Now's the Time to Purchase M8

[PhotoMat]

I agree that the used market is overpriced, but if you are looking at the purchase of a new M8, I stand by my original assertion.

BTW, at today's exchange rate, a brand new M8, including shipping to the U.S., is $2,689. Not too bad, in my book. But if the M8 is not your cup of tea, then no price will seem reasonable.

 

[Richard Marks]

I agree that the used market is overpriced, but if you are looking at the purchase of a new M8, I stand by my original assertion.

BTW, at today's exchange rate, a brand new M8, including shipping to the U.S., is $2,689. Not too bad, in my book. But if the M8 is not your cup of tea, then no price will seem reasonable.

Exactly the point! Why buy a used one if you can get a new one (with warranty etc) for a reasonable price. Incidentally how good will the warranty be in the US for an import from UK? Also it might be harder to get your free IR filters (I do hope not)

Richard

 

[stnolan]

Oh man I am jonesing! I sold my M8 in early 08 and subsequently purchased a D300 (great camera) and upgraded to my D700 (amazing camera). I know it's stupid but I really miss using my M lenses that I have for my M7 in a digital format. Someone better talk me down or I might call Mr. White's shop in the a.m. Bad economy but great exchange rate.

 

[kevin m]

...but if you are looking at the purchase of a new M8...

Ah, missed that qualifier. Whoops!

That would help explain the rapid decline in used prices, too, I imagine.😱

 

[stnolan]

I just got an email back from Robert White's shop and their has been a price fluctuation up to 2,129.78 british pounds plus 26 pounds for shipping. Based on todays exchange rate that comes out to around $2932. That is for 2 year warranty. Still a pretty good deal.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I just got an email back from Robert White's shop and their has been a price fluctuation up to 2,129.78 british pounds plus 26 pounds for shipping. Based on todays exchange rate that comes out to around $2932. That is for 2 year warranty. Still a pretty good deal.

That is a friggin' great price.

I mean...err... it's the beginning of the end! Everybody, buy Holga stock. Or a very underpriced Uberkamera Nikon D3 at $4,300. Because that price is much lower than a Canon 5D Mk-II at an outrageous $2,700. Outrageous because it isn't Nikon. Wait, this Nikon-centric logic doesn't make any sense. Who am I to argue?

$2,932 is by far outrageously more money than $2,700, and even more insanely more expensive than $4,300. 😎

 

[topazbullet]

I might just splurge and buy myself a new black M8...

 

[stnolan]

I pulled the trigger on it today. Even with the exchange rate spiking (to the bad) today I still saved $1000 by purchasing in the UK.

 

[PhotoMat]

Well, it arrived yesterday (Monday) via UPS. Pretty good service (from Great Britain to Montana), considering that it shipped on Thursday!

Regarding shipping, I was charged a "brokerage fee" of $60 by UPS. No big deal, but this is the first time that I have ever had to pay a fee, and I have purchased items from Robert White several times in the past. I still think that this is somewhat of a crap shoot. YMMV.

Matt

 

[Bébèrt]

Very nice and correct service from Robert White.
Because the British Pound became rather cheap, I took the plunge and bought a new Leica M8.2 and payed € 3713 with shipment to Belgium.
(but without VAT)

 

[PrisonersDilema]

Leica M8

Leica M8

Now is the time.

Mine just arrived today.

 

[topazbullet]

Now is the time.

Mine just arrived today.

Beautiful! I'm so excited... I ordered yesterday and I'm waiting on the February shipment :bang:

 

[stnolan]

Wow great looking rig! Mine ships tomorrow (after some AMEX BS), and hoping to get it by friday for some weekend shooting. I'm hoping to get a 28 or 24 for mine. I've got a 35 cron for it now so I'll be ok. Love the stealth look Northernlights! Share some pics soon.....Now I just have to unload my new D700!

 

[gscott]

Reading this thread has changed my life ! Well not quite - but it certainly has taken me in an unexpected direction. When I first read the thread I was a devoted Xpan and M6 shooter. The information in this thread resulted in both cameras being sold to fund the purchase of an M8 from RobertWhite.

