Buying at Sherry Krauter

[Marsopa]

Hi:

I'm planning to buy a Leica lens and I've seen that Serry Krauter also sell camera goods. I would like to know if you've bought something from her and your opinion about...

Thanks

 

[Pablito]

Never bought from her but have sent many repairs to her. I have noticed her prices seem a little high ON THE OTHER HAND, anything she's worked on is going to be working perfectly. You will have no worries about anything you buy from her.

 

[Thud]

The same stuff has been on her website for a long time nothing seem to change...

 

[Tuolumne]

What a cool site. It never occurred to me to check it out. I really like that she lives on Purgatory Road. Who ever thought that up?

Does anyone one know how old she is, what she looks like, how she got into the business. I'll wager there are not many women in her trade.

/T

 

[Ronald M]

I bought a Nikon 28 AiS a few months ago. Very nice clean lens. I also got some Leica brass film cassetts 6 months ago.

She is a fun lady and knows her stuff. Her E-mail stinks so use the phone if you don`t here back soon. It just does not seem to go thru. Mine does the same sometimes.

Half the world trusts here to repair their Leicas so she has got to be good.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I did consider buying something from her in the past... but then, a Leica representative contacted me with a quote for the item (a hood) which they had in stock... for less!!! 🙂

She still got to repair my lens, though...

 

[JNewell]

You HAVE to call Sherry. The website is static, but what she's really got changes often. I've bought a couple of cameras and lenses from her and the prices were better than shown on the website. All were perfect - I think she cleans and checks everything that goes through her hands.

 

[Pablito]

Does anyone one know how old she is, what she looks like, how she got into the business. I'll wager there are not many women in her trade.

/T

Surely there are not many women who repair cameras, but what does her physical appearance have to do with anything?

She got into the business through a family connection. She is Leica factory trained and is very, very experienced. She has been working independently since the early 80s at least. She's my age but I won't tell you what that is!

 

[Beemermark]

She's my age also, and while their is no definite definition for middle age I think I'm past it-🙂.

But your 110% right, what the heck does age and appearance have to do with it. Sherry used to show up in the LHSA photo outings, I don't know if they are on the web or not. I'm no longer a member.

 

[Bill58]

I bought a Leica Summar lens from her about a year ago and it was 100% as advertised...and reasonable. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from her again!

 

[Way]

I bought my Leica CL and Rokkor 40mm lens from Sherry about 2 years ago. At that time the price was a little high, but not too much. I talked to her and knew that everything would work correctly. Also came with warranty. No problems to this day.

 

[venchka]

She cut her teeth on the M5 if that helps. She still thinks it's the best camera Leica ever made. Bubba came with reciepts from Sherry. That was plenty good for me.

 

[RayPA]

What a cool site. It never occurred to me to check it out. I really like that she lives on Purgatory Road. Who ever thought that up?

/T

If you call her and ask, she will tell you the *whole* story about Purgatory Road. IIRC, it goes back to George Washington, I_I_R_C. She's very entertaining and knowledgeable.

.

 

[venchka]

Swedish too, IIRC.

 

[JNewell]

I've been to her shop a couple of times and met her at shows a couple of times. She's actually a very cool human being, in addition to being a great tech. As far as cameras go, if you pay a little more, it's worth it to have her standing behind what she sells.

 

[asiafish]

I just ordered a black M5 from her in condition she describes as "Pretty". Good enough for me, I didn't ask anything else and happily sent a rather large check.

I have every confidence that what arrives in the mail in the next week or two will be an essentially BETTER THAN NEW M5 that will last longer than I will.

 

[Icarus]

I have purchased several items from Sherry and wouldn't hesitate to do so again. She is great.

 

[noisycheese]

From Sherry's website -

I have been in business since 1976.
I have worked for E. Leitz , Inc. Rockleigh, New Jersey and Brandt Optik in Stockholm , Sweden (the Leica authorized agency).

That's pretty much the understatement of the century, IMHO. It's sort of along the lines of Larry Bird saying, "I have worked for the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers." 😉

Sherry has something like 37 years of experience at repairing Leicas, and a depth of knowledge about Leica cameras and lenses that is simply unbelievable. She has internet service problems where she is located, so call her - don't rely on email. As someone else noted, her website is outdated and does not accurately reflect her current inventory of cameras and lenses that she has available for sale.

Sherry is a great person to do business with - her integrity and honesty are unimpeachable. She has worked on my M cameras three times over the last ten or so years and I will always have her work on my M cameras when they are in need of service or repair. She's the real deal.