Americans are being ripped off on the SL battery

[setuporg]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Although only sharing the battery with the SL, my Q2 battery research uncovered a systematic price gouging and dealer collusion on the $100 markup being uniformly applied to the BP-SCL4 battery:

While I thought initially this is a result of the Q2 launch and sudden scarcity, which is true, the same price differential was found for the Leica S system PRO 1 battery.

Hence the new rule: if a battery has a groove, Americans pay $100 extra!  €150 for good Old Europe, $250 for the land of the free.

I'm not sure we should put up with it here in the US.

[darylgo]

The US prices for batteries are higher, the dollar is not equal to the euro so the difference is not quite as large.  Currency fluctuations can create price differences also.  Camera prices vary also and the US prices are often less than Europe.   It is rather tempting to go to Europe and purchase these items without the VAT, my previous experience at refunding VAT has been a disaster in one form or another, likely my fault though.  

[Ken Abrahams]

The same Battery is listed for $215 AUS at Leica Australia - on back order. That would convert to about $146 US 

[jaapv]

14 hours ago, darylgo said:

The US prices for batteries are higher, the dollar is not equal to the euro so the difference is not quite as large.  Currency fluctuations can create price differences also.  Camera prices vary also and the US prices are often less than Europe.   It is rather tempting to go to Europe and purchase these items without the VAT, my previous experience at refunding VAT has been a disaster in one form or another, likely my fault though.  

Not a disaster, a ripoff scam by the companies that handle the tax refunds. Best to order by mail, as the camera shop will not charge VAT to customers from outside the EU. Or order and pickup at the taxfree shop at the airport. Schiphol Amsterdam is arguably the best place.

[m9photo]

Why there's no 3rd party maker of this battery? is it because the market is too niche? 

[nicci78]

You got your answer. There have been no third party copy for these batteries : 

BP-SCL2 : M typ 240

BP-SCL4 : SL & Q2

BP-SCL5 : M10

Not enough sales to even bother ? 

However every other one have. Even the BP-DC13 (T, TL,TL2) has its own available. 

[bags27]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

23 hours ago, setuporg said:

Although only sharing the battery with the SL, my Q2 battery research uncovered a systematic price gouging and dealer collusion on the $100 markup being uniformly applied to the BP-SCL4 battery:

While I thought initially this is a result of the Q2 launch and sudden scarcity, which is true, the same price differential was found for the Leica S system PRO 1 battery.

Hence the new rule: if a battery has a groove, Americans pay $100 extra!  €150 for good Old Europe, $250 for the land of the free.

I'm not sure we should put up with it here in the US.

OTOH, there are a lot of sales on Leica cameras and lens outfits that are specific to the U.S. only. The more Leica equipment you buy, the most likely it is that it all evens out in the end. So, buy lots and lots, and save! 😃

[mmradman]

3 hours ago, m9photo said:

Why there's no 3rd party maker of this battery? is it because the market is too niche? 

Leica batteries contain Leiconium, very rare commodity only mined in the boardroom in Wetzlar. 

[johnbuckley]

I think there is another factor to consider. For security reasons, the US makes it very complicated to import batteries. I have been told that the great Q2/SL battery drought of early summer was due to the batteries sitting on board a container ship waiting for the clearance to get in. (That's why when the battery drought broke, suddenly the batteries were everywhere -- Leica Stores, B&H, etc. They weren't just coming in steadily -- they were allowed in all at once.)

Anything that makes it more difficult to import an object into the U.S., like (COUGHS) tariffs, drives up prices and punishes consumers. Yes, the extra $100 seems excessive, especially since the dollar is strong, which (COUGHS) helps US consumers. But no small part of that price increase is U.S. policy regarding the importing of batteries.

[Phil1066]

On 9/19/2019 at 4:11 PM, Kendoo said:

The same Battery is listed for $215 AUS at Leica Australia - on back order. That would convert to about $146 US 

yeah I bought one there recently from CameraLane in Melbourne for AUD215, as the Leica store didnt have stock. I got GST refunded at the airport when I headed back to NZ with some other kit too.

