&^% 2-3 month wait for repair...

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I just bought an M8 a couple of weeks ago to try with the intention being if I liked it, I would order an M9....figured this was the most sensible way to test the camera rather than renting one...also knowing the wait for the M9 can be pretty long.

 

So I bought a mint M8 and almost immediately knew I loved it and wanted an M9...But on my first day shooting on location with it, the shutter stuck and would not stop...As it is under warranty, I sent it in for repair thinking how it will be nice to get it fixed and use it while I wait for my M9..

 

I just received a notice from Leica that they are fixing it under warranty and ugrading the shutter....but it will take 2-3 months to repair!!

 

I put a call into the dealer who sold me the camera and am waiting for someone to get back to me but they indicated they might be able to help me out..crossing my fingers that they can.

 

In the meantime I bought 2 lenses already with the M9 in mind and while I have obviously survived fine without Leica in my bag, now that I am bitten I need it!

 

Especially for an upcoming trip in the next week or two.

 

Just venting here as I know many of you can relate.

[wstotler]

I just received a notice from Leica that they are fixing it under warranty and ugrading the shutter....but it will take 2-3 months to repair!

 

Sympathies, for sure. To have the camera fail out of the box like that is incredibly disappointing and I'd be hopping mad--you're pretty calm, all things considered. The 2-3 month wait is awful. Here's hoping the dealer can step in and assist--getting you a loaner M8. Or, it would be stellar for Leica to step up and send you a loaner, although this is very unlikely. At least it's being considered an "in warranty" fix and you'll get it back with an upgraded shutter. Not perfect, but something.

 

When I was worried about having a backup for my M8 (I was headed to London on vacation), I bought a pre-owned mint M6TTL at a very good price. Yeah, film. But it's my backup and "film play" lens, when I do want to shoot film--I shot with it when my M8 was in for a sensor replacement because of streaking and when I'm going on any shoot I consider to be "critical," I pack it in the bag along with a bit of film just in case. As an insurance policy for piece of mind, it's invaluable. (Yeah, shouldn't *have* to have a backup like that for piece of mind, but it helps.)

 

Luck,

Will

[mabelsound]

I assume you sent it to Leica NJ. I had a similar problem...bought one used under warranty, then immediately realized it had a bad sensor. I wrote Dave Elwell at Leica a really detailed and polite letter making a case for their expediting the service--that is, brand new user, under warranty, etc.--and Leica agreed and turned it around for me in a few weeks. You might try the same.

 

He says they really got killed with work over Christmas and are still digging out.

[Tom Johnston]

similar experience here- bought one used in nov, from my dealer, 60 day warranty- after a couple weeks the shutter locked up in c mode, and i noticed the rangefinder needed calibrating. dealer sent it to nj in dec, and i just got it back last week.

my dealer had offered a loaner of some kind but i declined as i still have my trustworthy film body... but i sure missed having the m8 and it is so nice to have it back.

so mine was one of those that added to the workload in dec.

[jsrockit]

It's killing me to be honest. My M8 is in for repair in NJ... I just sent it a few days ago. Missed the cut for the first batch of X1's... jonzing for a digital Leica so much.

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Well guys, all I can say is this story has the happiest ending possible!

 

Spoke with Sean at Camera West and my M9 came in and will be here Saturday!!

 

He is also calling Leica to speed up the repair on the M8 and was confident it would be much faster than 2-3 months.

 

And it will the upgraded shutter which is a 'money upgrade'..

 

So someone will be thrilled when they buy my M8 and I will feel better selling a camera that was checked and repaired (and upgraded by Leica)..

 

I can't believe this amazing luck and say enough great things about Camera West!

 

Thanks for the support and sympathies in this thread. I was sick to my stomach when I got the 2-3 month notification from Leica.

 

(now I have some guilt for my good news and hope you guys get your camera's back soon!)

