pedaes Posted February 10 Share #21 Posted February 10 Advertisement (gone after registration) 2 minutes ago, andybarton said: official Leica dealer Stephens are listed as a "official Leica store" - which suggests owned (or part owned) as same list as Leica Mayfair.. There are several official dealers outside London eg Ffordes, Clifton, Park Cameras etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 10 Posted February 10 Hi pedaes, Take a look here M240 “lost” on the way to Wetzlar for service. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted February 10 Author Share #22 Posted February 10 Indeed. I have just clarified my earlier post with a quote from their website. Their contact details are: Stephens Premier Limited 9 Police Street M2 7LQ, Manchester 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benj Posted February 10 Share #23 Posted February 10 13 minutes ago, pedaes said: Stephens are listed as a "official Leica store" - which suggests owned (or part owned) as same list as Leica Mayfair.. There are several official dealers outside London eg Ffordes, Clifton, Park Cameras etc. We're known as a Partner Store and have full store status but are 100% independently owned. 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 10 Author Share #24 Posted February 10 The guys have Manchester have received an email from London. The important bit is:- ”Unfortunately, we're unsure when we'll be able to provide you with an estimate. We've been informed that there is a significant backlog in Germany.” At least I now know that the camera is in Wetzlar, so that’s a step forward. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelG Posted February 10 Share #25 Posted February 10 Notwithstanding the oft reported issues with Leica NJ (I did not personally use them when living in NYC) - given that the UK is outside the EU is there any use-case scenario for sending an item there instead? There’s no issue w import duty IIRC but maybe clearance on the way back?…🤔 Alternatively could Leica Mayfair expand their small repair/adjustment capacity and offer a proper repair facility - which could serve other non-EU countries whose customers must have the same hoops to jump through) ie so not everything's had to go back to Leica Germany? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 10 Author Share #26 Posted February 10 I’m glad that I got my credit card out and bought the M240 that Stephens had on the shelf while I was there, otherwise I’d be without a camera for a considerable time. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris W Posted February 10 Share #27 Posted February 10 Advertisement (gone after registration) FWIW, I watched a Leica YouTuber video a few days ago where he was quoted 9 months to fix an M, which was then adjusted to 6 months. I'm also wary of postage/courier. Any bouncing around or throwing can re-damage a repaired camera (even well packaged). For valuable items, or for fragile vintage items I now deliver in person. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 10 Author Share #28 Posted February 10 I’m going to see whether they will allow me to pick up the camera personally if/when it’s repaired. Obviously, if the repair estimate is too high, it won’t be worth doing, but I’d still go to get it back if they’ll let me. Brussels -> Wetzlar return, 1st Class, is about £160, excluding a Senior Railcard, and is about 4 1/2 hours each way. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 10 Author Share #29 Posted February 10 Mrs B has asked, rhetorically, “Would you buy another Leica?”. She says that she wouldn’t, given the contempt that the company (not dealers) seems to have for their customers. I’m not sure I would either, to be honest. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted February 10 Share #30 Posted February 10 (edited) 54 minutes ago, andybarton said: I’m not sure I would either, to be honest. Sounds ominous! But I do feel for you. I think you have a loaner, but if not I have a M10 you can borrow. I have attended a number of events where top Leica people have been speaking/in attendance (I will avoid egotistical name dropping) and they never address the 'elephant in the room' - the service standard. The best you will get is acknowledgement of 'the problem', and quoted the timescale to train a tech. The latter is true, and the sales success has clearly caused the strain by exceeding support capacity. This may piss you off even more, but if you do take it to the factory, there are tales about the repair being done whilst you have a coffee in Cafe Leitz. We have several Beta Testers on the Forum, perhaps they have more insight. Edited February 10 by pedaes 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 10 Share #31 Posted February 10 10 minutes ago, pedaes said: Sounds ominous! But I do feel for you. I think you have a loaner, but if not I have a M10 you can borrow. I have attended a number of events where top Leica people have been speaking/in attendance (I will avoid egotistical name dropping) and they never address the 'elephant in the room' - the service standard. The best you will get is acknowledgement of 'the problem', and quoted the timescale to train a tech. The latter is true, and the sales success has clearly caused the strain by exceeding support capacity. This may piss you off even more, but if you do take it to the factory, there are tales about the repair being done whilst you have a coffee in Cafe Leitz. We have several Beta Testers on the Forum, perhaps they have more insight. There is more to it than training a tech. There is providing speedy feedback and progress reports about where the item is, where it is in the queue and when it is likely to be returned. There is also the question about whether Wetzlar (and Germany - or even the EU) is the best or only place where repairs can be carried out. (I realise that the USA has facilities for some repairs). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted February 10 Share #32 Posted February 10 (edited) 13 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said: here is more to it than training a tech I know, but this seems to be main constraint impacting timescales. I think if you have a Q it can be repaired in Mayfair. Some years back at a Leica Society event there a tech stripped one completely in about 30 mins. You can see an article with pics on Maciflos. Edited February 10 by pedaes 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 10 Author Share #33 Posted February 10 I don’t have a loaner - I had to buy a replacement when I left mine for repair. I need to decide which one to keep when my fixed one returns. Fortunately, John Howarth of this parish had traded his M240 for a Q-something only a few days before, so I ended up buying his old one. I couldn’t consider buying any of the later models as they are out of my budget. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 10 Share #34 Posted February 10 3 hours ago, andybarton said: I’m glad that I got my credit card out and bought the M240 that Stephens had on the shelf while I was there, otherwise I’d be without a camera for a considerable time. I hope Stephen’s will buy it back for the same price when you get your original back given the circumstances. Meanwhile you can use Leica M lenses on Nikon’s and many other cameras that offer more features and pixels at far less a price, so there is no reason to buy another camera that may end up being in the same service queue at Wetzlar. All hail Leica ‘quality’. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted February 10 Share #35 Posted February 10 5 minutes ago, andybarton said: I need to decide which one to keep when my fixed one returns. Glad you have a camera. Should imagine an ex JH camera will be in nice condition. Best to chill, let it play out and tell the story of the saga when over, and hope it has some influence! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 10 Author Share #36 Posted February 10 When mine comes back, there may be a discussion to be had. This certainly hasn’t been raised to date. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 10 Author Share #37 Posted February 10 1 minute ago, pedaes said: Glad you have a camera. Should imagine an ex JH camera will be in nice condition. Best to chill, let it play out and tell the story of the saga when over, and hope it has some influence! John’s was a black paint one, so is nicely brassed. It’s certainly been well looked after and is about six months older than mine. Mine is a chrome one, but if I’d had a choice the day I bought it, I’d have chosen a black one. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lykaman Posted February 10 Share #38 Posted February 10 Buying a new to me Leica camera body or an even contemplating a New body, I'm worried about the repair/service turn round times. Plus of course the shipping times & security. Many cameras today have adaptors that can utilize Leica glass, and in IQ are not far behind if not equal. Agreed there is nothing like a Leica if that is what you are used to using, but todays pricing means many "Joe/Jane Bloggs" cannot in any way consider budgeting for a Red Dot photographic tool.. 🍻 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satijntje Posted February 10 Share #39 Posted February 10 Just received back my M10-R BP from Leica CS after waiting 4 1/2 months to get it repaired. and I live in Germany. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 11 Share #40 Posted February 11 4 1/2 months is a big improvement on previous wait times, even allowing (say) a month either end for customs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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