Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/01/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Mike-- I've just responded to the issue of warranty protection. On to gray market, and the authorized dealer market. On the surface it would seem that gray marketeers hurt our business. But there isn't anything Leica USA can do about non-authorized dealers who sell gray market products. They can import anything they like, but they often will do so and then pass the product off on an unsuspecting U.S. customer who believes he or she is getting the U.S. warranty (and consequently, the convenience of sending it to the repair facility in the U.S., rather than Germany). Frankly, I don't really care to waste my time worrying about it. I've got more important things to do, like making sure someone can get his outfit assembled for an upcoming African safari. Or getting that rare Vario-Elmar-R lens to a pro who needs it for some special assignment. Or finding the last M6 Titanium LE and a Summicron lens in the country for someone who's had his heart set on it for a long time. Or replacing a lens cap! There have been authorized dealers selling gray market. That's another story, and it's ugly. Suffice it to say that it's unethical to present oneself as an authorized dealer, advertise U.S. products, and then sell someone gray market product instead. There are those who feel that authorized dealers who sell at below-MAP prices are hurting the rest of the dealers who honor their agreement with Leica to stay at MAP (minimum advertised pricing). That may be. I'm not going to blast or bad-mouth anyone who is an authorized dealer. Everyone has his or her way of doing business. I will tell my potential and existing clients how we like to do business, and they can choose what suits them. I'll even refer them to someone else if I feel that it will best suit their needs. But in the end, I honor my agreement with Leica so that I can continue to do business with them, and continue to provide good products with U.S. warranties to customers who are looking for more than just a cheap deal. Those cut-rate prices from dealers who can prop up their Leica sales with sales of other products carry a cost for the client. I've had many clients come to us who tell me that they've gotten a good price, but bad service. That they really appreciate being treated fairly, getting a reasonable price, and having a relationship with a dealer whom they can trust and work with into the future. When I receive an email like that, that says, "Y'all done good," it makes my day, believe me! Everyone is looking for something different. If it's cut-rate prices you want with no care of where the warranty will be serviced, then gray market is fine. If you want a deal on a U.S. product, you know where you can go to get that, too. Maybe the customer service will be good, and maybe it won't. But there are dealers who will treat you well every time, who know your name, who you can count as a friend. This kind of relationship means something to many folks, be they amateurs, advanced amateurs, professionals, or whatever. You can probably tell which of these types of dealerships we aspire to be, and are. :) Kit McChesney - -- www.acmefoto.com | kitmc@acmefoto.com - -- - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Michael Cahill Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 10:55 AM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: Re: [Leica] Tri Elmar Repair On 1/20/03 11:22 AM, "Kit McChesney | Acmefoto" <kitmc@acmefoto.com> wrote: > Mike-- > > I'm not saying that Leica won't honor the warranties. I think I've been > misunderstood. I'm saying that if you have a non-US warranty, the piece will > be sent to Germany for repairs. That's all. And you're not paying extra for > a U.S. warranty. It's part of the price of the lens. The Passport Warranty > is the warranty on U.S. products. > > I'm a licensed dealer. I never recommend buying gray market because you > don't know what you're getting. And you're not getting a U.S. warranty, > which most folks prize quite a bit! > > Kit > Kit- On most products I'd agree. Still, the whole concept of paying additional to assure domestic repair on a VERY expensive piece of equipment because you bought it overseas is absolutely goofy. The lens was purchased at Foto-Hobby Rahn in Frankfurt, reportedly EU's largest Leica dealer, not "gray" market at all. This is all moot as far as the Tri-Elmar goes, gray market, black market, stolen.....whatever, it has to be repaired in Germany. Leica NJ does not repair this lens. My point is that if anyone is planning to buy a 3E call Deltainternational, HKSupplies or any other "gray" market dealer and save $500+ over what B+H is charging. I'm talking $525 here (B+H vs HKSupplies), not a couple of hundred bucks. BTW, as a registered dealer, why aren't you and the other dealers ranting at Leica over this issue? You, as a dealer, lose business to the gray market all the time. I love the camera, even if the company that makes it needs a kick in the ass. I guess, to paraphrase B.D., I don't worship at the altar of Solms either :-) Take care, Mike _________________________________________ Michael Cahill Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 www.michaelcahill.com mcahill2@comcast.net - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html