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Sympathies, for sure. To have the camera fail out of the box like that is incredibly disappointing and I'd be hopping mad--you're pretty calm, all things considered. The 2-3 month wait is awful. Here's hoping the dealer can step in and assist--getting you a loaner M8. Or, it would be stellar for Leica to step up and send you a loaner, although this is very unlikely. At least it's being considered an "in warranty" fix and you'll get it back with an upgraded shutter. Not perfect, but something.

 

When I was worried about having a backup for my M8 (I was headed to London on vacation), I bought a pre-owned mint M6TTL at a very good price. Yeah, film. But it's my backup and "film play" lens, when I do want to shoot film--I shot with it when my M8 was in for a sensor replacement because of streaking and when I'm going on any shoot I consider to be "critical," I pack it in the bag along with a bit of film just in case. As an insurance policy for piece of mind, it's invaluable. (Yeah, shouldn't *have* to have a backup like that for piece of mind, but it helps.)

 

Luck,

Will

 

I can't believe I was not as you put it 'hopping mad"...I just didn't want to lose it and I figured somehow this had to happen...I was just going to try for a loaner or rent or buy another M8 till it came back..Never did I expect to get the news the M9 is coming...

 

and it gets even better...Camera West will take the M8 back and credit me in full towards a lens I am ordering anyway!

 

I just can't believe my (good) luck..

 

I told Sean how I have not had any good news like this in awhile, I guess sometimes when you let go and stop worrying, good things can happen.

 

Or best yet, we have to learn to let go when it doesn't go our way...(which seems to usually be the case)

[wilfredo]

My M8 has been gone for over two months now and shipped to Germany from NJ. It is a warranty repair and next week Im going to New York with no M8. I'm disappointed with the wait time.

[piblondin]

I was sick to my stomach when I got the 2-3 month notification from Leica.

 

Yikes, I think you need to relax. Patience....

 

I bought an M8 at the beginning of the year and immediately had problems. It's supposed to be finished by the end of this month, which puts the repair in the two- to three-month window. I'm eager to have it back and finally begin my rangefinder experience. However, sick to my stomach, I'm not.

 

Good to hear about your M9, though! I hope you get much enjoyment out of it. I've never been to Camera West, but have heard good things. Do you know if their used stock list on their website is up to date?

[ashrafazlan]

Great luck on that free shutter upgrade, I wish I could get that same treatment (the prices their charging for my fix sure suits it, but alas..doubt i'll get one

 

The M8's are great, just wish they didn't break down that much.

[menos I M6]

That indeed is great news Mark - enjoy the new camera!

[kdemas]

I deal with CaneraWest all the time and they at terrific to work with. I have an X1 winging it's way to me as we speak.

 

As for the question about their stock list... I believe they keep it very fresh.

 

Enjoy your new M9!

 

Kent

[karl101]

When my M8.2 went wrong within three month of buying it, my dealer got Leica to send a loan M8.2 for the duration of repair, which took about three months. I was very happy with that arrangement.

 

Karl

[LeicaMSeattle]

I had the repair of my 90mm Summicron take 6 months back in the late 80's when it needed to be sent to Germany from NJ for the repair. More recently, I had my M8's sensor replaced out of warranty and a 21mm Elmarit lens coded, and while the M8 was in for sensor, I had the full upgrade done. It helps to develop a dialogue with the staff at Leica via phone call and email. They managed to get both back in two weeks. Leica has a program for professional users which I should look into joining thinking that it might be similar to Nikon and Canon Professional Services. I am a member of Nikon's pro service, where they offer priority repairs as well as loaner equipment and priority purchase program for equipment.

[Lasex]

If the M8 failed on day 1, as you say, it should have been regarded as a faulty item from the factory. In the EU you could have demanded having another one, not having it repaired.

[wilfredo]

My M8 has been gone for over two months now and shipped to Germany from NJ. It is a warranty repair and next week Im going to New York with no M8. I'm disappointed with the wait time.

