I was thinking about buying some Leica binoculars and then I read this review on Amazon.com while looking at them. It changed my mind about buying Leicas. I would not buy binoculars from a company that doesn't stand behind their product and if their customer service is this poor. Does Leica really have this poor of warranty service? Here is the review:
Consider this, March 9, 2004
Reviewer: "rahan_guitars" (Houston, Texas United States) -
I want to tell you about my experience with Leica Binoculars. I purchased the Trinovid 10 X 42s back in the mid 90s for about $1,000.00. I thought they were the best binoculars I had ever owned. Last year, in November of 2003 the binoculars broke. I did not drop them or handle them any differently than I had the last 8 years of owning them. I always carried them in a specially padded backpack that I modified specifically for optics like my binoculars and cameras and such. I thought, no problem, they have a lifetime guarantee... So I thought.
I went to the store where I had purchased them. They gave me the phone number to Leica-Camera Co. I called and got a recording telling me to write down the problem and where to send them, I did. A couple of weeks later I received a repair estimate in the mail for a bit over $400.00.
I called them up and talked to a service rep. She told me that because I did not send in my warranty card when I purchased the binoculars they were not covered under the warranty. I told her I never send those things in because I understand they are a source for mailing lists which are sold and I get too much junk mail and spam as it is. Of course this did not sway her in the least. So I asked if I paid for the repair would I then be in their data base and therefore the binoculars would be covered should they break again. She told me, No; they would still not be covered. The repair would be warranted for 90 days and after that I would again be on my own.
I declined their estimate and was told they would send them back the following week. After that I wrote a letter to Leica GM telling of the situation and asking that they step up to the plate and do the right thing... repair my expensive binoculars that I got based on a lifetime guarantee. This is the first time I have ever written a letter to a company official and not got a response. I heard nothing and 3 months went by. I thought, maybe they are not good communicators and maybe they have had them this long because they decided to fix them after all. I called them. I got a voicemail and asked about them. They never returned my call but about a week later they showed up in the mail. Still broken and useless.
I will not buy any more Leica products and I thought I would pass on my experience for anyone thinking of buying their products to consider.
Dennis
Consider this, March 9, 2004
Reviewer: "rahan_guitars" (Houston, Texas United States) -
I want to tell you about my experience with Leica Binoculars. I purchased the Trinovid 10 X 42s back in the mid 90s for about $1,000.00. I thought they were the best binoculars I had ever owned. Last year, in November of 2003 the binoculars broke. I did not drop them or handle them any differently than I had the last 8 years of owning them. I always carried them in a specially padded backpack that I modified specifically for optics like my binoculars and cameras and such. I thought, no problem, they have a lifetime guarantee... So I thought.
I went to the store where I had purchased them. They gave me the phone number to Leica-Camera Co. I called and got a recording telling me to write down the problem and where to send them, I did. A couple of weeks later I received a repair estimate in the mail for a bit over $400.00.
I called them up and talked to a service rep. She told me that because I did not send in my warranty card when I purchased the binoculars they were not covered under the warranty. I told her I never send those things in because I understand they are a source for mailing lists which are sold and I get too much junk mail and spam as it is. Of course this did not sway her in the least. So I asked if I paid for the repair would I then be in their data base and therefore the binoculars would be covered should they break again. She told me, No; they would still not be covered. The repair would be warranted for 90 days and after that I would again be on my own.
I declined their estimate and was told they would send them back the following week. After that I wrote a letter to Leica GM telling of the situation and asking that they step up to the plate and do the right thing... repair my expensive binoculars that I got based on a lifetime guarantee. This is the first time I have ever written a letter to a company official and not got a response. I heard nothing and 3 months went by. I thought, maybe they are not good communicators and maybe they have had them this long because they decided to fix them after all. I called them. I got a voicemail and asked about them. They never returned my call but about a week later they showed up in the mail. Still broken and useless.
I will not buy any more Leica products and I thought I would pass on my experience for anyone thinking of buying their products to consider.
Dennis
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