Bought a Used M4-P from the Lady in the East, but...
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Brooklynguy
Established
I naively sent the Lady in Upstate NY a lens with haze that she said she could fix. Lens came back out of focus and still with haze. Sent it back to her; after many calls and unanswered emails over total 6+ months, I finally gave up and had her return my lens. Cost about $200, no refund, nothing not even apology. I then sent the lens to DAG/Don Goldberg and he CLA'd/cleaned the haze within 3 weeks (including other lenses), for less than the NYS Lady. I will never send her any stuff in the future. As for DAG, I recommend him without reservation.
IMHO, your camera is perfectly usable as-is. It doesn't *need* a cleaning especially at additional expense. Would need to see the camera in person to determine if it is really fungus.
This doesn't mean that the seller in NY shouldn't offer to support the sale, per the terms as on her website.
The lady in NY was removed from my personal 'approved vendor list' some time ago.
This doesn't mean that the seller in NY shouldn't offer to support the sale, per the terms as on her website.
The lady in NY was removed from my personal 'approved vendor list' some time ago.
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While I LOVE Don (DAG), this sort of issue seems equally up Sherry's sweet spot for fixing. I've never had occasion to send anything to her, but every review or story I've heard has her at the same level as Don for Leica repairs (in some cases, I'd send it to her first).
When I started through this thread her name popped into my mind as where I would send it about the second post.
B2 (;->
mpaniagua
Newby photographer
Thats the problem with buying online. You either check on the return policy and agree with it or agree with the risk. Does she refuse to do a full refund? or just the repair. If she agree with the refund, return it and move on. M4-P arent that rare/expensive to there are great chances to get a better one at a reasonable price. If you, for some reason, want to keep the camera and she refuse to repair the camera for free, either agree or send it to someone else to repair. I dont think she is on the wrong about refusing to fix cosmetic issues for free, because she isnt selling a new camera, but an old one. She should, though, agree to return the money if you arent pleased with the camera.
Either way, I would recommed that you look for another person to do your Leica's CLA and fixes, because seems you didnt came out in good terms.
Regards
Marcelo
Either way, I would recommed that you look for another person to do your Leica's CLA and fixes, because seems you didnt came out in good terms.
Regards
Marcelo
mpaniagua
Newby photographer
By the way, if she is indeed Sherry (OP hasnt state if the dealer is Sherry or not), and you are still on the 10 days return period, return it once! dont wort getting into a troublesome camera.
Regards.
Marcelo
Regards.
Marcelo
ferider
Veteran
I don't really understand the story. It would take an experienced CLA person like SK 10 min to take the top plate off and remove hair and white spot (whatever it is). Also, she has done great work for me on much older cameras.
I wish we could hear the other side of the story, and am surprised everybody here immediately sides with the OP against SK. At this point we don't even know who the CLA person is.
To the OP: maybe you don't want to buy 30+ year old cameras. Leica still makes new film cameras.
Roland.
PS: not saying the OP is wrong, but "in dubito pro res".
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
M4-P is well known for haze in VF. I purchased mine from USA in 2016 and it was listed without haze. But it was hot weather during transportation and it occurred.
Separation and haze might occur after sale and I don't know if warranty covers it.
SEXbomb!
I hope I'm at the playboy list now and they will send some bunnies for Easter to check how bad is me.
Separation and haze might occur after sale and I don't know if warranty covers it.
SEXbomb!
I hope I'm at the playboy list now and they will send some bunnies for Easter to check how bad is me.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
You can always try sending it to Youxin Yee, the other technician who works on Leicas. While he's very nice and understanding, he's not Leica trained; he does know his own limitations and works with Don Goldberg whenever he has a challenging order.
MCTuomey
Veteran
You bought an old camera that the seller represented had a CLA several years ago and is offered with a 6 month, labor only warranty. You are not an experienced Leica user, but you're learning. Learning isn't necessarily free.
You took a risk. Sometimes it doesn't pay.
Somehow I doubt SK (assuming so) ever said plainly that a CLA on a 30 year old camera assures it will have no issues for 15 years. Just not true.
Find another tech to clean up the VF to your liking and replace, if needed, the RF/VF (although I think you can run with it as is for awhile). Yes, all that's expensive. A bit of bad luck. But after a few years of use you'll forget about it and your camera will hopefully have endeared itself to you. I don't mean to sound harsh or disrespect you, but it isn't reasonable to expect that using old, expensive cameras will be inexpensive.
Fwiw, since you made the reference and others chimed in, SK has done solid, timely, reliable lens and camera work for me over the past 8 or so years. If something could be fixed, she advised and then did so. If not, she would return the piece of equipment with a note or call to explain. I would use her range of services any time.
You took a risk. Sometimes it doesn't pay.
Somehow I doubt SK (assuming so) ever said plainly that a CLA on a 30 year old camera assures it will have no issues for 15 years. Just not true.
