Upgrade policy revamped

tbarker13

tbarker13

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This may be posted elsewhere, but thought I'd post this email from Leica.

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Dear LEICA M8 customers,

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]thank you very much for your positive reactions to our new M8 Upgrade Service we had introduced to you in our Newsletter four weeks ago. At the time, we had announced further information which is now following as promised.

Due to numerous suggestions you made we have revised the concept. Nothing has changed concerning the options – the scratch-proof sapphire glass cover for the LCD monitor and the noise-reduced shutter. We have just simplified the process for you. What’s new is:[/FONT]
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Subjects

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Upgrading of separate options[/FONT]
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Upgrades will commence as of August 2008[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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Upgrades in authorized LEICA M8 Service Centers[/FONT]
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Upgrading of separate options

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It was planned to offer both options in one package, i.e. the sapphire glass cover together with the shutter. Now these options will also be available as separate upgrades. The three upgrade-options now available will cost:

- ex 1120,- EUR for both the shutter and the sapphire glass cover
- ex 750,- EUR for the sapphire glass cover only
- ex 800,- EUR for the shutter only

The stated prices include VAT and are valid ex Solms. Regional differences to these tariffs are possible. The camera’s warranty will be extended by another year after an upgrade. [/FONT]
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Upgrades will commence as of August 2008

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Also new is that you can commission the upgrades either through your Leica dealer or directly through the Leica Customer Service as of August 2008,
Tel.: +49-(0)6442-208 - 165 or - 189
E-Mail: m8.support@leica-camera.com
Important: Neither will an additional registration on the Leica Camera AG Homepage be necessary nor the acquisition of certificates – the order will be handled just like any other service commission. The payment will only be due before your camera is sent back to you. [/FONT]
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Upgrades in authorized LEICA M8 Service Centers

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]As planned, fitting the sapphire glass cover and the shutter will presumably commence as of August 2008 in Germany, and it will also be possible (this is new) in all other authorized LEICA M8 Service Centers in the USA, Japan, Hong Kong, and Korea. Please observe that sending the camera to a Service Center is carried out at your own expense. Within the EU, you may call upon our Quick or Express Service for the upgrades.

We will inform you in due time in another Newsletter when the Upgrade Service is actually started.

Should you have any questions before that, please feel free to turn to your dealer or our LEICA M8 support.
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You will also find all new information concerning the M8 Upgrade Service here.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Yours Sincerely,
The Leica internet team[/FONT]
 
Well, I think it sends a negative message to owners of the camera. That they're being played for saps.

How about something simple like a $300 two years additional extended warranty for M8 owners? That's something useful that they could easily sell.
 
sitemistic said:
And wasn't the original upgrade to extend the warranty two years? The release says one year.
Click to expand...
Ya gotta get your sap(phire) glass, then wait a year, then get the shutter fixed up. Voila, two years!
 
This upgrade disaster is getting worse and worse.Leica really must think that their customers will swallow just about anything they put in front of them. Honestly, Leica deserves to go under. This is NO way to treat your clients who have just spent $5,000 on an already overprized piece of old technology.
 
I also think they're smart to unbundle the upgrades. If they do offer an upgraded sensor in the future, I'm sure people would be more likely to get it if it's not combined with a new LCD cover or whatever.
 
Sitemistic / Valdemar

You don't own the camera, so the upgrade policy or lack of it should be of no concern to you. When you've laid down some hard earned cash for one then you can have an opinion worth listening to ;) I look forward to the Canon 5D replacement announcement when I can p*ss on your bonfire.

The upgrade programme is making more sense now. They just need to clarify what new M8s will look like and cost after August.
 
Has anyone tried the Giottos glass screen cover? According to my dealer its about £30 (UK) and is apparently very good. They are awaiting a delivery.

Im certainly not tempted by any of these upgrades.

