Leica Camera to close UK office.

Nobody interested by this news?

The closure will be at Milton Keynes, that is the service and support centre, something that Leica digital can not afford to be lacking.
 
Unfortunate if it's factual but I guess cost cutting is a part of life in the current global economy.
 
So they opened a shop but are closing a separate office? If I were them, I'd be looking to consolidate both to cut down on infrastructure costs.

The economy is rough everywhere, but the UK has been hit pretty hard. This could also be a reflection on demand there more than on Leicas state.
 
Have you ever been to Milton Keynes? It really makes no difference if you don't live there as sending a camera to solms or MK takes about the same time via courier. i.e. next day.
I don't see the problem from a customer service point of view. It's the turnaround time I might be worried about. Have solms got the staff to handle the extra workload?

And maybe now so many leica users are using digital leica, there isn't the same demand for repair of earlier Ms. And maybe also the MK setup doesn't have the kit or training to repair M8s and M9s. Lot of maybes involved there.
 
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As tlitody has said, in the days of 'next day delivery' across Europe it makes no sense to have a service and repair facility in each country any more. As for the scary comment 'Is Leica in trouble', hmmm, well its hardly likely they would open a shop in Mayfair of all places if they were hard up is it? Its like people live in a little bubble that only a small part of the real world encroaches upon when corporate common sense is interpreted as a failure.

Steve
 
I don't think they had any repair people there anyway - my Minilux went to Germany for repair in 2008 and my M8 will also have to go to Solms.
 
They do actually do some repairs in Milton Keynes. My M6 went there a couple of weeks ago to have one of the strap protectors on the top plate replaced. They did that (which involves removing the top plate), checked the camera over and adjusted the rangefinder and shutter speeds and posted it back for £88. It took two weeks in all but only because the technician was on holiday for the first week. Contact via phone and e-mail was all very easy and helpful too.

I haven't had a chance to test it yet but I reckon that's pretty good service and not a bad price.
 
Although we'll have to wait for Leica's statement for the full story, I'd hazard a guess that the comments posted by tiltody are pretty much on the money. Almost instant global communication services and rapid delivery systems have meant that many companies have consolidated and gone down or are contemplating going down the same road.

One example, although not a company, is the UK Diplomatic service. The government has been questioning whether they need to completely overhaul it as the days when communications back to Blighty took months, and Ambassadors on the ground made decisions, are long gone.

John
 
My experience of Leica MK has always been good - they did a wonderful CLA on my M3 about five years ago and refurbished some lenses too. Their customer service responses and service was as good as one would expect from a premium brand.
 
I can imagine that it hurts to see local resources go.

On the other hand, Europe has shrunk due to a good shipping and communication infrastructure. Making phone calls or sending emails across national European borders isn't a big deal, and since most international businesses standardize on English as a lingua franca, language won't be a problem either.

Centralizing European repairs in one location (e.g. in Solms) has the advantage that personnel training is easier and also spares warehousing becomes a lot simpler.

Nikon has done the same thing and has also concentrated its repair facilities into one location in Europe, and (also being a Nikon user myself) I haven't heard any complaints about a decrease in service quality.
 
Official Leica statement on Milton Keynes closure.

Official Leica statement on Milton Keynes closure.

There will be at least 5 jobs lost according to AP.
_____________________________________________________

Leica Camera Ltd statement regarding expansion of Leica Mayfair facilities and changes to Milton Keynes office

10 June 2010: Leica Camera Ltd has today made the following announcement regarding changes to the company:

Expansion of Leica Mayfair facilities
The company has taken the first floor of 25 Bruton Place, directly opposite the Leica Store. This is to enable on-site Leica camera sensor cleaning and other product support. This new facility is due to be operative by mid summer 2010.

Milton Keynes Service Department and product technical support
The company is proposing to restructure how it provides these services and is currently concluding an internal restructure consultation programme. Subject to completion of the consultation programme, the company is proposing to cease offering these services from Milton Keynes. The company is proposing to create three new Client Care positions to be located at Bruton Place, supporting all UK Leica owners.

Milton Keynes Warehouse
In line with many other international brands, Leica Camera Ltd is to move to European direct distribution. Ordering, billing and stock enquiries will continue via the UK Sales Desk. There will be a phased transition between closing the Milton Keynes warehouse and transferring the distribution. The Milton Keynes warehouse is due to close in mid summer.

Milton Keynes Finance, Sales Desk and Administration
These departments are due to vacate our Davy Avenue, Milton Keynes offices by mid summer, moving to a new Milton Keynes location. The registered office address of Leica Camera Ltd will switch to our Bruton Place Leica facility.
 
This is certainly not a good news for those who'll be losing their jobs. 🙁

For us who're keen on photography might not feel as worried as those people at Leica MK. I hope they'll be hired pretty soon or be able to earn their living by working on their own.

Best wishes

Ash
 
Wonder if they'll do a special edition Leica 'Milton Keynes' M9 - maybe with the the concrete cows engraved on the top plate?


John
 
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They should try to bounce back and open their business, which should be more profitable than a Leica centre with probably more overheads of all sorts. Competent service centres for rangefinders are lacking in the UK. I'd rather send my gear to the UK than to the Swiss centre, which I have been doing for fees and costs were not competitive in the UK and the quality lower. Again, sadly said, but at the end of the day, it's value for money.
 
Brian Legge said:
So they opened a shop but are closing a separate office? If I were them, I'd be looking to consolidate both to cut down on infrastructure costs.

The economy is rough everywhere, but the UK has been hit pretty hard. This could also be a reflection on demand there more than on Leicas state.
Click to expand...

agreed. Leica can afford the cost of FEDEX to Germany. Beef up the German service center; consolidate everything else to survive.
 
The MK facility is actually also important for importing equipment to the UK
I think this means things will now go direct to dealers. I am not sure on the implications of this as MK has always done the allocating. It might theoretically be better!
There was some technical support at MK but not very much. Which ever way you look at it I am certainly less inclined towards an M9 purchase. My guess is that leica are in real trouble having invested heavilly in the Mayfair project which ultimately is to do with promoting the S2 itself something of a folley. Oh dear.

Richard
 
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