I will avoid Leica NJ from here on...

Rob-F said:
So sending an M9 directly to Germany is an option? I don't recall seeing this mentioned before. It would go to Wetzlar, I believe, not Solms, now. Sending it to Germany would be an additional shipping nuisance, though, possibly with greater risk of loss, owing to the added handling steps...
Click to expand...

Right, Wetzlar, I have the Solms stuck in my head.

There is additional paperwork these days for things going in & back out of Germany true, but properly insured I think any risk is minimal. No carrier will want to pay replacement cost on any item of M value.

raid said:
Leica USA sent me a UPS mailing sticker, so I did not pay for shipping either. Actually, Leica USA seems to be doing what is possible to keep costs very low or at zero cost for Leica users. I bought my M9 used, and it is/was not under warranty.
Click to expand...

Firstly by not hiring enough people to actually do the volume of work they get.
 
It could be that each worker there must be certified by Leica before they are allowed to fix Leica cameras (for Leica).
 
ptpdprinter said:
So Leica Wetzlar say 6-8 weeks and Leica NJ says 24 weeks. Can you understand how US Leica users feel like the red-headed stepchild?
Click to expand...

Well, I have not got my camera yet. It is now 8 weeks and it should be here, but I guess I have to wait longer. But as we said when I was younger and longed for a leave from the compulsory Swedish military service at that time to visit my girl friend: "The one who waits for something good, can wait for a long time...".
icon10.gif


I checked up Leica NJ on Bloomberg home page. It seems that it is a subsidary under Leica Wetzlar:

Company Overview

Leica Camera Inc. distributes camera and optical lenses of Leica Camera AG in the United States. Additionally the company offers repair facilities in USA. Leica Camera Inc. was founded in 1995 and is based in Allendale, New Jersey. Leica Camera Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Leica Camera AG.

Allendale, NJ 07401
United States


I guess Leica Wetzlar could easily send over some German technican to New jersey to reduce the waiting time for you. To train a new one would probably take longer time.

You could perhaps suggest Leica Wetzlar this. But wait until I get my M9 back...
icon10.gif
 
The only time (and probably last time) I used Leica NJ for service was with my 28mm Summicron I used to have. The front lens group had come loose (as had many others) and I sent it in for that repair. When I got it back it was actually in worse shape than when I sent it in and had to send it back. It ultimately took three more return trips (so four trips total) and about 4 months to get the lens right. So it sounds like my length of time was “speedy” but the quality of work was abysmal. Not to mention absolute zero contact. It was nigh-impossible to get a phone or email response from ANYONE there.

By contrast, Don (DAG) has been super friendly, communicative and vastly quicker (plus done right the first time) with anything I’ve sent him. I don’t know about any kind of preferential treatment, I just know that whenever I contact him I get a response and when I send him equipment to work on it gets done correctly and usually within a week or two.

It’s experiences like the ones described here that really make me feel conflicted about Leica as a company. I really do love their products, I find that they’re the tools that best suit my vision and how I like to work, but I have next to no confidence in the service and support area (at least for the US) compared to what I used to get with Canon CPS. Granted Leica is no worse than anyone else I’ve experienced (Sony, Pentax/Ricoh, Fuji, etc.)

If they had the same level of service and support that Canon does I would be beyond happy with them.
 
I sent my Monochrome in for a sensor cleaning and check about 2 weeks ago. I received an acknowledgement email from Leica NJ that the camera was received. I have also had two additional email exchanges since then. I have found the team there responsive to my emails, and i have been very candid with them about the general dissatisfaction from many people on this board. I do believe that they are very busy, but are trying to be more responsive. I am fully prepared for the wait as I was advised of the 20-24 week lead time. Communication goes a long way in managing expectations. Now I will hope that in 6 months time or sooner the camera is returned.
 
