Mstephens Posted December 10, 2011 Share #1 Â Posted December 10, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I dropped in at the only camera store in the area (pop. 6M+) selling Leica, wanting to take a look at the M9. The guy tells me that they have the M9 in stock, but he can't demo it. Why, I ask, and he says because we don't have any lenses. Hmm, OK, but I can't see an M9? No, we keep them in the back. We haven't had lenses in more than a year, and don't see getting them in the foreseeable future. Â You would think that they would want to get rid of any unsold camera bodies possible, if they can't "demo" them. Certainly not up to the standard that I was expecting for a.place chosen(?) by Leica to sell high-end equipment. Certainly not what Blackstone would expect of their company, I'm sure. Â Very disappointing, having to resort to finding one used or from an online dealer, as their response doesn't inspire confidence if I would ever need service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 10, 2011 Posted December 10, 2011 Hi Mstephens, Take a look here So I stopped by the Leica dealer..... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
earleygallery Posted December 10, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted December 10, 2011 From their point of view though, most buyers insist on a boxfresh camera. Opening one up effectively makes it ex demo - would you be happy to pay full price for it?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mstephens Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share #3 Â Posted December 10, 2011 From their point of view though, most buyers insist on a boxfresh camera. Opening one up effectively makes it ex demo - would you be happy to pay full price for it?? Â I thought that might be their perspective, although he could have stated as such, if it was their policy, and he didnt. Certainly not a way to develop business, IMO. But I understand it if that were the case. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted December 10, 2011 Share #4 Â Posted December 10, 2011 This is completely ridicules. Stating that they have "not had any lenses in a year" means that they have not ordered any lenses in a year. Leica USA has shipped thousands of lenses to dealers. Sure, there is a backlog, and lenses often ship from dealers directly to customers without ending up on a shelf, but credible dealers turn inventory constantly. Â As for not wanting to "demo" the M9, I can understand not wanting to add shutter actuations, as people are sensitive to this, but they should have at least been able to show you the box, and quite possibly the camera. This in no way takes away from the "new" experience. Quite the contrary I view it as another level of QA. For some reason people think that these cameras somehow magically "materialize" out of thin air, without stopping to think how many pairs of hands have worked on, glued on, tested, mounted lenses, picked up, put down, turned on, pressed buttons and shot images. Would you really want to buy a camera that had not been throughly tested? What about a car that had never been driven even a short distance? Â Stephen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mstephens Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share #5 Â Posted December 10, 2011 I forgot to mention that the dealer claimed that all of the current Leica production is done at Panasonic factories, including M-system. No, I'm not kidding. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted December 10, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted December 10, 2011 Most leica dealers in a large city like that will have at least one demo M9 and a few demo lenses so people can try them out. Perhaps they have sold the demo camera and lenses in the past, as seems to be the case with quite a few lenses at the Samy's camera in Los Angeles. Because of their lack of demo leica equipment and the fact that they are without lenses for a year lead me to think that they are not an 'authorized' leica dealer and therefore would not be too helpful with questions even if they did let you see it... Sorry to hear about your experience Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mstephens Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share #7  Posted December 10, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Quite the contrary I view it as another level of QA. For some reason people think that these cameras somehow magically "materialize" out of thin air, without stopping to think how many pairs of hands have worked on, glued on, tested, mounted lenses, picked up, put down, turned on, pressed buttons and shot images. Would you really want to buy a camera that had not been throughly tested? What about a car that had never been driven even a short distance? Stephen  I agree completely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mstephens Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share #8 Â Posted December 10, 2011 Because of their lack of demo leica equipment and the fact that they are without lenses for a year lead me to think that they are not an 'authorized' leica dealer and therefore would not be too helpful with questions even if they did let you see it... They are the only authorized dealer shown on the Leica website Dealer Locator for my area. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted December 10, 2011 Share #9 Â Posted December 10, 2011 They are the only authorized dealer shown on the Leica website Dealer Locator for my area. Â I would call Leica NJ on Monday, explain what happened when you visited this "authorized" dealer, stressing the fact that they were not willing to show you a camera you were interested in purchasing, and ask what their advice is (i.e. another dealer or perhaps an "intervention" by a Leica Regional Sales Manager). It might not help you much, as I imagine you will probably want to find a new dealer anyway, but it might help the next poor guy who walks in their door. Â FYI, my Leica dealer is thousands of miles away from where I live, and we have a wonderful working relationship. I send him money and he sends me Leica items (when he gets them). Psssst, don't tell my wife!!!!! Â Stephen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted December 10, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted December 10, 2011 Possible demo by Leica sales rep at the store may solve the issue, these are not uncommon. In addition, you might be able to contact Leica directly for your local reps name and phone number, it would be unusual for them not to have the M9 and at least one lens he could show you. OTOH consider purchasing it sight unseen.......you will love it!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted December 10, 2011 Share #11 Â Posted December 10, 2011 I forgot to mention that the dealer claimed that all of the current Leica production is done at Panasonic factories, including M-system. No, I'm not kidding. Â Make a report to Solms with his name, date and approximate time of comment. Then come on back to us with the response. Â Someone is full of sh*t. Â . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mstephens Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share #12 Â Posted December 10, 2011 Make a report to Solms with his name, date and approximate time of comment. Then come on back to us with the response. Â Unfortunately I didn't get the guy's name, but he wasn't a newbie. I'll make a call and/or email and see what happens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted December 10, 2011 Share #13  Posted December 10, 2011 I forgot to mention that the dealer claimed that all of the current Leica production is done at Panasonic factories, including M-system. No, I'm not kidding.  LMAO!  Methinks Pico is correct: Someone at that Leica dealer is full of scheiße. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaques Posted December 10, 2011 Share #14 Â Posted December 10, 2011 Maybe they didn't get any Leica lenses for a year because they were sending all their purchase orders to Panasonic... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted December 10, 2011 Share #15 Â Posted December 10, 2011 If they are an 'authorized' dealer then Leica should know about your situation. A quick email might be good, if for nothing else to determine whether Leica just hands out the 'Authorized' label or if this place has taken advantage of it... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 10, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted December 10, 2011 Some shop owners are fools.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted December 10, 2011 Share #17 Â Posted December 10, 2011 Unfortunately I didn't get the guy's name, but he wasn't a newbie. I'll make a call and/or email and see what happens. Â Are you quite sure he was an employee of the shop? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted December 10, 2011 Share #18 Â Posted December 10, 2011 Some shop owners are fools.. Â And some fools work for shop owners! Â Did I understand that this store was Samy's Camera in California? They have several locations. How about Popflash out there? Â Dale Photo in Florida offers a test drive for a lens when you are not sure if it is the one for you. You pay $100 up front. If you decide you want the lens then the $100 is credited towards the purchase price of the lens. Otherwise, it only costs you $100 to make sure that is the lens you want or not. They mention not all lenses are available for this Leica sponsored program, but many are available. Come to think about it, they might have assumed I already had an M9. In any event, this is a terrific program for any Leica enthusiast. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted December 10, 2011 Share #19  Posted December 10, 2011 And some fools work for shop owners! Did I understand that this store was Samy's Camera in California? They have several locations. How about Popflash out there?  Or Camera West? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mstephens Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share #20 Â Posted December 10, 2011 Or Camera West? Â No, it wasn't in California, nor any of the advertisers from this forum. I'd rather not disclose the shop name. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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