dkCambridgeshire Posted September 10, 2009 Share #1 Posted September 10, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) According to BJP the new Leica Store in Mayfair has opened British Journal of Photography - Leica opens London-based store Cheers dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 10, 2009 Posted September 10, 2009 Hi dkCambridgeshire, Take a look here Leica Mayfair Store Open. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted September 10, 2009 Share #2 Posted September 10, 2009 Leica Store Mayfair I wonder if they will place an advert at the top of the page... they should do, really I see that they open 15 minutes later than usual on Wednesdays - staff training? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arminw Posted September 10, 2009 Share #3 Posted September 10, 2009 funny , shouldn't one expect an invite to the opening, or at least some news about it as a good LEICA CUSTOMER ? I had no Idea it opened ..:confused: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted September 10, 2009 The store is selling the full range of Leica products. Official opening is today 10am and there must have been some invited guests. Cheers dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelap Posted September 10, 2009 Share #5 Posted September 10, 2009 It's definitely open.......just bought my M9 there! Nice place, nice people. Quite a few Leica UK people down from MK too, including the MD. Worth a visit if you are in town. Had been hoping to buy from Red Dot, but Ivor's stock was spoken for and a waiting list too. Saw Brian there again and had a tour of the M9 plus sample prints from Brett. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelap Posted September 10, 2009 Share #6 Posted September 10, 2009 funny , shouldn't one expect an invite to the opening, or at least some news about it as a good LEICA CUSTOMER ? I had no Idea it opened ..:confused: Yes, no idea also, even though I'd been keeping an eye out for it. I found out about it from talking to the guest pro (sorry, didn't get his name) at R G lewis, who said that he'd been at a launch party there yesterday and that they were definitely opening for business today. He didn't have their number (and strangely directory enquiries wouldn't give it to me either, as they only had an ex directory number for them!) so, as I wanted an M9 today if possible (off on a trip on Sunday) I decided to head over there anyway. I guessed that since it seemed that hardly anyone knew they were open, they were the most likely place in London to have stock that wasn't spoken for, luckily for me I was right and they had four. They are in a good location in Bruton Square, just off Conduit Street. It's a quietish spot away from the crowds but still in the midst of Mayfair. There are a couple of places to eat and drink nearby and what looked like a nice pub just a few doors down from them. As I said well worth a visit if you are in town, you'll have to buzz the door to be let in but once inside the staff are friendly and helpful. The store's aim is to have virtually everything in the range in stock, but at list prices only and no used kit so as not to tread on the toes of the established dealers in that respect.. Upstairs there is studio space and rooms for seminars too. I was told that they expect to kick off with half-day M9 seminars hosted by Brett. Details will hopefully appear on the website soon. Leica Camera AG - Home Email: welcome@leica-storemayfair.co.uk Telephone: +44 207 495 2216 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted September 10, 2009 Share #7 Posted September 10, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) It's definitely open.......just bought my M9 there! So did I Agree this is a very nice and generously outfitted place, friendly staff and sheltered yet externely central location. Two thumbs up! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamr Posted September 12, 2009 Share #8 Posted September 12, 2009 I was at Leica in Milton Keynes last Monday and the service department couldn't tell me when the store was to open. It is a need to know basis only. I get Leica dealers phoning me for technical and general Leica information as they think I am a more reliable source. It appears that Leica are real shits towards the general Leica dealerships. The Leica service department stated that they had no need to ever sign an NDA as they never know what is going on anyway. Sounds like a typical modern day corporation to me. I still think that Leica products are great, but the management behind it all have zero idea how to deal with the human race. