SL3: What happens to the many demo bodies?

[MediaFotografie]

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Apart from the SL3 itself, I find the films and pictures of the events for the Youtubers around the launch day impressive, almost on a Sony/Canon level!
What impresses me most is how they move at least three tables with about 100 (!) bodies around.
Really impressive for the fact that nothing is available.

What happens to all these bodies? This large quantity is certainly not needed internally, cleaned and sold as new at full price? Well, hopefully not.

 

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[LocalHero1953]

It used to be possible to buy 'Q' versions of Leica bodies and lenses, that had been used for demos and marketing, then repackaged and sold at reduced cost. I think my original SL (bought from Red Dot Cameras, so not a Leica-owned store) was one of these. I no longer have it, but the outer plain card packaging was stamped with Q. A good bargain - undetectable differences from a brand new one, with full warranty and everything you'd expect from a new item. I don't know if these are still available.

Edited March 13, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[Chris W]

I presume they continue to do the rounds as loners to magazine reviewers, online influencers, then eventually get sold as 'ex demo'.

[Stuart Richardson]

1 hour ago, LocalHero1953 said:

It used to be possible to buy 'Q' versions of Leica bodies and lenses, that had been used for demos and marketing, then repackaged and sold at reduced cost. I think my original SL (bought from Red Dot Cameras, so not a Leica-owned store) was one of these. I no longer have it, but the outer plain card packaging was stamped with Q. A good bargain - undetectable differences from a brand new one, with full warranty and everything you'd expect from a new item. I don't know if these are still available.

Shhhhh!🤫

[Photoworks]

Leica organizes events all around to borrow the cameras for the day, i would think that is where they get most of the use.

and they have Leica Academy classes where they have a few.

 

I would suggest giving them out to some people us loners when your camera is in repair, it a good way to get to know a new camera and involve you in buying a new camera.

[thighslapper]

My original M9 was a demo from Leica Mayfair and about -20% at a time when there was a long waiting list and it was almost unobtainable anywhere. 

It was advertised as 'as new, minimal use' and fully reconditioned.

Unfortunately on the M9 you could access the shutter count ...... which turned out to be 10k + and there was dust in the viewfinder plus a couple of other minor issues. I argued that this didn't constitute 'as new' minimal use' and they kindly sent me a brand new M9.

I have distinct suspicion that making the shutter count inaccessible in subsequent models had a lot to do with me getting a discounted 'queue jumped' new M9  ....... 

 

[jaapv]

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On 3/13/2024 at 2:09 PM, Photoworks said:

Leica organizes events all around to borrow the cameras for the day, i would think that is where they get most of the use.

and they have Leica Academy classes where they have a few.

 

I would suggest giving them out to some people us loners when your camera is in repair, it a good way to get to know a new camera and involve you in buying a new camera.

And Leica does supply loaners from time to time ( at their discretion)