How to buy an M10 cheap

I plan to be in Wetzlar later this year and will find out the "factory" price. I doubt there will be enough money in my account to buy one, though. Sigh.
 
Note that if you actually do travel to the EU for such a purchase, you will not get the full VAT refunded at the regular airport tax refund booths. You will get about half of it back. Best to order online and have it shipped to you for full VAT exemption. Bonus when dealing with Leicashop is free international shipping with orders over 500 Euro.

There is a way to get full VAT refund if purchased in person, but it involves having the refund paperwork stamped by an EU customs official after passing through passport exit control at the airport (when heading to your gate - they will want to see the item, so don't pack in your checked baggage), then returning that paperwork to the vendor who will then refund the full VAT amount. It means you will have to do so in person on a future visit. Some vendors may do it via post and issue the refund to your CC, but you should confirm this with them prior to purchase.

In other words, the least hassle is to have it shipped to you, assuming it arrives in proper working order, etc. Of course it also means it will be processed by your country's customs with duty & VAT applied, if applicable.

But yes, the EU price for Leica gear is somewhat lower than other areas, such as the North American market.
 
sepiareverb said:
Every recent Leica camera I've purchased has German/English manual in one book.
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Thanks, my M9 did and that was purchased new in 2009, but purchased from Precision Camera in Austin.

In looking at the price of a new 262, purchasing through this shop saves close to $1,000 in taxes and discounts. Although I do need to see what popflash is selling the camera for.
 
When the Leica X1 first came out it was $2000 in the US and not in stock. I bought one from a well known Leica store in Austria and even with the astronomical shipping, I saved $125. Yes, this works.
 
jsrockit said:
When the Leica X1 first came out it was $2000 in the US and not in stock. I bought one from a well known Leica store in Austria and even with the astronomical shipping, I saved $125. Yes, this works.
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They ship for free if the purchase if greater than 500 Euros.
 
Popflash and other stores sometimes sell "demo" units with full warranty that I think are just silent discounts / workaround Leica enforced MSRP. I got a Leica Q this way, and there was absolutely no sign that the thing had ever been taken out of the box.

That said, it may be some months before the M10 shows up this way while supply is still tight.

Overseas seems to be the way to go for US buyers currently.
A lot of US prices are punishingly high compared to Europe & Asia markets.
There were big differences 6-12 months ago, and are even more ridiculous with how cheap GBP/EUR is to USD now.
 
I've been watching SL prices and been surprised just how cheaper it is outside US.. and it's pricing versus M10. In some markets, SL cost > M10 cost, in other markets, the opposite. There is little rhyme or reason.

UK SL price is a full $1500 less, and they throw in a free 2nd battery ($250 value).
HK SL price is a full $2000 less.
 
kkdanamatt said:
Cameras are duty free coming into the US.
Check http://www.usitc.gov/publications/docs/tata/hts/bychapter/1201c90.pdf, section 9006.
Now, if you bought a dozen Leicas at a time, that might be a different story.
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This is a popular internet myth (check the tables): (1) different types of camera and lenses are treated differently. (2) different countries (for example Germany vs. UK vs. Japan vs. Korea and/or Canada) are treated differently, and (3) there is a threshold ($2k?) that the M10 certainly exceeds. I have paid customs on a lens coming from the UK, for instance.

A more detailed version of the above document is here:

https://www.usitc.gov/publications/docs/tata/hts/bychapter/1400htsa.pdf

(the acronyms in the tables are important)

Roland.
 
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