My New Defective MP

[Derbyshire Man]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

On 10/18/2024 at 7:35 PM, photog_6 said:

Thank you for the suggestion. But I have a M6 2022 Reissue that works fine (and 3 digital Leicas). I planned to use the MP for color and my M6 for B&W

But you are still suffering a loss which you shouldn’t be. Demand a loan camera, repair within 3 weeks, or replacement. You’re being too nice! 

[Derbyshire Man]

On 10/19/2024 at 9:17 PM, photog_6 said:

I'm happy to hear you have a good relationship with Leica Store Bellevue. I did too. I purchased 4 new Leica cameras from them: M11M, M6 2022 Re-issue, Q3 and the MP. And a Summicron-M 28. My new MP, as did all of my new Leica cameras, included a card that states "This Leica product was meticulously examined by experienced professionals at several stages of production." The card is signed by a Leica employee. Yet none of these "experienced professionals" found the defect on my MP. It took me, a non-experienced, non-professional retail customer several weeks to find the defect. And because it was outside of the 2-week return window Leica Store Bellevue made it my responsibility to get my new, defective Leica Camera repaired.

It will never happen again.

Yes, my experience of the professional was that he/she didn’t notice a defective shutter button on an M11M which had to be pressed with 5 or 6 times the normal force and had no first and second stage. It’s hard to imagine any kind of check which doesn’t include taking a picture with the finished item. 
 

the initial response from the dealer was that I must be wrong and it would be sent back to Germany. Not with a brand new camera one day old. 
 

I had another with a sticking rangefinder mechanism on a M11P that I swapped with the dealer eventually for their demo camera (it was 6 months old when the issue repeated). 
 

The M11D however has been perfect! One out of three isn’t bad!

[LocalHero1953]

On 10/23/2024 at 4:03 AM, photog_6 said:

I want to share a positive update on my situation. Today I received a call from the team at Leica Store Bellevue. A very productive call. They listened to me rant and complain and whine. Then we had a very productive conversation. The net of it all is that we both will be satisfied very soon with the resolution. 

Since I have used this forum to complain about Leica Store Bellevue, I now want to use this forum to publicly thank them for their ongoing efforts and their commitment to resolve all the issues with my MP purchase. I have already taken down the MP story on my Instagram page and will provide a final post here when everything is complete.

It's time to get back to photography.

It sounds like the lesson is that you had to rant in public before the retailer would give you satisfaction. I'm glad you're satisfied, but the retailer doesn't come out of it shining.

[MarkP]

On 10/23/2024 at 2:03 PM, photog_6 said:

I want to share a positive update on my situation. Today I received a call from the team at Leica Store Bellevue. A very productive call. They listened to me rant and complain and whine. Then we had a very productive conversation. The net of it all is that we both will be satisfied very soon with the resolution. 

Since I have used this forum to complain about Leica Store Bellevue, I now want to use this forum to publicly thank them for their ongoing efforts and their commitment to resolve all the issues with my MP purchase. I have already taken down the MP story on my Instagram page and will provide a final post here when everything is complete.

It's time to get back to photography.

I presume someone there read this Forum thread and thought they better do some very urgent damage control!

 

addit: I just saw LocalHero's similar post above. 

Edited October 24, 2024 by MarkP

[Landiah]

This sounds all to familiar. When I purchased my M-A new I had to go through two replacement bodies until I got one that didn't scratch the film. As of a couple days ago the frame reset mechanism stopped working as soon as the camera got out of warranty. Classic.

I wonder if the new m6's are subject to the same defects. i can only imagine so.

[armadsen]

I hope that they do resolve it to your satisfaction and that you get many years enjoyment out of your MP. I bought one new 3 years ago, and have absolutely loved using it.

I don't like the idea that the only way to get satisfactory service is to complain publicly, but at the same time, I'm not sure there's a point to complaining if you won't accept someone trying to correct their mistake. So, I'm glad that they reached out to you and have worked out a solution.

