Re: [Leica] R8 generations/revisions

[John Collier <jbcollier@powersurfr.com>]

Personally why buy from someone who cannot or will not give you service. If
I have a problem with my camera, my camera store jumps to attention and
harasses the distributor until things are right. Often I will even get a
loaner. Contrast the $Y you are saving with having to pay shipping to
Germany, phone calls to find out what is up and waiting forever for it to be
done. If it is a third body, I guess it is not that much of a big deal. For
a primary camera?! Forget it. Heck, you live in NJ!!!! Why do you want to
have to send your camera to Germany!!!

Here is a post from the archives that explains how Leica Warranty works:


- -----------------
From: "Sal DiMarco,Jr."
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 10:40:59 -0400
Subject: [Leica] Grey Market

Luggers & Leggers,
    Recently, much had been said, about grey market buying and
warranties....
    Well, I ran in to Ray Tomaselli, VP of Leica Camera Inc., who oversees
the
repair department, at an opening at the Leica Gallery in New York City and I
asked how they handled these matters.
    He said when they receive a piece of equipment which was NOT imported
into the USA by them, but arrives with a properly stamped international
warranty card. They e-mail the Leica franchise holder in the country of
origin to check if it is valid, and if it is, they repair the item for the
customer without charge. Just, as Ray said, he would expect them to warranty
repair an properly registered piece of their Leica/ Minox gear. This
equipment, he
doesn't consider "grey." Anything purchased from an authorised Leica dealer
with the Leica world-wide system  is NOT grey.
    If, however, something comes in without proper documentation, and is
truly "grey," the customer is charged the normal repair rates.
    I mentioned some USA dealers, also, sell grey. Ray said all Leica
products imported by Leica Camera Inc. carry a Mylar sticker on the box
saying "Officially Distributed by Leica Camera Inc."
    Please note, they will repair grey equipment, unlike Nikon USA who
simply
refuse to handle grey market stuff, and Mamiya USA who owns the trade name
and can have US Customs confiscate the item as an illegal import.
    I hope this clears up some of the confusion.
Happy Snaps,
Sal DiMarco, Jr.
- ----------------------

> From: "Nguyen, Olivier T [AMSTA-AR-CCF]" <onguyen@pica.army.mil>
> 
> I am in US, but I buy the camera while i am in HONGKONG.
> according to your message, i think if anything wrong, i have to send the
> camera to Germany for fixing.
> I am wondering, what is the different between the leica camera around the
> world with Leica camera in USA.  would both of cameras are from leica and
> have the same spec. also quality ?  if so, why Leica center in NJ ( where i
> am living in right now) not warranty the camera?
> 
> just my wondering.  of course each company has its own policy.  I just want
> to find out what make warranty different.
> 
> From: John Collier [mailto:jbcollier@powersurfr.com]
> 
> Rather than try to outline the different distributors and their policies for
> the whole world, could you tell us where you are? As far as I know all R8
> cameras have a five year warranty. If you buy grey market, then you will
> have to send it back to Germany to have it worked on.
>
>> From: "Nguyen, Olivier T [AMSTA-AR-CCF]" <onguyen@pica.army.mil>
>> 
>> you say that the R8 come with five year warranty for USA or just for any
>> country?  and if something wrong in that 5 years period, customer just
> send
>> the camera to leica in German for warranty or send to dealer ?
>> I am very confuse with leica warranty such as passport, import, usa etc.
>> 

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