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted September 13, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted September 13, 2009 Wonder what Richard Caplan's reaction is to having the new store in such close proximity to his business? I wonder if it will still be the place, 'where the elite meet and greet' if there might be a more interesting place to visit now? Perhaps some competition will result in customer benefits. Cheers dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglouis Posted September 13, 2009 Share #10 Posted September 13, 2009 Makes me feel a little uncomfortable, I'd rather support dealers who have built up a relationship with me. I don't really need Leica to sell me equipment, I'd rather they lowered their overheads and reduced their prices. LouisB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmitch Posted September 13, 2009 Share #11 Posted September 13, 2009 The new shop may actually help dealers if it succeeds in further building / enhancing the brand. The studio / demo areas could provide support and reassurance for professional buyers, particularly of the S2 and a London training / seminar centre would also be supportive to users and prospective buyers generally. I think there is good loyalty to the likes of RG Lewis and Red Dot in London, I do wonder how much of their business is new rather than used stock - the new would presumably suffer as a proportion of all new Leica sales, but if volumes are up for everyone there may be room in the marketplace for it to be a win-win. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigSplash Posted September 13, 2009 Share #12 Posted September 13, 2009 The new shop may actually help dealers if it succeeds in further building / enhancing the brand. The studio / demo areas could provide support and reassurance for professional buyers, particularly of the S2 and a London training / seminar centre would also be supportive to users and prospective buyers generally. I think there is good loyalty to the likes of RG Lewis and Red Dot in London, I do wonder how much of their business is new rather than used stock - the new would presumably suffer as a proportion of all new Leica sales, but if volumes are up for everyone there may be room in the marketplace for it to be a win-win. I am very satisfied with Len and his team at RG Lewis so I shall continue to buy from him. That said I welcome the opportunity to see everything that Leica makes at one place and possibly buy items such as flash covers for a M4 or a hard to find lens cap. What will be interesting is how the Mayfair shop is able to supply products that are on back order at RG Lewis and Red Dot Cameras ...I guess the M9 is a case in point as Len has stated that he can sell 50 of the M9 bodies immediately but cannot get them, which is also true for Noctilux (on back order since months apparently) and is likely to happen for S2 also next month. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Lemon Posted September 14, 2009 Share #13 Posted September 14, 2009 I owuld be very, very concerned if I was a Leica dealership in London. The big issue will be stock and who gets it first - I run channel operations and my view (been doing this for many years) if you mix your 'go to markets' with direct and in-direct channels you are asking for trouble. I personally will be supporting my local dealer - as long as the price is right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamr Posted September 15, 2009 Share #14 Posted September 15, 2009 I owuld be very, very concerned if I was a Leica dealership in London. The big issue will be stock and who gets it first - I run channel operations and my view (been doing this for many years) if you mix your 'go to markets' with direct and in-direct channels you are asking for trouble. I personally will be supporting my local dealer - as long as the price is right. I visited the shop yesterday. A very nice environment. The pricing of all items that I could see are list price. M7 was £2960 (I think). I think that dealers sell M7 for less than list. The M9 is £4850 which is the norm, but while they have large orders for them people don't mind paying the price. So I imagine that is where dealers will score on pricing (generally). The M9 was very nice. Loved the shutter and the soft release. It they have improved the processing time then it is slower than an M8. I think I would prefer the M8.2 with sapphire glass and 2 metre framing myself. An M9 with 2 metre frame accuracy would probably do it for me, but processing speed and sapphire glass would be the icing on the cake. I had a brief demo of the Pradovit D-1200. I hadn't anticipated a demo so I did not take any of my images so I was shown a Blu Ray film instead. I was very impressed. Nice colours, brightness and very pleasing contrast range. I did see an S2 from a distance, but the interested party took it out for a picture taking session so I didn't get my hands on it. At the moment no Leica spending for me. I am still into my DMR / R system to want to use anything newer. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
