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Leica offered my Leica M9P an A-La-Carte for €100, shall I take it?


yeahyoung

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Long story short, I sent my silver M9-P back to Holms for a sensor replacement. Leica taunted me with an additional €150 M9 service package (on top of the other stuff that they do for free with the sensor replacement), which involves cleaning the winding-mechanism, restoring all engraving (the engraving on my speed dial was fading), and replacing the bottom plate, etc. My understanding is that, basically for €150, they will restore the camera to like new condition. To me this was a no-brainer. But then they taunted me furthermore, telling me that for another €100 they can offer me to replace the old cover with an a-la-carte leather cover on my choice. Now this is really tempting as I would love a M9-P with a brandy light-brown leather. But the cons are: I have to wait longer for the a-la-carte, and I have black lenses, which might not fit the brandy light-brown leather.

 

Leica has made it clear that they would replace the cover anyway, so it's between new black stock leather and brandy color genuine leather for €100 more and a few more weeks of waiting time (which I would hate) + a unique look that might not fit my lenses.

 

What's your opinion? 

Edited by yeahyoung
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Long story short, I sent my silver M9-P back to Holms for a sensor replacement. Leica taunted me with an €150 M9 service package which involves cleaning the winding-mechanism, restoring all engraving (the engraving on my speed dial was fading), and replacing the bottom plate, etc. My understanding is that, basically for €150, they will restore the camera to like new condition. To me this was a no-brainer. But then they taunted me furthermore, telling me that for another €100 they can offer me to replace the old cover with an a-la-carte real leather cover on my choice. Now this is really tempting as I would love a M9-P with a brandy light-brown leather. But the cons are: I have to wait longer for the a-la-carte, and I have black lenses, which might not fit the brandy light-brown leather.

 

Leica has made it clear that they would replace the cover anyway, so it's between new black stock leather and brandy color genuine leather for €100 more and a few more weeks of waiting time (which I would hate) + a unique look that might not fit my lenses.

 

What's your opinion?

I'm sending mine off soon for sensor replacement and heard about this offer. I can't decide if I'd take it either!

 

www.robertpoolephotography.com

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I'm sending mine off soon for sensor replacement and heard about this offer. I can't decide if I'd take it either!

 

www.robertpoolephotography.com

Do you have any options in mind? To me there is only one attractive option - the brandy color leather. 

 

What's the color of your M9P? 

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I have the steel grey m9 (not P) not sure if it's still the same deal? Toying with the cognac if it is. I have a silver lens

 

www.robertpoolephotography.com

I think by cognac you might be referring to the color that Leica called Brandy. I have an official document they gave me about all the available a-la-carte options and it says "Brandy"  :)

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I'm just looking at the Leica a la carte site which says cognac!

 

www.robertpoolephotography.com

The document I have is in German... Anyway, you were talking about the light/orange-brown color, right? That's what I wanted too. 

 

If you have silver lenses then why not. 

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The document I have is in German... Anyway, you were talking about the light/orange-brown color, right? That's what I wanted too.

 

If you have silver lenses then why not.

It might be different, here's one from the a la carte site. Afilm MP though

 

http://www.efixmedia.de/stuff/M7_a_la_carte.jpg

 

www.robertpoolephotography.com

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Ok- have just been through this process. Firstly, the €150 additional service. I am not sure this is good value as I am not sure what you get if your top and bottom plates are good, as it seems to me all the key elements are included in the free service (clean / adjust rangefinder etc.). I opted for it hoping the engravings on the rear buttons would be refreshed as mine are worn - they weren't. I think much of the description (winder etc.) refers to film cameras. I did also take up the leather covering option, and have to say it feels gorgeous when you hold the camera. Chose Blue to go with silver-grey as it is quite subtle, although wifey was pushing for Red!  Ordered matching strap at same time as seemed good value.

