UK Brexit Leica service suspended

[Jarekjj]

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I was about to send my M240 for repair and received an email from customer service saying:

"...as there is much uncertainty on the likely impact that the Brexit transition period will have on shipments to EU and to avoid a situation where products needing repair are delayed, or held in transit, we have decided to pause sending any items for repair to our workshops in Germany and Portugal until further notice.

Customer Care Adviser I Leica Store Mayfair I Leica Camera UK

 

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[pedaes]

15 minutes ago, Jarekjj said:

customer service

Be specific, who are 'customer service'? 

[Jarekjj]

3 minutes ago, pedaes said:

Be specific, who are 'customer service'? 

Updated the post. 

[earleygallery]

Taking back control!

[Matlock]

The full text which is a little clearer:

 

There is much uncertainty on the likely impact that the Brexit transition period will have on shipments to EU. To avoid a situation where products needing repair are delayed, or held in transit, we have decided to pause sending any items for repair to our workshops in Germany and Portugal from December 3rd until further notice. This will also apply to any products received in our company stores that need to be sent on for repair.

All items already in repair in Germany and Portugal will be completed and returned prior to December 31st. If your item is currently in at either location for repair and awaiting customer approval, you will need to give this prior to December 10th to ensure the repairs can be completed and returned by December 31st. If your approval is not received in time your product will be sent back unrepaired.

Local repairs will continue in our Mayfair store when it reopens on December 3rd.

Thank you for your understanding during this uncertain time and we hope that any delay will be minimal.

We will update this page as and when we have more information.

[Steve Ricoh]

2 hours ago, Matlock said:

The full text which is a little clearer:

 

There is much uncertainty on the likely impact that the Brexit transition period will have on shipments to EU. To avoid a situation where products needing repair are delayed, or held in transit, we have decided to pause sending any items for repair to our workshops in Germany and Portugal from December 3rd until further notice. This will also apply to any products received in our company stores that need to be sent on for repair.

All items already in repair in Germany and Portugal will be completed and returned prior to December 31st. If your item is currently in at either location for repair and awaiting customer approval, you will need to give this prior to December 10th to ensure the repairs can be completed and returned by December 31st. If your approval is not received in time your product will be sent back unrepaired.

Local repairs will continue in our Mayfair store when it reopens on December 3rd.

Thank you for your understanding during this uncertain time and we hope that any delay will be minimal.

We will update this page as and when we have more information.

That adds a bit of meat to the bone.

I’d like to understand what repairs can be conducted in the Mayfair store. ->

“Local repairs will continue in our Mayfair store when it reopens on December 3rd.“
eg rangefinder adjustment?

[pedaes]

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So what happens with Warranty work? Are they going to instantly replace any faulty item?

[andybarton]

I'm moving this to the Customer Section as it affects every UK Leica owner.

[Guest]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb Matlock:

The full text which is a little clearer:
...

Thanks for the hint.
 Until customs regulations have been cleared I will not buy anything online in the UK.
There were already difficulties with my last purchases because Royal Mail and DHL do not cooperate.
If customs authorities become active after Brexit, packages will be broken again for inspection purposes.
Sensitive optical objects are then transported further unprotected, regardless of how carefully the sender packed the goods.
Now I know another reason why Leica built a hotel at Leitz Park Wetzlar: You're invited to bring your Leica stuff personally for repair and buy new items while waiting.😉

[andybarton]

I am on the phone to Leica UK right now.

 

More later

[andybarton]

Just spoken to a very helpful guy in CS in London, who confirms everything above (of course!)

They can still accept smaller cameras up to Q, which can be seen to over here, but anything larger, from Ms upwards, there is a moratorium.  They don’t want something to be in Germany or Portugal in January, with no idea as to how they can get it back safely and without tariffs. 

They have a colleague from Leica Australia advising them, as he is used to sending kit to Germany from outside the EU. I just hope that the tariffs talked about for Aus repairs don’t happen here...

Binoculars and scopes are similarly affected as they get sent directly to Portugal.

Leica have read all the advice on the gov.uk website and spoken with the Department for Trade and other government advisors. They still have no clue as to how this is going to work going forward, despite what the adverts on the TV say.

