R2A Surprise!

[Huck Finn]

The R2A has shown up on the B&H product list . . . And it's priced at $549!!😱 Now the cheapest price around. I guess the B&H buyers have been working the grey market to the consumer's advantage. The R3A has not shown up on their list yet.

 

[That Guy]

w00t w00t !! 😀

Now to scrape up $549... 🙁 I wonder what Gandy will do with his prices.

 

[hoppinghippos]

That's interesting, brings me back to the past thread on how it was unfair to have the price hike.

 

[jlw]

The listing doesn't say whether these will be US warranty or "gray." If gray, $50 under the official US distributor price is about typical for B&H pricing.

Personally, I'd rather spend the extra $50 and get an officially-warranted camera (remember the early R2 RF issues?) But it's nice to have a choice.

Wonder if B&H just isn't going to carry the R3A, or if they simply haven't listed it yet...?

 

[peter_n]

What happens with a Bessa if it breaks? Who fixes it here in the U.S.? As far as I know there isn't a CV repair facility in this country so I think the difference between U.S. warranty and gray may be moot.

 

[jpmccormac]

What happens with a Bessa if it breaks? Who fixes it here in the U.S.? As far as I know there isn't a CV repair facility in this country so I think the difference between U.S. warranty and gray may be moot.

If you buy from Stephen Gandy at CameraQuest.com you get a one year USA warranty, according to the web site. Stephen's price is higher than B&H's, but since he is an Official Cosina Voigtlander USA Distributor, he also handles repairs. I seem to recall that Mr. Gandy also checked the original R cameras for RF alignment problems before shipping them, which was a nice added service. Time will tell whether he will/can match others prices.

PS. I have no interest in any CV retailer/seller.

 

[peter_n]

Thanks for the information. So Stephen fixes the cameras he sells. I just looked up Rich Pinto's site (photovillage.com), Rich is also an "official" CV dealer who offers a Voigtlander USA Warranty.

Below is a clip from the CV warranty info at photovillage.com:

"For Photovillage supplied Voigtlander sales, the top half of the warranty card must be mailed in within 30 days of the sales date with a copy of the sales receipt, or the warranty is void. Warranty cards are verified with dealers upon receipt and all serial numbers are recorded to insure items are from our inventory... Rush repairs are not an option, warranty or otherwise."

You have to fill in the warranty card and return it, an old practice that I have no objection to, but haven't bothered with for years. Potential CV owners should be aware of this as I think most people probably wouldn't bother with it.

 

[Huck Finn]

Rich is using a NYC metro area repair facility for the warranty repairs.

 

[JohnM]

If B&H sells a gray market camera, it is returned to them for repairs. They offer a one year warranty on their gray market stuff - I have bought gray and used from them and have never had a problem. They're good people.

If I'm looking for CV stuff, though, I buy from Gandy - no sales tax, cheaper shipping and, in my opinion, it helps keep one of the champions of classic rangefinders alive and kicking. Generally, Gandy's prices are better than B&H as well.

 

[Doug]

I got my Bessa-T from B&H, suffering a warranty problem with the film counter which they took care of promptly but without comment as to what had been done. Well, hey, it works correctly now so I'm content!