M10 Batteries. Availability (merged thread)

[RexGig0]

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On 5/10/2024 at 4:53 PM, RexGig0 said:

Well, I just learned that Adorama only had one BP-SCL2 battery, for the 240/246, which was shipped. Three are in “back ordered” status. My BP-SCL5 batteries, for the M10, successfully shipped from B&H.

Well, on the 28th of May, 2024, I received an update from Adorama, regarding my three back-ordered BP-SCL2 batteries, for the M Type 240-series. The batteries were “cancelled” from the order. Two back-ordered flash shoe covers, ordered at the same time, remained in back-ordered status. (The 240 and 246 use a unique flash shoe cover, and also seals the opening, on the rear of the camera, for the EVF-2.) So, I then ordered three BP-SCL2 batteries from two other on-line camera stores, which depleted each of their stock of this battery.

I then went to the Adorama site, and did a search for the BP-SCL2, to see whether there might be a mention of whether the item was discontinued or back-ordered. The only result I received was for the Leica charger, for the BP-SCL2. Adorama showed the M10’s BP-SCL5 to be “Temporarily on Back-order.”

Camera West, a Leica dealer in the USA, with multiple locations, showed to have both the BP-SCL2 and BP-SCL5 in stock.

Leica Store Miami still shows out-of-stock, of both the BP-SCL2, and the M10’s BP-SCL5. This has been so, for a while.

B&H, in NYC, still has the BP-SCL5, for the M10, in stock, and still shows the M 240-series’ BP-SCL2 to be “discontinued.”

Norman Camera, a Leica dealer with two locations in Michigan, USA, showed both the BP-SCL2 and BP-SCL5 to be “temporarily on back-order.”

All of these results were obtained on May 28th, in the evening time, in the USA.

It is not my intention to be alarmist. I am glad that I was able to buy two new BP-SCL5 batteries, and four new BP-SCL2 batteries, this year. (Of course, I “should not count my chickens before they are hatched,” so, will not crow too loudly, about the three batteries not yet received.)

Edited May 29, 2024 by RexGig0

[brickftl]

I just ordered one from B&H https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1312554-REG/leica_24003_bp_scl5_lithium_ion_battery_pack.html

 

[CP93]

On 5/8/2024 at 12:58 PM, tappan said:

How can this be?
Seems true.
Try to buy a new M10 battery.
Mark

I did.

[tappan]

2 minutes ago, CP93 said:

I did.

Me too, a few weeks after my post.

[KenSea]

Do we need a class action law suite to get M10 batteries from Leica?

[shirubadanieru]

I can’t find any in Japan but the store told me they’re not discontinued just out of stock

[AceVentura1986]

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I ordered an extra battery from BH in December, 2023 when I acquired my M10M and then got another in the kit when I got my M10P in June (think I mentioned it above in this thread), so now I have three and feel very fortunate.

When I got my spare battery in December, I ordered it from BH without any issue for $160. Now it’s listed as $200 and (to add insult to injury) has been out of stock for months. 

I can’t believe the situation that these batteries are out of stock everywhere and there’s no mention of this in any of the Leica or photography websites, not even a press release from Leica offering a tepid apology and bland explanation. None. The only theory I can think of is that it’s intentional by Leica to get people to buy the M11. I’m not a conspiracy thinker, but can’t think of another explanation that also accounts for Leica’s complete silence on this issue. 

[Luke_Miller]

Perhaps the situation is now the same as M240 batteries, only available from Leica as parts.

[AceVentura1986]

4 hours ago, Luke_Miller said:

Perhaps the situation is now the same as M240 batteries, only available from Leica as parts.

Perhaps, but they’re out of stock in Leicastore Miami too. 

[Luke_Miller]

1 hour ago, AceVentura1986 said:

Perhaps, but they’re out of stock in Leicastore Miami too. 

Do the Leica stores carry a lot of Leica repair parts? Or do they special order them as requested?

[TomB_tx]

17 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

My M10-R (which is still being sold in some parts) must be supported for at least 5 years so we are generally good for a while, I would say 5 years for sure.

But if the battery itself is a product from China, and they have no such commitment to 5 years, where does that leave us? Global supply chains may confuse the issue.

