Re: [Leica] LEICAUSA

["Jim Laurel" <JimLaurel@earthlink.net>]

First of all, the concept of a "grey market" is very much out of step with
the times.  For the last 20 years, distribution channels have been
compressing, as competition for customers drives manufacturers to eliminate
middlemen.  The manufacturer->distributor->dealer model is an artifact of
the last century that is rapidly disappearing.

The fact that this lens came from the grey market does not change the fact
that it was manufactured by Leica and that they have an obligation to stand
by thier products during the warranty period.  Why should they be able to
shirk thier responsibility or treat customers badly just because the product
didn't move through thier approved channels?  Remember, most customers are
not as knowledgeable as people on this list.  Most of them don't know or
care to know about all the intricacies of the passport warranty, etc.  They
simply look for the right product at the right price.

Again, I would suggest that Leica deal with the problem at its source - the
dealers who dump products on the open market.  It is perfectly reasonable to
have different warranty terms for products sold in different countries.  But
when a customer buys a product with an "international warranty", that
customer has a right to service under the terms of that warranty.  It's that
simple.

- --Jim

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve LeHuray" <icommag@toad.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 12:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] LEICAUSA


> > This is in stark contrast to my experience with my Summilux 35 ASPH,
which I
> > sent in back in January under the 2-year international warranty.  Leica
has
> > never sent me any feedback about the lens.  Fortunately, I sent the lens
via
> > FedEx, and have a printout of the shipping confirmation.  Leica is now
> > telling me that it may be until September or longer until I see my lens
> > back.  Ridiculous.  I am leaving on a 11 month trip to gather material
for
> > http://www.spectare.com in September, and will probably not have this
lens
> > by then.
> >
> > This lens was part of my earliest Leica purchase, a grey market buy from
Tri
> > State Camera in New York.  Though they assured me that Leica would honor
the
> > 2-year warranty, here I am, six months later with no sign of my lens on
the
> > horizon.
> >
> > It's not right for Leica to punish customers this way.  At the time, I
was
> > ignorant of thier distribution policies, and didn't know that I'd be
> > penalized for not buying the lens from a Leica USA dealer.  I thought
that,
> > at least, they would honor the international warranty in good faith.
Issues
> > with thier distribution channels should not be the customer's concern.
> > Leica should take care of people who spend money on thier products and
deal
> > with rogue dealers like Tri-State (and the offshore dealers who dump
> > merchandise onto the grey market) separately.
> >
> > Maybe I should have had B.D. send it in for me.
> >
> > --Jim
>
>
> Jim,
> Could be that is Leica is trying to send a message to grey market
customers.
> This is a sad state of affairs but I wonder what happens if you buy a grey
> market Nikon or Cannon.
> Steve
> Annapolis
>
>