Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/03/30

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Leica in Japan was: Leica in Canada
From: Ken Iisaka <kiisaka@pacbell.net>
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 21:10:58 -0800

> Mikiro-
> You made a valuable point about the personable service that the Lemon
> company purportedly gives its customers. I am sure that if they are as
good
> as you say, that I should feel comfortable buying even gray market
stuff
> from them if it was a pleasant experience! Your account makes it sound
like
> they stand behind what they sell, even if it is gray market! It is the
> people with which you do business who are important. In that respect,
I hope
> they get their "official" bona fides from Solms.... Sounds like it
would be
> a 'win-win' situation!

Also, note how much clout Lemon had with Solms: the recent introduction
of silver LTM lenses was initiated by Lemon, and was the only dealer
carrying them for a while.

Lemon had the capability to service M6 in-house.  When I dropped mine in
Langkawi, I brought it to Lemon, and they replaced the rewind knob,
readjusted the rangefinder, adjusted the flange-distance, and did an
overall check up, in 5 days, and for $300.  With Siber-Hegner, I
probably would have had to send it back to Solms, taking 3 months, and
costing $1000.

I really don't know the politics behind the decision, but leaving the
distribution of Leica products to Siber-Hegner only is a lose-lose
situation, both for Leica and Leica enthusiasts in Japan.