[AceVentura1986]

14 hours ago, Al Brown said:

I would suggest all participants here to read thru the following thread thoroughly first, you will see that this battery scare it is all FUD:
 

 

I don’t think this is all FUD because batteries seem to be unavailable anywhere for the M9, M240, and M10 platforms. Still, the thread is 7 pages and 131 posts long. Why don’t you save us all the effort and give us your “cliff notes” version of the thread, please? 

[AceVentura1986]

15 hours ago, Luke_Miller said:

Do the Leica stores carry a lot of Leica repair parts? Or do they special order them as requested?

Don’t know, but I also don’t think batteries are “repair parts” anymore than lens caps are. 

[Luke_Miller]

2 hours ago, AceVentura1986 said:

Don’t know, but I also don’t think batteries are “repair parts” anymore than lens caps are. 

I don't either, but it appears with the M240 batteries that is how Leica is treating them.

[KenSea]

On 9/16/2024 at 12:07 PM, Al Brown said:

Leica is the only camera manufacturer that still repairs all of their old cameras (the oldest will be 100 years old soon) so I sincerely doubt they will let so many users hanging by discontinuing the BP-SCL 5 batteries. They still sell M240 batteries, so why would they do this? My M10-R (which is still being sold in some parts) must be supported for at least 5 years so we are generally good for a while, I would say 5 years for sure.

But i know  they dont fix light meters in the Leica M6.

[AceVentura1986]

23 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Why would you say the batteries are unavailable everywhere? USA is not everywhere, it is less than 5% of the entire world. It took me not even 10 minutes to find 3 random stores all around the globe where M240 and M10 batteries are in stock, I have pasted all IN STOCK screenshots for BP-SCL 5 (it is on topic after all): Austria/Germany, Singapore, New Zealand. There are MANY more stores and shops where these batteries are available. My opinion is - there is just a temporary shortage stateside.
M8/M9 batteries are NOT an issue, they are abundantly available by third parties/aftermarket.

 

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That is both very interesting and very weird that they would be unavailable in the US for six months but available elsewhere. I take your point that the US is only 5% of world’s population but it is also 25% of the world’s economy. My guess is that it also represents about 25% of Leica’s worldwide sales, if not higher. That these products would be available elsewhere but unavailable in US for so long is extremely odd. 

FWIW, I expanded my search and found they’re still back ordered in BH, Adorama, Popflash Photo, and Crutchfield’s but I did find them available in New Zealand. 

Also, the price is interesting as well you’ve listed. Using a rough one to one conversion of euros to dollars (yes, I know it’s not exactly one to one) then this battery is listed for $165, roughly what I paid for it in December but $35 less than it is listed in the US. 

Anyway, I still find it concerning that these batteries have been unavailable in the US market for six months or so and that there’s been no mention of this by Leica at all. 

[frame-it]

3 minutes ago, AceVentura1986 said:

My guess is that it also represents about 25% of Leica’s worldwide sales

really?

 

[KFo]

33 minutes ago, AceVentura1986 said:

That is both very interesting and very weird that they would be unavailable in the US for six months but available elsewhere. I take your point that the US is only 5% of world’s population but it is also 25% of the world’s economy. My guess is that it also represents about 25% of Leica’s worldwide sales, if not higher. That these products would be available elsewhere but unavailable in US for so long is extremely odd. 

FWIW, I expanded my search and found they’re still back ordered in BH, Adorama, Popflash Photo, and Crutchfield’s but I did find them available in New Zealand. 

Also, the price is interesting as well you’ve listed. Using a rough one to one conversion of euros to dollars (yes, I know it’s not exactly one to one) then this battery is listed for $165, roughly what I paid for it in December but $35 less than it is listed in the US. 

Anyway, I still find it concerning that these batteries have been unavailable in the US market for six months or so and that there’s been no mention of this by Leica at all. 

Wouldn't surprise if it were a higher proportion.  At one point in time 80% of the Porsches made were sold in the US.  Similar things but not the same: luxury goods.

[charlesphoto99]

FYI the Hong Kong Meteor listing is wrong - it's out of stock. I would presume that most of any international listings aren't actually in stock, even if they say so. This is very disconcerting. Leica either need to step up, or release the proprietary info so a third party mfg can step in. I have three between my two bodies, but sure would like a couple more for future proofing. 

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[charlesphoto99]

I can't seem to get any of these supposedly in stock M10 batteries in New Zealand to actually ship outside of NZ.