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Leica Upgrade program for M9 ( corrosion of sensor)


Stefan Daniel

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I wonder if the Ukraine situation and the consequent embargos/sanctions are complicating the customs situation and export from Germany to the point that it is no longer possible for Leica to send warranty replacement items to Russia. Otherwise I cannot see why the OP cannot send his affected camera straight to Wetzlar and then use his credit card or bank transfer (subject again to sanctions rules) to pay the difference direct to Leica Germany.

 

Now the problem arises when the camera arrives back at Russian customs. My guess is that they will want import duties and taxes on the total value of the replacing M240, rather than the upgrade price. In some countries there is specific paperwork to cover this situation, where you fill in a form and get it registered for the export tax credit for the allowed exchange value of the faulty camera being permanently exported back to Germany. This tax credit is then offset against the duties and taxes of the replacing incoming new camera, on presenting the registered tax credit form to the customs authorities, when paying the dues for the new camera. However I have no idea if this is how it works in Russia. 

 

Back in the 1960's and 70's before the UK joined the EU we used to have to use this sort scheme for dealing with racing car engines and gearboxes going from the UK to EU countries for rebuilds/service exchange and also for the US built Weismann racing gearboxes and Donovan motors going backwards and forwards from the UK to the US. 

 

Wilson

Wilson, thank you for your post.

Actually, the situation with Ukraine and bilateral sanctions did not affected 90% of consumer market (including electronics). Russia implemented some sanctions against EU regarding meat, cheese, fruits and vegetables and milk products. Thats it. 

All card transactions are executable, all payments in USD and EUR are valid and you can pay by Russian credit card whatever you want and wherever you may need.  

Thats for sure not about the EU sanctions or embargo against Russia. 

The problem you metioned in the second part of your post is real. The camera way from Germany to Russia. Russian custom will try to withdraw import tax from whole amount of price of new 240, but not the price delta for upgrade. 

I can easily send my camer to Germany by DHL but i have been advised not to do it. 

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In that case, send it through the dealer network. What is the problem with handing it in at the Leica Store Moscow with a request to repair or upgrade it? Then it will be Leica's headache to get it back to you without running into customs trouble. But do send it, otherwise you will never get your upgrade.

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In that case, send it through the dealer network. What is the problem with handing it in at the Leica Store Moscow with a request to repair or upgrade it? Then it will be Leica's headache to get it back to you without running into customs trouble. But do send it, otherwise you will never get your upgrade.

Camera is already there for 1 month... They propose me to send to Germany just for repair work on sensor only. Not  for upgrade.

And asking 200 usd for shipping, which is unfair given the reason of shipping...

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It is not up to the Leica Store to decide on upgrade or not. That will be offered by Leica Wetzlar (on your request), once they have the camera in their hands.

Yes, it is unfair and unusual to request 200$ upfront for shipping. In your place I would just pay it to break the logjam and reclaim it from Leica Wetzlar as soon as they find the corrosion.

As soon as you have a case number for the camera, or even as soon as it is in Wetzlar, call Customer Service and ask for Mr. Spiller or Mrs Frankl and they will help you out.

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It is not up to the Leica Store to decide on upgrade or not. That will be offered by Leica Wetzlar (on your request), once they have the camera in their hands.

Yes, it is unfair and unusual to request 200$ upfront for shipping. In your place I would just pay it to break the logjam and reclaim it from Leica Wetzlar as soon as they find the corrosion.

As soon as you have a case number for the camera, or even as soon as it is in Wetzlar, call Customer Service and ask for Mr. Spiller or Mrs Frankl and they will help you out.

Thank you! Will follow your suggestion! looks like thats the best solution in my situation.

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Having had a quick look through this https://www.kpmg.com/Global/en/IssuesAndInsights/ArticlesPublications/vat-gst-essentials/pages/russia.aspx#7, I think the return/exchange can only be dealt with via Leica's agent in Moscow, if you are to have any chance of offsetting the tax recovery on export of the faulty item against the import of the new camera. Alternatively, it might be best just to write that additional tax off and ask Leica Service in Wetzlar to email you a UPS label for direct return of the faulty camera to them for exchange/upgrade. Leica have an international UPS "return to base" account and they always send me a pre-paid label to return any items to them for repair or replacement. As Leica has arranged the transport, it is at their risk as well. Given how uncooperative Leica Moscow is being, I can see little other alternative if you want your camera this decade. My experience over many years of dealing with Leica is that it is always best to deal direct with the factory. 

