wlaidlaw Posted September 22, 2010 Share #1 Posted September 22, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Does anyone know if Milton Keynes has actually closed. I have sent two emails to Leica UK service in the last 10 days, without the courtesy of an acknowledgement let alone a reply. Is just that they are being their usual dozy selves? My M9's rangefinder vertical alignment has gone off slightly and I want to know if this can be rectified in the UK by MK themselves or if there is a UK based Leica approved technician, who can remove the red dot to do this, without affecting the warranty. I would hope in due course, there will be a technician linked to the Mayfair branch, who can do simple jobs like this. I know I could do it myself but I am sure that it would affect the warranty and the next thing would be a cracked sensor. I suppose I will have to phone MK from France. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 22, 2010 Posted September 22, 2010 Hi wlaidlaw, Take a look here Has Milton Keynes actually closed?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bill Posted September 22, 2010 Share #2 Posted September 22, 2010 I suppose I will have to phone MK from France. Blimey - I can hear the sigh from here...and this is such a travail why...? Telephones were invented long before email. It's good to talk. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted September 22, 2010 Share #3 Posted September 22, 2010 Why not just send it to Solms? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
russell Posted September 22, 2010 Share #4 Posted September 22, 2010 I've called two or three times. Emailed once. Also emailed Solms. No response on any fronts. They'd told me they'd have my M9 back by now. I'm not a professional. My wife and I are going on our big annual trip and first time to the USA on Oct 2nd. I got on the waiting list back in July to prepare for this. Now they have my money, my camera, and slowly they are taking my patience. Boohoo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted September 22, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted September 22, 2010 Blimey - I can hear the sigh from here...and this is such a travail why...? Telephones were invented long before email. It's good to talk. Regards, Bill I know I can always get a helpful comment from you. 1) I am as I said in France 2) MK always seems to keep you waiting on the phone for 10 + expensive minutes before they tell you there is nobody who can help you today. 3) Hence email - it's today's way of doing business communications. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted September 22, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted September 22, 2010 Why not just send it to Solms? Andy, See Russell's post below as to why. The last but one dealing with Solms were on the M8 upgrade. I got a definite promise of a 2 to 3 week turn around. It took six weeks and came back with an unusable rangefinder and had to go straight back. Last dealing was on my MATE, which went for a jerky focus ring and came back with the 50 to 28 frameline change not working; had to go straight back. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted September 22, 2010 Share #7 Posted September 22, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Wilson, I'm not being funny - alright, I was being mildly chiding in the first place because you were being so huffy about it - but if you want something done, call someone. The modern way of doing business is not to drop into somebody's inbox alongside the Viagra adverts and invitations to spend large amounts of money to attend this seminar or that, it is to adopt the personal touch and pick up the 'phone. If the cost of the call really bothers you that much perhaps you should try Skype, or similar... Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted September 22, 2010 Share #8 Posted September 22, 2010 Andy, See Russell's post below as to why. Russell's problems seem to stem from dealing with Leica in Milton Keynes (who are closing down), in a transition period to service being offered by Leica in Mayfair. This is unfortunate for him. Next year, Leica in Mayfair will, I am sure, offer first class service (even if it is to send the camera/lens to Solms). At the moment, it is common knowledge that Leica UK service is, let's be generous, "in a state of flux". There is no way that you don't know this, Wilson. Solms have never been anything but extremely helpful to me. I know that you have personal contacts there. Why would you choose any other route to getting something done? It just doesn't make any sense whatsoever. If I had a problem with my M7, or any of my lenses that I felt could best be dealt with Leica, I would have no hesitation whatsoever in bypassing Leica UK, and dealing directly with Solms. I am amazed that you, with your knowledge, background and experience, would do anything else, in the same circumstances. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted September 22, 2010 Share #9 Posted September 22, 2010 Just to help you out, I have contacted my Leica UK friendly-person and asked that the UK website be kept up to date with regards to contact numbers, email addresses etc. during this transition period. In the meantime, the contact details that I have been given during the transition period are:- The current number for all Client Care (service) calls is 01908 256400. This is directed to the Client Care team, where details are currently being taken, and we are getting back to customers as quickly as possible. There will be a new London number very soon, which we will announce in the near future, once the London facility is completely operational. Alternatively, customers can email owner @ leica-camera.co.uk with all their details, and one of the team will get back to them as soon as possible. Please don't come knocking on the forum's door should Leica not answer these numbers or addresses as quickly as you would like - this information is being passed on as the best information that Leica UK can give to us at the present time. I have no reason to contact them personally at this time, but I hope that someone may find this useful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted September 23, 2010 Author Share #10 Posted September 23, 2010 Andy, Many thanks for the info. I was aware that MK was in transition (hence why I started the thread) but I had hoped that queries would at least be passed on to someone who would deal with them. If they felt unable to do that, virtually all mail systems (Outlook, Entourage, Eudora, Lotus Notes etc) include the facility to give an automatic pro-forma response. Either hopefully along the lines: "We have received your message and it will be answered within the next 24/48 hours" or alternatively: "We regret that during the transition period, Leica UK at Milton Keynes will be unable to help you with your query. May we suggest that you contact this email address with your query.....or this phone number......... Alternatively you may contact Solms service on this number...... or email........." It's not rocket science and for a premium product, I would maintain an unacceptable level service just to not acknowledge or answer. It's just plain bad manners apart from the business aspect. I have so many commitments between now and the beginning of February, there is just not time for the M9 to go to Solms and back before then. Unfortunately my good contact at Solms service has been moved on to another job. It also would cost around £115 for an insured package of M9 plus say 35 Summilux or MATE to Germany (£35 + 1% of £8,000 replacement cost), which Leica will not refund me. My old contact could probably have arranged a free pick up. All reasons for trying to get the job done in the UK, where I could drop the camera and lens into Mayfair at the end of the week after next. