RE: [Leica] LEICAUSA

["Bergman, Mark A." <mabergm@nppd.com>]

Just because Leica service is dismally slow why do you think they are
punishing you?  Did they say they would take 6 months to fix it because it
had an international warranty?  Did you ask them why it was taking so long?
Could there have been other problems for the delay, like no part
availability?

I agree 6 months is a long time but I'm not sure you should jump to the
conclusion that the reason for the delay is you bought it "Grey market".

- -----Original Message-----
From: Jim Laurel [mailto:JimLaurel@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 12:30 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] LEICAUSA


This is in stark contrast to my experience with my Summilux 35 ASPH, which I
sent in back in January under the 2-year international warranty.  Leica has
never sent me any feedback about the lens.  Fortunately, I sent the lens via
FedEx, and have a printout of the shipping confirmation.  Leica is now
telling me that it may be until September or longer until I see my lens
back.  Ridiculous.  I am leaving on a 11 month trip to gather material for
http://www.spectare.com in September, and will probably not have this lens
by then.

This lens was part of my earliest Leica purchase, a grey market buy from Tri
State Camera in New York.  Though they assured me that Leica would honor the
2-year warranty, here I am, six months later with no sign of my lens on the
horizon.

It's not right for Leica to punish customers this way.  At the time, I was
ignorant of thier distribution policies, and didn't know that I'd be
penalized for not buying the lens from a Leica USA dealer.  I thought that,
at least, they would honor the international warranty in good faith.  Issues
with thier distribution channels should not be the customer's concern.
Leica should take care of people who spend money on thier products and deal
with rogue dealers like Tri-State (and the offshore dealers who dump
merchandise onto the grey market) separately.

Maybe I should have had B.D. send it in for me.

- --Jim

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 9:38 AM
Subject: [Leica] LEICAUSA


> Praise and Thanks Where Praise and Thanks Are Due -
> Sent in my M6 to Leica USA last Monday by FedEx---needed a new strap ring
> bumper pad, rangefinder adjustment, plastic tip on advance lever replaced,
> lock lever on baseplate repaired or replaced. I told them that I needed it
> ASAP for upcoming shoots, and lo and behold, it arrived back today.
> One week start to finish, including a weekend.
>
> Oh...Get this, the camera somehow either got a new red dot, or the old red
> dot went through a car wash, because it was completely blacked out with
> industrial strength Sharpie, and there isn't a sign of black on it
> anymore...the white lettering is still blacked out, but that red dot is
> gleaming like a traffic light at rush hour! :-)
>
> B. D.
>
> http://www.a-day-in-our-life.com
> A Day In Our Life...
> Documentary Photography
> of American Families
>
>