[Leica] So how do our friends at Solms handle their customers?

[msmall at infionline.net (Marc James Small)]

At 05:54 PM 9/2/2006, Scott McLoughlin wrote:
>I've bought my Leica stuff used and sent it to Don Goldberg
>for repairs.
>
>But I'm curious. Any "virtues of the Passport Warranty" stories
>out there?  What is most likely to go wrong on a new body? I
>can think of dropping it, but what else?

I have had Passport Service on my Leitz 
Televid-77 Spotting Scope, all components of 
which were purchased new.  At one point, a lens 
jammed on the Televid and I sent them off for 
service.  They repaired the scope and charged me 
a nominal fee for reasons which escape me, but 
replaced the lens at no charge.  The total was 
about the same as the shipping, so I was hardly upset.

I have never purchased any Leica camera body or 
lens new, but then none have ever needed service 
other than the single occasion on which my first 
M3 needed an upgrade on its rewind knob and the 
dozen or more times when that horror of an M4 
needed service -- SOMETHING was always out of 
whack on it.  I finally learned how to adjust 
everything myself, got it into good order, and 
immediately sold it.  Never another M4.  I now 
have a IIIc, IIIf RDST, and a IIIg, and an M3 DS 
and a Wetzlar M6, all of which function 
flawlessly.  None of my Leitz or Leica camera 
lenses have ever needed attention.

For something that will experience back-country 
treatment, as my APO-Televid does, I'd buy new 
for the Passport.  For normal use (that is, 
bar-room brawls and less), I'd trust in the 
essential toughness of the gear and buy used.

Marc



msmall@aya.yale.edu
Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir!