I've just had a good experience with Leica (and Cape May Bird Observatory =
C.M.B.O.). My scope (77mm APO Televid straight through 32X) was damaged.
Leica replaced the body promptly since repairs were considered impractical.
Here's the timeline.
11/4/01. Buy scope at C.M.B.O., Northwood Center.
1/20/03. Scope disengages from tripod at Alligator R. N.W.R., falls 5 feet
onto the ground. Objective lens hood is damaged, no longer slides in or
out even though visually nothing seems to be wrong. Focus still good.
3/19/06. Scope disengages from tripod, falls 10 feet into brackish water
at Rigby's Folly, our MD, Talbot County place. I jump in and retrieve it,
wash brackish water off of the focus wheels, dry it. Focus now is not
sharp enough, i.e., does not turn as far clockwise as I need it to.
3/22/06. Contact Jeff Bouton, helpful Leica representative, at:
I'd met Jeff in Arkansas in February during the
Ivory-billed Woodpecker fandango. He gives me the repair address: Leica
Camera, Inc., 1 Pearl Court, unit A, Allendale, NJ 07401, attn: repair
department. 800-222-0118, ext. 217.
4/4/06. Mail scope via UPS to NJ. $31.06 with insurance, packaging by
UPS, etc. Our local UPS store is terrific - courteous, efficient, good
packaging.
4/5/06. Leica receives scope.
4/13/06. Receive "estimate" from Leica. Somewhat confusing. Does not
actually SAY scope can't be repaired, but does say "offer to exchange with
a new APO 77 for $960 - please advise."
4/15/06. I call Leica, am informed scope is irreparable, can be replaced
if warranty information is provided. I say I can't find the warranty.
Leica suggests contacting place I bought scope from.
4/21/06. Make 3 phone calls to C.M.B.O., talk to 3 different people.
After the 1st call I discovered the Alligator River date, narrowing down
the purchase date year some. After the 2nd I finally located the purchase
date from my field notes. Everyone at C.M.B.O. is MOST helpful and
friendly. They fax Leica at 201-995-1684 confirming I bought scope from
C.M.B.O., cite the serial no., date, etc.
4/25/06. New scope body arrives via UPS at no charge and with the old
optic lens unit, too, which had not been damaged.
I certainly have to be more careful with tripod mounts.
This is the best scope I've ever owned. Easiest to use, optically
terrific. Others I've had include Bausch & Lomb, Swift, and Questar, in
order of time of ownership.
Best to all.-Harry Armistead, 523 E. Durham St., Philadelphia, PA
19119-1225. 215-248-4120. Please, any off-list replies to:
harryarmistead at hotmail dot com (never, please, to 74077.3176 ....) |