M3 Glass pressure plate broken, help seeked.

[bawang]

I recently sold my M3 at the auction site we all know. The buyer claimed the glass plate broke (see picture) on arrival at his location in China. The camera was only recently CLA by Youxin and I have been very happy with it. I sold it to fund M8 purchase. There was no issue with the camera other than cosmetic which I fully disclosed with pictures in the listing when I shipped it. The shipment was not insured as the buyer was trying to avoid further Custom charges if declared. I guess this can further complicate this issue.

I don't mind refunding the buyer but who pays for the damages? As a compromise, I also told buyer that I don't mind sharing the cost of plate replacement if he prefers to have it repaired there. So my other question is, anyone knows how much the replacement can cost. I will write to the usual repairmen/women we all know for estimates. In the meantime, I seek suggestions and opinions from RFFers.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Mackinaw]

Outside of finding a parts-camera someplace I doubt you'll find a NOS glass pressure plate anywhere for an M3. But it shouldn't be too hard to locate a metal pressure plate from another M-series camera (I'm assuming that pressure plates are interchangeable within M series cameras). As for cost, try asking some reputable Leica repair tech. They may even sell you one.

Jim B.

 

[sevo]

If the buyer demanded uninsured shipping, any shipping damage is on him...

 

[johannielscom]

If the buyer demanded uninsured shipping, any shipping damage is on him...

I agree. Don't offer a refund, the parcel arrived as expected, the damage in transit is not covered by insurance. Too bad, but not for you.

 

[axiom]

Shipping insurance doesn't cover shipping damage. It only covers package loss.

 

[JohnTF]

There is an assumption of risk in asking that it be shipped without insurance, unless, perhaps you were very careless in your packing.

If his request, then his responsibility, he essentially self insured it.

There should be repair available in China, he can apply the money he saved on insurance and tax toward the cost.

You are very generous to offer help in any way.

Regards, John

 

[kbg32]

Originally Posted by rlouzan
"The shipment was not insured as the buyer was trying to avoid further Custom charges if declared."

If that is the case. You are not libel to refund or pay for damages. The buyer took the risk in not insuring, he, unfortunately, suffers the consequences, of either paying for repair or replacement.

 

[flip]

It's a drag, but even if a buyer doesn't want insurance, he will often penalize the seller in feedback - essentially buyers extort the seller into free insurance out of the seller's pocket. Total BS. Always insist on selling with insured shipping.

 

[Beemermark]

I find it difficult to believe that the glass pressure plate could be broken in transit (at least without major damage to the camera). I'd be more suspicious the buyer did something stupid. Since he didn't want to insure it so he could cheat on his taxes I would politely tell him tough. Feedback or not.

 

[FrankHarries]

I was wandering too. A broken plate without other harm to the camera? And as said before - NEVER send something valuable without insurance. E-Bay is sometimes risky for buyers who are not careful enough but also for sellers who accept uninsured shipping selling something valuable, using Western Union,...
Did the seller pay by paypal? (I guess he did). If so - did he ask for uninsured shipping via the ebay mail exchange? Be aware to keep the note, where he asked. You might need it.
And I also think, that the buyer is responsible himself. Unless you just threw the M3 into the package without any cushion.
Good luck!

 

[nobbylon]

I'm thinking that somebody has removed the back door and dropped it. I've never seen a pressure plate broken when fitted to the camera. There's a spring in there and to even compress that would be a hefty dent in the back door. He was trying to cheap on it with the no insurance scam. Are you sure this is the back door from your camera and not another they already had broken? I'd say it was down to the buyer this one. If it leaves you in good shape and allegedly arrives damaged and he asked specifically for no ins then tough. If you have correspondence re the not wanting insurance then send him a copy and file it.

From the photo I don't see any splinters or glass dust anywhere and no curtain damage, I think someone is trying it on. Sad but it happens.

 

[johannielscom]

^^ I think Nobbylon might be right, it would be hard to have the pressure plate broken without any other damage to the camera. You're being had.

Either way, don't refund, if it broke in transit it's on the buyer because of his no-insurance request, else it's obviously not you that's gonna pay for it.

 

[Ronald M]

The risk was his alone.

If you have a big heart, get a donor one from DAG or Sherry.

I do believe they are interchangeable and change out without tools. I had one out one time.

 

[braver]

If the buyer demanded uninsured shipping, any shipping damage is on him...

Totally agree. You might have to deal with a negative feedback if persuing this path, but in the long run it's the only one that makes sense. Offering to split the repairs is one way of dealing with it, if overly friendly (but that's applaudable at least 😉 )

Like others, I definitely don't see how shipping can break an internal part that is basically suspended with springs.

 

[martin_t]

For that damage to have occurred in transit, the film door or other parts of the camera would have suffered too from the impact. He either did it himself or he needed a pressure plate. Parts substitution is becoming a real problem on eBay.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Another vote for either user error or a lie (i.e. someone else's broken pressure plate). Those things are TOUGH. I've never heard of one breaking, except from being dropped off-camera, in 40+ years of Leica using and (1970-1980) collecting.

Cheers,

R.

 

[bawang]

Thanks you all for the respond. I am really glad I posted for thoughts here and got them.

This could very well be the first case of broken glass pressure plate. I have not seen or heard of this, neither the buyer nor anyone here. Google came back with a number of user with questions regarding static electricity and the potential of it breaking. But not one single case of it. Weird.

Buyer send a video with the SN and broken part as proof that it was the item from me. I doubt he doctored the video for a small amount of money we agree as settlement. So I am pretty sure this is genuine case even though it is such a drag dealing with it.

Anyway, Don of DAG has the metal part to replace it. This part still (?) manufactured by Leica to replace M3 glass and will only work on M3. Regular metal pressure plate for M bodies will not work on M3. Pretty much a specific part designed for the exact purpose experienced. And the other good thing, is it's user replaceable.

Out of compassion, not wanting to go through selling it again if returned, wanting to see it being used, I decided to pay for half of the cost which wasn't that bad, $25. He even send me the picture of his PP transaction with Don for the part. Had it been a lot more, I would have probably asked for the camera returned.

And as posted above, I sure hope I have not become one of the statistic of fraudulent 'parts substitution' claim on eBay.

Now I know why so many seller refuse to sell outside of their region. It's a real headache if something like this happened.

But I am glad it's all over, I hope.

 

[nobbylon]

Excellent. The reason Don had the part is probably that none before have ever broken!!!!
Strangely cheap considering it's for a Leica

 

[bawang]

My bad. It was $40 + $10 for shipping to China. So we agreed to split everyhing in the middle. Still I agree, not bad considering it was a Leica made.

Don, if you are reading this, thanks.

 

[Nina Cherry]

About this never having happened before...

About this never having happened before...

It also happened to me, and broke even weirder...
I was photographing in Lisbon and had to change my film. While rewinding I feld a little scratching and after opening I cut my thumb as I wiped over the crack (thinking it was dirt or broken plastik).
While bleeding and dripping onto my beloved Leica M3 I put away the film and carefully closed the camera (without a new film) and went to the nearby pharmacy to take care of my cut.

Long story short... the camera didn't fall before or anything that would have cause this. But it happened anyway.

I searched near and far for a replacement piece (and I life in Germany) but nothing. Now I ordered black glass and found a guy who will cut it and sand the corners, so I can replace it.

In the meantime (being in Portugal for 3 month) I just taped the broken pieces so I could still use the camera on the trip.