so if i am in seattle, where do i send things to be serviced under the passport warranty?

how long is the turn around right now?

is the warranty honored if i decided to live in china for a few years?

one more question. if the warranty does not cover theft. and the warranty requires a piece of the camera with the serial # on it. why not take the hot shoe off (mine has the body serial # on it) and keep it in a safe place (the lens is another issue).

john

-- john molloy (ballyscanlon@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002

Answers

John, For the record, here's the coverage from the back of my Passport Protection 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." Turnaround is roughly three weeks, and yes, you would be covered in China -- it's worldwide coverage. (Not sure where you'd send it, but www.leica-camera.com can probably help. Incidentally, and no offense intended, but if the camera _is_ stolen and you send Leica a safeguarded serial number hotshoe and claim the rest was destroyed -- that's fraud. Why not just insure the gear?

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

The regular two year international warranty is valid at any offical repair depot in the world. Passport warranty is offered only from your distributor and must go back to your distributor's service depot to have the work done.

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

John: You can increase the passport protection time to five years from the date of purchase by contacting Leica and paying an additional $75 per lens or body. I have found this extremely cost effective over the years. All my lenses and bodies have the five year plan and I urge you to consider this option. (8>))--Albert

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

A recent message on the subject of the extended warranty can be found in the Leica-Users archives:

http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/v21/msg04586.html

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