Re: [Leica] Kindermann to lose Leica

["Robert Bedwell" <rlb@triad.rr.com>]

John:

Thank you very much.  I understand your concern and it certainly is a valid
one.  I will be interested in hearing Leica's response on service from their
new distributor.  Are any of the employees from Kindermann moving to
Lisle-Kelco?

Thanks,
Bob



- ----- Original Message -----
From: "John Collier" <jbcollier@home.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2000 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Kindermann to lose Leica


> Kindermann Canada has the last Leica official repair depot in the world
that
> will service every leica ever made. Many of the people have been with
Leica
> way back (and some even longer) to when all the M cameras were made here.
It
> was Werner Schmalz of Kindermann who pushed Leica for years to rationalise
> the 135s into a single f3.4 offering. He was also the source on why the M
> winder was discontinued, announced then discontinued again. He showed me
how
> to properly load my M4-2 and no misloads since then. When I had problems
> with my new projector, he emailed with HIS phone number to call. When
Leica
> USA has technical problems with older Leica equipment, they do not call
> Solms, they call Werner. I have been at many Leica clinics run by him and
> was always impressed how he would eloquently encourage people to try Leica
> but would never say that the older stuff was not good enough and that you
> needed new to have the best. I was looking at a 135 tele-elmarit vs the
APO
> and he said they are all good lenses even the Hektor. The repair service
was
> absolutely fantastic. Once they did not have the parts for my M2 in stock
so
> they sent it back freight free, even though I offered to pay, and phoned
ME
> to tell me the parts were in! I had dealt through the local dealer so they
> would have had to phone the dealer to get my number. That is service. One
of
> the big reasons I was not considering a Hexar RF is the wonderful support
I
> get from Kindermann which no other camera company has even come close to
> matching. Well I had  better stop now but just imagine right about now the
> new distributor is hiring some smuck and sending them to a three month (or
> what ever) school and then letting them loose on my cameras!! It does not
> bear thinking about.
>
> John Collier
>
>
> > From: "Robert Bedwell" <rlb@triad.rr.com>
> > Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 16:33:05 -0500
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] Kindermann to lose Leica
> >
> > John:
> >
> > Would you kindly explain what affect this will have on Leica users in
Canada
> > and the U.S.?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Bob
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "John Collier" <jbcollier@home.com>
> > To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
> > Sent: Friday, February 11, 2000 3:30 PM
> > Subject: [Leica] Kindermann to lose Leica
> >
> >
> >> Well it is a very sad day Leica-wise up here in Canada. Leica Germany
has
> >> decided to switch distributors. I received an email from fellow
leica-user
> >> Ken Bodnar saying that he had just got off the phone with a store in
> > Calgary
> >> where he was told that the distributor was switching to  Lisle-Kelco
(who
> >> supplies Hasselblad in Canada). I promptly phoned Kindermann and they
> >> unfortunately confirmed it. I am completely devastated and do not know
> > what
> >> to say that would suitable for delicate ears to hear. If you are
Canadian
> >> and you feel the same way I do about Kindermann then email those twits
in
> >> Germany and let them know. Their email page is:
> >>
> >> http://www.leica-camera.com/feedback/feedb_e.phtml
> >>
> >>
> >> John Collier
> >>
> >
>