Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/03/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ken, I confirmed that Lemon will not be an authorised dealer from June. Fellow Leicaphiles in Japan take it as a very serious problem. Lemon has contributed more to spreading Leica (or even creating a Leica boom) in Japan than any other dealers. Many, including me, would not have bought Leica if it had not been for Lemon Co. IMO, this event will be a big loss to Leica. Although I do not know whether Lemon will sell gray-market Leicas from June, Leica sales will probably drop in Japan. Is Solms trying to throw away a wide spread association among camera freaks in Japan, "Leica = Lemon Co."? In any case, one thing is obvious. Users are disappointed. Cheers, Mikiro http://arbos.silva.net At 7:39 PM +0200 00.3.27, Ken Iisaka wrote: >On a similar note, Lemon Camera, which has been one of the two official >Leica importers in Japan was terminated. I presume that there were >political conflicts. > >The situation is as follows: > >Nihon Siber Hegner has been a Leica importer for number of years, >selling Leica cameras through authorised dealers. The prices were high, >and service was, ahem, so-so. Then, Lemon Camera came in, importing >grey-market Leicas, and quickly became the highest volume Leica seller >in Japan (in the world?) Leica then gave Lemon Camera an official >dealer status, allowing it to sell Leica products at its premise only, >not to be in direct competition with Nihon Siber Hegner-affiliated >dealers. Lemon had its technicians trained in Solmes (or NJ?) and >received supplies of parts to service the current models in-house as >well, though it appears that they had an official, but unenforced policy >that they only repaired cameras which were sold by Lemon itself. > >Lemon did take away lots of sales from other dealers in Japan. The >prices were 20% lower, and availability was good. You could walk into >Lemon and walk out with just about any current Leica products (or from >its superb collection of rare Leicas as well) However, suddenly, about >a few months ago, their prices were jacked up to be in line with those >of other dealers, with a note saying that there is a discount for >"members." Then, there was an announcement that they will no longer >carry Leica products as of later this spring. > >TomA probably knows much more than I, but I suspect that Lemon may have >violated its contract with Leica in some ways. I believe Lemon was >allowed its dealer status under a very strict, limited terms, and their >huge success may have led to some conflict with other dealers with much >clout (like Yodobashi Camera which is rumoured to be a major Leica >shareholder). > >Ken Iisaka kiisaka@pacbell.net >http://home.pacbell.net/kiisaka >Still lost in Mill Valley in Marin County, California >----- Original Message ----- >From: Dan Cardish <dcardish@microtec.net> >To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> >Sent: Monday, March 27, 2000 6:48 AM >Subject: [Leica] Leica in Canada > > >> For those living in Canada, you may be interested to know that while >> Kindermann will no longer be the Leica distributers in Canada, they >will >> still own their parts inventory, and retain their repair staff. So >for non >> warranty work it will still be possible to have Leica's serviced at >> Kindermann. >> >> Dan C. >> >>