Re: [Leica] Re: Newbie Leica questions...buy new!

["Bryan Caldwell" <bcaldwell@softcom.net>]

Jim,

Think carefully about the Passport warranty. If you are not a professional
photographer, consider carrying a photo equipment rider on an existing
homeowner's or renter's policy. You can get all-risk coverage for very
reasonable rates and be covered for Passport's big omissions - theft, fire,
or total destruction in which the camera/lens is lost.  If you think about
it, isn't theft probably the biggest risk we take using Leicas?

If you buy mint condition used from a reputable dealer and simply add the
equipment to your existing policy, you save a tremendous amount over buying
new with the Passport warranty. If, on the other hand, your insurance
company considers you a "professional," the rates and deductibles can be
prohibitive.

I don't have the exact figures at hand, but I think I have my Leicas and a
few miscellaneous other pieces (covered at a limit of $15,000) on an
"all-risk" rider to my homeowners policy for less than $150.00/year.  This
covers everything the Passport does as well as theft, fire, or some disaster
where the item wasn't recoverable and couldn't be returned to Leica. I think
that there are a couple LUGGERs in the insurance business who can provide a
better analysis. It's true that the Passport warranty also covers repairs
that are not the result of damage or misadventure, but, again, I think that
if you weigh the expenses, you can come out way ahead by buying without the
Passport coverage.

I also think that if you buy from a reputable used equipment dealer, you're
probably not going to have problems "out-of-the-box." Anything that's been
moderately or lightly used will have had problems show up if they existed
out-of-the-box. And, any reputable dealer is going to check out the
merchandise before selling it, as well as offer you some sort of reasonable
warranty and return privilege. Of course, anything is possible.

I probably should have prefaced the above by saying that, while I don't
intentionally abuse my equipment, I don't baby it either. I don't need the
thrill of pulling a new Leica out of a sealed box for the first time,
knowing I'm the first to use it. I look for perfect optics and mechanics and
the cosmetics aren't nearly as important. It's always more sense to me to
buy used. But, and I can't stress this enough, buy from a reputable dealer
with whom you can develop a relationship of trust.


Bryan

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Laurel <jplaurel@microsoft.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 1999 7:16 PM
Subject: RE: [Leica] Re: Newbie Leica questions...buy new!


> Hi Bryan,
>
> >>Perhaps if you bought used you'd get equipment that already had the
> "out-of-the-box defects" worked out.<<
>
> You're probably right!  I had to laugh when I read your post, because that
> is almost exactly the same thing Land Rover owners say.  It's also why on
> the JD Power Quality Survey, Land Rover is near the bottom for new cars,
but
> near the top as a used car.  Reason?  Because it's a fundamentally good
> design that's assembled poorly.  The dealers sort out the "teething"
> problems during the warranty period.
>
> You've got to admit...that no-fault Passport warranty offers great peace
of
> mind, especially if your equipment gets alot of use.  I'm thinking of
> extending it on some of my gear.
>
> --Jim
>