[Leica] A Chatterton story

["delia" <louzan@worldnet.att.net>]

Jeff,

I have gone from liking him to disliking him in record time.
The other day I gave Don a free puff on the board and today, I take back
all those nice comments I made about him.  Maybe I was to hasty in
believing his promises.
I purchased from him one of the (5) Black 50mm f2.8 Elmar-M lenses that he
had advertised for $555 too.
When the lens arrived, it was defective.  I called Don, explained the
problem, he said to return the lens for a replacement, no problem.  He
added that, anyhow, the price was very good.  This comment should have set
some alarms off at the time but ...
So I returned the lens with a note (explaining the problem and what he
agreed to do) just in case he forgot.  And waited for the replacement.  A
few days later I received a check in the mail for $555 + shipping.  No
note, no explanation, no nothing.  I called him up to to see what was going
on.  He said that what I thought was a bubble was actually an oil stain
that came right off when they cleaned it - that unfortunately these things
happen at the factory.  As for the small dots inside the lens, they could
not see them.  They had tested the lens on a collimator and it was perfect
- - and since they considered that there was nothing wrong with it and
couldn't improve on that particular sample, they had decided to send me my
money back.  Well I hung up the phone thinking that I had let him get off
too easy.  He was honest enough to send a check, and he didn't have to
reimburse me for the shipping charges, but he certainly didn't live up to
his word.  I seriously doubt that it was an oil stain as he claims ( but
even if that was true, oil will ruin a lens MC over time) and there were
indeed fungai spots which I saw with a penlight (probably due to improper
storage since it left the factory at Solms).
I have older lenses that are cleaner.   
Personally I think that Don took the easy way out, he simply didn't want to
send a replacement.  Now, a few days ago I saw a similar report from
someone who reported having similar problems with the purchase of a used
Leica R camera.  Don also changed his mind to his own convinience without
consulting this fellow, after promising to repair it.  The repair he
claimed later was too expensive. Hmmm, pattern?
Personally I will wait for the check to clear and deal with someone else. 
And I don't know about you but when I buy a lens it's because I need it -
and time is money, not only for Don.

Regards to all,
Robert