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Subject:

Good experience with Leica, C.M.B.O., U.P.S.

From:

Henry Armistead

Reply-To:

Henry Armistead

Date:

Thu, 27 Apr 2006 20:13:28 -0400

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 ....)