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Dealer's response to order cancel.


alexr

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I am in Nova Scotia and have ordered with a dealer in Ontario (no dealers in NS any more). I was required to put down a $1000 non-refundable deposit to order the M8. This would have to be a very disappointing camera for me to say no to it!

 

Chris

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You could always shame them by standing in a public location near there store with a sign explaining there poor customer service and refussal to return your deposit on a faulty camera. I did this once and it only took a few minutes before I was offered my refund and I left satisfied. They could not stand the immediate bad publicity you would cause them.

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Oddly enough this was more of less what I was told when I rang them a couple of weeks ago.

 

I'm really suprised at them refusing the delivery since I would imagine they would have no problems whatsoever selling the camera to another buyer.

 

 

That's exactly my thought. This sort of service from Classic Camera doesn't surprise me but what does surprise me is they must be mad to take this hard line when they know they can sell your place in the queue several times over. In fact they can probably make a premium by ringing a desperate customer and promising him to bump him up the queue for a premium.

 

That is, unless of course, they might be doing all of the above and wanting to keep the deposit?

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Alex, are you sure that you are dealing with the owner/manager? If not, that would be the first step.

 

I think dealing with the owner/manager is the problem. The other chaps who work in there are okay.

 

Classic Camera has always had a snobbish air of superiority about it but ultimately it is just a dealership - the staff may be better educated, but they are still cut from the same cloth as the blokes who sell cheap clothes at a market stall or second hand cars on some oily forecourt in the East End. The mentality is the same: get hold of as much of your customer's money as possible and as quickly as possible. Even so, I'm still surprised that Classic Camera are being so foolish and short-sighted about 300 quid.

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Alex, if Classic Camera refuse to budge I suggest that you do what some of the others have suggested and simply take delivery of the camera. I wouldn't give the dealer the satisfaction of taking £300 in this way. A new-in-box M8 will not be difficult to shift on eBay - especially as Leica UK stock comes with a full and transferable passport warranty.

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Alex,

 

What does it say on the receipt they gave you for your deposit? I ordered one of the new 28mm Elmarits from them and at the bottom of my deposit receipt it says deposits are not refundable.

 

Having said that I agree with other posters that they are daft not to oblige you. I suggest waiting until after the anticipated Leica announcement (supposedly on Monday) and if you are still not satisfied with what Leica are proposing go back to them and ask nicely but firmly for your deposit. If they don't agree write them a letter requesting them to return the deposit and indicating further "Small Claims" action if they don't comply. I think you will then have your money back.

 

Classic Camera are an odd bunch. It depends who you deal with there - some are very nice and some are pr***s.

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The fact that they initially agreed to refund your deposit can be viewed as a modification of any pre-existing agreement. Also, the standard in the industry -- at least here in the states -- are that they deposits are refundable. I can imagine exceptions (e.g., the dealer ordered an extra camera based on your deposit). It would hard for the dealwer to prove any damages, since he'll likely be able to sell the camera to someone else anyway. The bad publicity has probably cost the dealer more then 299 pounds in business.

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And let them know that if they do not refund your deposit, then you'll go on a one man campaign to promulgate your experience -- truthfully told -- thoughout the internet.

 

This is not an item specially ordered from Leica just for you. Even if you did not place a deposit, they would have likely ordered a bunch of M8s to have as inventory.

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Sorry to hear your story Alex, hope you can resolve it. As others have said they are mad not to just give you a refund. I haven't had any dealings with Classic, only to phone them once to inquire if they had a particular lens in S/H. I can't say I warmed to the person on the phone... who ever it was.

 

A 10% deposit sounds a little steep. Robert White only requires £100. Caplan, who I bought my DMR and all my R bits from, required nothing. I'm about 15th on their list. I went to their open day last week and they told me although they had sold about three (I think) I shouldn't expect mine until the new year. Which is fine by me, gives them a little time to sort things.

 

After reading this thread I'll being giving Classic a wide berth in the future.

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A 10% deposit sounds a little steep. Robert White only requires £100.

 

Indeed, I paid £100 deposit at RW but I have paid £500 to ffordes for my second one. That order is on hold simply because I would prefer the second one to be sorted. I'm not cancelling my order though. Depending on who you believe, Leica are currently not shipping and have pulled all cameras still in the distribution channel back.

 

Far better to get those unused cameras back which can be updated and sold as new; if they do exchange early cameras and update them as Guy suggests, they would be "factory re-furbished" and sold at a discount.

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