Buying used M9 in London

[Max8596]

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I´m going on a business trip to London in a few days. Since the exchange rate (British pound/Swedish krona) is quite favorable for me at the moment, I´m considering buying a used M9 while in London (a new, full-price M9 is simply not in my budget...)

 

Where is the best place to look for local classified ads for the London area, if looking to buy an M9? Any ideas?

 

Cheers,

 

Mats

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[earleygallery]

Everyone uses eBay or other Internet sites like this don't they?

 

Also, do you really want to risk buying privately with no warranty?

 

I would do a check of the London dealers instead.

[bill]

Indeed. I would do a ring-round of the usual suspects:

 

Red Dot (of course)

RG Lewis

Richard Caplan

Aperture Photographic

Jacobs

London Camera Exchange, Strand

 

Out of London, try

Harrisons

Robert White

Stephens

 

Avoid

ffordes

The Classic Camera

 

...IMO, of course

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[microview]

No reason to avoid ffordes in my experience.......

[bill_murray]

No reason to avoid Ffordes in my experience either. They have proved helpful, useful and honest in many transactions. Stephens in Manchester have a Deservedly good reputation too.

[chris_tribble]

I'd prioritise:

 

Red Dot (of course)

RG Lewis

Richard Caplan

 

Worth giving them a ring and seeing if they have something, and. if they do, asking them if they can hold anything for you come and have a look at.

[wda]

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I would definitely recommend approaching any of the listed and recommended dealers listed above. For convenience, try the London-based ones first.

 

Oh, and Mats, Welcome to the Forum!

[theendlesshouse]

Red dot or

Aperture

Outside london

harrisons or stephens.

 

Avoid the classic camera company!!!!

[farnz]

At a London forum meeting on Sunday I was speaking to Ivor and Elaine, the joint owners of Red Dot Cameras, and they mentioned that they have several used M9's for sale so if you have a look there you'll have some samples to choose from.

 

Pete.

[GBR66]

Red Dot if you are in London, bought a used M8 and a couple of lenses from them, just be careful about their only being open every other Saturday! I've never had a problem with Ffordes buying unseen and to be honest the times I've been to Classic Camera they've been entirely helpful.

[qvsm]

Aperture, RG Lewis and Richard Caplan are superb - friendly, helpful and always give you time.

[sach]

I went into Red Dot last week and they had about 5 M9s in the cabinet.

[robert_parker]

I was in Red Dot last week too and they have a good range of M9 cameras

[Alnitak]

What's with all the negativity around The Classic Camera? I travel to London for work regularly and often stop in there. They've been nice and helpful, and have a decent selection of items.

 

Jeff

[farnz]

Jeff,

 

TCC might have improved but if you plug the shop into forum's search engine you should find a long thread started a little while ago with forum members' experiences. Make of it what you will.

 

Pete.

[andybarton]

TCC are not authorised dealers. They used to be...

 

I would change brands if they were the last place on earth selling Leicas.

[Overgaard]

I would check with Red Dot if you can get the camera VAT-free out of UK as a Swedish citizen. That would most likely apply to a new M9 whereas I think second-hand is without VAT in the UK (though not sure about that).

 

But if you can get it without VAT, or get the VAT refunded in the airport when leaving UK, that would be a 20% saving on the new price.

[colonel]

I would add bass and bligh. Nice people:

 

Bass and Bligh - The UK's Premier Independent Optical Retailer - Bass and Bligh - The UK's Premiere Independent Optical Retailer

 

I know these are out of London, but they can deliver and work on approval

 

I find Aperture tend to be the cheapest, which is why you should ring them every morning to see what they have in

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Ivan Muller]

Red Dot has a website with all the used cameras and lenses listed.....used items do not have deductible vat.....so go for a new one!...... preferably in silver.....

[wattsy]

I would check with Red Dot if you can get the camera VAT-free out of UK as a Swedish citizen. That would most likely apply to a new M9 whereas I think second-hand is without VAT in the UK (though not sure about that).

 

But if you can get it without VAT, or get the VAT refunded in the airport when leaving UK, that would be a 20% saving on the new price.

 

Red Dot sell second hand goods through the margin scheme which means that the VAT element (essentially VAT added to the dealer's margin) is not revealed to the customer and, therefore, cannot be reclaimed. In any case, Sweden is in the EU so citizens from that country cannot reclaim the VAT or buy at a VAT free price (unless they are VAT registered themselves). In short, forget trying to save on the VAT.