Leica passport

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Leica Photography : One Thread

How does Leica passport work? It says that if I damage my camera/lens they will replace them.

Does it work if I dropped them in the sea for example? They would be damaged,so Leica should replace them...true?

-- Phill Kneen (philkneen@manx.net), January 23, 2002

Answers

If you drop it into the sea, you must recover the base with the serial number. Happy fishing, Phill

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), January 23, 2002.

As I understand it's a no fault warranty - if you fill the camera with sea water and leave it like that for a week, they replace it or fix it.

I could be wrong of course, it does happen occasionally.

Please let the provocation go.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), January 23, 2002.


I suppose they are counting on pride of ownership to stop people purposely damaging their gear, I don't know.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), January 23, 2002.

So as long as I have the serial no. I can claim?

I must point out that I haven't dropped it in the sea! I just came to insuring it and thought that if was covered by Leica for damage I could just pay for theft cover.

-- Phill Kneen (philkneen@manx.net), January 23, 2002.


Phil, If you purchased your Leica gear new, you'll find the Passport Protection documentation in the box. Read it (assuming you know how). If you bought the gear used or grey market, you're out of luck; Passport Protection only applies to the primary owner and transfer to second-handers is illegal. Passport Protection is arguably the most generous coverage in the industry, but even it has limitations. For one thing, Leica will repair (or replace) only the damaged equipment that features a serial number for three years. So if you lost your camera in Davey Jones' locker, Leica would not replace it. Alternately, if you lost the entire camera save the tiny scrap with the serial number, Leica would presumably replace/repair what's left.

I assume you don't have Passport Protection, or you wouldn't ask this question. Leica is an honorable company. It vexes me to think of the ways people take advantage of its generosity.

-- Gulley Jimson (gulleyjimson@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.



Passport does not cover fire and theft and, as stated above, you must have at least the part with the serial number. Just two days ago, a Leica-User dropped his TTL/35/2A onto a tile floor. The camera is fine bit the lens is VERY unhappy with a free spinning aperture ring and stiff focusing. The lens is still under passport warranty and will be repaired or replaced free of charge.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), January 23, 2002.

I believe that passport warranty is not offered through Leica Solms but by a separate insurance company to which Leica USA, Canada and others pay premiums on a per camera basis.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), January 23, 2002.

To John Collier: A small correction. Leica would replace a fire- damaged camera, if the owner preserved the scrap of metal with the serial number.

-- Gulley Jimson (Gulleyjimson@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

Gulley, I have yet to read a post by you that doesn't contain a completely gratuitous attack on someone or their opinions. What's up, man? Run out of mandies?

[The post to which Rob refers has been edited. --The moderator]

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), January 23, 2002.


Rob: What are mandies?

-- Gulley Jimson (gulleyjimson@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.


Gulley was absolutely correct to criticize John's statement that the Passport Warranty would not "cover fire". Even if the camera burns up, if the portion with a recognizable serial number can be recovered, there will be coverage and the camera [and/or lens, whichever is covered] will be replaced.

So, Jon, "whats the beef"????

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), January 23, 2002.


I meant Rob. I don't know a Jon. In fact, I don't know a Rob either!

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), January 23, 2002.

Gulley, I wish I could remember.

Alec, just take a look at Gulley's posts on this and other threads. Here he lays straight into Phil for no reason at all. Given this list has been plagued by bad vibes for the last couple of weeks, I think it would be better to avoid this kind of nonsense.

Anyway.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), January 23, 2002.


ah...correction: passport warranty will NOT cover damage by fire...i just received my passport cards last week and it is clearly indicated there.

-- Dexter Legaspi (dalegaspi@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

Sorry to break it to you, Dexter, but fire is covered by PPP, as is everything but theft or loss. For the record, here's the coverage from the back of my card: "In addition to your rights under the limited warranty covering the Leica Equipment whose serial numbers appear on the front of the service card, Leica Camera Inc. will repair or replace, at its option but free of charge, any part of the Leica Product (except batteries) which becomes defective or its otherwise damaged during the three year period beginning on the date of purchase. This expanded protection service is available only to the individual whose name appears on the front of this service card. The Leica Product, including piece bearing the serial number, must be returned to Leica Camera Inc. at its Northvale, New Jersey offices with this service card for examination." Hope this settles the matter.

-- Gulley Jimson (gulleyjimson@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.


From the Passport Protection Plan Brochure:

Dear Leica Customer

blah, blah, blah...

It signifies that you are completely protected, for three full years, against any damage whatsoever - to your newly registered Leica equipment no matter how extensive or how it occurred, excluding fire and theft. Just send us the product with the serial number.

...blah, blah blah

Passport plans have nothing to do with Leica Solms and are offered by your distributor through an insurance company (I think). Coverage may be different in your country but Canada and the US do not offer fire protection.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), January 23, 2002.


John, you keep saying fire is excluded. WHERE are you getting that from? I've reviewed my warrantly documents, and the PPP documents. Nowhere therein [that I can find at least] is damage from fire excluded. Please give the source of your information.

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), January 23, 2002.

John, you are RIGHT! I just found it. "Fire and theft" ARE excluded from both the ordinary Limited Warranty, and the PPP. Please accept my apology for not reading the documents more carefully the first time. Thanks for your persistence. This is been useful [at least for me]. I thought it covered everything but fire. I guess they expect that loss to be covered by your ordinary fire insurance coverages provided by homeowner/renter policies.

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), January 23, 2002.

To John and Alec, I can't find the reference to fire anywhere, but I'll take your word for it. Sorry if I gave out incorrect information, but the PPP card makes no mention of fire. And the Leica ads give the impression that they'll replace/repair _anything_ if a scrap with the serial number scrap is returned. Let's hope it won't come to that.

-- Gulley Jimson (gulleyjimson@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

Yo! Folks!

Bear in mind that the Passports are issued by different distributors, not universally by Leica/Solms, and therefore may differ from country to country. From the sound of it some places may cover/not cover fire, and/or the fire exclusion may be a recent addition/deletion to the policy.

Maybe we need a survey of Passport holders by country to see what (if any) differences there are.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), January 23, 2002.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