Ready to give up on Leica (wishing I wasn't)

The 'there is something wrong with my leica' always turn a bit ugly here ("there is nothing wrong with your leica, it is you").

On the upside, if you complain a bout a FSU camera it will always be "it is nothing wrong with you, it is the camera"
 
i am sorry for your misfortune, rick. i agree with the point made by several posters: it's always a good idea to enlist the help of others, like your dealer, on warranty and repair issues. going it alone, well, let's just say there's strength in numbers. there's also strength in being firm and persistent to the point where you're calling/writing/emailing where the other side cannot ignore you. sometimes a patient, polite approach doesn't work because you're much more easily ignored. often service people are short of time and, giving them the benefit of the doubt, simply take on the loudest, most frequent calls first.

btw, i think it's unacceptable that the dealer didn't help you more responsibly from the very beginning (i'm assuming you did contact them right away).

the bright side is that the M8 is worth the trouble, at least in my opinion.
 
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I gave up leica after a similar incident with a new m8 so I know evactly how the op feels. After the initial withdrawal pains find that lfe is good with a m4/3 and legacy lenses.
 
I guess the issue here is you were too 'reasonable' initially - with something like an M8 with its known 'issues' (of which you were perhaps unaware) there was really no joy to be had from accepting a body that was faulty from the beginning and going down the repair route. I don't know how US consumer law works, but certainly in the UK a product which is faulty or not fit for purpose can be returned, no questions asked (even without a receipt, fact-fans!).

My first M8 lasted one week before going into shutter-looping syndrome. It went back to the shop (Richard Caplan) who refunded me on it without blinking an eye. I subsequently bought another body which has been without issue so far.

I'd be in heavy negotiation right now about getting at least a loan camera for your trip, or an immediate refund. Set aside how reasonable you've been so far and remember you are in the right. Good luck.
 
Quinn Porter said:
Every email I've sent to Leica service has gone unanswered. It's a major problem for them. There is no way they can continue to sell equipment at the highest of price points and then treat their customers like dirt. Eventually it will be their downfall. It's too bad.
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I have to agree with this and I've let them know that. I only use Leica cameras at the moment and would be very sad to have to use something else. However, my M8 has been at Leica NJ for 2 months and it kills me. :bang:

I wish they would take this stuff more seriously and hire more people to do the work that they are so behind on.
 
Yesterday I got a Leica repair book out of the library. I've been burned too by having stuff come back and it's still got problems. Taking your Leica to the repairman is like going to the doctor; you get there and then you keep having to go back to fix "other" problems. :rolleyes:

I know stuff like lines in the sensor can't be fixed at home, but I think a lot of stuff we send to Solms or to the repairman are simple things that only take an evening if one were willing to learn. I'm willing to practice on my M2 and learn some new tricks.

Anyway, I don't see that your troubles with the M8 are any reason to completely give up on rangefinders. This is the reason why most people have some sort of back-up capability for those long treks to the repairman.

Good luck with the repair, and I agree that now might be a good time to get firm.
 
Double Negative said:
That's just ridiculous. I would contact the dealer and tell him you want a loaner until your camera is returned or that you don't want your original camera - you want a replacement. How much has postponing your trip to Europe cost at this point?!

Leica really needs to get their sh!t together. You can't buy an M9 if you wanted to, the S2 is probably the same. The repairs take WAY too long in general... Sad.
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The M9 and S2 are different The (Solms) turnaround on the M9 is 5 days, on the S2 3 days. NJ seems to be struggling.
 
When you get the camera back, sell it. Then buy an old Leicaflex SL and a couple of lenses, or an M3 and a couple of lenses. Send them off to DAG for CLA's. Take photos and enjoy! End of problem, beginning of stellar images w/ reliable cameras that are a joy to use.
 
ROOOO said:
I'm about ready to give up on that brand and just use my GF1 until someone else produces and supports a digital rangefinder with an optical viewfinder and an M-mount. I wish this wasn't the case, but it is what it is.
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Hi Rick,

There's no need to give up on RF totally. Did you consider the R-D1/s/x? It's quite a good alternative and there are a few reputed technicians in the US that's pretty good with service if need be.

Cheers,
 
You seem to be well organized and have done your part, I suppose the next part is to push the folks to get it done.

A call to Solms, and perhaps tell them this is your other pen name, with your real name being RH.

Phone rates to Germany are not much these days. Emails are easy for some to ignore.

Your dealer should be screaming at someone as well.

Only thing they can do now that is appropriate is to send you a new camera, but that is just my opinion.

I sent my M8 in, they fixed it, but somehow spent a little time explaining how it was not their fault, etc. and did not really explain what they did.

Cost a pretty penny to ship it.

Hang in there.

Regards, John
 
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I've only experienced good customer service from Leica NJ and Dave Elwell in particular. He does seem to go away a lot though. Having said that, all my experience has been with film bodies as I've resolutely steered clear of Leica's digital stuff.

Rick I do hope you get your loaner.
 
It's one thing to charge the highest prices and build an un-reliable product.

Yet another to have long waits for supports and fixes, due to limited staff. Understandable maybe.

But for Leica to make you call over and over again, lie to you on the phone, and being generally unresponsive just plain sucks. I cann't understand how customers put up with this.

Very sorry, Rick. Use something else. Or film.

Roland.
 
Do your blood pressure a favour and buy a NIKON FX. They may not be as nice to shoot according to some but atleast they DO shoot. The M8's should be sold in pairs incase of problems. I'd never trust one on such a trip. M8.2 and M9 seem to be sorted out though.
 
Ruby said:
Yeah, and it seems to happen quite a lot with the M8, so much so that there is a forum dedicated to it, HERE.
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Yeah- very impressive, about one post a fortnight... try googling "canon problem" (54.400.000 hits) or "Nikon problem" (5.850.000 hits)
Roger is right, sh!t happens...everywhere.
 
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I hate to say it, but it's almost what you deserve for buying the M8 in the first place... (I know this is not entirely right, but yet somehow I am still typing and about to use my mouse on the "post quick reply" button)
 
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I haven't had a chance to read through them all as I just woke up and need to go to a meeting. I'll spend the drive on the phone with Leica, I'm sure.

To answer the question some have raised about why I didn't get another camera, the answer is that I had read about the problems with the M8 and figured that it would be better to have one that had been completely checked over by Leica than to take the changes that I would get another with a misaligned rangefinder. Live and learn, I suppose.
 
Errr... training? It takes about three years to train a technician on the M8 and M9....
 
ROOOO said:
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I haven't had a chance to read through them all as I just woke up and need to go to a meeting. I'll spend the drive on the phone with Leica, I'm sure.

To answer the question some have raised about why I didn't get another camera, the answer is that I had read about the problems with the M8 and figured that it would be better to have one that had been completely checked over by Leica than to take the changes that I would get another with a misaligned rangefinder. Live and learn, I suppose.
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And that is the pernicious influence of these forums. The vast majority of digital M cameras have been trouble-free. I personally know 18 persons with an M8/8.2/9. None of them had any problem, and none of them have posted about it on any forum. The best thing to do is get a good one.
 
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