 

Wilson

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My take is different than yours. The dealer should get you your camera and money, eat the cost and figure out how to get their money from Leica without getting you involved. That's what dealers are for. I'd never do business with them again…and that would be the nicest thing I'd convey to them.

 

Jeff

That is why I avoid buying in Russia. It helps that I travel to Europe me monthly and can shop abroad.

 

I have very positive experience with service of my existing Leica equipment, they can send the stuff for repairs and get back. But the new equipment? No way.

 

Just imagine a regular employed person, stuck in Russia full time and having short vacations. A trip to Germany is about €1000 minimum. A proposal to visit Leica in Germany is a joke.

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Camera is already there for 1 month... They propose me to send to Germany just for repair work on sensor only. Not for upgrade.

And asking 200 usd for shipping, which is unfair given the reason of shipping...

Call Timur at Leica Moscow and talk to them. They are traveling to Germany often and I hope they can help you. You will receive your boxes and papers in a separate shipment.
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Update:
Just got call from Leica Russia. They will do upgrade here, in Moscow for 3300 EUR...
Good outcome so far.  But I would like not to have all these compliant letters and phone conversations.  Finally, it appeared not to hard to satisfy client needs despite all talks about custom, etc...
Well done, Leica!  

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You'll never know, but your mail to the CEO (and an in-the-background informal push here and there) may well have done the trick. :)

Enjoy the camera!

True! I believe that my mail, which was delivered today at 11:47 am will improve Leica service in our lovely country and lighten the communication problems in Customer service worlwide. Its a win win sitation for us and Leica.

Thank you for your support and time, my friends!

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True! I believe that my mail, which was delivered today at 11:47 am will improve Leica service in our lovely country and lighten the communication problems in Customer service worlwide. Its a win win sitation for us and Leica.

Thank you for your support and time, my friends!

 

Leica (future) customers of the world can thank yóu for your work on this, congrats!!

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Great responce and hope it would be good precedent for all of us!

Well done Leica.

P.S. Could not stop myself and boght 75 summicron... Hope my wife doesn't read this forum

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!

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Sent my M9 in for evaluation and it was signed for on May 8.  Just got an email today (May 20) from a customer care rep and they found corrosion on the sensor. I'm getting the black & silver M-P upgrade. Thanks, Leica!

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Just to be clear, one more time and at this late date, is it possible that a replacement Leica M9 sensor of the year 2015, is cured of the corrosion problem, or would I still be receiving the vulnerable older sensor (if I choose to replace instead of upgrade)
Thank you,

Mark

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At the moment the replacement sensors are still the old type. Obviously it is impossible to test for corrosion in a short span of time, assuming a solution has been found.

According to my information Leica still prefers to replace multiple times if needed instead of waiting for a newly designed IR filter coating to be implemented.

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At the moment the replacement sensors are still the old type. Obviously it is impossible to test for corrosion in a short span of time, assuming a solution has been found.

According to my information Leica still prefers to replace multiple times if needed instead of waiting for a newly designed IR filter coating to be implemented.

Hopefully Leica will get bored with this and source a solution rather than a "band aid", at which point my M9 will go in for its second sensor replacement. The coatings of cover glasses for CCD sensors, which are subject to cleaning, must be sufficiently well known in the trade, for a corrosion resistant coating to be well enough known, not to be experimental. What do the MF people use on their cover glasses, as from what I have seen, removable back users clean their sensors multiple times a day. 

 

Wilson

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Yes, that is certainly a consideration, Wilson, but AFAIK very few if any manufacturers use this type of IR cover glass with a coating. Mostly it is sandwiched with a clear glass layer, which, for the reasons we all know, is not an option for an M sensor.

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