Buying from a Leica Store vs other retailers?

[Dr. G]

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Is there any benefit to buying from a Leica Store vs a store like B&H, Adorama, etc. in terms of service, dealing with a defective product, etc.?

[stuny]

Assuming you and both choices are in the same city my choice would be maintaining a relationship with the dealer

[DaveNC]

I usually purchase online at BH and they were out of the lens I wanted.  I just made my first purchase directly from Leica DC.  The fellow there was outstanding to deal with and overnighted the lens to me at no charge.  He included a very nice handwritten note thanking me.  I think I will work with Leica going forward and surely stop in the next time I am in DC.

[ganzosrevenge]

It depends.  I venture to the Leica store in SoHo, and they have been most helpful with finding filters for my Summicron (Series VI).  In regards to obscure filters (Series ones), they're amazing and the two gentlemen who work there are very down to earth and happy to talk shop.  I wound up buying 2 Series VI filters (a Yellow and a Yellow-Orange) for a very low price, and they marveled that anyone would still shoot with a L-Flex standard.  At the same time, they are very M-Centric, and only have a few goodies for the R-line.  I may not go there for everything, but it is NOT their demeanor that drives me away, it's the relative lack of Leicaflex Goodies (which isn't the store's fault, so I can't hold that against them in any way).

 

Otherwise, I go to B&H for bodies and the occasional lens.  The SoHo store's prices are a bit high for me.

 

Jason

[Bill W]

Since I am not near any camera store unless I travel to Austin, I either use B&H or Leica Miami. I have a very good relationship with Leica Miami. There is a Leica dealer in Austin but they do not carry much stock and unfortunately I pay 8.25% tax if I use them. Don't get me wrong, I have used them. That is where I ran into my M 50 APO Cron several years ago.

[abrewer]

I usually purchase online at BH and they were out of the lens I wanted.  I just made my first purchase directly from Leica DC.  The fellow there was outstanding to deal with and overnighted the lens to me at no charge.  He included a very nice handwritten note thanking me.  I think I will work with Leica going forward and surely stop in the next time I am in DC.

 

Yes, I agree.

 

The fellow there I worked with recently was named Aziz and my new lens arrived next day, nicely packed with a note as well. They are the de facto Leica dealer for Philly, at least in my mind--well stocked, always a few used things, many instructional events through the Akademie. The other good thing is the store in DC is only a stone's throw from the "Spy Museum." Walk a few blocks in the other direction and you're on the National Mall.

 

And I've also heard good word of mouth about Leica Boutique Miami as well. 

[Jeff S]

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Yes, I agree.

 

The fellow there I worked with recently was named Aziz and my new lens arrived next day, nicely packed with a note as well. They are the de facto Leica dealer for Philly, at least in my mind--well stocked, always a few used things, many instructional events through the Akademie. The other good thing is the store in DC is only a stone's throw from the "Spy Museum." Walk a few blocks in the other direction and you're on the National Mall.

 

And I've also heard good word of mouth about Leica Boutique Miami as well.

And a block from the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. I always stop by to check out the Hopper paintings and usually a good exhibit or two of paintings and photographs. And then to the National Galleries of Art nearby.

 

Jeff

[silverchrome]

I bought all my cameras and lenses online from authorised dealers and I can't say I've noticed anything special about the service.  

 

Indeed, one dealer in the north cancelled a couple of my lens orders without explanation, and this was despite my having spent over 20K with them in a year.  

 

I'm sure the experience would have been different had I physically attended the store, but this wasn't possible at the time because I was overseas.  

 

Now, I just buy on the basis of price and availability.

[thedirektor]

I would have loved to have bought my M262 and M7 from Leica Mayfair. However both times they were out of stock and Park Camera (262) and Red Dot (M7) had what I wanted.