When specifying "CLA," would Leica service repair everything that was possibliy wrong with an item, or would I have to be more specific?

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), April 06, 2001

Answers

My experience is that official Leica service, as well as the few "famous name" independent Leica-specialist repairpeople charge a flat labor fee for what is typically called an "overhaul", which entails a stripdown, CLA and replacement of any worn or damaged parts (the cost of parts would be an add-on). The official reason for this, I was told, is to save the customer money on repeated disassembly for various ills. The real reason, I was told by a former Leica rep, is to avoid having a camera in for a "simple CLA" then having the customer get it back and find things wrong with it which they claim weren't wrong before, and demanding it be fixed for free. In most cases when you send a camera in for a specific ailment, if it requires taking anything apart, they will usually require the overhaul procedure to be performed. Even so, if I know of something specifically wrong with the camera I would certainly bring it to the repairperson's attention as even the best can miss something sometime. Of course there are lots of independents who will gladly tackle a Leica, and probably there are some who would do "minor CLA", but those I've dealt with do not.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 06, 2001.

Back in the early '90's, Shutterbug magazine would have a Leica offer every year for camera / lens CLA's at a reduced rate. I sent in two M3s on two consecutive years, (to Leica in New Jersey), and each time I received an invoice from Leica telling me that my camera(s) qualified for the service, listed the "other" things that were wrong, such as separation in the rangefinder, and then asked me to sign the document indicating permission for Leica to proceed with the servicing. Each time I asked them to comply only with the standard CLA, and received my camera(s) back in a couple of weeks with documentation of the work done including the serial number for the camera. I made my money back when I sold the M3s with the CLA paperwork because the perspective buyer felt it would be something he wouldn't have to deal with for awhile.

The add in the magazine was rather detailed about what was accomplished during the service, and it covered everything I felt was wrong, (hazy viewfinder, fast shutter speed off and rangefinder slightly off), so I felt no need to ask for anything above and beyond the CLA. My returned cameras were so smooth and quiet, I had to look at the serial numbers... it was hard to believe they were the same ones I sent in. Again that was over a decade ago. I have heard several things about the timeliness today being a bit slow.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), April 06, 2001.