M9 with no dealer warranty

Ron (Netherlands)

Ron (Netherlands)

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I was offered an M9 from Germany and was tempted since one can't get one within a reasonable time in the Netherlands. However my local Leica reseller stated he would not take over the warranty for a camera not sold by him. The camera in question comes with a bill stating the original purchase date but lacks a filled out warranty card and a stamp from the local German dealer.

I guess I would still have the worldwide Leitz warranty, but would seem to lack local service.

Would like to know your thoughts about this. (I know in that in the US they work with transferable warranty passports, different from the EU system).

Further it seems one of the first ten M9's, did they have more issues than the later ones (whitebalance and cardreader issues?
 
Hi,

Well, the local dealer doesn't have to offer the service as I'm sure you can go direct to Leica in your country. In England I've always found them very helpful with very old second-hand stuff. And have been offered the remainder of the guarantee based on the original purchase date for modern second-hand cameras.

The only problem might arise if the German and Dutch guarantees are different but I can't see that happening.

Leica cameras are very reliable in my experience: my experience is based on several of them that suffered from accidents, old age and one recall.

Regards, David
 
Short-minded dealer. Mine took care of my M8 repairs (bought somewhere else), and I ended up buying the M9 from him as sign of trust.
 
Ron (Netherlands) said:
I was offered an M9 from Germany and was tempted since one can't get one within a reasonable time in the Netherlands. However my local Leica reseller stated he would not take over the warranty for a camera not sold by him. The camera in question comes with a bill stating the original purchase date but lacks a filled out warranty card and a stamp from the local German dealer.

I guess I would still have the worldwide Leitz warranty, but would seem to lack local service.

Would like to know your thoughts about this. (I know in that in the US they work with transferable warranty passports, different from the EU system).

Further it seems one of the first ten M9's, did they have more issues than the later ones (whitebalance and cardreader issues?
Click to expand...

In Germany it's not common and necessary to fill out the warrenty card. It's enough to have the bill/invoice of the dealer with the selling date on it.

Edit: Of course no other dealer takes over the warrenty from another dealer. You either deal with the original dealer who sold the camera or directly with leica.
 
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The warranty is valid all over Europe, there is no such thing as local warranty.
I don't know what is the dealer issue, but I would talk to Leica about him.
 
The issue for the dealer is mainly - I guess - about who has to make the servicing costs (shipping the camera under assurance to Leitz in Solms). The local dealer doesn't want to make that costs for a camera not sold by him + all the hassle: btw it is the official Leitz dealer/reseller in The Hague.
 
I suppose that all the warranty expenses are supported by Leica and not by the dealer, at least it was like this with Minolta.
I believe he wants to sell to make a profit and use every method he can to avoid loosing a sale IMHO.
 
In my experience (in the US) the camera gets shipped back to Solms for repair anyway. All the local dealer saves you is shipping. I'd let him know you won't be buying any lenses or other accessories from him.
 
Vitor said:
The warranty is valid all over Europe, there is no such thing as local warranty.
I don't know what is the dealer issue, but I would talk to Leica about him.
Click to expand...

I bought my US grey import M8 from Popflash. When I first received the M8 I had a receipt but no warranty card. Popflash told me there was a 2 year Leica warranty on the camera. When I thought I had a problem I contacted Leica and they said to send it directly to them in Germany (I live in Switzerland), not to the Leica distributor in Switzerland.
 
Bit of a strange way of binding your customers.

What place in germany is it bought?
The change that you will have to take use of the guarantee is quite small (I never had a product with I had to send back, except products with are doa), and Germany isn't that far away. And by mail its also quickly done.

And if its a store from the other side of germany (berlin oid), its a nice reason to take a short holiday 🙂

But, the only thing I can imagine the dealer isn't willing to pay, is the costs of sending it to leica, and that can't be that much.
I would try another leica dealer first. Maybe camera express, or Nivo Schweitzer in Amsterdam (my dealer, good service)
 
nksyoon said:
I bought my US grey import M8 from Popflash. When I first received the M8 I had a receipt but no warranty card. Popflash told me there was a 2 year Leica warranty on the camera. When I thought I had a problem I contacted Leica and they said to send it directly to them in Germany (I live in Switzerland), not to the Leica distributor in Switzerland.
Click to expand...
I should have said European Union, for other countries in Europe outside EU are considered differently. Thanks for pointing that out.
 
I really think you should pass on this opportunity. But, first could you tell me what is the dealers name and number? If I was in your position, I would buy it and never give it a second thought. As for your dealer, I suppose if you were traveling and you had to replace a body, he wouldn't service that either? A very short sighted person is he. I can understand wanting to make the sale. But, he should be happy that one of his customers was able to attain what he wanted. When he was not able to supply it. I really can not take this constant greed in the world.
 
Just for clearness sake, the camera is second hand, it was bought with a German dealer in october 2009, but was offered to me by the first owner. Bit strange though, there was no hard reason given to sell it already - thats why I fear one or more issues with the camera - it was bought in Hamburg - quite far from the Netherlands and not a typical holiday resort imho.

edit: he might have read this thread, I got just a message he has sold the camera to someone who paid instantly.
 
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Ron,
The opportunity has passed but I'll still write this as it may be of use to others at some point or another. I recently bought an M8.2 second hand from a dealer in the UK. Camera came with a passport application which had not been filled in but had no dealer stamp and the dealer did not specifically know the original dealer who sold it when new, or the original date it was bought. I asked him if he was able to contact the original owner who traded it in for another camera to get some info, as the camera was sold to me with the claim that it came with a full two year Passport warranty. The dealer wasn't very helpful but after some pushing was able to tell me where it was originally sold (Wilkinsons, but they have a number of branches)
Anyway I decided to contact Leica UK directly, explain the situation and they were most helpful. They issued me with a passport dated from the date it was supplied to the dealer, so about six months previous. I now have a Passport valid until April 2011. I can't sing Leicas praises enough!

How do I add a link to my Flickr in my posts, anyone?
 
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