Service

[terrycioni]

I handed my chrome M8 to my local dealer on June 17th (it needed service as it was exhibiting a few well reported problems). The local dealer handed it off to the local Leica rep who sent it off to the US.

It arrived at Leica USA and was entered into service on June 20, I know that because they sent me a detailed repair estimate (it is being done under warranty). I got notice from UPS that I can have it tomorrow - July 4th (Happy 4th of July to our US friends).

Here is what they did: Upgrade to current standard, repair circuit board, check and adjust for good working order.

Folks this is excellent service that stands up against the best pro level service out there.

Best Regards. Terry.

[Fotogo]

Terry, it's good to hear you had such excellent service from Leica.

In my case, I had excellent service from Leica Dealer Tony Rose at PopFlash, who exchanged cameras for me no questions asked and then dealt with the service matters with Leica on his own time. That kind of service is simple excellent and will keep me as a loyal customer.

[ho_co]

Originally Posted by terrycioni

... Here is what they did: Upgrade to current standard, repair circuit board, check and adjust for good working order. ...

Terry--
They generally meet and exceed expectation. Notice particularly that clause "upgrade to current standard."

That covers a multitude of hidden changes; it's exactly what the repair ticket showed on my body as well. I found minor problems taken care of that I hadn't even thought worth mentioning. I hope you find the same.

I'm glad to hear the endorsement. Too many folks only post negatives, as you're aware!

[okram]

I have recently had same experience-the repair was done fast and perfectly.
Upgrade to latest construction level means your shutter should be more silent, and they changed something with the focusing (so I heard)...


m

[glenerrolrd]

This is very good news. Building a good reputation for service can only help Leica going into Fotokina. A few questions.. what type of problems were you getting repaired and were you repairs considered "professional service". Its in Leica s best interest to service the pro s first as they are most impacted by loss of equipment...but what should the consumer expect?

[terrycioni]

Originally Posted by Fotogo

Terry, it's good to hear you had such excellent service from Leica.

In my case, I had excellent service from Leica Dealer Tony Rose at PopFlash, who exchanged cameras for me no questions asked and then dealt with the service matters with Leica on his own time. That kind of service is simple excellent and will keep me as a loyal customer.

Hi Tim,

Tony Rose and POPFLASH are very special and there is no doubt about that. Leica has always provide excellent service to me and like you I am a loyal Leica user.

Tim, how about that battery charger?

Best Regards. Terry.

[terrycioni]

Originally Posted by ho_co

Terry--
They generally meet and exceed expectation. Notice particularly that clause "upgrade to current standard."

That covers a multitude of hidden changes; it's exactly what the repair ticket showed on my body as well. I found minor problems taken care of that I hadn't even thought worth mentioning. I hope you find the same.

I'm glad to hear the endorsement. Too many folks only post negatives, as you're aware!

Howard, I am happy to report that the shutter sound is less harsh and slightly quieter when compared to my December 06 M8. Overall I am happy with what has been done. Leica has got the service aspect of the M8 moving along very nicely.

Best Regards. Terry

[guy_mancuso]

Good news Terry and happy to hear of this

[terrycioni]

Originally Posted by guy_mancuso

Good news Terry and happy to hear of this

Thanks Guy.

I am so damned impressed. I am responsible for a ton of Nikon gear (photojournalists) and Nikon has a repair center here in Vancouver - their service is usually excellent especially with NPS. However, Leica exceeded the Nikon service by a long way.

My M8s have been just fine over the 21 months of ownership - one always worry about service with the various horror stories one reads on the net. Leica has moved forward with the M8.

Best Regards and thanks for your continued support of the M8.

Terry.

[guy_mancuso]

Exactly what Leica really needs is impressed repair service customers. Any future they have will depend on this being much improved from what we have seen in the past. I was told awhile back this was a big priority for them , glad it was not just lip service.

[Pointcolville]

My gear was diagnosed and I had an email estimate and schedule within 2 days of arrival in NJ. Summilux 75 requiring work to mount went off to Germany, other gear is being serviced in NJ. I was promised a quick turnaround and given the quality of communications so far I am a believer.

[Fotogo]

Originally Posted by terrycioni

Hi Tim,

Tony Rose and POPFLASH are very special and there is no doubt about that. Leica has always provide excellent service to me and like you I am a loyal Leica user.

Tim, how about that battery charger?

Best Regards. Terry.

Off subject of camera service, but to answer your question about the Battery Charger I will go ahead and reply. I visited a few Battery Charger manufacturing firms some time ago. I should have reported on this to all here and I regret I did not follow through with that.

The most impressive charger manufacturer was a supplier to Canon. Needless to say they were more than qualified. They performed in house testing and outside independent testing through TUV.

There are two issues that stopped my progress. There is no problem to produce a safe charger that meets our function requirements, or my amateur approach to the design solution, but rather the minimum volume production requirements and the cost of product liability coverage. I simply do not have the stomach for the investment required. I am not convinced that the market is large enough to cover the costs. Sure would be a fun project if I could overcome those concerns.

[terrycioni]

Thanks Tim, no doubt it would not be a very large market. Thank you for looking into it for us all.

Best Regards. Terry.

[tbarker13]

I hope this means I might be seeing mine return soon. It was logged in New Jersey on June 9 for electrical problems and sent off to Germany. I've just passed the outer limit of the 2-4 week repair estimate.
I feel lonely without it.

[ArtZ]

Originally Posted by terrycioni

I handed my chrome M8 to my local dealer on June 17th (it needed service as it was exhibiting a few well reported problems). The local dealer handed it off to the local Leica rep who sent it off to the US.

It arrived at Leica USA and was entered into service on June 20, I know that because they sent me a detailed repair estimate (it is being done under warranty). I got notice from UPS that I can have it tomorrow - July 4th (Happy 4th of July to our US friends).

Here is what they did: Upgrade to current standard, repair circuit board, check and adjust for good working order.

Folks this is excellent service that stands up against the best pro level service out there.

Best Regards. Terry.

Terry,

I agree with you about Leica service if (and only if) you mean about politeness, arranging transport for you and keeping you informed when you call or email them. For those things they’re great in Solms. I have a big pleasure to talk with a couple of persons there: Sonja Backer and Andrea Frankl. They have been always very helpful.

But concerning the quality of the reparations… that’s another story.

1.- My Digilux 2 needed to replace the sensor. When it arrived back home 2 months later, it was returned with a new problem: lens didn’t focus properly. I had to send it back.

2.- My second M8 had a few serious problems: it didn’t recorder the pictures (even if you could see the image on the LCD screen after being taken); sometimes the top of the camera was hot with the power switch off and run out batteries and I had a problem upgrading to firmware 1.201 which left my camera useless. The camera slept for 5 weeks in Solms and it was returned the same because they “forgot” to repair it.

3.- My Summicron-M 28 has been twice to Solms to fix the front part of it which detached from the rear part. Right now is back in Solms because after repairing the lens the second time, it was returned with a serious focus shift.

This is my own experience.

Cheers.
.