Earth to Sherry...

[Harryo1962]

Sherry at Golden Touch has had my Leica IIIf since May of last year for a CLA.
Ive been patient, and didn't call her until a full year had past. She said at that time that she was going to get caught up on her screw mount cameras in June.
Now it's almost September , and I've heard nothing. No emails replies, or the return of my camera after a written request.
Any advice, or updates as to her current status?

 

[bobby_novatron]

She is notoriously difficult to get ahold off. Try calling during suppertime. Tha'ts the only time I was able to speak to her directly.

 

[froyd]

Seems like the venting is justified: no reply to messages and camera still under repair a year in? I'd have little patience with that. Actually, Sherry was the first repair person I called and emailed years ago after I had a Leica lens that required work. Neither message received an answer and I moved on to working with Don. Too bad, because I hear she's great.

For what it's worth, DAG and Youxin have both been really excellent with turn around, though Don required a little more "handling".

 

[btgc]

Problem with really good craftsmen (and seems, also women) is that they don't care about basic customer care program. They could hire for part time some young kid or elder man who would answer calls and provide interface to mastermind. I bet customers would happily pay $5 atop to get their calls answered and emails replied same or next day.

 

[Matthew Runkel]

Frustrating. I have invariably received three-week turnaround from Sherry and also always have a telephone conversation with her before sending the gear.

The trick to communicating with Sherry is to use the telephone only and call at night. I really wouldn't bother with email. She works very late nights and is probably the only person I don't know well whom I would not hesitate to call at 11 p.m. or even later.

When you do reach her, best to keep it friendly. You can tell she does not need the work. Assuming there's not some issue getting parts, I don't think you will have to wait long between speaking with Sherry and getting your camera. Good luck.

 

[Harryo1962]

She's fun to talk to on the phone. We had a nice chat in May, but nothing came of it. She serviced 2 of my lenses, and that process went smoothly.
I'll give her another call.

 

[Ned Bojic]

15 months? That's totally unacceptable.

 

[photomoof]

Sherry at Golden Touch has had my Leica IIIf since May of last year for a CLA.

She and DAG are flooded with junk.

 

[Huss]

Weird. I recently used her to replace the finders in my M5 and turnaround was about 3 weeks w/ no communication issues.
I use Youxin for everything else that is not an M5 (he doesn't handle those) and his communication has been outstanding, along with excellent results, cheap prices and rapid turnaround.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Well, I just contacted one repairer who told me that their backlog is five years. I appreciated the upfront honesty.

The trend of cameras to repair vs. really qualified repairers still at it... Will be interesting over the next few years.

 

[photomoof]

The trend of cameras to repair vs. really qualified repairers still at it... Will be interesting over the next few years.

There will be more junk, fewer and fewer parts, and the great repair people will retire.

The solution is easy IMO. Pay more and buy undamaged lenses, use modern bodies, both Sony and Leica will be glad to sell you one.

If equipment is a hobby, and you love owning old equipment, just wait and don't worry so much.

 

[f16sunshine]

Leica NJ still services Leica cameras everyone.
Even the M5.... I asked them.
You may pay a bit more but,.. Likely won't have to deal with the eccentric Sherry.

She did a job for me exactly this time last year.
Completely rude on the phone after the camera arrived to her. The work was perfect. The bill ended up more than NJ's estimate and almost double her original quote.
Lived it and learned it !!!

 

[photomoof]

Leica NJ still services Leica cameras everyone.
Even the M5.... I asked them.

NJ uses the same equipment to test and repair that is used to assemble the cameras in the first place. Their workspace is clean and professional. They are not perfect, no one is, but they do good work. They are really nice folks, some of whom I have known for 25+ years.

 

[f16sunshine]

They are really , really nice folks. Every time I've called there it's been extremely help and thoughtful people on the line.

OP, Give Sherry a bell. Make her promise a date. If you can't live with it have your camera returned.

Another person mentioned calling her late in the day. I recall sort of the same. She called me at what seemed like 8:00pm pacific to tell me how much to make the check out for when she finished my camera.

For what it's worth. It was only a 1 month wait for some frameline work on an M5.

 

[bobkonos]

To those of you who drank the "Krauter Kool-Aid" you merely got lucky. I'd never use her again and I warn people from using her. When I sent in a IIF for a reapir estimate for work I requested, she apparently ignored my letter asking her to contact me with a price estimate before she did the work, so she held my IIf hostage for $275. She redefines "quirky".

 

[Ned Bojic]

each and every time I have called for a quote on some simple work such as a CLA or fix a wobbly lens she quoted me insanely high prices (500$, 700$ and so on) To the point that I thought she was joking.

 

[steveyork]

I've used Sherry much -- most for M5 and Leicaflex SL models -- and the turn around time has always been in that 3-6 week range. Fifteen months is sounding like DAG and others. Yes, she is expensive, but for the models I shoot she is considered the expert here in there states.

Too bad Essex is no more. They were inexpensive and quick.

 

[Argenticien]

Too bad Essex is no more. They were inexpensive and quick.

Indeed, I lamented their passing. I own no Leicas but used them for a Rolleiflex and, incredibly, they also got a Voigtländer Vitessa working again for me. Just a few days ago I was thinking of trying to find and contact Shi Kim to ask where their repairmen landed, in hopes that some might be working somewhere else. Does anyone know how many staff they had? Since we always said "Essex Camera" rather than an individual's name, it felt like there might have been a roomful of them and Shi was just dispatcher; but for all I really know, maybe it was just Shi himself.

--Dave

 

[f16sunshine]

Essex did my Contax iiia shutter overhaul many many years ago.
They fixed all the zeiss bumps too. Could not even tell they lifted the grip material off.
Without request or charge. The camera looked new.
It was cheap and like a week and a half out of my hands.
That was a well run machine 🙂

 

[kermaier]

Indeed, I lamented their passing. I own no Leicas but used them for a Rolleiflex and, incredibly, they also got a Voigtländer Vitessa working again for me. Just a few days ago I was thinking of trying to find and contact Shi Kim to ask where their repairmen landed, in hopes that some might be working somewhere else. Does anyone know how many staff they had? Since we always said "Essex Camera" rather than an individual's name, it felt like there might have been a roomful of them and Shi was just dispatcher; but for all I really know, maybe it was just Shi himself.

--Dave

I used to use Essex a lot -- they were a 20 minute drive from my house. 🙂

There were 3 or 4 repairmen in a big bullpen room filled with worktables and shelves of waiting and finished work. I don't have time right now to search through my old image files, but I probably have a couple of test shots of the shop, taken through the drop-off/pick-up window.

I still mourn the passing of Essex Camera -- they were great to deal with, and could fix almost anything, not just Leica specialists.

::Ari