Anybody have experience with service (CLA) by Sherry Krauter, New York?

I have used Sherry numerous times. She always gave good advice, her repairs have always held up, and she has always stood behind her work and advice. I have used DAG too, and Bald Mountain for lens coating issues, and Frank Marshman for general non-Leica camera repair, and the late Steve Grimes for machine work. I even sent my M9 to Leica USA in NJ once. ;)

If you are using an M2, M3, or a CL or even an M5 daily or weekly, you are using a mechanical device that is 40 or 60 years old. Amazing, really. These machines were made when top level cameras were devices that were made to be taken apart, adjusted, repaired and put back together.

For my money, Sherry is a gem. I can see some folks being rubbed the wrong way by her manner, but it has never been an issue for me. Then again I grew up in NYC and a little gruffness/telling-it-as-you-see-it feels natural to me.

Think of things from her perspective: she has as much work as she wants and a single high-maintenance customer can really torpedo a day. She knows more about these cameras than all but a handful of humans out there, and you can get her on the phone. You don't like her manner? Fine. Send your stuff to Leica USA in NJ. When I am spending money, I like to know who is actually turning the wrench, if you know what I mean. We are lucky, actually, that there are still folks who can work on these beasts. I expect to outlive most of them, though, and then it will be like Bill says. . .
 
aperture64 said:
Did he happen to work at a place called Alkit in 2002-2003?
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Believe it or not it was Angel from Adorama.

BTW it annoys some of my friends that I get VIP treatment at Adorama and B&H because my friends see the special treatment I get while they get ignored. LOL. My friends pull out all the good stuff that is hidden away, and this is because I'm a shooter not a collector.

That M3-DS was pretty much like a brand new M3. The VF'er was amazing. I'm glad it is in my friend Brian's hands. He knows never to sell it because there isn't another one.

Another story is I bought a chrome M4 at Adorama that still had the factory "L" seal for only $499.00.. I sent this M4 to Sherry for overhaul. Now my friend Andre owns this camera. I can't help but rescue cameras that are deals of a lifetime. Also know that I spread my good luck to my friends. Basically the M4 and M3-DS were new old cameras that needed to get broken in again and used for decades.

Only the best for me. LOL.

Cal
 
fimbul said:
Hi,
Anybody have experience with service (CLA) by Sherry Krauter, New York?
Thanks
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I would not use Sherry Krauter if you want to see your equipment again any time soon. She held my 28mm Elmarit for over four months and never repaired it. She doesn't answer emails or phone messages and acts like she's the Leica Diva. I have used her in the past. Never again.
 
It has been awhile since I've last sent camera gear to Sherry for repair. I never had any complaints with the quality of her work. Switched to someone closer though, Steve's Camera in LA.
 
Ordered a M5 from her while sending her an M2 with a jammed shutter. She received the camera and check on 6/27 and the check cleared by 6/30. She repaired the M2 for free and promised to send them (M2 and M5) back together. As of yesterday, neither camera has been shipped. Talking to her yesterday, she promised them to me by the weekend. Today is Thursday 7/7 so we will see.
 
Well, both the M2 and M5 are in the mail and will arrive tomorrow. Sherry did not charge me to repair the jammed shutter on the M2. She said it was a very simple and common repair (shutter brake?).
 
Two cameras over the past few years to Sherry for VF upgrades and CLA's. Came back perfect both times. Would have Sherry work on my cameras anytime. Her prices are reasonable as is her service time, in my experience. She is a one-person shop, obviously, so my expectations clearly aren't the same as for pro services from Canon, for example.
 
Don at DAG... whatever it takes to use him is worth it. Too many examples to mention here. Sherry is my number 2...
 
bmattock said:
The only thing worse than camera technicians are camera repair customers.

Technicians are crabby, slow, expensive, and don't respond instantly to constant email and phone pestering by insane camera repair customers. Camera repair customers are impossible to please, demand everything for nothing and demand it fast, and if anything ever goes wrong with a camera that was once touched by a repair person, it's clearly their fault and they are incompetent idiots.

In case no one noticed, the snark above was intentional. If that's not you, feel free to ignore. If the shoe fits, wear it.

Having spoken to a number of camera repair people who have horror stories about the nasty customers they have to deal with - people who come off on online forums as nice, decent, patient, and willing to pay for quality repairs - I am convinced that what you read on the forums is HALF the story. For every customer who feels they were ripped off by an incompetent tech, there is a story about a customer from hell who felt the need to email every two hours for two months while a repair was being completed, who threatened to sue or actual violence if a camera was returned with a stray mote of dust on a lens surface, who demanded that cameras returned be cleared of all errors, even issues they didn't specify or pay to have fixed, and so on.

The only non-snarky comment I have to make is that there are few competent repair people left. We should treasure them; when they are gone, that's it, folks. Learn to repair your own worthless crap or get used to huge collections of broken junk.
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The people that bmattock refers to above are all too prevalent in today's culture. They are afflicted with the triple threat personality disorders of too much self-esteem, self-entitlement and rectal personality disorder.