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted September 23, 2010 Author Share #11 Posted September 23, 2010 Bill, I used to use Skype all the time. In the last twelve months, during the day, international voice quality has deteriorated into near unintelligibility. I believe that they reduced the bandwidth for voice to allow an increase in the video bandwidth. This particularly seems to apply to the "skype out" that I would need to use to phone MK's regular UK phone number. Skype seems fine in the evening, so I am guessing there is a bandwidth bottleneck somewhere. I was trying to have what I knew would be a very long business (1 to 2 hours) conversation last week with the lawyers for a commercial case, where I am the expert witness. I had to give up on Skype after 10 minutes of "what; can you say that again; I am sorry I can't hear you." I had to use a normal phone in the end but luckily that is a chargeable phone call. Great pity as Skype was saving me a lot of money. I might give Google Voice a try in place of Skype. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted September 23, 2010 Share #12 Posted September 23, 2010 I have so many commitments between now and the beginning of February, there is just not time for the M9 to go to Solms and back before then. I understand the point about avoiding a £100+ courier charge but I don't understand why it is more time consuming and trouble to send the camera directly to Solms than it is fannying around getting Leica UK to send it for you. In your shoes, I think the least troublesome approach is the DIY one. I wouldn't worry about invalidating the warranty - how much damage can you really inflict making this minor adjustment? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted September 23, 2010 Share #13 Posted September 23, 2010 I didn't realise that phone calls from France were so expensive. ALL of Leica's contact details are on their Mayfair website, by the way. For a retired man, you are certainly very busy - it's 4 months between now and February. I hope if I retire that I will have at least a little time to be able to take a camera to the post office to send away for repair or adjustment. I would have thought that £115 was a relatively trivial sum to pay in order to have your camera sorted. However, if you were to drop it into Mayfair next time you are over in the UK, they will be able to have it sent to Solms for you, and returned to wherever you are. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted September 23, 2010 Share #14 Posted September 23, 2010 I've called two or three times. Emailed once. Also emailed Solms.No response on any fronts. They'd told me they'd have my M9 back by now. I'm not a professional. My wife and I are going on our big annual trip and first time to the USA on Oct 2nd. I got on the waiting list back in July to prepare for this. That is a very poor show. Unfortunately, the timing isn't great with Photokina on but I think it's time to call Solms and politely badger them repeatedly until you get some action. If they give you the spiel about waiting for parts you should ask for a loaner. You could also suggest to them that they might want to consider spending less time hand polishing CNC-engraved red dots and more time attending to their bread and butter business. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted September 23, 2010 Share #15 Posted September 23, 2010 Hi Wilson I understand your points, I dont think you getting understanding or even sympathy here. I dont think their D camera has broken yet. I'll tell you a story. Bought a cron in Bond street shop soiled, damaged mount, took it round the corner to Leica at Mortimer street, waved it at the salesman, he confiscated it and came back, how long I said, he said they had done it already... You need a back up analogue camera, a frog repair person can rebuild for you at need, an M2 is cheaper then most M8 repairs will be. You may find you like the M2 more as well, you can get a mini lab CD scan in 20 mins most large towns... Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted September 23, 2010 Share #16 Posted September 23, 2010 I understand your points, I dont think you getting understanding or even sympathy here. I dont think their D camera has broken yet. Oh come off it. Wilson has been on this forum long enough to know that his original post was bound to solicit the responses it got. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted September 23, 2010 Author Share #17 Posted September 23, 2010 Sorry guys - maybe I did not make myself clear. I don't want MK or Mayfair to send it to Solms, which will take around 4 to 6 weeks. I want them to get that red dot off themselves and tweak the vertical alignment. I know the horizontal alignment has to be checked afterwards, to make sure that has not altered (spot on at the moment). If it has not altered, the whole thing is a 10 minute job. If the horizontal has to be tweaked, it should take between 20 and 30 minutes, depending upon whether the elbow cam needs adjusting for mid distance or just the infinity roller. I have watched it being done in the service department at Solms, so I know how long it takes. I am very tempted to do it myself. I have done it a couple of times on my M4 over the years and also on my IIF. My M8 is out on loan until mid December, when I leave for South Africa and I would feel awkward asking for it back, as he is using it to teach. I have an M4 but it is just too easy to process digital rather than puddling about in chemicals. I am retired from my main job but I now do a lot of other things, many of which involve taking photographs as part of the job. I want to keep using my M9, especially given what it cost. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted September 23, 2010 Author Share #18 Posted September 23, 2010 Got through to MK and the answer is that it has to go to Solms, which is a 6 week turn around at least plus say a week transit time. It will have to wait until February. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted September 23, 2010 Share #19 Posted September 23, 2010 Oh come off it. Wilson has been on this forum long enough to know that his original post was bound to solicit the responses it got. I understood Wilson's post, his situation, the responses, and your ripost. Hope my English was not unclear? Noel P.S. Post M4-2 cameras will need a special tool... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted September 23, 2010 Share #20 Posted September 23, 2010 Got through to MK and the answer is that it has to go to Solms, which is a 6 week turn around at least plus say a week transit time. That's reassuring to know. What happened to the 5-7 day turnaround that was being enjoyed earlier in the year? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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