dgktkr Posted October 29, 2012 Share #1 Â Posted October 29, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Do you have experience doing this? Â I've never done it before, so I have some questions. Â The reason I ask is that I've got an R lens I'm thinking of sending to Leica for modification. I'm in the USA and Leica New Jersey advises that the lens needs to be sent to Germany to have the work done. Â What is the best way to prepare for customs to and from Germany? How should one register the lens in advance with customs so they don't insist on charging import duties on the full value of the item? Â Who is a good carrier that provides good security (like insurance) and good service? Â When Leica ships the item back, how do they handle insuring goods that are no longer being made (and only rarely show up on the used market)-- i.e. how much coverage do they provide? Â dgktkr Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 29, 2012 Posted October 29, 2012 Hi dgktkr, Take a look here Directly to Solms for repair/modification?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
k-hawinkler Posted October 29, 2012 Share #2 Â Posted October 29, 2012 I would let Leica NJ take care of all that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Morte Posted October 29, 2012 Share #3 Â Posted October 29, 2012 I have done this recently from here in South Africa. All the info on the "how too's" I got here on the Forum. Before sending e-mail Solms and state what need to be done. Put a copy of this e-mail as well as there reply in the box before sending. DHL are used by Solms, - so you are better of using it from the start. Copy your invoice/receipt of purchase and put it into the box for return customs. Make sure you have a name and phone number of the person at Client Services. I took-out insurance from here and they from there for return. All included in price in my experience. They will let you know when they receive the lens and when they send if off again. Simple and efficient. Door to door it took me three weeks for a 50mm Lux to be repaired as to the 14 weeks the dealer quoted me on! Good luck! Â http://streamlightphotogtaphy.blogspot.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted October 29, 2012 Share #4 Â Posted October 29, 2012 I would not do anything else then send directly to Solms ( but I am not in the USA) Bypassing the local representative speeds up the process considerably I find, but you will have to pay to DHL for the sending. DHL should handle the customs for you, if you clearly indicate that this is an item sent for repair. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 29, 2012 Share #5 Â Posted October 29, 2012 Or, depending what modification you require, one of the USA based indie repair guys might be able to do the job quicker, less hassle and cheaper! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbengtson Posted October 29, 2012 Share #6 Â Posted October 29, 2012 I would send it through NJ to avoid all the customs and currency hassles. Leica NJ is part of Leica and not an independent agency like some other countries (I have seen the Australian hassles in other posts here). I believe that they have at least weekly shipments each way. Check with Carmen in NJ. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted October 30, 2012 Share #7 Â Posted October 30, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) +1 Â Also, I found out that there is additional paper work if the value of what you ship is more than $2400, IIRC. At least that's what the FedEx person told me. But she wouldn't help with the extra paper work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richardgb Posted November 7, 2012 Share #8 Â Posted November 7, 2012 When you contact Solms, one of the documents they will make you aware of is the list of customs value of the item you are returning. Â The customs values are usually considerably lower than the retail price you paid, e.g. $880 for an M9... It is the customs value you should quote on any documentation (i.e. Pro Forma Invoice / Pro Forma Rechnung) to be seen by the German Customs. Â The next comment applies in general, not to the USA... Note that the Customs in the country you are exporting from may have a limit on the value of personal goods which can be exported, so you might have to declare a different, even lower, value to them. DHL or any other courier may be able to advise on this, and would probably not accept an item if the value was too high as neither you nor they could export it. Check, too, that your own country's customs will allow the re-import of a personal, unaccompanied item, or you may have to go to Solms to collect. Â This is the voice of experience... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheikhrafiq79 Posted November 12, 2012 Share #9 Â Posted November 12, 2012 the repair of anything leica , only solms is the place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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