M8 Kaput

[jaapv]

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I'm only guessing that DHL has a major hub in Dillenburg and that's not far from Solms.

40 KM....

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[ArtZ]

No joy so I packed it up and sent it from Ontario Canada to Solms via Canada Post Courier and emailed both Leica Solms and the Leica agent in Hong Kong about my problem. Both acknowledged my message and now I am waiting to see what will happen.

 

Howard, that's bad news!

 

I suppose if you contacted Solms before sending the camera, they gave you the "special" address. They have a special address which does not mention "Leica" to avoid "sticky fingers".

 

In 2005, I had to send my Digilux 2 for the first time and they gave me the "special" address for "security reasons", as they said.

 

I just say this in case someone whants to send something directly to Solms. Contact them first and ask for the address to send your camera/lens(es).

.

[dougdarter]

Howard, that's bad news!

 

I suppose if you contacted Solms before sending the camera, they gave you the "special" address. They have a special address which does not mention "Leica" to avoid "sticky fingers".

 

In 2005, I had to send my Digilux 2 for the first time and they gave me the "special" address for "security reasons", as they said.

 

I just say this in case someone whants to send something directly to Solms. Contact them first and ask for the address to send your camera/lens(es).

.

 

I'm so sorry Howard, that you seem to have 'lost' your camera - it must be heartbreaking!!

 

I dread sending anything out of the EU, especially to the US.

 

Any parcel sent inside the EU can be insured, and is anonymous. Using UK postal services, anything OUTSIDE of the EU, can only be insured up to a max of £1000 (AFAIA), and has to have a customs sticker on the outside, which has to fully describe the contents and value.

 

This is how a light fingered postie or shipping operative might see it:

 

LEICA camera, value £3500 - please steal me!!

 

It's utter madness! Why can't the customs declaration be sealed, and only opened in Customs??

[ArtZ]

I'm so sorry Howard, that you seem to have 'lost' your camera - it must be heartbreaking!!

 

I dread sending anything out of the EU, especially to the US.

 

Any parcel sent inside the EU can be insured, and is anonymous. Using UK postal services, anything OUTSIDE of the EU, can only be insured up to a max of £1000 (AFAIA), and has to have a customs sticker on the outside, which has to fully describe the contents and value.

 

This is how a light fingered postie or shipping operative might see it:

 

LEICA camera, value £3500 - please steal me!!

 

It's utter madness! Why can't the customs declaration be sealed, and only opened in Customs??

 

Doug,

 

I fully agree with you. Customs declaration should be sealed and not available to the carrier.

 

Concerning US/EU parcel services, John Milich sent a WATE adapter which never arrived in Paris. When I bought the Nokton at CameraQuest, I ordered to be sent by FedEx (135 USD extra) because I was afraid of not getting it. In fact, something very curious happened.

 

I was tracking the parcel on Internet. It should be delivered before noon. At 12:30 PM, I checked the FedEx web site. It was said that “Delivery failure. Unknown address”. I called FedEx. The address they had on their records was my address. They had also both phone numbers (home and cell). The lady on the phone was upset. 10 min later, the driver called me on my cell phone. He said he was in the street but he couldn’t find my home. Very strange, I though. There’re only 8 numbers in the street. I went down and he gave me the parcel. I asked him where I had to sign and he said it wasn’t necessary (!!!???).

 

On the parcel you could read “Digital Camera Lens” and the travel documents were opened. I couldn’t stop thinking the FedEx driver just signed the delivery order on my behalf and he was going to keep the lens for him.

 

Concerning Leica, I sent the camera from Paris. As Leica said that the D2 will be exchanged for a new one, they asked me to send it directly (otherwise I just take it to my dealer who is just a few hundred yards from home). When they gave me this special address, I read between lines sending parcels to Solms may be not safe.

 

I send it by Chronopost and I insured the parcel, but the maximum amount is 400 € (£ 275). I had no problems. Leica offered me the Remote Shutter Release as transport cost compensation.

 

Like you, I dread sending anything out of the EU, especially to the US.

 

Cheers

.

