Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/03/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Claes, Keep it up! I for one, think this list will not at all deteriorate by a few more critical statements. Also when, for one reason or another you do not want= to expose the source of the claims posted. Rest assured that reasonable scepticism will be applied by all parties. As for my experiences with Leica quality control, I just had to return my new 35/2ASPH within days because of mechanical malfunctioning. The good s= ide of the story is that my dealer (Tamarkin, NY) was very understanding, forthcoming and pleasantly helpful. I received a new lens within 48 hours= . I am both grateful and impressed with Tamarkin, this was a "come and go" is= sue and I would not be able to demonstrate the problem on demand. The new len= s is perfect and doesn't show this problem at all. I have experienced more severe problems with Leica in Norway, and not received this kind help at all. My M6 body is self-destructing-the film-advance-lever rests on the body and is digging it's way through it. Everything is firm, but the winder lever doesn't come as high as it is on every other body I have seen. The pictures come out fine, but the body pa= int is gone. I showed this to the repairman at the national importer when the camera was brand new. He acknowledged the problem, tried a different leve= r to no avail (I could have told him that), and couldn't understand how thi= s had come about. My dealer had already gotten the importer to accept to replace the top. The repairman could do that, but, he warned me, he would have to keep the body for several months and the problem would remain the same (probaly true). I felt very uncomfortable watching him work, and by = the prospect of forcing him to do a reapir he was clearly uncomfortable with. This is a story "from the other side of the world." But the camera is mad= e by Leica, and it definitely passed the quality control in Germany. After relating the story to one of the largest leica dealers in Oslo, he told me that the "real" Leica repairman had quit his work at the imorter = to spend half of every year sailing across the oceans, and the other half repairing Leicas for people who already knew about him. The moral of the story? Maybe you want to purchase directly from a very reputable delaer, especially since you are already paying amounts that al= l non-Leica afficinados find ridiculous. Do I consider it a scratch in Leic= a AG's pain? Certainly. __ Tore - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Claes Bjern= er Sent: Wednesday, 11 March, 1998 19:16 To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: Re: [Leica] Anonymous Allegations Marc wrote: >I would suggest that anonymous allegations -- "dealers say such and such= , >but I cannot repeat their names! -- be avoided. Such statements are >inflammatory and, as they are not subject to verification, are worthless. Marc, I had no idea that Leica was on trial! When you are asking for "verification" you certainly sound like a defence lawyer. The LUG-list should not be mistaken for a court room. It should be a foru= m for free discussions about Leica cameras, lenses and other related issues. Am I right? More important, as a journalist, I take personal offence if someone asks = for my source. Actually, asking for the name of a news source or any other attempt to disclose the name of a news source is a serious violation of = my country=B4s constitution. And I don=B4t think the American constitution i= s very different in this respect. So when a Leica repairman confides in me and complains about recent quality deterioration I=B4m obliged by the ethics= of journalism to protect his identity. BTW, do you turn down all stories in for instance NYT or Washington Post = if they don=B4t print the names of their sources? Would those stories in you= r opinion therefore be "worthless"? Deep Throat certainly had quite an impa= ct on the future of Nixon, didn=B4t he? What I really want to say is that even if it hurts you should take the recent critical observations and statements about new Leica cameras more seriously. And maybe with less open hostility. I don=B4t think we have an= y liars in this group. And when some of us are forced to notify the group about our personal negative experiences and observations regarding our ne= wly purchased Leicas, we don=B4t do it with malicious intent! We probably lov= e and respect our Leica cameras as much as the rest of you. I think, and hope, that the Leica company appreciates any honest and constructive input about their products. And I doubt they need selfappoin= ted apologists to act on their behalf. Claes