Richard
 
I think it was smart to unbundle the glass and shutter into seperate options. It just makes sense... as it does with options in vehicles. From what the watch fanatics tell me, the sapphire glass is EXPENSIVE material and VERY scratch resistant. So I'm not surprised of the cost of the glass BUT I personally would not really care much. I for one was NOT going to pay for the upgrade "package" but now that the shutter is a seperate option I just might consider it at a later time. I would have to hear it in person prior to my decision.
 
Richard Marks said:
Has anyone tried the Giottos glass screen cover? According to my dealer its about £30 (UK) and is apparently very good. They are awaiting a delivery.

Im certainly not tempted by any of these upgrades.

Richard
Click to expand...


I like mine.... has the quality that matches the M8 (no jokes please). I purchased mine with the camera and the shop was nice enough to install it prior to handing it over.
 
750 Euro (or USD1,100) for a sapphire screen.
For the same money I could get a nice diamond ring for my wife.

It's not a matter of how much for the screen,
but rather it's the comparison.

Mind you I didn't care if the M8 had such other problems,
I turned a blind eye and bought one, but this, this is going too far.

No, the upgrade is not mandatory.
But it's not pretty.

2300026871_6a23bc6589_o.jpg
 
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sitemistic said:
Gid, I don't worship 5D's. They are disposable tools. As I've said before, the only thing that would tempt me to replace my current 5D's with the next generation would be weather sealing as on the 1Ds. Otherwise, the 5D meets my needs. So Piss on! ;)
Click to expand...

baboon%20square.jpg
 
pizzahut88 said:
It's not a matter of how much for the screen,
but rather it's the comparison.
Click to expand...

And you are right.. but exactly what is your point? There are many people (my wife included) that would rather spend $1200 on jewelry at Tiffany instead. To her, my camera collection is worth nothing except the fact that it keeps me happy. My coworker could see that $1200 as a down payment on a new Rolex. What exactly is your point...

For some watch lovers, a sapphire crystal is a must... From the "demonstrations" I've seen, I would NEED a sapphire crystal if I spent some cash on a nice watch and use it everyday (I dont' wear jewelry at all). I've also been told that a complete overhaul of a Rolex with the installation of a sapphire crystal will start at around $400 and upwards. Thats not inexpensive either.

I will agree that Leica made the wrong assumption that a scratch proofing the LCD screen was such a big deal for their M8 users. For now.. I'm happy with the protector I have on the camera right now... at a fraction the cost.
 
I'm not anti digital, far from it. If the m8 had the reliability of nikon and canon digital gear then I would probably be more inclined to dive into the m8 ocean. What I really can't accept though is this marketing ploy by leica for owners to keep their cameras at the cutting edge of technology by paying vast sums of cash on top of what they've already paid!. For the price they're selling m8's for, I would like to believe I was buying the best anyway. To my mind this is NOT a sorted camera but instead a factory test program funded by those of us who buy into it. I really can't believe leica when it comes to digital. I'm sticking with my film M's and a scanner until leica stop taking the p@@@
 
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usayit said:
And you are right.. but exactly what is your point? There are many people (my wife included) that would rather spend $1200 on jewelry at Tiffany instead. To her, my camera collection is worth nothing except the fact that it keeps me happy. My coworker could see that $1200 as a down payment on a new Rolex. What exactly is your point...
Click to expand...

I concede my point may not be valid for others.
Diversity of thought is beneficial in this small world.

But for my last birthday, my wife secretly took my Leica out to a store,
ordered a nice case for it, & got me a Zeiss M 28.
No, she did not pick the lens I want nor needed.
I now have four 28mm lenses.
But it's the motive.

My point is, I ought to do something nice for my wife.
Especially before I throw some money down on a screen upgrade.
Look, I could get her a diamond ring.
 
Leica is really getting weird. They want more money for a LCD glass than the most expensive CV M-mount lens (Nokton 35/1.2) costs... that's just ridiculous... but enough retired dentists around to order it, I guess...
Didier
 
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