Re: [Leica] Re: Beware! Leica USA's deceptive practice. Part I

["Tom Schofield" <tdschofield@email.msn.com>]

I know how you feel.  I got screwed out of a $50 Nikon rebate on a 20mm AF
lens.  The rebate program was repeatedly extended from month to month for
nearly a year.  The dealer gave me the form from the prior rebate period,
which had been extended.  I had no way of knowing that there was a new form
that I needed for the extended period.  Even though the rebate was in effect
when I bought the lens, and I boght the lens from an legitimate dealer,
Nikon rejected it because the rebate form which the dealer gave me said the
rebate had expired.  Nikon kept the original paperwork, and by the time I
got the notice back from Nikon, the time to submit the rebate had run.  The
dealer went out of business, so I had no resort through them.  To this day,
I take great pleasure in attending "Nikon Days" at local dealers, so that I
can tell the Nikon Rep., in front of prospective purchasers, of my
experience.

As to your problem, you need to look carefully how the rebate form and
advertisement was worded to see if it covered only current catalog lenses or
whether it excluded new old stock.  Either way, if the dealer represneted it
was eligible for the rebate, and Leica USA denies, the dealer should refund.

Tom




> Was this a local dealer, someone you have done business with in the past?
> Or a mail order dealer. In either case, do you know anyone there by name,
> that is, have you done much business there before with someone you have
> gotten to know?
>
> This sounds to me like a dealer problem rather than a Leica USA problem.
>
> Jim
>
>
> At 04:09 PM 12/8/00 -0500, louzan@juno.com wrote:
> >A month and a half ago, I purchased a New 50mm Summicron-m.  The dealer
> >told me that the lens carried the 3-year passport warranty, and that I
> >was eligible for the $150 manufacturer rebate.  leica faxed him a rebate
> >form, after confirming that the rebate had been extended to Jan. 2001.
> >I filled the warranty card, made copies of the rebate slip and sales
> >receipt, and sent them to Leica USA.  Imagine my surprise when I receive
> >an envelope from Leica USA containing the copies I sent them, all
> >scribbled, saying that the lens is not eligible for rebate since it is
> >old stock.
> > I called Leica USA.  I was told that yes indeed that was the case, and
> >that it was most likely an honest mistake by the dealer.  They could not
> >even tell me if the passport was good for two or three years.  Mistake or
> >not, I explained to them that under no circumstance would I had purchased
> >this lens knowing it was not eligible for rebate.  They said that
> >unfortunately they could not do anything, and that I should contact the
> >dealer.
> >Now before I purchased this lens two dealers told me that it was eligible
> >for rebate.  Even Leica's rebate form faxed to the dealer fails to
> >mention this.  I think I have every right to be pissed off and I will
> >take Leica USA to small claims court if necessary.  More when the dealer
> >gets back to me.
> >
> >Robert
>