microview Posted September 16, 2009 Share #15 Posted September 16, 2009 Went there Monday am. Very nice people, and incidentally they thought they would NOT be prioritised at the expense of other established London dealers regarding supplies of M9. I rather suspect that younger generation customers would prefer the people to the Len/Ivor type of proprietor. Even as a septuagenerian I certainly felt more 'at home'. And Karen was more than helpful when I phoned her later that day, four minutes before closing time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Lemon Posted September 17, 2009 Share #16 Posted September 17, 2009 Microview - thats good to hear. I assume the London dealers will be left with the secondhand market and 'that personal touch' regarding customer service. Although it appears your comments lead to the Leica shop adopting this culture and continuing the leica 'family' ethos which this forum enshews. As far as I am concerned the more Leica dealers there are the better to drive down prices - just that my gut feel leads me to think the London dealership network will lose out along the line. Hope I am wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted September 20, 2009 Share #17 Posted September 20, 2009 ....................................................What will be interesting is how the Mayfair shop is able to supply products that are on back order at RG Lewis and Red Dot Cameras ...I guess the M9 is a case in point as Len has stated that he can sell 50 of the M9 bodies immediately but cannot get them, which is also true for Noctilux (on back order since months apparently) and is likely to happen for S2 also next month. I visited the Leica shop on Friday to have a look at the premises and also to try out the 24 Summilux. When I asked to look at the Summilux I explained up front that I wouldn't be buying from them since they didn't part exchange. They were quite OK with that, very courteous and let me try out the lens. BTW they haven't seen or handled a Noctilux ASPH yet. There is an upstairs projection room with workstations, a separate studio and a conference room. attached: Leica shop as seen by 24 Summilux at f 1.4, M9 Bob. 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! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/96150-leica-mayfair-store-open/?do=findComment&comment=1042675'>More sharing options...
Guest BigSplash Posted September 28, 2009 Share #18 Posted September 28, 2009 I visited last week the new London Mayfair Leica UK showroom located just off Berkeley Square, not far from the Rolls Royce dealer should you need a service. I have not seen any reports posted and as I was pupil No1 at Bretts excellent training workshop (see thread in M9 forum) here are my impressions: The shop is located at 34 Bruton Place (a small side road just off the Northern tip of the square). The downstairs shop has been completely newly fitted out and is similar to other Leica Boutiques.It boasts: A very extensive set of expensive Leica kit ( I saw two M9 bodies on display ...steel and black finish, plus S2 camera with some S2 lenses, the new Pradovitand the new laser range finder for golfers, plus various sports optics) Staff who seem to know their Leica and many clients who have discovered the place.. Ongoing activities to complete the offer....and here I would suggest that hopefully it will in future be possible to obtain small items such as batteries, M lens rear cap, M6 flash socket covers etc. something that they are looking at. [*]Upstairs they have a classroom, a meeting room with hifi system and Pradovit in the ceiling and a very impressive studio with a huge lighting system. Frankly I have not seen anything so impressive as that studio...which is clearly for S2 clients to be trained. I noted: It was impossible last week to see the Pradovit as window blinds have as yet to be fitted, and there is a dividing screen to be fitted also to separate the studio area. Clean and fresh environment. No Pradovit brochures...but I did get a M9 brochure! Anyhow basically some teething issues that are being worked on. A very enthusiastic team of people that seem to be proud working for Leica and see the future as tough but achievable. Basically Leica have done a great job.......now all they have to do is fix the teething issues and achieve harmony with their dealers in London. I personally shall continue to buy my kit from RG Lewis who have served me well since years, or Red Dot cameras who have a great secondhand collection of lenses etc. That said having the factory shop in London should be and I believe is good news. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted September 28, 2009 Share #19 Posted September 28, 2009 have not seen any reports posted and as I was pupil No1 http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/97994-leica-mayfair-store-open.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneth Posted September 28, 2009 Share #20 Posted September 28, 2009 All that worrying over nothing. Did you not expect a company such as Leica to do a good job. I am sure they will do very well. I wonder if they would be interested in having a link to thier boutique on this forum? They will certainly eat into Red Dots market share but that is commercial business it happens in many companies. Maybe The Classic Camera knew the writing was on the wall and got into bed with Nikon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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