Leica Camera to close UK office.

[tlitody]

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

I'm not so sure about that. Floor space in MK will be a whole lot less money than floor space in Mayfair and they just took on more in Mayfair. My guess, and it is a guess, is that MK has to go to help pay for extra floor space in Mayfair which they see as more beneficial for the company.

 

[John Lawrence]

Leica probably also reckon that Mayfair has more panache and prestige than Milton Keynes - sorry Vicky!!

Besides, prior to Milton Keynes, weren't Leica based in London?

John

 

[Lilserenity]

Leica probably also reckon that Mayfair has more panache and prestige than Milton Keynes - sorry Vicky!!

Besides, prior to Milton Keynes, weren't Leica based in London?

John

Haha you just knew I'd spot this thread 🙂

I agree, Knowlhill where Leica are based is nice as business parks go (see my Flickr pages and tap in Knowlhill) but it's no Mayfair, indeed neither is MK as a whole. So don't worry I won't start getting grouchy. 😀

As for a special edition Leica with a concrete crow engraved into it, I'd be all over that like a shot.

My dealings with Leica in MK has always been very pleasant and helpful. Even on one occassion sending out a replacement screw for M2 for free!

I believe Leica will keep some more general admin role in MK though not nearly as big a facility as they have now.

Vicky

 

[peter_n]

The official announcement says that Leica MK is closing. There was no word on redundancies but they have obtained more space in Mayfair. It's possible that some service may still be done in London or that the Mayfair facility may become just a conduit to send stuff to Solms.

 

[Richard Marks]

I'm not so sure about that. Floor space in MK will be a whole lot less money than floor space in Mayfair and they just took on more in Mayfair. My guess, and it is a guess, is that MK has to go to help pay for extra floor space in Mayfair which they see as more beneficial for the company.

I agree the MK site is being axed to help bankroll Mayfair.
id be very surpised if that was used as a base for importing though as it has pretty lousy links either for importing or distribution in the UK.
I think the Myfair adress is to try and provide a shop window for the S2 for its target market of fashion photographers. I am told many UK dealers do not want to carry the S2 as leica are insisting on a minimum purhcase of two units. Hence Leica are doing some direct marketing of the S2. My guess is that this is a very expensive project and soemthing else has had to give. Time will tell. I don think it is good news at all.

Richard

 

[Ben Z]

Historical note, may or may not prove to be relevant in the future: A few years back, the official Canadian Leica agency (distribution and service) was Kindermann. Then for some reason Leica AG took it away from them and gave it to Lisle-Kelco. Kindermann remained in business and thrived as an independent Leica repair shop, largely due to the reputation of Gerry Smith, and partly because Lisle-Kelco's repair service got a lot of complaints. Eventually L-K went bankrupt (I got some nice Leica-logo clothing from them for pennies on the dollar) and Leica consolidated all the distribution and "official" service for N. America to Leica-USA in New Jersey, where AFAIK it remains to this day. However Kindermann is still in business with Gerry Smith (who must be getting up in years now) doing his thing on repairs. I don't remember the name of the deep-voiced guy who owns (owned?) Kindermann but he was very knowledgeable and courteous (as is Gerry) especially compared to the rather (to this midwesterner) curt attitude of the folks in NJ. I don't believe Kindermann can service the M8/M9 electronics however. So perhaps the guys in the UK will go independent.

 

[Richard Marks]

Historical note, may or may not prove to be relevant in the future: A few years back, the official Canadian Leica agency (distribution and service) was Kindermann. Then for some reason Leica AG took it away from them and gave it to Lisle-Kelco. Kindermann remained in business and thrived as an independent Leica repair shop, largely due to the reputation of Gerry Smith, and partly because Lisle-Kelco's repair service got a lot of complaints. Eventually L-K went bankrupt (I got some nice Leica-logo clothing from them for pennies on the dollar) and Leica consolidated all the distribution and "official" service for N. America to Leica-USA in New Jersey, where AFAIK it remains to this day. However Kindermann is still in business with Gerry Smith (who must be getting up in years now) doing his thing on repairs. I don't remember the name of the deep-voiced guy who owns (owned?) Kindermann but he was very knowledgeable and courteous (as is Gerry) especially compared to the rather (to this midwesterner) curt attitude of the folks in NJ. I don't believe Kindermann can service the M8/M9 electronics however. So perhaps the guys in the UK will go independent.

Hi Ben

There is actually information in the British Journal of Photography Online. Apparently the technical support is being moved to Bruton Place oposite the new leica shop in central London, but the distribution is being moved to a European base as I suspected. This may well turn out to be OK from a retail perspective. Im guessing it could undermine some of the traditional relationships between UK Leica dealers and the distributor. Thye are not going to like this!

Richard

 

[Ben Z]

They'll (the dealers) live. 😀 A while ago I read someone somewhere was suggesting that with the ease of e-commerce internet website sales and the speed of international shipping these days, plus the fact many repairs end up being referred by the regional agent to Solms anyway, that Leica should consider dismantling its entire distribution/service network and split the middlemen's profit between the company and the customers. The argument that dealers are necessary for people to physically handle the mdse seems inapplicable to Leica, as most people (at least in the US) seem to buy mail-order and sight-unseen anyway.

 

[Richard Marks]

They'll (the dealers) live. 😀 A while ago I read someone somewhere was suggesting that with the ease of e-commerce internet website sales and the speed of international shipping these days, plus the fact many repairs end up being referred by the regional agent to Solms anyway, that Leica should consider dismantling its entire distribution/service network and split the middlemen's profit between the company and the customers. The argument that dealers are necessary for people to physically handle the mdse seems inapplicable to Leica, as most people (at least in the US) seem to buy mail-order and sight-unseen anyway.

I can see some value in this, but can you imagine Leica doing discounts for online 'factory' sales? They would simply pocket the increased profits. As far as repeirs go, I feel strongly that one should not have to put ones camera on a boat or airplane for repairs. Nikon Canon and Hasselblad seem to manage to provide international support. I realise leica are only a small company so we should be nice to them, its just they could be a larger company if a bit more open minded!

best wishes

Richard

 

[imokruok]

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.

My thought as well when reading the headline. European companies are consolidating operations because the postal and express delivery services make it highly redundant to have multiple bases of operations.

As an anecdote, on occasion I will order something from amazon.co.uk or amazon.de that I can't get from amazon.com in the States. In both cases the packages have come from Germany...

 

[Richard Marks]

My thought as well when reading the headline. European companies are consolidating operations because the postal and express delivery services make it highly redundant to have multiple bases of operations.

As an anecdote, on occasion I will order something from amazon.co.uk or amazon.de that I can't get from amazon.com in the States. In both cases the packages have come from Germany...

Professionals certainly will not be very happy with this. Canon Nikon Hasselblad all have UK bases. I dont have a problem with centralised distribution but service support is a different argument entirely in my opinion. I think the Mayfair project is equally as sensible as the S2 project.

Best wishes

Richard