Re: [Leica] "B Grade" Leica gear????

[Bill Satterfield <cwsat@cyberhighway.net>]

This sounds like BS to me.

Austin Franklin wrote:

> I just got off the phone with a camera dealer in California (he was not
> trying to sell me anything) who insists that all camera manufacturers sell
> A grade and B grade equipment...even C and lower grade.
>
> He claims the B grade is what is sold by the mail order outfits (typically
> called "Gray Market")...and is why they can offer the lower prices.
>
> The only marking distinction between any of the grades is a sticker on the
> item...and he said these stores just pull the stickers off.  Manufacturers
> will always have some items that don't 'meet spec' and these 'inferior'
> grade products, are what become B grade products, as opposed to fixing
> them, or throwing them away...
>
> It tees me off that if this is true, the manufacturers don't physically
> mark the products as B grade...  He said Hasselblad sells this grade as
> 'demo' equipment...but again, the item it self isn't marked with anything
> but a sticker.  What about the used equipment market, how do you know if
> you are buying an A grade or a B grade?
>
> It would appear that even new equipment can be 'not so good'...
>
> What does anyone else know about this?