Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/07/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 11:31 PM 7/3/98 -0400, you wrote: > >I would have thought, that when buys a $2000 camera body, to which one adds >a $1000 lens, that nothing better damn well go wrong with it! >Regards, > >Denton Taylor > Is it possible that you are really this naive? Is there anything manufactured in the world that neither never breaks, nor can be broken? Oh yeah... I forgot... Bruce Willis. It's more than just a Leica breaking all by itself. Here in the US, if you drop, run over, kick, drown, throw it out of an airplane (you'll have to find it though), use it as a hockey puck... whatever... Leica will fix or replace your camera free, within the passport warranty time, which right now is three years. So it's not always a manufacturing problem. Sometimes the owner is the problem. Without a passport... it could cost you, big time, and big money. And accidents do happen. Remember, they are "accidents," not "on purposes." Do we pay for this protection? Yes. How much? The difference between gray market prices and authorized dealer prices. It's insignificant. Really insignificant when you add in the service you get from a good authorized Leica dealer. Look at the prices at K&S last month. Approximately 20% off of the normal prices. That put a new M6, with passport warranty, at $16xx (I don't remember exactly.) Exactly the price of a good used M6. My passport warranted new 35/1.4 ASPH was $2335. Someone will say "I got one for $2295" or "$2195". I personally don't care. Another 5% off for a gray market lens just does not compute. No matter how you arrange the parts, the gray market package is a loser. IMHO. I'll continue my good relationship with my local authorized Leica dealer. Jim