forum members, Bybrett and it seems to have been extemely well received. I attended a film workshop there a couple of months ago and that was very well run. The store is far from empty - it has the full range of Leica products on display (from X1s to S2s) and, if not in stock, will obviously order items for you. Whether they get preferential treatment I don't know, but you are pretty much guaranteed being able to see and handle any Leica item there. Yes, the London store has all lenses and cameras on display for you to look at. They also always have a small selection of ex-demo lenses and bodies being sold I just bought the mythical 50mm lux from them. I happend to call when they had a batch in and they said they would call me after clearing the reservation list. They did on the same day and they held it for me in the shop. So very pleased. I have also used the lens cleaning which is a great service. It's good to know its being done by experts. I believe they can also check lens and/or rangefinder alignment, but not sure about that one. I'd say its a great benefit having s leica store local. Rgds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted July 6, 2011 Share #7 Posted July 6, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've only been the the London one, but it is pretty much an empty store. O hoped they might get priority on lenses, but they said not, and it seems to be true. As far as I know they don't even sell Leica branded tat, but you can get a sensor cleaning (during the week), and they have a training room upstairs. I've not gone for the training, not really sure what it's like. While I'm no photographic genious, one of the things I like about te M9 is I pretty much knew my way round it in about 20 mins. If anyone has done it, I'd like to know of it's a good use of time, and if you learned anything. ...I must object, theno23. To my mind, whatever the Mayfair store may lack in stock, it certainly makes up for with pushy, vacuous salespeople. And don't bother enquiring (even obliquely) about non-current Leica equipment (huh?). Definitely not my favourite joint. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted July 6, 2011 Share #8 Posted July 6, 2011 I'm all for more Leica retail outlets. But one must wonder what Leica's thinking is behind these Leica-branded stores. If these stores do not have priority over getting product from Solms, then how are they supposed to differentiate themselves from regular authorized Leica shops - except that the lack of non-Leica gear makes for a rather spartan display? If they did get priority, then such preference would quickly damage their retail channel. Betwixt and between. It seems a curious paradox to me. In any case, I work in Washington, D.C. and would very much welcome a robust new Leica presence. There is only one "dealer" currently in the city, to my knowledge - and that shop is rather sad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Bill Posted July 7, 2011 Share #9 Posted July 7, 2011 Leica stores in major cities remind me of Apple Stores. When those started I thought it was a bad idea because the Apple product array was limited and too specialized. At about the same time Dell stores were failing left and right. Now I can't go into any one of the three Apple stores within fifty miles without finding a crowd. I assume that Leica has studied the Apple precedent and will adapt practices that carry over from computers/electronics to photography. But maybe not; Leica has a strong record of ignoring what other companies do. Anyway, I too am glad to have a strong Leica store in D. C. I'm feeling totally isolated -- no dealer nearby, not even any other Leica users as far as I know. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted July 8, 2011 Share #10 Posted July 8, 2011 How does one make money owning a Leica store with nothing to sell? Seems to be a poor use of capital. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted July 8, 2011 Share #11 Posted July 8, 2011 Anyway, I too am glad to have a strong Leica store in D. C. I'm feeling totally isolated -- no dealer nearby, not even any other Leica users as far as I know. Welcome to the forum, Bill. FYI, Ace Camera in Sterling is an excellent shop, with a strong Leica presence. Which is not to say that they have a lot of stock these days - I don't know of any dealer in the world that does - but they truly care about and support Leica products, rather than the lip service that some "authorized" dealers offer. They probably sell as much Leica gear as anyone in the mid-Atlantic region. Well worth a trip from Fredericksburg! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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