[jaapv]

I've sent stuff to Leica five times last year. Always to the Gewerbestrasse in Solms, always either insured or with Fedex, and Leica never gave me another adress. Fortunately, within Europe, there are no customs declarations. Having said that, it is rather unlikely to say the least that insured parcels will be stolen en route. We think the stuff we send is expensive and worth stealing, but there is a whole mass of far more valuable and negotialble stuff going through. A camera, to the average crook, is one of the least interesting things to steal. Unless, of course, he happens to be aforum member....

What is happening to Howard, and I feel for him, is probably system failure - incompetence . Far more common.

[ArtZ]

I've sent stuff to Leica five times last year. Always to the Gewerbestrasse in Solms, always either insured or with Fedex, and Leica never gave me another adress. Fortunately, within Europe, there are no customs declarations. Having said that, it is rather unlikely to say the least that insured parcels will be stolen en route. We think the stuff we send is expensive and worth stealing, but there is a whole mass of far more valuable and negotialble stuff going through. A camera, to the average crook, is one of the least interesting things to steal. Unless, of course, he happens to be aforum member....

What is happening to Howard, and I feel for him, is probably system failure - incompetence . Far more common.

 

Jaap,

 

I've still have a photocopy of the Chronopost bill.

 

I sent the D2 to

 

Herr Gerald WAGNER

Solmser Gewerbpark 8

Solms

D-35606

[dougdarter]

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I've sent stuff to Leica five times last year. Always to the Gewerbestrasse in Solms, always either insured or with Fedex, and Leica never gave me another adress. Fortunately, within Europe, there are no customs declarations. Having said that, it is rather unlikely to say the least that insured parcels will be stolen en route. We think the stuff we send is expensive and worth stealing, but there is a whole mass of far more valuable and negotialble stuff going through. A camera, to the average crook, is one of the least interesting things to steal. Unless, of course, he happens to be aforum member....

What is happening to Howard, and I feel for him, is probably system failure - incompetence . Far more common.

 

Hi,

 

It happens! I've twice had parcels go missing on the way to the US, both times in UK before they even reached the departure hub!!

 

One was a Breitling watch, and the second was a pair of Leica binoculars. Both were in the care of Interlink Express, and both times, their insurance paid up. They now refuse to handle parcels for me, which is a bit rich when you consider that the 'tracking' stopped after they had taken posession, and before the items had left the UK! I wonder where they went????

[charlesphoto99]

This is one of the reasons I have my dealer deal with repairs (in or out of warranty). They charge a minimal fee and I don't have to worry about any of the shipping, etc. Of course, for Leica gear it goes to NJ first, and then sent on to Solms if need be. Which tacks on a at least an extra two weeks but at least it's then Leica's problem (or my dealers) if the camera gets damaged or lost.

 

Anyway,something to consider.

[robsteve]

Howard:

 

Have you looked at this thread?

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/33762-sending-equipment-solms.html

 

I seems Leica may refuse packages if the customs paperwork is not correct. In other words, it may mean they will not accept a package if the courier is looking to collect duty.

[Laki]

Jaap,

 

I've still have a photocopy of the Chronopost bill.

 

I sent the D2 to

 

Herr Gerald WAGNER

Solmser Gewerbpark 8

Solms

D-35606

 

manuel, thats the address of the leica customer service in solms. the only difference is that you didnt put leica as receipient but maybe one of their employees.

[Guest GuyMancusoPhoto]

I will get the proper address for Solms. sending e-mail now

[jaapv]

Manuels adress is correct.

[howard_cummer]

DHL called this afternoon to say they had located the package in their lost section at Wilmington Ohio. Some one will call me tomorrow afternoon to identify the package and then they will send it on to Germany. They will refund my courier charges since the camera will be more than two weeks late. No mention of compensation for phone calls to Germany or seared nerve endings. I too have been dealng with Herr Jakob at Leica and using the correct Solmser Gewerbepark 8 address. Hopefully my customs declaration form will still be with the camera so it will be accepted by Leica - sometime next week - all going well.

Howard

[dougdarter]

DHL called this afternoon to say they had located the package in their lost section at Wilmington Ohio. Some one will call me tomorrow afternoon to identify the package and then they will send it on to Germany. They will refund my courier charges since the camera will be more than two weeks late. No mention of compensation for phone calls to Germany or seared nerve endings. I too have been dealng with Herr Jakob at Leica and using the correct Solmser Gewerbepark 8 address. Hopefully my customs declaration form will still be with the camera so it will be accepted by Leica - sometime next week - all going well.