Sherry will not tolerate the poop that these childish jackasses think is their birthright to fling at others; and why should she? She doesn't have to. She has no shortage of customers around the world waiting in line who treat her with respect and do not act like wild chimpanzees who are high on crystal meth.

Sherry is old school; she is opinionated and justifiably so, as she has a lifetime of experience repairing Leica M cameras and lenses and the training to back it up. She does not easily suffer fools and those afflicted with rectal personality disorder. I can't fault her for that.

Sherry is gruff sounding - so what?? You are talking to one of the world's premier Leica repair specialists who has had a long and at times a not particularly cushy life. She is not a vegan pacifist wiccan transgender flower child gallery curator from San Francisco; it's not within reason to expect her to sound like one. She is what she is - take her or leave her.

When you talk to her, talk to her with the basic respect that any person is due; that will go a long way with her. Ask her opinion on your proposed repair; defer to her judgement, because she knows what she is talking about. If you do these things, you will have a good experience with her and you will get Leica M repair service that is second to none.

there are few competent repair people left. We should treasure them; when they are gone, that's it, folks.
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There's a ton of truth in that statement. There are perhaps 5-6 (if that many) truly world class Leica repair technicians left on this earth and they are not getting any younger; be glad that we still have them around and treat them with a little respect when you interact with them.
 
ray*j*gun said:
Don at DAG... whatever it takes to use him is worth it. Too many examples to mention here. Sherry is my number 2...
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I'm with Raymond, Don is my number one guy, and if for some reason he's not available, then Sherry. Other than Leica NJ (for the digital stuff), these are the only two who I'll let touch my Leica gear.
 
photomoof said:
Repair people like Sherry and Don were trained to repair cameras not resurrect junk from the the bargain bin.

There are better choices for Leicas that really should be retired than these two.

Personally, I don't know how they tolerate the junk, when I was working on bikes, I would not have had the patience.
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Fred,

Sherry is factory trained, and I consider her to be my friend. Anyways she puts up with me, my many crazy requests, and has only put limits on these request a few times. She has said a few times that I am crazy. LOL.

Anyways at this point all my M-bodies can be perceived as A La Carte cameras due to the level of service and their custom build.

The two SL2's that were merged into one new camera. The battery voltage was modernized, the best components of both cameras merged, and Sherry even attempted to modify the camera to have a on off switch which never came on SL2 MOT's, but she later discovered that it could not be done.

Anyways I can't be such a big jerk, because Sherry seems to extend a lot of patience towards me. I am lucky to have her as my friend.

Cal
 
If I ran my business like she does I would be out of business.
I need to accept all types of customers and expect my staff to treat even the crazy's with patience. Even when we know they are out there.
 
People get crabbier when they get older..it doesn't get easier..in 10 years there may not be anyone left doing this...get your cams repaired now..
I wish I had sent my Brooks Veriwide into Ken Ruths last year..now that's an impossibility..
Maybe its just time to chuck all the film stuff..and just go digital..
 
DrMcCoy said:
****, so much of what you've said here is just complete crap. Sherry's service is slow because she chooses to be a cantankerous lone wolf.

She flat out refuses to train someone else (and has for years) even when people have shown interest. She refuses to modernise her workflow for sales. She is purposefully provocative and antagonistic towards her customers and LHSA members. She openly favours some customers over others. She also talks crap about customers behind their backs (even ones she ostensibly likes).

Where the hell do you get off saying that because someone is good at their job they are "justifiably" this way? Being good at something does not mean you get a free pass to be a complete jerk all the time. People who think this just support the environment that fosters, as you put it, "too much self-esteem, self-entitlement and rectal personality disorder".

Now, this being said, I kind-of like Sherry. I think she's an entertaining and interesting character who does good (if slow) work. She's the kinda person I'd like to have a beer with. I'd even do business with her again if I can spare the time. But for Pete's sake, take the rose-tinted goggles off.

Edit: Why is d-u-d-e censored?
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For Pete's sake, take the poop-tinted goggles off. The only "complete crap" in this thread is the complete crap you just posted.

My original post describes my experiences with Sherry and my thoughts on why she does business the way she does. I have always received prompt and professional service as well as outstanding results when she has worked on my M cameras. You make a less than subtle implication that simply because your experience or your friend's experience, or the guy down the street's experience or your brother-in-law's experience or whoever has not been the same as my experience that I'm wrong? Or that I'm lying?? That's beyond laughable, good sir. And if Sherry has no interest in training a successor to take over her work when she retires, that is her choice and hers alone. She owes nothing to you, to any other Leica M user, or to the Leica M users worldwide.

She does not have to bend over backwards to cater to asinine and arbitrary demands from arrogant, self-entitled prima donnas. If you don't like the way she does business, perhaps it is because you are also one of the people I made reference to who has too much self esteem - and possibly even a raging case of rectal personality disorder. The tone of your post would certainly seem to indicate both.

Peace be with you. :)
 
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