Upgrade policy revamped

[jaapv]

Well, you guys did win in the end, didn't you ? 😉

 

[TJV]

I know for a fact that Leica are seriously considering an M8 a-la-carte, the main consideration being the current pressure on the production line.

At the very least, I hope this is so. I bought one of the first M8's and the problems I had with it, and several replacements, forced me to have to give it up. But it's at the stage now that I'm seriously looking at reacquiring what arguably is now a refined product. Digital is the way of the future and I can't see myself being able to stay with film too much longer in my professional work. Personal work is different, the demands of turnaround aren't the same, but after a month of scanning, spotting and editing for a show, I'm over it. The M8 is the only digi on the market that I like using. It's a rangefinder, afterall, and from my own experince its image quality is exelent.

I emailed Leica so I could get it from the horses mouth if new camera will be shipped to shops with the new shutter and they said no, it never will be, and you'll always have to send it in to a service centre. I know this isn't new news but at least I got it from them myself. I was really bummed out reading the reply as that was the deciding factor. A less noisy shutter is a real issue for me but I, personally, am not prepared to wait for something to be upgraded after paying a small fortune for it in the first place. Turn around time for Leica when sending something from a small island in the south pacific has never proved to be fast.

An a la carte system sounds like it may be an option that'll partly solve this issue for me. Problem is it's not as good as being able to walk into a shop and finding the product on the shelf. For others that are impulse buyers, it's important that the product is sitting in front of them, a real solid object proving its worth, it they are going to spend. (It's like if a bookshop has a great book I've always wanted I will buy it on impulse. If they didn't have it or they have to order it in I'll just buy it off Amazon because it's bound to be either cheaper or quicker to arrive anyway.) How long is a la carte turnaround these days?

At the end of the day, if I decide (again) that digital is really for me then I have one choice to make - to get the M8 or not. My personal opinion is that if I could buy the "upgraded" camera off the self I would but I'm not prepared to play the waiting game with Leica again.

 

[pastafazul]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to rangefinderforum and proud owner of an M8. I haven't seen this posted here yet but saw it over on l-camera-forum and thought you'd all might be interested. I apologize if it's old news.
BTW I love my M8 and look forward to using it for as long as it last's!

To: All Photographic Division Represnetatives / Dealers
From: Marketing Department
Date: March 4, 2008
Re: Leica M8 Upgrade Service


Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since our first announcement about the M8 upgrade service, we are now able to offer detailed information on the program. All M8 owners have the option of the following upgrades:

* Sapphire glass cover and the silent shutter
* Sapphire glass cover only
* Silent shutter only
* Personal/Signature engraving on top plate
* Vulcanite leatherette body


M8 upgrade option
Shutter & Sapphire Glass
$1,450

Shutter Only
$1,025

Sapphire Glass Only
$ 950

Personal engraving on top plate
$ 260

Signature engraving on top plate
$ 425

Vulcanite leatherette body
$ 330


The M8 upgrade service:

* Is scheduled to start in late August 2008. An announcement will follow.
* The sapphire glass cover & silent shutter will be done at our facility in Allendale, NJ.
* The engraving and vulcanite leatherette body will be done in Solms, Germany.
* Will be considered as part of a regular repair service.
* Payment will be through dealer or directly via credit card, Visa or Mastercard.
* Customers/Dealers must call Leica Camera Inc. starting August 1st to schedule the upgrades before sending their M8.
* Turn around will depend on volume for the M8 upgrades.
* Will have trained technicians to work only on the M8 upgrades.
* Warranty of the M8 with the upgrade will be extended by another year from the original warranty expiration date.
* Upgraded M8 will be shipped back to customer/dealer via UPS.


It is important for you and your customers that no M8s can be shipped to Leica Camera Inc. until the service department is ready to perform the upgrades in late August 2008. Any M8s received for the upgrades before the start date, will be returned. Cameras received without prior scheduled date may experience longer wait times.

For the personal/signature engraving on the M8 top plate and/or a vulcanite leatherette body, the M8s will have to be sent to Germany. For the signature engraving, the customer must supply a signature using black ink on white paper. Any upgrade service sent to Germany will take a longer turn around time. If you have any questions about the M8 upgrade service, please do not hesitate to contact Leica Camera Inc.

Thank You.

 

[etrigan63]

Based on that e-mail you can deduce that the actual cost of the sapphire glass cover is $425 (difference between the shutter+glass vs. glass-only upgrades). The combo upgrade price seems much more attractive now. Wish I had the cash to do it...

 

[kk100]

It's not good but it's all we got

It's not good but it's all we got

Leica screwed up and they know it. We all hoped they would make a graceful transition to the M digital world and instead they wrote a business school case study on how not to.
But here's the thing. Win, lose, or blunder, they're all we got. I spent the money early on to buy the M8 and was just as furious at the compromises as i was excited about finally putting these great lenses to digital use. The money's been spent and I can't get it back - unless perhaps, I succumb to my fleeting desire to pack some serious heat and go to Germany. Which brings me to this upgrade. Of course i would love an upgrade at a reasonable price but the words "reasonable," and "price" rarely intersect in a discussion about Leica. So given the choice of no upgrade or an expensive one, then I'm happy to at least have the choice. If a cheaper upgrade places a burden on the company's ability to regain financial traction, then what's the point?
They definitely made some grave errors with the M8 but we need this company and because of the wise (or insane) financial and artistic investments we have made, are tethered to their success or failure.

Sorry if this sounds preachy... I'm just frustrated and thinking out loud.

 

[Rayt]

What do you think is the useful life of the existing M8 even with imaginary future upgrades included? Ten years? To put a sapphire glass cover on it would be kind of a waste IMHO.