Find another tech to clean up the VF to your liking and replace, if needed, the RF/VF (although I think you can run with it as is for awhile). Yes, all that's expensive. A bit of bad luck. But after a few years of use you'll forget about it and your camera will hopefully have endeared itself to you. I don't mean to sound harsh or disrespect you, but it isn't reasonable to expect that using old, expensive cameras will be inexpensive.
Fwiw, since you made the reference and others chimed in, SK has done solid, timely, reliable lens and camera work for me over the past 8 or so years. If something could be fixed, she advised and then did so. If not, she would return the piece of equipment with a note or call to explain. I would use her range of services any time.
Huss
Veteran
To be fair to SK, she did excellent work on my M5
wpm
Member
good results from all
good results from all
I had a curtain replaced on my m6 a few years ago from DAG. He was slow but did a great job. I later sent a v3 50 summicron to Sherri to CLA and repaint some numbers. I had called her first and we had a funny chat. She did a good job at a fair price and turnaround was decent and what she estimated.
Last year I picked up an M4-P with vertical alignment issues as well as flaring in the focusing patch. I sent it to Youxin Ye. He did a fine job as well. We replaced the windows and he cleaned the internals with the CLA. I gave up on putting in a new rangefinder as they weren't forthcoming from Leica at the time. I waited some 4 months for that and gave up. Youxin had it completed the next day and it is a great improvement over what I sent him.
So no problems with anyone. Did the OP ever state that Sherri was the seller? Sounds like some are jumping to conclusions. Just saying.
good results from all
I had a curtain replaced on my m6 a few years ago from DAG. He was slow but did a great job. I later sent a v3 50 summicron to Sherri to CLA and repaint some numbers. I had called her first and we had a funny chat. She did a good job at a fair price and turnaround was decent and what she estimated.
Last year I picked up an M4-P with vertical alignment issues as well as flaring in the focusing patch. I sent it to Youxin Ye. He did a fine job as well. We replaced the windows and he cleaned the internals with the CLA. I gave up on putting in a new rangefinder as they weren't forthcoming from Leica at the time. I waited some 4 months for that and gave up. Youxin had it completed the next day and it is a great improvement over what I sent him.
So no problems with anyone. Did the OP ever state that Sherri was the seller? Sounds like some are jumping to conclusions. Just saying.
MikeL
Go Fish
What he said.
I wouldn't consider myself experienced, and it took me about 10 min to get a top plate off with the right tools (from microtools).
philosli
Established
I can only blame myself for missing out the initial 10-day return period stated on her website. I wasn't fully aware how serious the separation of the beamsplitter can be. If I found out the problem and were more knowledgable when I still had a chance to return the camera, I probably would have returned it.
I've 2 or 3 separate phone conversations with her regarding various issues I found since I received the camera (mentioned in my previous posts). The first post-sale conversation I had with her was regarding a vertical line in the focusing patch, she shrugged it off (it is probably a hair) and tried to sell me the MP viewfinder upgrade.
In the last conversation I discussed the haze and dust (or fungus) issue. I pointed out that I read it's not a big job to clean the viewfinder in my case, and the camera is still under warranty. She still didn't want to clean it.
I have other old cameras and two of them are older than my M4-P. So I know what to expect from old and used gears.
Since I have no experience with Leica M before this, I wanted to buy one from a reputed tech and the camera is serviced. Well...it didn't turn out quite as planned.
I'm not angry and have already decided to move on. I won't use her any more if I need repair.
philosli
Established
I guess one day I'll know that 15-year claim is true or not.
Before the sale, she presented the camera as being recently CLA'ed. She claimed her CLA is good for 15 years twice. The first time before I made the payment. The second time when she admitted the last CLA was 3-4 years ago based on her memory.
The camera is functional. I don't really mind that 3-4-year difference. But this is a also camera with a finder that needs cleaning. So I believe I have a legitimate complaint about her pre-sale false presentation of the CLA status and her refusal to clean the camera afterwards under the warranty that she said was included in the sale.
geetist
Established
If it is Krauter, I am NOT surprised. She recently serviced three M bodies of mine, each and every single one came back with problems after problems.
She might have done quality work before, but now she's a con artist to me who has no professional ethics whatsoever...
People at RFF, you have been warned.
She might have done quality work before, but now she's a con artist to me who has no professional ethics whatsoever...
People at RFF, you have been warned.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
No need for histrionics, unless that's your pleasure. As suggested
if within warranty period send it back and have her straighten it out.
Chris
if within warranty period send it back and have her straighten it out.
Chris
Thud
Established
You are wrong. You contract for a service. You expect it to be done properly.
Why do you as a consumer need to send a product back for a rework after waiting for a time to be repaired. With the expectations of job well done.
In my business if I have redo's I loose customers big time. And money.
newsgrunt
Well-known
I guess the one thing about not naming the person is that some members here might send a camera or lens in for work to them, not knowing that there may be issues with said repair tech. If everything the OP wrote is factual (no offense intended), then I see no reason NOT to name the business. I would consider it a psa for everyone here.
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