Do I have a chance?

[Gunner58]

Mojo

If by chance Leitz does honor the old lens warranty it seems only fair that the original owner should be reimbursed the original repair costs ($100?) that he offered in order to complete the sale. Maybe I am taking a simplistic view of the transaction but I still see this as a double dipping. In the final analysis, you are trying to get two seperate parties to pay for the same repair. Lets not confuse a price adjustment with a repair issue.

Cheers

Gunner58

 

[jlw]

I don't want this thread to get too recursive, but it seems clear that he did not get the seller to "pay for the repair" -- he was rooked into paying too much because the seller misrepresented the condition of the lens, and got a price adjustment to reflect its actual condition. They simply used the estimated cost of repair to determine what amount of adjustment he should receive.

You'd do the same thing in, for example, buying a used car. You look at pictures online and agree that the car is worth the seller's asking price of, say, $5,000. You show up to look at the car and, oops, in the meantime someone has dented the fender. The seller says it probably would cost about $500 to fix, so it's now a $4500 car instead of a $5000 car. You agree with this assessment and buy the car at the reduced price.

You are NOT obligated to pay the full $5000 just because you already have a spare fender in the garage and can fix it yourself -- the value of the car has been reduced by the damage, and the reduced price is the fair price.


I guess the reason I have been so adamant about this is my own sense of shame. When I first read mojo's post, my immediate reaction was, "That cheap double-dipping SOB -- I'm going to write a red-hot reply spelling out what an unethical jerk he is." I almost did, too. It wasn't until later, when I thought through what actually had happened, that I had come really close to flaming someone who didn't deserve it.

 

[Gunner58]

I am sorry but I am not following your used car analogy. Mojo clearly stated on his original post that upon inspection and discovering the problem he notified the seller and " Got the seller to refund the cost of the repair to have the work done locally" Please explain what is not clear here. Other than the repair issue the len as described by Mojo was in LN condition and no other flaws were noted. I still feel that if Leica repairs the lens as a goodwill gesture the proper thing to do would be to reimburse the out of pocket repair cost to the original owner.

I not trying to pass judgement and maybe this ol' southern boy is missing the big picture but I am very surprized by the number of comments supporting this position.

Gunner58

 

[vizioneer]

Well...it's all a matter of opinion I guess. A warranty is a warranty is a warranty, and excludes peripheral dealings- if it's exercised by Leica. I guess if the lens would sell for $100 less given its condition, then so be it. If Leica wants to clean the lens b/c it's covered, so be it. Guess it's all in interpretation.

 

[jaapv]

Anyway, if the cause of the problem really is a manufacturing error I would not be surprised if Leica repaired it free of cost. European law is very strict on this kind of thing and, as far as I know, does not accept any time restrictions in cases like this.

 

[mojojones]

Do I have a chance? Resolved...

Do I have a chance? Resolved...

I thought I'd follow up with the resolution of this query since so many found interest in it. I sent the lens off to Leica USA with a letter gently asserting that the problem must have been a manufacture defect. They sent what I considered a very reasonable repair estimate and rather that try to push my luck, I accepted the repair. I have just received the repaired lens. The price with shipping was just about what I had been refunded and the lens is now clean, snappy with new aperture blades. It looks brand new and I will shoot a roll this week to confirm that fact. Thanks to all for your input.

All's well that ends well,

John

 

[jaapv]

That is a fast turnaround on that repair!

 

[Paulbe]

I think Leica USA willl tell you that:
a) their passport warranty is US only
b) it's for three years from date of purchase, and
c) it's not transferrable.

Why would they repair a 16 year old lens under warranty anyway?
You don't know where that lens has been for the last 16 years! Could have been in an attic...
Good luck though..
Paul