Nightmare On Leica Street

[gtto]

I work on and off as a professional photographer.....these days off. I have always wanted a digital M so in July, I bought an M8u from someone on this board. After a few weeks, I noticed the infamous vertical line. I spoke with the seller and he said he never had the problem. I believed him and could have returned the camera but since there was time left on the Mack warranty, I thought it would be ok to send it to them (assuming they would send it to Leica NJ), which they did. The camera was in really good shape so I figured it would be almost like new when it came back from Leica. The camera was sent in the beginning of august. Mack ok'd the repair on Aug 12th and it has been in Leicas possession since then. They claimed it would be finished on Sept 12th but now it seems it will be " at least one more week due to a backlog." I mean seriously.......my Canon was always returned in 7-10 days . This might have to do with being a member of their pro thing, I don't know, but 8 weeks ( if I am lucky ) to get a camera repaired? For an issue that is a known Leica problem? Ridiculous. I really, really enjoy shooting with this camera but if it needs another repair and it takes 8 weeks, there will be one less Leica owner on this forum.

 

[gavinlg]

Yeah... 8 weeks is ridiculous, thats all I can say...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I've been waiting 5 weeks for Sandisk to replace a $35 SD Card.

I've waited longer than 8 weeks to have a camera repaired before, and it was not a Leica. You are dealing with a relatively small company making low-production number cameras, and yours is out of production. I've had Nikon take longer than that for an In-production camera, was told the problem required that it be sent back to Japan by the repair facility. One Nikon Af camera required two trips to the repair facility, under the Nikon warranty. Three months later the camera returned, and AF still could not be trusted.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Yeah, they're a small company, 8 weeks for sensor replacement is pretty routine, unfortunately.

 

[dave lackey]

IMO, if it is only 8-10 weeks, you should be happy. Post back here when you get the camera back and let us know if it is not even better than when you sent it in...😉

 

[sanmich]

You should try DAG :angel:

 

[JSU]

Leica USA isn't Canon or Nikon.

Leica USA isn't even Leica @ Solms.

If you choose to have Leica repair or maintain your camera(s), and who better than the same people who built them, then you have to accept the reality that their repairs will not be done as quickly as either Canon or Nikon.

If you drive a Ford or Chevy you have certain expectations for repairs and maintenance. If you drive a Tesla (or even a Lotus), your expectations will necessarily be different.

One size doesn't fit all.

 

[Keith]

Leica may be a small company but they are also a very successful company currently. Did someone say 30,000 M9's sold so far and 36 million profit last year ... hows about putting some of that profit into speedy repairs and keeping dealers supplied with stock and a little more on the ball with their service.

If Nikon Australia or any of their service outlets wanted eight weeks to fix a problem on my D700 they'd be lucky to ever sell me another camera.

 

[dave lackey]

Leica may be a small company but they are also a very successful company currently. Did someone say 30,000 M9's sold so far and 36 million profit last year ... hows about putting some of that profit into speedy repairs and keeping dealers supplied with stock and a little more on the ball with their service.

If Nikon Australia or any of their service outlets wanted eight weeks to fix a problem on my D700 they'd be lucky to ever sell me another camera.

IMO, it takes a long time to train employees in Leica repair (or any other precision instrument). Maybe with their recent good times, they could be doing just that, training people. Or, not, depending on whether the U.S. can get it's policies regarding business taxes and jobs on track. I don't know of anyone who is ready to hire at any company these days, especially with the recent proposal to raise corporate taxes. :bang: I fear that we will see long days ahead before service of anything is good due to the worldwide economic situation.

 

[jsrockit]

8 weeks is bad for any company. I think Leica assumes everyone who uses Leica is rich and has 14 other Ms at their disposal. It is crazy to be without a new camera for 2 months.

 

[maddoc]

Well I live in Japan and have waited around 6 - 8 weeks for Nikon cameras / lenses to be repaired and for Leica equipment around 6 weeks. On average the Nikon cameras had to be returned three times for the same failure and Leica two times. 🙂

 

[shadowfox]

Leica may be a small company but they are also a very successful company currently. Did someone say 30,000 M9's sold so far and 36 million profit last year ... hows about putting some of that profit into speedy repairs and keeping dealers supplied with stock and a little more on the ball with their service.

Keith,
If they speed up service for everyone, how are they going to provide special treatment for their "celebrity" customers? 😀

 

[Jack Conrad]

It's ridiculous to expect great service from a company that charges
copious amounts of money for their products. You're expectations are just too high.

Consider yourself fortunate to receive it within a year or two. You should be grateful that you even get your camera back at all.

Leica is a very important and influential company and you should stop whining about them. Just be happy you once had the opportunity to hold one in your hand, even if it was broken. 🙄

 

[Keith]

Keith,
If they speed up service for everyone, how are they going to provide special treatment for their "celebrity" customers? 😀

Good point! 😀

 

[Paul Luscher]

Get used to it. If you send a camera to Leica in Northvale, N.J., it will likely be three to four months before you see it again. This is why I dread any breakdowns. Sent in a Leica MP for repairs in October of one year, didn't get it back till Feb of the next year.

I've always wondered about this. Remembered an article about a former Leica repairman who said that when he was at one of the Olympics to provide service, his Leica group had little to do--few breakdowns of Leica stuff--while the Nikon, Canon, etc, people were busy day and night fixing stuff.

So I would've thought the Leica repair folks in Northvale would be twiddling their thumbs waiting for something to do, like the Maytag repairman, would leap on the few repair jobs that came their way, and would have them out the door in no time flat. But no so.....

 

[taylan]

Actually if you get it in 8 week, you are lucky. I gave 2 Leica lens to my local repairman at 28.10.2010 for CLA and i have not get it yet. He is a well reputed in both proficiency and slowness. In fact the fault is mine. When i gave the lens i said him it was not urgent.

 

[Guaranteed]

Lol I'm glad I don't own anything Leica, I'd be on the phone constantly after about six weeks of waiting. Coming up on eleven months, I'd have lost my mind.

 

[silverbullet]

When Leica has to change the M8 sensor and they have no stock it will be horrible long until Kodak runs a new batch of CCDs......this happens from time to time...

 

[thegman]

Leica is valued at 280m Euros, not that small a company. Leica makes great products, and credit where it is due, but also criticism where it is due.

 

[rodl]

Horrible or not, I had the same issue as the OP and mine took seven weeks. The good news is that it came back in perfect condition.