+1 for Leica service

[colonel]

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Alot of bashing at the moment which I (IMHO) think is quite unfair.

 

There are many reasons why I like Leica, and unlike many other companies, they have grown on me over the years and never (to-date) let me down

 

Despite being small (multiple of 10k sales of M9 - good grief, Apple probably makes almost that number of testing prototypes for a new product)

 

Leica nice touches and the little things:

1. Guarantee period (and passport and extended guarantee) can pass to new owner. This is so important and a gesture of belief in one's own products. One reason I will be not be buying Panasonic or Nikon cameras again.

2. Offering of annual extended guarantee

3. No issues sending me "free" filters for two second hand M8s where they had not been claimed

4. No issues giving me 6 months free LFI magazine on a second hand M9 (where it hadn't been claimed)

5. Happy to give full 2 year guarantee on M8 purchased from shop, ex-demo (used by shop) and on shelf for 3 years (bought in 2011)

6. Excellent service at London Leica shop, sensor cleaning, new/ex-demo lenses, etc.

7. Always respond to emails courteously and promptly, offering to help

 

Sure, perhaps we should expect the above from any retailer or company, but I always find myself fighting for my rights these days (except notably for the excellent ones, e..g Apple, Amazon, etc.) and its nice to be relaxed about my main hobby provider.

 

Sycophants-r-us!

But warmly meant

[Rick]

Harold,

 

I agree. I could post a list at least that long. Dare I click on the "Thanks" button?

 

 

Maybe not quite sycophantic but, admittedly a little obsequious,

 

Rick

[IkarusJohn]

I have built a surprisingly close relationship to Customer Services, and I am also very happy with the service I have received; though I have used them more than I thought I would ...

 

Conversely, I bought my wife a Panasonic TZ30 (the V-Lux 40 equivalent) in Australia in May, duty free. In June, the shutter release/zoom control assembly fell off (the same thing happened to her previous Lumix). Panasonic NZ said it would not honour the Australian warranty as it was not "global", and anyway, they said it had been dropped.

 

I could have challenged both statements, but for $100 I looked at the guy and just rolled my eyes. The camera was new and cost twice that, so I paid. It took about 10 weeks to get it back.

 

Interestingly, my M9 & Noctilux went to Solms for sensor replacement and calibration. Leica gave me a loaner, the work was no charge, and it came back before Panasonic had even opened up my wife's camera. Very impressive.

 

Even though my camera & lens cost 50 times more, I won't be buying another Panasonic.

 

Cheers

John

[otto.f]

8. Replacing a scratched sensor for free, hardly any questions about warranty period

9. Repainting the button-texts ISO, PLAY, etc. without being asked for

10. You can smell that your camera has been serviced with love and care

 

I got the impression that service in Solms is many times better and more dedicated than two years ago

[markrune]

Alot of bashing at the moment which I (IMHO) think is quite unfair.

 

There are many reasons why I like Leica, and unlike many other companies, they have grown on me over the years and never (to-date) let me down

 

Despite being small (multiple of 10k sales of M9 - good grief, Apple probably makes almost that number of testing prototypes for a new product)

 

Leica nice touches and the little things:

 

5. Happy to give full 2 year guarantee on M8 purchased from shop, ex-demo (used by shop) and on shelf for 3 years (bought in 2011)

 

Sycophants-r-us!

But warmly meant

 

I do not disagree that Leica give good service when they are able to. The problem is that they are not always able to meet their commitments in your case if the LCD screen on your M8 fails before the warranty expires in 2013 you may have to pay to upgrade to an M9 (current Leica Solution to fix this problem) and not sure you would be so happy if such a problem did arise. A bit like the recent CLA in the USA that the extended warranty did not cover the LCD - if you paid for that and it was the LCD that had a problem you may not be so happy about what seemed a very good deal at the time.

 

I know the chances are that you will not have an issue with the LCD screen (at least for the sake of my M8 I hope that is the case) as currently their is only an expensive upgrade option and maybe an option you do not want - there are certain image making properties of the M8 that give it a unique look that many love and are not the same on the M9.