I came home from work this evening to find a package with Robert White tape on it sitting on my doorstep. (Actually that part is frightening). The folks at RW were excellent to deal with. I saved almost $1000 over the US price. They processed the instant refund. No VAT and no import taxes. If I run into any issues I have every confidence that they will support me.

The only initial difference that will take some adjusting to is the shutter noise. It's just not in the same league as a film Leica - but I'm sure that this will soon pass.

Just like to say thank you for sharing your experiences. I've made a completely unexpected switch and the photography bug is ragging more than ever. Hopefully I'll be too busy using the new camera to look back and miss the two that went to new camera bags.

 

[photogdave]

I have to wonder if any Leica people have read this thread and what they would say to Robert White.
I could be wrong but it sounds like RW "handling" the cash back and taking it off the top of the purchase price for U.S. customers sounds kind of under the table.
I'm not angry at , nor do I blame anyone, for taking advantage of a great deal but to me this reads like RW is taking business away from U.S. dealers.
As someone who has worked in a competitive sales environment, I think this stinks and is dirty pool.
I hope I'm wrong and please correct me if I am!

 

[retow]

I guess you have a short memory. Not much more than 6 months ago Manhattan was full of Europeans buying all they could carry back home.
I do not remember you complaining then.​

 

[photogdave]

I guess you have a short memory. Not much more than 6 months ago Manhattan was full of Europeans buying all they could carry back home.
I do not remember you complaining then.​

I wasn't complaining. I wasn't in Manhattan six months ago to witness this phenomenon.
Anyway, tourists buying goods while visiting a country is different than a dealer circumventing the dealer network.
The tourists in Manhattan probably paid some kind of tax on their purchase. (Or not. I'm not familiar with how NY taxes work.)

 

[noimmunity]

Congratulations, gscott!
Post some photos.

I'm waiting on delivery of mine, from RW, too. And yes, I too sold off some film cameras and lenses to fund the purchase. It wasn't the best time for selling, to put it mildly, yet I did not lose much if anything.

Photogdave: Leica certainly 100% knows about what the UK dealers like RW, Red Dot, etc., are doing with the cashback program. The volume of orders is too high not to know.
If Leica had been against it, Leica would have ceased to restock their orders. My guess is that Leica needs to move the remaining M8 models in a bad economy, and they have an existing price structure with distributors in different countries. It is easier for Leica to preserve the wholesale price structure for distributors while promoting sales than to worry about retail prices for the consumer. Nevertheless. KEHOutlet on ebay was offering over the past month new M8s (in black only) for $4700 with a $1500 rebate, a price ($3200) that puts it comparable to the UK price in dollar terms after the pound hit an historic 23 year low. Perhaps Leica's marketing division has taken this into account.

The real deal in the UK is actually on the Leica lenses, some of which can be had at finally reasonable US dollar prices. A 28/2 summicron for nearly half of what it sells for at B&H... The silver chrome one looks sweet!

This discussion would seem to bode ill for a new wave of growing protectionist sentiment...I think the real thing we need is a totally new Bretton Woods accord on currencies. Using Treasury Bills as a defacto global currency isn't going to last...

 

[photogdave]

Interesting points Jon.
I'm glad you read my posts in the spirit they were intended. I'm still going to buy my Elmarit 28mm locally, however, because I just like to do my bit to help support the businesses in my community.
With the rebate and the gear I traded in it will still be a good deal for me!

 

[stnolan]

No doubt Robert White et al have seen an unexpected boost in US buyers due to the recent currency fluctuations, but they probably got hurt when the pound was at it's strongest over the past few years by Brits buying gear from the US. The truth is we are all here in this community because of the internet and buy and sell among each other every day on RFF classifieds where we are all looking for "the deal". It's a truly global marketplace. For me, I made the decision to buy my M8 from RW because the price was too good to pass up. Before the recent dollar strength I wasn't even considering the M8 and was quite happy with my M7........so Leica wins in the end.