[earleygallery]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

On 10/19/2024 at 9:17 PM, photog_6 said:

My new MP, as did all of my new Leica cameras, included a card that states "This Leica product was meticulously examined by experienced professionals at several stages of production." The card is signed by a Leica employee. Yet none of these "experienced professionals" found the defect on my MP. It took me, a non-experienced, non-professional retail customer several weeks to find the defect. 

There are quite a few examples in the forum history of much more obvious faults being signed off with those cards, like upside down aperture rings!

I suspect that there’s a stack of signed cards and someone has the job of popping one into each box with the other papers and sachet of silica gel. 

[photog_6]

Just when I thought my ordeal was ending, this happens.

On October 22, 2024, I received a call from the Leica Store Bellevue GM and some of the store team. I posted how they listened to me rant, complain and whine. How we talked and arrived at a solution to my defective MP. The GM said they had been in touch with their contact at Leica Customer Care and my MP would be repaired by "next Friday" (November 1, 2024). The GM offered me the options of a refund or a new MP replacement. I chose the new, replacement MP. They explained they needed to wait to ship the new MP until my repaired MP was returned by Leica Customer Care. Or, I could pay again for the new MP and they would refund the price as soon as they received the repaired MP. I declined to pay again. After all, Leica has my MP.

After the call I emailed Leica Customer Care to get an update on my MP repairs since the repair work ticket status had not changed since September 16, 2024.

Today, October 25, 2024, I received this response from Leica Camera USA, INC Customer Care: 

"....During the repair of your Leica product, the technician found that a part required to fully repair your equipment to Leica standards is currently out of stock.
Our colleagues and worldwide suppliers are working together to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. However, this will most likely delay the completion of the repair....."

My guess is that is 'Leica-speak' for "It may be 2026 rather than 2025...."  Regardless, I am finished with Leica. I forwarded the Leica repair status email to Leica Store Bellevue. I told them I no longer want a new MP. I want a refund. 

I know there are people with MP's that are very satisfied with their camera. I am envious and truly happy for you. I will continue to use the Leica cameras and lens that I currently own. But there will never be any more Leica equipment, new or used, in my life.

[LocalHero1953]

Out of stock for a part of a camera that is in current production. 😜

[Mute-on]

So they agreed to replace your camera, and yet still impose the condition that the camera in Leica’s possession is repaired and returned to them first?!  My dear chap, they are playing you for a fool, and by taking ownership and contacting Leica customer care, you are facilitating it. Leica, and by extension their agent, your dealer, have possession of the camera you paid for. Your dealer is taking the P1$$. 

[Helge]

The dealer is the issue! He is the contract partner of the buyer and fully responsible.

There you have to complain and request a replacement.

vor 7 Stunden schrieb LocalHero1953:

Out of stock for a part of a camera that is in current production. 😜

Still possible, different locations and pre-production levels.

Leica is not producing everything every day. They will not strip-off a part from a pre-produced sub-system just to deliver it for example from Portugal to Wetzlar for a repair.

And even in current production, single components can be out of stock, that is definitely not unusual!

Edited October 26, 2024 by Helge

[pedaes]

8 hours ago, photog_6 said:

I want a refund. 

Good call!

Seems there is a load of smoke and mirrors here, as if that was an option offered why did you not take it rather than get into the 'when your camera is returned' charade. You could then have 're-bought' from them or gone to another Dealer. Simple.

Edited October 26, 2024 by pedaes

[RayD28]

This is a depressing thread and speaks loads about the relationship between the retailer and supplier.  

[Helge]

We don’t know really a lot about that relationship. First addressee is always the dealer. And we all know that supply chains around the world are still not back to the standard they have been.

I had my car (3 years old) at the repair shop due to a smaller accident. The repair work was announced to take about 10 days, it took more than 4 weeks due to a small part not being available.