[Chuck Albertson]

On ‎9‎/‎19‎/‎2019 at 11:44 AM, johnbuckley said:

I think there is another factor to consider. For security reasons, the US makes it very complicated to import batteries. I have been told that the great Q2/SL battery drought of early summer was due to the batteries sitting on board a container ship waiting for the clearance to get in. (That's why when the battery drought broke, suddenly the batteries were everywhere -- Leica Stores, B&H, etc. They weren't just coming in steadily -- they were allowed in all at once.)

Anything that makes it more difficult to import an object into the U.S., like (COUGHS) tariffs, drives up prices and punishes consumers. Yes, the extra $100 seems excessive, especially since the dollar is strong, which (COUGHS) helps US consumers. But no small part of that price increase is U.S. policy regarding the importing of batteries.

I don't think so. There was also a shortage of SL batts in Europe at the same time, and it cleared up at about the same time as the US shortage, which sounds more like a problem at the source.

Also, I'm not aware of any "security concerns" specific to the US regarding their importation. There *is* an ICAO rule against shipping lith-ion batts in bulk by air, due to the fire danger, and that's why they tend to be delivered by surface transport, both to the US and within the US. The price disparity between the US and the EU pre-dates all of the recent tariff nonsense; however, the disparity could increase in the near future if the administration follows through on its threat to slap higher tariffs on EU imports (over the Boeing/Airbus subsidies spat) and applies those tariffs to SL batts (and other photo gear).

[budjames]

On 9/19/2019 at 11:58 AM, nicci78 said:

You got your answer. There have been no third party copy for these batteries : 

BP-SCL2 : M typ 240

BP-SCL4 : SL & Q2

BP-SCL5 : M10

Not enough sales to even bother ? 

However every other one have. Even the BP-DC13 (T, TL,TL2) has its own available. 

I tried the a few of the top rated 3rd party batteries from Wasabi for my Fuji XT and X100 cameras.You can get 2 Wasabi batteries with a nice compact charger for $28. The same Fuji-branded battery for my Fuji XT1/XT2/XT3 bodies was $60.

After about a year, all of the Wasabi batteries showed signs of swelling which made the a tight fit in the camera's battery compartment. I ended up disposing of all of them, but I kept the charger as it worked fine.

There are plenty of stories out there with Chinese made cheap 3rd party batteries swelling, failing to charge and even fires for a variety of devices. Some even mark their products with counterfeit UL and CSA approval seals. They have no scruples.

I'm sticking with OEM batteries for the quality, even though they are ridiculously expensive. Although I would like to see Leica batteries cost lest, I wouldn't risk damage to my expensive Leica M10 and SL bodies in order to save a few bucks on a knock off battery.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

[nicci78]

Leica Q got us hooked with cheap first party battery. Panasonic version is only 2/3 of the Leica price. Sigma version is even cheaper at only 1/3 of the German counterpart. I got 4 Sigma one for my Q and my CL. 

And the Sigma version comes with a nice leather pouch. Panasonic version has only a plastic half case. Leica is the poorest, accessory wise, with only a stupid thin clothed pouch. 

But switching to Q2, and its exclusive but expensive battery, was quite painful. 

BP-SCL4 of SL and Q2, comes with only a poor disposable plastic pouch. What a shame. 

[Dvpnyc]

this is not fair to us in the US

Edited September 24, 2019 by Dvpnyc
wrong info

[lykaman]

2 hours ago, Dvpnyc said:

this is not fair to us in the US

Could't agree more, I've always paid for Leica batteries with a new Leica, as the cameras get older I buy third party from Amazon. I just purchased a new Cxxxn 80+10D ~~ New Battery (Cxxxn) $59.00 Free Shipping.. Pull up in a Caddy" you pay Caddy" prices -   L