RE: [Leica] Leica initial quality story

[Buzz Hausner <Buzz@marianmanor.org>]

Given Jim's story, this may be a good moment to revisit the arguments for
buying Leica equipment from your friendly local dealer rather than from the
mail-order places.  At least for those of us fortunate enough to live near
the holder of a franchise.  Yes, you do have to pay sales tax, but you will
probably face the same price point as at B&H.  However, the main point is
that your local dealer will solve your problems ex post haste and with no
dickering over who pays the return postage.  Here in the Boston area we are
lucky enough to have several very kind and helpful Leica dealers.  E-mail me
privately for my local recommendations.

	Buzz Hausner

- -----Original Message-----
From: Jim Laurel [mailto:JimLaurel@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2000 10:26 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: [Leica] Leica initial quality story


A couple of weeks ago, I decided to purchase a new Leica for my wife as an
anniversary/birthday present.  It was to be given to her during our
vacation, so I wanted to make sure it was tested and in good order before
leaving.

I went down to Glazers Camera Supply here in Seattle, and Russ Sherrel
prompltly produced a shiny new chrome M6 TTL along with a Summicron 35 ASPH.
As I have had several initial quality problems with past new M6 cameras (one
with a vertical misalignment, another with a 1/1000 shutter bounce), I made
it a point to check the camera thoroughly.

The first body I checked had a terrible vertical misliangment problem.  It
would be possible to focus, but the coincident images did not lineup
precisely.  Russ agreed and opened up a new box.  Second body would not show
the coincident images matched perfectly when the lens was focused at
infinity.  I had my "known good" M6s with me, along with lenses, so I was
able to eliminate lenses as a possibility for this problem.

Russ opened a 3rd box.  Finally, I had found a body with no vertical
misalignment and was aligned properly at infinity.

I don't understand what Leica is thinking.  The foundation of thier pitch to
customers is high precision and quality.  Yet, on a single day, I found two
clearly defective bodies sitting on a dealer shelf.  Some people may not
notice the defects, but they were obvious to me (20/10 vision uncorrected).
My first M6 .85 purchased 2 years ago had a shutter bounce at 1/1000, and
the second had a vertical misalignment.  A pretty poor record for one guy in
just 5 years.  Thankfully, my dealer is very supportive, but it is
disturbing to see such poor quality control.

- --Jim Laurel