[Leica] Leica Japan stories

[afirkin at afirkin.com (afirkin at afirkin.com)]

I'd leave it alone, whinge quietly and from time to time and avoid having
work done in Japan ;-)

> About three weeks ago I made a trip Tokyo.  While there I visited
> Leica in Ginza, wanting to try the 24/1.4.  I asked an assistant if
> they had the lens, he nodded, said yes in Japanese and went into the
> back room.  I sat down and waited.  And waited.  And waited.  My
> girlfriend decided to go out and buy cinema tickets as we had already
> been waiting 15 minutes by then.  I waited ten minutes longer, then
> asked the assistant if he had found a copy.  He said, "Oh, you can't
> try it!"  I was so shocked and insulted that I just said goodbye and
> left the store.  Being told they have it, then being ignored, reminded
> me of a scene in The Pink Panther where someone asked Clouseau if he
> knows the right time, and he replied, "Yes, thank you", and walked on.
>
> Another irk.  Leica Japan quoted me ?180,000 to repair the shutter
> speed problem on my M7 (warranty just expired).  Don Goldberg quoted
> me $180.  He serviced it thoroughly, speedily and courteously, and
> it's a gem again.  Before he received it, he guessed it needed a new
> shutter dial contact assembly.  When he got it, his guess was
> confirmed.  What on Earth did Leica Japan think to make a quote of
> ?180,000?  Maybe its their standard practice to replace the innards
> and not use their nous, training, or experience to efficiently address
> the actual fault.  I have been thinking to write a letter of complaint
> about this to Leica Solms.  Do you think I should, or is it a bit much
> and not really my place to do so?  Perhaps Leica Japan are onto a good
> thing, and Japanese customers often uncritically pay what they are
> quoted.
>
> Peter Cheyne
>
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