Leica Q3 Availability

[jaapv]

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A Leica Store is more specialized than an authorized dealer and represents the company but in my experience you should get the same level of service with either. After all, buying something like a Leica is much more fun when buying from a knowledgeable sales person than from a box pusher. Most if not all Leica dealerships are run out of enthusiasm for photography. 

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[bobtodrick]

1 hour ago, JonathanJ said:

I understand.  And I appreciate your input.  But, is there any advantage to buying from a Leica store, vs a camera store that sells authorized Leica?  

The Leica may have more selection, especially of accessories...and may get stock quicker than an authorized dealer...but their should be no difference in service.

We (one of the largest camera stores in Western Canada...in business since 1948) pride ourselves on customer service...we are an authorized dealer but not a Leica store.

[Ad Dieleman]

6 hours ago, JonathanJ said:

I understand.  And I appreciate your input.  But, is there any advantage to buying from a Leica store, vs a camera store that sells authorized Leica?  

At the time I bought the Q3, the Leica Store (Amsterdam) was the only place where I could handle a demo Q3 and buy my own on the spot. Also got all my (sometimes very detailed) questions adequately answered.  None of the larger camera store chains had them in stock anywhere, let alone offering the option to play with a demo.

Edited April 10, 2024 by Ad Dieleman

[Marc283]

On 4/10/2024 at 8:42 AM, Ad Dieleman said:

At the time I bought the Q3, the Leica Store (Amsterdam) was the only place where I could handle a demo Q3 and buy my own on the spot. Also got all my (sometimes very detailed) questions adequately answered.  None of the larger camera store chains had them in stock anywhere, let alone offering the option to play with a demo.

I contacted Leica store Lisse beginning of June 23. They said they had a waiting list a mile long (4-5 months). Put myself on the waiting list anyway. Got a mail from them within 3 weeks that I could come pick up a Q3 if I still wanted one. The big box camera stores in NL couldn’t even quote a delivery time at that moment.

When I went there to pick up my Q3, the seller told me they, surprisingly received more Q3’s from Leica than expected. After me there was a walk-in customer asking about a Q3, he got very, very lucky. They had only one Q3 left in stock which wasn’t preordered.

Leica store Lisse, I highly recommend them.

[Le Chef]

The moral of the story is that your nearest and likely smaller AD will not be constipated with pseudo orders from opportunists, but supporting local customers who likely have an existing relationship with the store. You build a relationship over time and it will serve you better than being a faceless number at one of the mega stores. If you need help or coaching or a repair, who do you think will work harder to make you happy?

[ilProfessore]

Having an impossible time finding a q3 in the US right now.  it’s a bit frustrating. Adorama is saying August.  Local shops are just saying🤷‍♂️

[coleica]

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4 hours ago, ilProfessore said:

Having an impossible time finding a q3 in the US right now.  it’s a bit frustrating. Adorama is saying August.  Local shops are just saying🤷‍♂️

Have you tried Leica Store in Bellevue, WA, Tamarkin in Chicago and/or Englewood Camera in Denver.  Based on personal experience and other posts in this thread, seems like you will have better luck with the smaller stores.  

[ilProfessore]

2 hours ago, coleica said:

Have you tried Leica Store in Bellevue, WA, Tamarkin in Chicago and/or Englewood Camera in Denver.  Based on personal experience and other posts in this thread, seems like you will have better luck with the smaller stores.  

Great tips, thanks so much. Of course if I find one Leica will be disappointed since I already started adding m11p's and lenses to my cart.

[RobW0]

7 hours ago, ilProfessore said:

Having an impossible time finding a q3 in the US right now.  it’s a bit frustrating. Adorama is saying August.  Local shops are just saying🤷‍♂️

Get the HotStock app and get notifications on your phone for when it is in stock on the Leica USA online store. I have a Q3 but still get the notifications, I think there were 5 or 6 last week for the Q3 on the USA store. 

[Photo_Rick]

7 hours ago, ilProfessore said:

Having an impossible time finding a q3 in the US right now.  it’s a bit frustrating. Adorama is saying August.  Local shops are just saying🤷‍♂️

A couple of months ago I spoke with a fellow at the B&H store in New Yawk CIty.  Added my name to the list and, unsurprisingly, the fellow gave no indication as to when it might ship.  I was floored when I got a shipping notice the next day.   Might be worth a try.  They do a pretty good volume,  I think.   YMMV.

[ilProfessore]

@coleica hooked me up! Bellvue already set one aside for me. Pretty stoked...and saved me from an M11 setup....for now.

 

grazie mille

[MHFinVA]

I went the Leica store route (District of Columbia) in parallel with B&H. Placed the order for a Q3 in mid-December 2023. Leica said their best guess was that it would be late February, but obviously made no promises. B&H said they had no idea. Leica contacted me in early February with a message that basically said "would you like to come and get it, or would you like us to ship it to you?"  

I haven't previously owned a camera like this. Really glad I do now.  mhf

[ellisson]

It seems as though pre-ordering is the key.  You get on a list and get service before non-preorders.  

[egrossman]

If you want to find a Q3 you just need to think outside of the box. I found one by joining the Leica Discord and reddit servers. Tim Lei is a very active grey market dealer there. He's often a clearing house for dealers with excess inventory in other parts of the world (the Q3's he finds, often are sourced from Europe which doesn't appear to have the shortage that the US still has). Here's a feedback thread on Tim; I have no personal vested interest; I've spoken with him many times. He's leggit.

 

 

[egrossman]

Tim deals in new, like new and used goods. Here's his most recent post on the Leica Discord server. 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Rangefinder]

I've called around the US to various Leica stores and added my name to their lists.  I also add an app to my phone called Hot Stock and put a few filters in it.  Today, I got my third notice from them (the other notices didn't work out) and found one at Leica's on-line store, https://www.leicacamerausa.com/.  I used a secure payment and, within a minute or two, they acknowledged with an order number.  About an hour later, I got a call from the Leica Store in Bellevue, WA and they had one for me.  I declined saying I had one coming.  I guess Wetzler shipped several last week.

Mike

Edited June 18, 2024 by Rangefinder

[drgek]

I got tired of waiting for stock at B&H or Adorama; new ones on Amazon were being listed at over 7K. I decided to look on eBay and found a "used" US market camera listed at a few hundred less than MSRP. Immediately established trust with the seller and received a camera cosmetically and functionally indistinguishable from new, along with all packaging and included accessories that were still in the plastic they shipped in. I think I got lucky.

[egrossman]

There are lots of Q3s for sale on Fred Miranda's Buy & Sell forum. I've been buying and selling there for years. Use PayPal and pay with goods & services and you are protected against fraud (not that I've ever experienced it there to-date).

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1862382/0?keyword=leica,q3#16574607 $5500

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1861243/0?keyword=leica,q3#16567295 $5500

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1861148/0?keyword=leica,q3#16566749 $6200

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1858722/0?keyword=leica,q3#16550746 $6500

I use Fred Miranda to buy and sell most of my Leica gear.

Erik

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[shopaholic]

Hi all, new here and to Leica ownership! Ordered Q3 in May (5) and just received an email thats it’s shipped today from BH !! Looking forward to Leica experience 😎

[MikeD70]

FWIW, Amazon U.S. has the Q3 listed now, at $7,354.94 with 15 in stock.  Not condoning their pricing, just passing along some in-stock information I just came across.