birding-aus

Great Service from Leica - not!

To: "'Birding-aus'" <>
Subject: Great Service from Leica - not!
From: "Jenny Madeline" <>
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 15:15:21 +1100
Hi everyone

 

My experience has been somewhat different.

 

My Leica 8x32 BA binoculars (purchased from the Binocular & Telescope Shop
(Bintel) in Sydney in 2001) were sent to the Camera Clinic (via Bintel) on
22 August because of two issues:  the focus mechanism was stiff (the
binoculars had been previously been sent to the Leica agent in Melbourne in
2004 and 2010 for this problem to be addressed, but it keeps recurring) and,
secondly, there was a shift in dioptre when focusing.

 

For the past 3 months there has been an ongoing saga relating to delays in
parts arriving from Germany and then the discovery that the wrong parts had
been sent (I don't know where the responsibility for this lies).

 

As I understand it, the Camera Clinic has not provided Bintel with any
updates on the situation and it is only when Bintel ring them that further
information is provided - and not very satisfactory information as you can
see.

 

I imagine that I would have had the binoculars back well before now if they
had been sent directly to Germany.

 

Today, I am told that a shipment of parts is expected by the end of the
month (in 2 days time).  It seems that Leica in Germany wait until they have
a number of parts to ship, rather than send out individual items.  This
practice seems to have been the cause of long delays with respect to my
binoculars on at least two occasions.

 

I am wondering if I should be pressing for a complete replacement of the
binoculars as I'm not sure that I can be confident that the repairs will be
satisfactory - particularly in relation to the ongoing problem of stiffness
in the focussing mechanism.

 

It is just as well that I purchased a 2nd pair of binoculars (Nikon
Monarchs) a couple of years ago or I would be even more irate than I am.

 

Jenny Madeline

 

 

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:34:29 +1100

From: "Allan Benson" <>

To: "Birding-Aus" <>

Cc: 

Subject: Great Service from Leica

Message-ID: <>

Content-Type: text/plain;     charset="US-ASCII"

 

Hi All,

 

My Leica  Apo Televid 65 Telescope was knocked over when it was on the
tripod. It fell onto rocks after a fall of the height of the tripod plus 0.5
metre. The  fall smashed the mounting and damaged the eye piece. It was
entirely my fault and in no way could be construed as a warranty claim. I
could have lived with the damage to the eye piece but the scope was not
usable until the mount was respired.

 

After a bit of ringing around, I finally found the correct people.

 

Camera Clinic

 

56 Easey St

Collingwood

(03)34195247.

 

Camera Clinic provided a very courteous and efficient service. After
inspecting the damaged scope,  they informed me it would need to be returned
to Germany for repair and  would take 60-90 days.

 

I had the scope back in about 4 weeks, as good as new and to my very
pleasant surprise- no charge. Leicia had repaired the scope as a good will
gesture.  

 

All in all what a great outcome.

 

It is an interesting decision-making process buying high end optics.

Considerations include perceived quality( all the high end optics will do a
good job ), personal preference, how the optics "feel" and of course price
and retailer service. After sales service probably doesn't rate as highly
because we all assume  it won't be required but as my experience has
demonstrated maybe more weight should be given to this .

 

My experience with both my Leica binoculars and scope have always been
extremely positive in terms of quality of the optics etc. This good will
gesture from Leica will ensure I stick with them in the future.

 

Best regards

Allan Benson

 

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