Contacting Leica UK for repairs

[ericperlberg]

This is a really basic question but I need reassurance.

I see all the time that people send in their cameras and lenses to Leica UK in Milton Keynes for adjustment and repair yet googling Leica UK seems to bring up nothing useful. Is bypassing dealerships and going directly to Milton Keynes straightforward and acceptable practice? Who does one contact? Is there a phone number, email address or web site URL that I should know about?

And when is it better to send things directly to Solms for repair and does one arrange for that simply by emailing Leica customer service in Solms?

Thanks for any help.
Eric

[stunsworth]

Eric, if a camera/lens is still under warranty I'd go through the dealer. But for out of warranty items I'd deal with Leica UK directly.

The contact details I have are...

Leica UK
Davy Avenue
Knowhill
Milton Keynes MK5 8LB

Tel - 01908 671316

[ericperlberg]

Thanks Steve, what about new lenses purchased from a certain dealer in Scotland?

[stunsworth]

I'd probably deal with Leica direct. I don't see any point in sending a lens to the Scottish dealer, only for him to then send it almost all the way back again to MK. For a local dealer I'd send it via the dealer.

If you have any doubts, give Leica a call.

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by ericperlberg

Thanks Steve, what about new lenses purchased from a certain dealer in Scotland?

Is this a warranty claim?

[masjah]

Eric

I've sent both old and new (under warranty) equipment direct to Leica UK for attention. Absolutely no problem - just send in your warranty card (or Passport document) if it's new. If you need to talk to them first, just phone them at MK and ask to be put through to Customer Services - they are all very helpful. The only advantage of getting your dealer to do it is to save yourself the secure delivery outward cost (assuming of course that you don't in any case have first to post the thing to your dealer)! But I'd keep it simple and go direct.

[ericperlberg]

Originally Posted by andybarton

Is this a warranty claim?

I asked primarily because I've been saving to buy a 24 2.8 lens for awhile now and then suddenly the price increase popped up like an evil daemon to move the goal posts. The famed dealer in the north has easily the best price in the UK just now as far as I can tell and given the short notice I have for buying the lens, I was preparing myself for how to handle warranty issues should they arise. And then of course, it just seemed I should know what "one does" when lenses and Ms are out of warranty.

Anyway thanks to all for the speedy answers. Appreciated

Eric

[delander]

Hi Eric,

I have in the last 6 months bought two lenses from the Scottish dealer, the 75 cron and about 3 weeks ago the 50 lux. The latter to avoid the latest price hike. The lenses were fine with no problems. But looking at their site now I see that they have implemented the latest lens price hike?

If they have no special deal for you then you could go somewhere nearer.

These increasing prices are a new phenomenon for me. Even my Canon L lenses have always gone down in price after the initial rush when introduced.

Leica seem to know what they are doing don't they?

Jeff

[rontr6]

Eric, I think you're being overly cautious, I've used a lot Leicas lenses [old and new] over the last 20+ years, including some from the said Scottish dealer and I've only ever had one lens problem in all that time with a 60s 35mm Summicron when an iris blade worked loose several years ago, it was repaired cheaply by an old time camera mechanic in Glasgow.
Ron

[ericperlberg]

Originally Posted by rontr6

Eric, I think you're being overly cautious, I've used a lot Leicas lenses [old and new] over the last 20+ years, including some from the said Scottish dealer and I've only ever had one lens problem in all that time with a 60s 35mm Summicron when an iris blade worked loose several years ago, it was repaired cheaply by an old time camera mechanic in Glasgow.
Ron

Cautious yes but I'm not feeling worried about buying equipment. I wanted to escape from being locked in to Leica's dealer network and now I know how to do that. In any case I missed my chance of beating the price rise at Ffordes by procrastinating so now its either wait for a second hand 24 to show up or buy from the one dealer open enough to announce ahead of time the price rise.

Incidently, I found exactly such an old time camera mechanic here in London who fixed my tri-elmar and even posted his existence elsewhere in this forum. He said to me (surrounded by old Leicas and Hassys and Pentax and Nikons, etc of days gone by) that he didn't know how he was going to stay in business because he couldn't do much with the new digital cameras and he couldn't afford to stay open anymore. The next 20+ years may not be the same as the last 20+.

[Austerby]

I've used them several times - for a CLA of my M3 when I bought it, a CLA of my 90mm Tele-Elmarit and they currently have my 75/2 in for a Passport repair after I dropped it

They have always been quick, efficient and I'm a satisfied customer. Their fees were comparable with another UK independent Leica specialist that I used when my M2 needed a CLA.

[suilvenman]

The Scottish dealer? Sounds very Shakespearian, although I doubt Ffordes would appreciate the negative associations with Macbeth.

Cheers, Ken.