 

 

I just got a notification in the mail stating that my repair will take another 6 to 8 weeks and the cost will be $575.00. Mind you this is a warranty repair. About three weeks ago I was told it would be another three weeks. I called Leica in N.J. this morning and they apologized for the confusion. They said there would be no charge and I should have my camera back in about three weeks. Again three weeks. I am resigned to the fact that this repair will go beyond the 3 month wait. My disappointment with customer care and services continues to increase. Why did they wait two months to finally send the camera back to Germany?

[offshore]

Perhaps Leica has changed their policy but when I was selling M8's we had an agreement with Leica that any M8 that came in for warranty repair was automatically exchanged for a new one and Leica handled the defective one as long as it was still under warranty. One of my customers came in after two weeks with his M8 and showed me some of his photo's and I saw sensor spots on them and handed him a new one and sent his back to Leica. I've had a 28 mm F2.8 ASPH Elmarit in for a warranty repair since early December '09 and can't get anyone to return calls or email regarding its status. Two years ago I had a similar situation with my 21 that was sent in for CLA and coding. I ended up sending a letter to Leica Corporate and it got back to me two days before I was leaving for Mexico to live for two months, no CLA had been done but it was coded. This repair situation with Leica needs to change as there really is no excuse for warranty repairs to take months to complete that is just poor service in anyone's book. I really enjoy the image quality I get from my M8 and Leitz lenses but am starting to think it's time for a change to a more repair reliable system.

[steinzeug]

I have just bought an M8 and some expensive lenses, and my M8 is already in Solms for a sensor change.

Makes me wonder : have i made a grave mistake?

Part of spending a lot of money on a camera is to get something trustworthy.

I am beginning to wonder...

[wilfredo]

I have just bought an M8 and some expensive lenses, and my M8 is already in Solms for a sensor change.

Makes me wonder : have i made a grave mistake?

Part of spending a lot of money on a camera is to get something trustworthy.

I am beginning to wonder...

 

The only reason why I hold on to my M8 is because I am a big fan of M8 images. I like the size of the rangefinder and the fact that it doesn't draw attention but at the end of the day, it's what it produces that keeps me hooked. Leica is fortunate not to have any competition in that arena, really fortunate.

 

For those who can, a second body is useful just to keep going if one needs repair. It is a big price to pay and for most, it won't make any sense. In my case, I can't afford a second body even at the used price, not at this time.

 

I guess if one is hooked on a particular vintage wine, nothing else will suffice, but I have to admit I am disappointed. In the past, I've gotten my film cameras back from Leica in about 3 weeks tops.

 

Good luck with yours, there are many people who have never had repair issues.

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[menos I M6]

I have just bought an M8 and some expensive lenses, and my M8 is already in Solms for a sensor change.

Makes me wonder : have i made a grave mistake?

Part of spending a lot of money on a camera is to get something trustworthy.

I am beginning to wonder...

 

You didn't. The M8 is a great tool and can be used, to produce beautiful files for print.

I had no issues with my pre owned M8.2 and I am really satisfied with the image quality in sane ISO speeds.

 

An issue with repair and waiting time would be very uncomfortable, but would not change the fact, these cameras do indeed deliver quality.

 

I think, with a small corporate as Leica (and yes, it is small, compared to competitors ), one has to revert back to more traditional ways of getting in touch, asking for progress, asking for a human customer agent, than, we take implemented systems for granted, we know from big corporates like Canon, Nikon, Apple and Mercedes Benz.

 

Call them up, write mails, faxes and letters. Get connected to a responsible human person and I bet, things can speed up.

 

I sometimes see it, that Leica not only has a too low service capacity for the growing customer quantity these days, permitting service in a timely fashion, but also has no handle on priority repairs.

 

It can happen, a customers case slips through and is buried under a pile for weeks. One must contact, to resolve this and help Leica, to straighten priorities (longest waiting customers, customers with a deadline, customers with defective out of box cameras, etc.)