 

Camera came back quite quickly, but arrived with a blob of something on inside of front viewfinder lens. Customer Service sent another postage label immediately and turned it round in a week - did mention they are not very busy at moment, which of course begs the question of why not right first time!

 

A Nb for OP, they say they will replace plastic protective cover on bottom plate,, NOT the bottom plate itself.

Edited by pedaes
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If Leica offers some service for 100€ - GO FOR IT!

 

Such a bargain will never come ever ;)

 

It's too early in the morning for Cognac, but if this helps for finding a decison:

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

 

Thomas

 

p.s.: left is aki-asahi.com Red Lizard Emboss (Genuine Leather Cowhide), right one is griptac grey by cameraleather.com

Edited by duckrider
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Ok- have just been through this process. Firstly, the €150 additional service. I am not sure this is good value as I am not sure what you get if your top and bottom plates are good, as it seems to me all the key elements are included in the free service (clean / adjust rangefinder etc.). I opted for it hoping the engravings on the rear buttons would be refreshed as mine are worn - they weren't. I think much of the description (winder etc.) refers to film cameras. I did also take up the leather covering option, and have to say it feels gorgeous when you hold the camera. Chose Blue to go with silver-grey as it is quite subtle, although wifey was pushing for Red!  Ordered matching strap at same time as seemed good value.

 

Camera came back quite quickly, but arrived with a blob of something on inside of front viewfinder lens. Customer Service sent another postage label immediately and turned it round in a week - did mention they are not very busy at moment, which of course begs the question of why not right first time!

 

A Nb for OP, they say they will replace plastic protective cover on bottom plate,, NOT the bottom plate itself.

 

Thanks so much for the information! To be clear, here's the detailed information on the quote: 

 

"Service-package M9/M9-P/M-E/MM"

...

We gladly advise you personally

replace protective foil bottom plate

clean/service winding mechanism

clean/repair multi function dial

clean main switch (speed dial)

restore top plate engraving" 

 

In my case, the engravings on the speed dial have faded and I am hoping that they will refresh them it as part of the "restore top plate engraving", or "clean main switch(speed dial)", but I might be wrong. 

 

It does say "Service-package M9" so I doubt the winding mechanism refers to those on film cameras. Doesn't M9 have a motor for winding?

 

Also you were right about the bottom plate. It's kind of weird that they would restore that cover though. 

 

May I ask how long did it take for the camera to come back? That's one of my main concerns. 

Edited by yeahyoung
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"May I ask how long did it take for the camera to come back? That's one of my main concerns." 

 

Mine took four weeks, but that included Christmas and New Year.  If they are still "not very busy", I think plan on 2-3 weeks. If they despatch on a Thursday or Friday it takes a couple more days for courier (UPS).

 

Two other points - it may be worth asking about the speed dial as a specific, as I would think could be replaced easily as part of the job. I think they renew bottom cover protection as it is easy and they think users remove it.

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"May I ask how long did it take for the camera to come back? That's one of my main concerns." 

 

Mine took four weeks, but that included Christmas and New Year.  If they are still "not very busy", I think plan on 2-3 weeks. If they despatch on a Thursday or Friday it takes a couple more days for courier (UPS).

 

Two other points - it may be worth asking about the speed dial as a specific, as I would think could be replaced easily as part of the job. I think they renew bottom cover protection as it is easy and they think users remove it.

 

Four weeks between sending off the camera and receiving it? That's pretty quick especially during Christmas time. 

 

I'm assuming that speed dial is part of the top plate as I googled "M9 top plate" and the images always include the speed dial. 

Edited by yeahyoung
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Slightly bitter here in the U.S.A.

 

I saw the a-la-carte program for the M240 and inquired if I could pay to gave the khaki/green leather put on my silver chrome camera.  I was told no by our U.S. rep., that it would look too much like a Safari M240.  On the other hand, if you live in Europe, they actually solicit this type of service.

 

Arrrgh!

 

Eric

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