The fact that it broke twice is not good. Most in Europe do not realize how frustrating it is to deal with Leica IF the gear has to go to Germany. Even if problems can be solved in the US it's a bit better, but even a simple CLA can take 3 months from my recent experiences. I the past that is why I have bought duplicate bodies so I at least have one working copy. Thjis make Leica ownership EXTREMELY expensive versus other manufacturers. Personel changes over the last few years have not helped and in fact might have lenghtened wait times.
Yes that's what I did for a few years. When I was shooting weddings with M cameras I had 4-5 M240 bodies. And two of each M lens I owned that I used professionally (21LUX, 28Cron, 35FLE, 50APO, 50LUX, 75APO) and I had almost every other current M lens and a few random older lenses. I also later added two S-006 bodies and 35/45/70/100/120 lenses. I've had a few S bodies though, a few had problems, a few I sold and regretted and bought again or sold and bought S-007 to sell and again get S-006. Basically I was a REALY REALLY good customer (or so I thought, more on that down the post).
I've had nothing but problems since I got into Leica during the end of the M8 days before the start of the M9 days (probably 15 incidents to either Japan(Ginza), Germany, NJ). I bought a 50APO (one of the first) and sent it in for the flare fix. Was promised it would return within two weeks for my trip. Cut 4 months later, I have to call the CEO who tells me "you should be privileged to own one. Only 25 people have the 50APO right now". He then said "If you don't want to be one of the few special people to own it, I can refund you". Own is a funny word, since they actually had it hostage. Anyway, I told him I wanted the lens fixed ASASP. In the end I got it two months later, but at that point I had already found another 50APO from my HK seller who sold it to me cheaper then Leica SG had (but at that point the "refund offer" had expired). So all in all I lost a few thousand there. Anyway, I ended up keeping both lenses because the HK one funnily enough needed to go in to be fixed for flare. And by the time all was said and done, the price had dropped by thousands between HK and SG pricing.
My very first S-006 had a defective sensor in the first 20 days. The 70S was DOA and they wanted to charge me the shipping fee to ship it back and forth from NJ. And when I wanted to just bring it to Leica LA (I live next to them) they told me that it wasn't there problem and I had to deal with NJ on lens repairs. Then I had to fight to get a loaner lens for a shoot I planned around the S that weekend. To have the camera break in the first 20 days and have them swap it out for a USED one that smelt of smoke and felt like it was handled by a construction worker. And when I complained they swapped it out again but again wanted me to pay shipping. To which they lost my order# and I didn't get a new one for two weeks. And it almost compromised another shoot (I rented gear from Sammy's thank god). I ended up giving my client a discount because of the delay in completion due to me waiting on the S that never showed up.
I paid way higher then I should have for a lot of my Leica gear. Because SG pricing and HK pricing is so vastly different. It's taken me so long to sell everything off and I've lost a lot because HK is cheap compared to US or SG pricing and has caused the used market to drop.
The straw that broke the camels back: My initial idea was to buy two SL camera bodies and use the zoom + M, T and S lenses until the 50SL came out. Where I would then evaluate my system needs. I was wary of buying from Singapore because of past experiences (though I've mentioned this to upper management around the M240-P launch). Anyway, long story short Leica promised me they fixed the pricing issues with HK, and told me that the SL+Zoom prices would be strictly enforced and that I had nothing to worry about. Cut one month after my SL purchase and my HK dealer is trying to sell me the system new at $5,000 USD cheaper then what I bought it for. I contacted the CEO to plead my case and he basically told me he didn't care about me. His priorities are obviously collectors who don't care about price or customer care, but just want to own the best. He went on to tell me that if I mention all of this on "social media" that his words "we believe in the power and the loyality of the Leica community and for sure they might not agree with your point of view." Basically confirming what I already know. Which is, bash Leica and get bashed. He knows it, and I know it. I'm basically powerless as a loyal customer.
That was the last straw.. That's why I decided I cannot take it anymore, the only power I have left is to stop buying Leica gear. So the gear that I haven't sold, because I was planning on keeping it. Well now I'm selling it all. Whatever doesn't sell, I'll use till it breaks and then just sell REALLY cheap. I don't want to deal with Leica ever again. I've already sold off MOST of my M system. And I have sold off one of the two S-006 bodies. I have a few things left and I'm done.
I'll wait and see if Fuji makes a MFD system. I like the Fuji XF-system, and I am now using my Nikon kit for my bread and butter. So who knows what'll happen.
we are accepting nearly everything