24
36
48
52
Leica...
Workers...doughnuts..Tuna sandwich..
oh..
camera..
over there..
already bought..
lunch now..
ding ding..goes the buzzer..
need to make more m10's..
m9..
can wait..
or..
Leica..
Why dost thou exist..
why do you maketh me wait..
such a lover..
you are..
lol..
 
I keep forgetting to call Leica back for that mailing label. Must be that I really don't want to go without it for 24-36 weeks. Maybe I should just not bother. I don't see anything wrong with it anyhow. Why did I sell my M8.2. It was good enough. Oh, yeah, I sold it because I thought Leica would always honor the free M9 sensor replacement promise. Compared to all this anxiety, a 1.33 crop isn't so bad. Should have kept it. I have plenty good wide angle lenses for my D700, when I need to go wider than the M8.2.

Leica could take a lot of pressure off of us and themselves by dropping that August deadline.
 
The M8 is/was an excellent camera. Only restriction is the 1.33 crop. If you are used to using 50mm lenses (as I am), then using a 35mm or 40mm lens on the M8 works great.
 
Emile de Leon said:
24
36
48
52
Leica...
Workers...doughnuts..Tuna sandwich..
oh..
camera..
over there..
already bought..
lunch now..
ding ding..goes the buzzer..
need to make more m10's..
m9..
can wait..
or..
Leica..
Why dost thou exist..
why do you maketh me wait..
such a lover..
you are..
lol..
Click to expand...

Far out man, far out.
 
Rob-F said:
I keep forgetting to call Leica back for that mailing label...
Click to expand...

Sent two cameras to NJ, First on May 30, got -$0- estimate for sensor replacement June 14.

Sent second camera June 16th, camera was received, but no word as of today July 18.

So the line just for a evaluation has grown from Just over 2 weeks to 1 month and counting between May 30th and June 16th.

I'd say send the camera in as soon as possible.

Joe
 
To show that it's not only Leica that has recall issues, I just received a recall notice for my Nikon D 750.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/service-...ice-Advisory-for-Users-of-the-Nikon-D750.html

Enter your serial #, if your camera is affected Nikon automatically provides a postage paid UPS label. No special favours asked or expected. Turnaround time for this shutter replacement? 1 week. 1 week. Not 24 -36 weeks, but 1 week.

That is how you take care of your customers.
 
Taking your Toyota to the dealer may result in a faster trunaround time than taking your Mercedes to the dealership. [just joking!]
 
raid said:
Taking your Toyota to the dealer may result in a faster trunaround time than taking your Mercedes to the dealership. [just joking!]
Click to expand...

I know you are joking Raid, but servicing my Jeep (I guess the closest equivalent to a Toyota that I have) takes the same time as my BMW.
 
Huss said:
To show that it's not only Leica that has recall issues, I just received a recall notice for my Nikon D 750.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/service-...ice-Advisory-for-Users-of-the-Nikon-D750.html

Enter your serial #, if your camera is affected Nikon automatically provides a postage paid UPS label. No special favours asked or expected. Turnaround time for this shutter replacement? 1 week. 1 week. Not 24 -36 weeks, but 1 week.

That is how you take care of your customers.
Click to expand...

Oh boy. A good friend of mine just replaced the D600 he had lifted on the Paris Metro with a 750...

And agreed. That is proper attention to making something right.
 
Heard from the contact in Wetzlar:

Hello Bob,

Thank you for the information and please excuse my late answer.
I´m glad to hear that you finally received your camera back in good working condition.

We are aware that our agency in NJ is having problems to perform a good customer care. They are still struggling with the new computer system which has been installed and which caused a huge back log.
I´m sure once things are back to normal, they will get back with their customers sooner and in an appropriate time.

Of course, if you would like to send your camera to Germany in the future (which we hope will not be necessary), you can do so. But before sending, please register the outgoing items with your local customs office, so you will not be charged a high customs fee once the camera returns.

All the best and greetings from Germany !
Click to expand...
 
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