Howard

 

Phew!! That's excellent news! I'm so pleased that your package has been located - it must be a load off your mind.

[Thomasru]

DHL called this afternoon to say they had located the package in their lost section at Wilmington Ohio. Some one will call me tomorrow afternoon to identify the package and then they will send it on to Germany. They will refund my courier charges since the camera will be more than two weeks late. No mention of compensation for phone calls to Germany or seared nerve endings. I too have been dealng with Herr Jakob at Leica and using the correct Solmser Gewerbepark 8 address. Hopefully my customs declaration form will still be with the camera so it will be accepted by Leica - sometime next week - all going well.

Howard

 

Good news. Ive been watching this thread with interest. Maybe we should have a survey on delivery companies !! We all must send expensive camera's & lens around the world at least once in our life:cool: I did recently:D and had a heart stopping moment myself.

I arranged the collection over the telephone with DHL and took out insurance of £2400.00 !!!

When they came to collect it was a bad time, my grandson wouldn't let me go so the paperwork when completed was pushed into my back pocket and forgotten, until that is it looked like it was lost as DHL had sent it to the wrong facility and it vanished off the tracking system for 24hrs.I found the paperwork to check how to claim on the insurance (if needed) and found the collection driver had put the insured amount down as £600.00

 

The good news is it did arrive, But what if !!. I doubt I could prove the insurance amount I thought I had as I have no other paperwork apart from the Air Waybill showing £600.00.

 

TomR

[stunsworth]

DHL called this afternoon to say they had located the package in their lost section at Wilmington Ohio

 

That's great news Howard, it'll make the weekend a happier one I'm sure.

[malcolm.mcintyre]

Glad the camera is found.

Shouldn't the camera normally be left with the dealer to forward on to Leica? Then the dealer has all the responsibility for any loss in transit.

[Guest GuyMancusoPhoto]

Here write this down

 

Customer Service:

Please send your equipment to the following address, together with the repair documentation filled out. For work performed under warranty, contact us in case we are supposed to pick up your equipment.

 

Address:

Leica Camera AG

Leica Customer Service

Solmser Gewerbepark 8

35606 Solms

Contact person:

Andrea Frankl, Rita Woschee, Eberhard Jakob, Ingo Molkentin

Phone:

06442 208 189

Fax:

06442 208 339

E-mail:

cs@leica-camera.com

Spare parts service:

The Leica spare parts service has camera and lens accessories such as eyepieces, even for Leica devices more than 30 years old. Private customers can find what they are looking for here. However, this service is not provided to professional repair workshops.

 

Address:

Leica Camera AG

Leica Customer Service - Ersatzteile

Solmser Gewerbepark 8

35606 Solms

Contact person:

Lothar Luehring

Phone:

06442 208 229

Fax:

06442 208 90832

E-mail:

lothar.luehring@leica-camera.com

Professional Service:

We offer additional advantages to professional photographers as for example a very quick service or material loan during repair. To obtain information and apply to this service, please contact:

 

Address:

Leica Camera AG

Leica Customer Service - Profi Service

Solmser Gewerbepark 8

35606 Solms

Contact person:

Andrea Frankl

Phone:

06442 208 189

Fax:

06442 208 339

E-mail:

andrea.frankl@leica-camera.com

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[howard_cummer]

My lost and now found M8 is in courier purgatory. DHL lost the documentation, I emailed them copies of my copies and asked them to send the camera home to my HK address so I could hand it to Schmidt - the local agent. They sent it, it seems, instead to Germany and Leica won't accept the package without "proper customs documentation" whatever that means. The mess is compounded as I am receiving emails from the lost office which I can't forward to my DHL "case officer" as she is not allowed to deal with customers through email - too much of an electronic paper trail I guess. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

Howard (still resigned in Vancouver)

[jaapv]

Don't worry, there is no real problem, this has happened before. It simply means there is a small dispute in Solms about the form used to avoid paying taxes on a camera that will leave the EU again. It will soon be sorted; you can easil;y contact one of the persons in the Customer Service department of Leica. Trying to deal with DHL is, in my experience, a lost cause. Much better to go through Leica. Why would you want to send the camera to your local agent? All he'd do would be to send it to Solms - where it will be tomorrow anyway.