Re: [Leica] Leica initial quality story

[chucko@siteconnect.com (Chuck Albertson)]

I had a similar problem with shutter bounce in a new M6 .85 I purchased at
Glazer's a couple of years ago, which manifested itself during an overseas
trip. Russ Sherrell sorted it out when I got back, and had it repaired by
Leica USA in under a week. His prices are competitive, and he really goes
the extra mile to make sure you're satisfied with a purchase. That sort of
after-sales service is why I prefer to buy through a local dealer, even
though it means paying our 8.3 percent sales tax. If I had to go through
three bodies (like Jim did) via mail order, I likely would have gone berserk
and wound up as a "breaking news" item on CNN.

Chuck Albertson
Seattle, Wash.

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Laurel" <JimLaurel@earthlink.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2000 7:25 AM
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
>
>
>
>
>