They are hopeful that things will return to normal in the New Year. 
 

I asked whether there was a Press Release to refer to, but Leica UK or De do not yet have one. The internal memo came from the UK MD only two days ago.

 

I suspect that this is a problem that will affect many, many companies in the UK right now, who do a lot of trade with the EU.

 

 

[LocalHero1953]

As a treasurer of several charities I have received letters from HMG asking if we are prepared for the new regime for business from 1 January.

Only one thing missing - they don't know what the new regime will be.

[Jrek]

What a mess...

But blue passports!

[andybarton]

Blue passports that are not recognised in Germany. The electronic bit is incompatible with the reading equipment.

Someone is making a film where they need an actor to play Prince William. British citizens need not apply if they have a blue passport. You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried.

[earleygallery]

47 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

As a treasurer of several charities I have received letters from HMG asking if we are prepared for the new regime for business from 1 January.

Only one thing missing - they don't know what the new regime will be.

This is the problem, and growing by the day. Govt are blaming companies and individuals if the aren't ready, it's their fault. But until they - Govt. - have agreed whatever deal or no deal they are going to agree/not agree, how can anyone know what they should do?

I'm surprised there isn't more of an uproar about this, there certainly will be on Jan 1st!

[Denys]

58 minutes ago, andybarton said:

Just spoken to a very helpful guy in CS in London, who confirms everything above (of course!)

They can still accept smaller cameras up to Q, which can be seen to over here, but anything larger, from Ms upwards, there is a moratorium.  They don’t want something to be in Germany or Portugal in January, with no idea as to how they can get it back safely and without tariffs. 

They have a colleague from Leica Australia advising them, as he is used to sending kit to Germany from outside the EU. I just hope that the tariffs talked about for Aus repairs don’t happen here...

Binoculars and scopes are similarly affected as they get sent directly to Portugal.

Leica have read all the advice on the gov.uk website and spoken with the Department for Trade and other government advisors. They still have no clue as to how this is going to work going forward, despite what the adverts on the TV say.

They are hopeful that things will return to normal in the New Year. 
 

I asked whether there was a Press Release to refer to, but Leica UK or De do not yet have one. The internal memo came from the UK MD only two days ago.

 

I suspect that this is a problem that will affect many, many companies in the UK right now, who do a lot of trade with the EU.

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to clarify the situation and post, Andy. As you say, this matter will potentially affect many of us. It’s one thing being held up for service and repairs with ‘old’ items; but, as mentioned above, I think the new-equipment warranty aspect may be a headache..   ..I wonder if Leica will extend the warranty period.

[pgk]

34 minutes ago, earleygallery said:

This is the problem, and growing by the day. Govt are blaming companies and individuals if the aren't ready, it's their fault. But until they - Govt. - have agreed whatever deal or no deal they are going to agree/not agree, how can anyone know what they should do?

Oven ready deal - now someone just needs to actually switch the oven on. I have imported stuff from the EU and to be honest I don't think that I am going to continue. I've had various letters requiring  numbers to be applied for, for some reason, and I've been told to get ready, but as yet I haven't been informed how.

And no, I don't think that Leica are likely to extend new warranty periods - why should they when any delays are not of their making?

[Anbaric]

I was at the annual Photographica classic camera fair in London a couple of years after the Referendum. An English chap of a certain age was going from stall to stall like the rest of us, but seemed much more interested in discussing Brexit than the cameras. Eventually he reached one of the German traders who had made the trip to the UK and, without being asked, proudly explained he had voted for Brexit. The trader listened politely and without comment.

No Photographica this year, of course, but I wonder if small EU traders will bother coming back to events like this when they (hopefully) resume? With a minimal trade deal (or no deal) and no Freedom of Movement, it may simply not be worth the hassle.

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Hallo,

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[250swb]

I suppose the problem may lay with who is eventually paid to do any repairs that may be the sticking point. But 'Return for repair under warranty' shouldn't be a cause for Customs Duty in either direction, and 'Temporary Export' also covers goods going back and forth where no money changes hands. 

[jaapv]

That is correct, but I suspect that Leica fears a complete shambles at an overworked Customs service.