Re: Renting lenses

[photo-op@ix.netcom.com (Sherril & Bill)]

Hi Charlie,

A couple things;

First, I think there is a Leica dealer (over the hill from you) in San 
Jose that rents a lot of items.

Second, you can call Leica at their 800# (which I don't have in front 
of me) and they will give you names of the dealers in your area that 
rent Leica items.

Third, yes this is a program that is available from Leica USA to it's 
dealers.  You just go into your dealer (who is in the program) and tell 
them what you want to rent.  If it is a common item and they have it in 
stock you walk out the door with it.  If it is an item that they do not 
have in stock, a 560/6.8 or what have you, they order it from Leica and 
as soon as it comes in you pick it up.  The usual rental is for three 
days, but you can rent it as long as you like.  If for example you are 
going on vacation for two weeks and want to take a 75/1.4 lens along, 
they will rent it to you for two weeks.

I hope that is helpful.

Regards,
Bill Erfurth
Evergreen, Colo






You wrote: 
>
>>Remember that you can RENT a lens you want to try with no obligation 
>>from you local Leica dealer.  That is the beauty of dealing with 
Leica, 
>>you can try it before you buy it...that goes for the bodies too.
>
>>Regards,
>>Bill Erfurth
>>Evergreen, Colo
>
>The Leica dealer nearest me has a rental dept., but they only rent a 
>couple of M lenses. They sell more kinds than they rent, however, and 
in 
>the case of the 50 Summicron they rent a model different than the 
current 
>one. Are you implying that since they are a Leica dealership that they 

>are under some obligation with Leica to allow me to rent any lens 
before 
>I buy it? I've never heard of this, but if it's true I'd like to take 
>advantage of it. How does this work at your dealer? Do you just ask 
the 
>salesman to let you rent a particular lens? Is the rental price 
deducted 
>from the purchase price if I decide I want to keep it?
>
>-Charlie
>
>Charles E. Dunlap
>Earth Sciences Dept.
>University of California
>Santa Cruz, CA 95064
>
>