Re: [Leica] What's wrong at Leitz NJ. Beat's me. What wrong with you!! What wrong with me!!

[John Collier <jbcollier@home.com>]

OK Javier,

I definitely took twenty years of pent up frustration out on you. Sorry
about that. I still think it is entirely reasonable for the parts person to
take holidays. I assume that you are not looking for just a replacement
strap but something specialised. The only thing more annoying than not
getting a quote, would be for an inexperienced pseudo parts person to quote
on the wrong part (been there and had that done to me). I am sure that Leica
NJ has a policy of not allowing other staff to give parts quotes for that
very reason. One of my favourite memories of parts requests was for a set of
ignition points for a chap's truck. When asked what kind of a truck, he
answered*, "A red one."

Have a good thanksgiving,

John Collier

*I am not making this up and he was not joking!

PS I have a couple of good deals on cans of compression and, if you buy in
bulk, a mile of shoreline. Contact me off list

> From: Javier Perez <summarex@yahoo.com>
> 
> It's not a question of employees taking holidays.
> If you are running a professional operation, you
> don't shut down a department for a week. IE:
> If the parts guy is gone someone else should be able to
> do part of his job while he's out. I remember doing business
> with these guys 10 or 20 years ago and things were different
> then. The place tan like clockwork and peopledid take holidays
> 
> 
> John Collier wrote:
> 
>> So let me get this straight. There are taking holidays and you are finding
>> it inconvenient. Hmmm. I have always had quick, efficient and helpful
>> service from my distributor. The few times I have enquired of Leica NJ for
>> information, they too have been very helpful. I think that good employees
>> deserve holidays. They certainly will not stay good employees if they do not
>> get them. A few times, my camera has needed repair when the head technician
>> was on holiday. I said, "Great! Make sure he has a good time. No rush."
>> Because I am friendly and reasonable, they bend over backwards to help me. I
>> make sure that they know that I appreciate everything they do for me. Have
>> you ever sent a Xmas gift to your local dealer in appreciation of their
>> service? As you can see, I think you are being unreasonable to expect Leica
>> to drop everything and run to your assistance.
>> 
>> I work in the service industry and am very familiar with pushy noisy people
>> who expect the world to revolve around them. They, as you have, tend to
>> throw fits and make a whole bunch of noise because they cannot have what
>> they want instantly. They do not care that you have already put in a 15 hour
>> day. They do not care if you are missing family time.
>> 
>> Grow up!
>> 
>> John Collier
>> 
>>> From: Javier Perez <summarex@yahoo.com>
>>> 
>>> Hi
>>> Maybe you guys are right. Those privateers may be more
>>> trustworthy with Ms and Flexes than Leitz. I called up monday morning
>>> for some parts. What I got was a recording from the parts department
>>> saying there would be no one there until the 27th. Meanwhile I'm trying
>>> to decide
>>> if a wrecked camera is worth buying but I can't close the deal because I
>>> don't
>>> know how much the parts will cost. Leitz parts prices are very
>>> unpredictable so you have to
>>> ask less you like surprises. Anyway I told them it was an emergency and
>>> the
>>> receptionist transferred me around until I finally wound up talking to a
>>> guy whose job is
>>> apparently to tell people no. He said he couldn't do it and there was no
>>> one else there who
>>> could until next monday. What a disgrace! heluva way to run a business.
>>> I thought I was in a
>>> government office! I can understand  understaffing induced by budget
>>> constraints and I
>>> can also understand people wanting to take a week of for Thanksgiving
>>> but there is no excuse
>>> for allowing an entire department to remain unattended for a whole week.
>>> There were at least 3
>>> people there and none of them could acomplish the simpleset task of
>>> looking up a part
>>> price on a computer screen or datasheet. Guess they don't communicate
>>> much amongst each other.
>>> maybe they just don't care. I wish they would put me in charge of NJ for
>>> a week. There would be
>>> some fundamental changes right quick!
>>>