Re: [Leica] Help needed for a new purchaser

[John Collier <jbcollier@powersurfr.com>]

The archives are down while new drives are being configured (more truthfully
the list owner's house is being reconfigured).

Here is a post from the archives on graymarket equipment which is straight
from the horse's mouth so to speak:

- ----------------------------------------------------
From: "Sal DiMarco,Jr." <sdmp007@pressroom.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 10:40:59 -0400
Subject: [Leica] Gray Market

Luggers,
    Recently, much had been said, about gray 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 "gray." Anything purchased from an authorized Leica dealer
with the Leica worldwide system  is NOT gray.
    If, however, something comes in without proper documentation, and is
truly "gray," the customer is charged the normal repair rates.
    I mentioned some USA dealers, also, sell gray. 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 gray equipment, unlike Nikon USA who
simply
refuse to handle gray 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.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I also hope this clears up your confusion. I bought properly distributed
gear myself but many people are happy with their grey gear as well.

John Collier


> From: "ML" <lenonm@milwaukee.tec.wi.us>
> 
> Iım considering getting back into photography and purchasing Leica M
> gear. I have a number of questions.
> 
> Iıve answered some of my questions with searches, but my latest attempts
> to access the archives of the LUG and other groups have been
> unsuccessful in answering my latest questions --- in the past few days
> Iıve been unable to access the LUG archives search feature, getting only
> an error message.
> 
> Iım contemplating purchasing a new M6 TTL body with three lenses --- a
> significant expense. I want to make a wise purchase.
> 
> Does Leica USA honor warranties on grey-market purchases?
> 
> Canon, for example, will repair under warranty any gear whether
> grey-market or USA if shown a valid sales receipt, regardless of how it
> was imported into the US. Nikon, apparently, wonıt touch gear that isnıt
> accompanied by a USA warranty. So, where does Leica stand?
> 
> If Leica does not honor any warranties on grey-market gear, is it
> sensible to purchase grey-market Leica lenses, bodies, etc.? I might
> save $400+ on grey-market gear.
> 
> Is grey-market Leica gear a sensible route to take?
> 
> If so, who would you folks recommend as a good dealer? (Itıs interesting
> that B&H does not advertise Leica grey-market gear --- unfortunate, as I
> trust them.)
> 
> I have more questions, but Iıll stop here for now.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Bruce
> 
> 
> 
>